Chapter 40

Emily’s PUV

“ Get out, Liam, ” Nathan growled. His voice was low and dangerous. I could feel the vibration in the floor under my feet. “ Get out before Hose control. ”

Liam froze for half a second. Then he smiled.

“ Alright, alright … didn’t know you were in such a mood, ” he said lightly, raising his hands. He pulled the girl loser. Only then did I notice her: tall and strong, she looked like a powerful warrior. Dangerous.

They walked out, laughing.

The door closed. I was alone with him.

My heart was beating so fast I thought he could hear it. Run. I turned around quickly, but I hit the table. A cup fell ver. Hot coffee splashed all over Nathan’s white shirt.

“ Oh, my Goddess! ” I breathed in panic. The dark stain spread quickly across the white shirt. “ I’m so sorry! I didn’t

nean to! ”

I grabbed some napkins from the table and stepped toward him without thinking. I started to rub the coffee off his hest. I was moving too fast. I was too close. My hands moved down his body, feeling his hard, tight muscles hrough the wet shirt.

He took a sharp breath.

Stop. ”

I shook my head. I was panicking.

“ No, wait, it’s getting worse. ” I rubbed again, trying to remove the stain. His body beneath my fingers was

urning.

“ I said stop. ”

୮

This time, a growl rumbled in his chest. In the next second, his hands clamped around my wrists. Strong and udden. He jerked me toward him. “ Enough. ”

I froze.

My heart skipped a beat. He was angry. I had splashed him with boiling water, and I didn’t even dare to look up. But he didn’t let go. He just held me tighter. Too close. Too much.

I could feel his breath on my face. It didn’t feel like he was just angry; it felt like something else.

He suddenly released me. He ripped the buttons from his shirt in one motion, pulling it off. The white fabric fell to the floor. And at that moment, the door swung open.

Stella.

She fruze on the doorstep.

Her gaze slid over him first, naked and tense, then over me. She looked at my hands, which were still reaching for him. The room went silent.

“ Oh … ” Stella’s voice cut through the air like a knife. Cold. Sharp. “ I see I’m interrupting something. ”

Nathan didn’t look at her.

“ Let’s get out of here before something breaks. ”

His hand closed around my wrist. He pulled me toward the door, dragging me away from the mess.

“ Get me a shirt! ” he growled at a guard in the hall, his voice echoing.

Then, he walked away without looking back.

I stood there, and then I felt it. Stella stepped toward me. She didn’t look angry; she looked like a hunter.

“ You should be careful, Emily, ” she leaned in closer, until I could smell her expensive, floral perfume. It smelled

ike a funeral.

“ Don’t mistake his hunger for love. ” The mask finally slipped, and I saw the pure, burning jealousy in her eyes. “ In

his world, a Luna is a queen. And a girl like you? You’re just the girl who spilled the coffee. ”

She smiled, a slow and cruel curve of her lips, and walked past me.

I desperately needed some fresh air. I ran out of the building and into the small garden.

I was left alone in the silence, my wrist still stinging from Nathan’s grip, and my heart cold from Stella’s words.

Footsteps. Fast. They were closing in on me, and my heart hammered against my ribs. I spun around, praying it

vas Nathan.

It was Owen. He slowed his pace as he reached me.

“ Found you, ” he just looked … relieved.

I blinked, surprised. “ You were looking for me? ”

“ You ran out of that council hall like the building was on fire. ” He paused, looking at me closely. “ I figured you night need help or gentle support. ”

“ I’m fine. ” It sounded weak, even to my own ears.

Owen didn’t push me. He didn’t argue. He just stepped a little closer, slow enough that I could move away if I wanted to. I didn’t move.

“ What happened in there? ” he asked gently.

“ Nothing. ” It was a lie, and we both knew it.

5:27 pm

He tilted his head.

“ Right. ” But he let it go. He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He held it toward me. A phone.

I frowned. “ What is that? ”

“ A way to find you, ” he said simply. I hesitated, but he continued. “ You don’t have one. Now you do. ”

I looked at the device, then back at his face. “ Why?

A faint, tired smile touched his lips. “ Because your Alpha just decided I need to spend the next two weeks on

night patrol. ”

My chest tightened with guilt. “ Owen- ”

“ It’s fine, ” he interrupted. “ Outer patrol. Nights. Alone. ” He waited a beat. “ Could be worse. ”

I knew what that meant. It was a punishment. Nathan was punishing him because of me.

“ You shouldn’t have helped me, ” I whispered.

“ Don’t. ” His voice was soft, but it had a sharp edge now. “ Don’t turn this into something I regret. ”

I stayed very still. He wasn’t joking. His words sounded like a warning. He stepped closer until I could feel the

varmth of his body.

“ But since I’m out there anyway … ” he added quietly, “ we might as well stay in touch. ”

My fingers slowly closed around the phone. His hand brushed mine for a moment. It wasn’t an accident.

“ You don’t have to answer, ” he said, watching my eyes. “ No pressure. But if you do … I’ll be the one on the other

nd. ”

Something in my chest tightened again. It felt warmer this time. More dangerous. I looked at the phone, then at

r

“ You’re making this too easy, ” I said quietly.

“ For you? ” he asked.

“ For me to get into trouble, ” I replied, shaking my head.

A strange look crossed his face. “ Good, ” he whispered. “ It shouldn’t be hard for someone to choose you, Emily. ”

That landed deep in my heart. Too deep. Silence fell between us, but it wasn’t awkward.

“ I’ll text you, ” I said finally.

His gaze held mine, steady and honest.

27 pm PPP

“ Yeah, ” he said. “ I know. ”

Iturned to go. I knew I had to hurry. Training was about to start, and Head Warrior’Wayne wasn’t the forgiving type; if I showed up late, he’d make the entire team run extra laps to make an example of me.

But then, I felt it. A sharp, familiar tug at the center of my chest. I didn’t need to see him to know he was there.

Watching me.

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Chapter 41

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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.