Selene’s POV:

Night wrapped the city like a black net. I huddled on the couch, knees pulled tight to my chest, staring at Aaron's unread messages glowing on my phone screen.

When I got home, he clocked something was off the second he walked in—his nose too sharp, like a wolf sniffing the air for trouble. "Short stuff, what's up? You look off. Lars give you some headache?"

I forced a smile, voice straining for casual. "Oh, work kicked my ass. Files stacked to the ceiling all day—brain's ...