EMMA
Gabriel found me before I reached the stairs.
Of course he did.
I should have known better than to think I could move through Lune Noire unseen—not now, not after everything. The corridor was quiet, the lights dimmed to a soft amber glow meant to calm, to soothe. My suitcase wheels whispered against the floor, each turn of them sounding like a countdown in my chest.
“Emma.”
Just my name. No command. No authority. No Alpha weight pressing down on the syllables.
I stopped anyway.
I didn’t turn around at first. I couldn’t. My spine felt too brittle, like if I faced him, I’d shatter into something small and weak and easily claimed.
“I’m leaving,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Please don’t make this harder.”
Footsteps approached slowly. Carefully. Like he was afraid any
