#Chapter 59: Stay Away
The city lights blur past us as Karl drives, the tension in the car so thick I could slice it with a knife. My

mind is still spinning from the events of the last hour—the creepy guy on the subway, the group of

leering men, and then Karl, showing up like a storm, sweeping everything away.

My eyes shift to him for a moment, taking in his stern profile, the jaw set in a hard line. His knuckles are

white on the steering wheel. It’s clear he’s still riled up.

“Hey… Thanks for picking me up,” I finally manage to say, breaking the oppressive silence.

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s the least I could do,” he replies, his eyes never leaving the road. The

words hang in the air, laden with unspoken emotions and thoughts neither of us is willing to navigate

right now.

Soon enough, we pull up in front of my apartment building, and Karl kills the engine. We both sit there

for a moment, contemplating the space between us, both literal and metaphorical.

“Let me walk you up,” he finally says, a subtle softness creeping into his voice.

I hesitate, weighing my options, but then nod. After everything that’s happened so far tonight, some

company up to my apartment door would be appreciated.

“Okay. Thanks, Karl.”

We step out of the car, and as we walk to the building, I can’t help but notice a dark red stain on his

pristine white shirt. It’s blood. My stomach churns at the sight.

“You’re hurt,” I blurt out.

He glances down, a wry smile pulling at his lips. “Don’t worry. It’s not mine.”

Despite the churn of emotions and the image of Karl punching that guy square in the jaw flashing

through my mind, relief washes over me. “Even so, you should get that cleaned before it sets in.”

We reach my apartment door, and I unlock it, pushing it open. The familiar scent of home envelops me,

offering a much-needed sense of normality after what just happened. I gesture inside. “You could come

in for a minute. Let me clean that for you.”

The tension between us is palpable as we stand in the threshold of my apartment. For a moment, it

on the edge of something undefined and precarious, like

cliff and daring to

Karl finally asks, breaking the moment,

meaning.

soft chuckle, even though the feelings inside of me are

when I really needed someone. The least

my

just a moment longer, as if weighing his options, before nodding.

behind us. The apartment is still, the silence

our footsteps as we head toward the

kitchen counter, I gesture for him to

should

complies, sitting down while I rummage through the cupboard

a clean cloth from the

him, the atmosphere in the room changes subtly,

steady my nerves, I reach for his shirt, gently dabbing at the

under my touch, a palpable reminder of

says, his Adam’s apple moving as he speaks. His voice

way I remember

especially when he

think about what it would be like to wake up next

quickly

I say. “It’s a nice shirt. I’d hate to see

“I could just

betray me, drifting to

around me, the heat of his

that deep voice. My heart starts to

you go tonight?” I ask, my voice a little too casual as I try to

the party early tonight without saying

a second before

about.”

his answer hangs in the air, like a puzzle missing crucial

expression stops me.

to risk

by the

to his. And for an instant, I can feel my wolf

to close

cloth now forgotten as we lock eyes. It’s a moment

that says more than words ever

suddenly aware of how dangerously close we are

complicate everything.

I murmur, lowering my hand. “Wash it when you get home. It should come

back, his hand lifts to my chin,

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