Ford

e driveway, a profound sense of quie

aste a sin

dresses, designer shoes, and handbags stared back at me. Gifts from Darius. T

red th

s: a few pairs of jeans, some simple t-shirts, underwear, a tooth

I opened the velvet-lined jewelry box. A diamond necklace glit

or the false bottom. I lifted it,

e with a single, milky moonstone pendant, and matching earring

e cool stone ground my wolf. This was what

ked back downstairs, my foots

e table, a physical testament to her manipulative theater. Beside the sofa,

hed my lips. I pu

ting intimately in our space. Click

ce. Le

hand closing around the cool metal of the handle. Just as

Dar

ing stupid. Stay in th

pha command. He still thought I was his property to man

his name, and pressed 'Block'. The sense o

ng on the pristine pavement. I didn't call a cab to the

my own two feet, to breathe air that wasn't tainted with his rain-and-earth scent. My chest ached with a dull throb-a

pack's black security sedans, parked discreetly

ainful lurch. He

my breath catching in my thro

ly at the road leading from the house. But the bac

y replaced by a wave

ordered his guards to watc

olute b

t my every move. I turned around, melting back into the manicured greenery of the pack lands. I k

ate at the far end of the compound, one tha

line, hidden from the main road. I found the gate, half-overgr

h, closing it qu

n on the swings a welcome sound of normal life. When I r

iately. I got in, placing the

miss?" the

ide Logist

him. Now, it was time to