(Theodore’s POV)

I was supposed to return to Stonehaven, but at thest moment before boarding the ne I changed my mind again—I wanted to see her one more time.

I adjusted the hood of my cloak, keeping to the shadows as crowds gathered for the coronation. I hadn’te to cause trouble. I just needed to see her onest time.

Olivia. My Luna. My greatest mistake.

The Coliseum glowed with celebration lights, and I positioned myself where I could glimpse the royal box. There she sat, radiant in silver, with our son beside her. And the baby—my daughter. The sight twisted something painful in my chest.

I’d lost everything that mattered because of my own foolishness.

Amotion caught my attention.

My heart hammered against my ribs as the footsteps behind me quickened. The sound echoed off the narrow buildings lining the street, creating an eerie chorus that made my skin crawl.

*Move. Just keep moving.*

I clutched my grocery bag tighter, the stic handles cutting into my palm. The bread was getting squished, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting home. Getting somewhere safe. Getting away from whoever was following me.

The streetlights cast long shadows between the buildings, creating perfect hiding spots for anyone who wanted to stay unseen. But I could still hear him back there. Still feel his presence like a weight pressing against my spine.

I turned right at the next corner, hoping to circle back toward the main street where there would be more people. More witnesses. More safety.

But the footsteps turned too.

*Shit.*

My hands were shaking now, making it hard to keep hold of the grocery bag. The peanut butter jar rattled against the loaf of bread with each step. Such normal, everyday sounds. Nothing like the terror pounding through my veins.

The footsteps sped up.

*Run.*

The thought hit me like lightning. I dropped all pretense of casual walking and broke into a sprint, my sneakers pping against the wet pavement. Behind me, I heard a grunt of surprise, then the sound of heavier footsteps giving chase.

*He’s following. He’s actually following me.*

I turned left into what I thought was another street, only to realize toote that it was an alley. A dead-end alley with brick walls on three sides and nowhere to go but back the way I’de.

Where he was waiting.

I spun around, pressing my back against the cold brick wall, my grocery bag falling to the ground with a wet thud. The man appeared at the mouth of the alley, silhouetted against the streetlight behind him.

He was bigger than I’d thought. Broader. The kind of size that meant trouble for someone like me.

“Hey there,” he called out, his voice slurred and rough. “No need to run, sweetheart.”

The smell hit me then-alcohol and something else. Something sour and unwashed that made my stomach turn.

“I… I was just heading home,” I managed, my voiceing out higher than I wanted. “I don’t want any trouble.”

He stepped closer, and I could see his face in the dim light. Stubbled cheeks, bloodshot eyes, a smile that made my skin crawl.

“Neither do I,” he said, but there was something in his tone that suggested the opposite. “Just thought maybe we could talk. Get to know each other.”

Another step closer. I pressed harder against the wall, wishing I could melt through it.

“I really need to get home,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “My… my husband is waiting for me.”

The lie came automatically, desperately. But the man justughed.

“Husband, huh?” He looked around the empty alley. “Don’t see him anywhere.”

*Think. Think!* Without A, I couldn’t rely on supernatural strength or speed. But I still had my brain. I still had words.

“Look,” I said, forcing myself to sound calm. Reasonable. “I understand you’ve been drinking. Maybe you’re just looking for someone to talk to. But I’m not the right person. There are bars a few blocks over. Lots of people who’d be happy to chat.”

He tilted his head, studying me like I was a particrly interesting puzzle.

“You’re pretty,” he said, ignoring everything I’d just said. “Really pretty. Bet you don’t get told that enough.”

My throat went dry. “Thank you, but I really do need to-”

“What’s the rush?” He took another step, close enough now that I could see the broken blood vessels in his eyes. “Night’s still young. We got time.”

I edged along the wall, trying to put some distance between us without making it obvious. “My husband gets worried when I’mte.”

“Your husband,” he repeated, and there was something mocking in his voice now. “Where’s your ring?”

My heart sank. “I… I don’t wear it when I go out alone,” I lied. “Safety precaution.”

“Smart girl.” His smile got wider. “Very smart.”

The grocery bag at my feet rustled in the wind. “What do you say we go somewhere morefortable?” the man said, his voice taking on that too-friendly tone that sent ice through my veins. “I know a ce. Real nice. Quiet.”

“No.” The word came out sharper than I intended. “No, I can’t. I won’t.”

Something flickered across his face. Annoyance. Impatience.

“Come on, sweetheart,” he said, his voice losing some of its false friendliness. “Don’t be like that. I’m trying to be nice here.”

I pressed my palms t against the brick wall behind me, feeling for any crack or gap that might give me leverage. Anything I could use.

But there was nothing except cold stone and the growing certainty that this was about to get much worse.

The man reached into his jacket pocket, and my blood turned to ice. Was he reaching for a weapon? A knife? Something worse?

But when his hand came out, it was holding a small bottle. Liquor, by the smell that wafted toward me when he unscrewed the cap.fn510a ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?ndnovel/fn510a

“Want some?” he asked, holding it out toward me. “Might help you rx.”

“I don’t drink,” I said quickly.

“Course you do.” He took a swig, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Everyone drinks.”

He moved closer again, and this time I couldn’t back up any further. The wall was solid behind me, trapping me in ce.

He reached out with his free hand, and I flinched away so hard I scraped my back against the brick.

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