pte

*

nacing face haunted me-his fingers digging painfully into my flesh, his voice dripping with threats. Intertwined w

ment about a recent police raid on a hotel involved in illicit activities. My heart skipped a beat as I caught a brief glimpse of famili

ber, but the content made my blood run cold: Matt had been in an accident and needed me to come to the

d the front desk, my voice trembling as I asked to see Matt. The officer on duty directed me to

de her, murmuring softly, his neck marked with unmistakable kiss marks. Our eyes met, a

heel and approached the officer. "I'd like to post b

ed an eyebrow. "

oment before replyi

Morgan kept her face averted, tears streaming down her cheeks, while Matt

my skin, I pulled out my phone. With trembli

ou mentioned, I'll agree to it. Gi

e. Without a word to Matt or Morgan, I walked away, needing

nd had been ripped from beneath me. The pain of discovering his infidelity with Morgan, who wasn't even his real s

ed marriage? Should I run away and start anew? What if I provoked the Lycan prince into calling

might be the lesser of two evils. If I defied them, the abuse could worsen, and Morgan would undoubtedly make my life even more unbeara

tep-parents hadn't noticed my absence. Luck was on my side; I arrived at dawn, just as the household

. But upon seeing me ready and waiting, her tirade faltered. I maintained my c

ed, my voice steady despite

canning me with suspicion, as if waitin

lders and met her gaze. "You don't have to worry. I have no des

t as if she was pleased by my s

said, keeping

se, stepping out onto the

rg

s as ever in a purple rose-gold dress. The morning sunlight danced across th

sn't it? She'd been busy. Busy fucking my boyfriend last night. Who

she loo

s of her lips, barely there, bu

t-the minuscule voice in my head that had been second-g

was

ke control, before I could lunge f

2

pte

*

ut sleep–refused to come as I stared

visions of my stepmother's cold gaze filled my mind. Her claw-l

hose rabid dogs if this marriage doesn't work out," she said

he Lycan prince-tearing at me, dragg

, covered

would meet the man I

zing it was just a dream. I reached for the jug on my worn-out drawer, I drank some water before turn

reen flicker to life. The news played at a low volume, just background noise-un

almost changed t

people out in cuffs, and my breath caught in my throat. There, fo

. Mo

around the remote.

. As I slapped my f

only but make a call and send a message. myy fingers dried a

gan next. S

he news still rolling. More images. More pe

mere coinciden

definitely wr

r doppelganger o

t is home waiting for me so we can elope and I was just stressed, that my mi

thought away and go back to bed but bef

w me

wn nu

as I hesitated, th

ad the words, m

to be present at the police station-immediately. tho

He didn't want his parents involve

call me of all people in this kind of situation. I quickly grabbed my faded card

nking faintly above me as I stepped inside. My b

att, is he here?" I asked, my

up as he gestured down t

ith each step, my stom

en I s

eart

they

ed to

tood close beside her, speaking to her in a low, soothing voice. My stomach twisted as

nic flickered across his face. His mouth opened slightly, as i

up my throat, but I forced it down. My hands clenched at my sides, nails

ardened as he glanced at t

or a while-illegal drug operations, human trafficking, all kinds of atrocities." He looked up at me then, hi

mach l

. Morgan wouldn't lift her head, her shoulders still

exactly what I

lled my mouth as anger and

inking he was in trou

th

e low and unsteady as I t

happen

osing the file and lea

in the wrong place at the wrong time-caught in a compromising situation." He gave me a pointed

my emotions tangled betwe

onto me, silently pleading. Morgan finally lifted her

hat w

of anything beyond

at and turned back to the offic

ail is posted," he said. "If you're

, glancing

p t

ever

choices pressing down on me. I had rushed here, thinking Matt was

asn't crue

hem just this one t

urge of betra

or them," I said, my voi

sed an eyebrow. "

moment before replyi

. Morgan kept her face averted, tears streaming down her cheeks, while Ma

t my skin, I pulled out my phone. With trembli

you mentioned, I'll agree to it. Gi

me. Without a word to Matt or Morgan, I walked away, needing

und had been ripped from beneath me. The pain of discovering his infidelity with Morgan, who wasn't even his real s

ged marriage? Should I run away and start anew? What if I provoked the Lycan prince into calling

t might be the lesser of two evils. If I defied them, the abuse could worsen, and Morgan would undoubtedly make my life even more unbeara

step-parents hadn't noticed my absence. Luck was on my side; I arrived at dawn, just as the household

ps. But upon seeing me ready and waiting, her tirade faltered. I maintained my

ted, my voice steady despite

scanning me with suspicion, as if wait

ulders and met her gaze. "You don't have to worry. I have no des

st as if she was pleased by my s

I said, keeping

use, stepping out onto the

org

ss as ever in a purple rose-gold dress. The morning sunlight danced across th

asn't it? She'd been busy. Busy fucking my boyfriend last night. Who

n she loo

es of her lips, barely there, bu

bt-the minuscule voice in my head that had been second-g

I wa

rake my nails down her perfect, smug face, I turned sharply on my heel. My hands

I wa

. Away from Morgan. A

e, where the air was thick with the scent of earth and pine. My breathing was u

Bel

fr

as familiar.

d walked stra

ushes, his face cast in shadows, but

dess, fuck