Chapter 104

Audrey & Third Person Audrey's POV

The party swirled around me, a cacophony of laughter, music, and clinking glasses. It should have been a night of fun and revelry, an exciting way to kick off the summer on a high note.

But despite the crowd and the pulsing music, I felt hollow. Empty. Even the alcohol coursing through my veins couldn't fill the void that had taken up residence in my chest.

I couldn't stop thinking about him, no matter how hard I tried to push those thoughts away. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that yellow wolf gaze looking down at me, felt his lips on my neck, felt his fangs brush my skin.

I hate him. I want him. I hate him. I want him.

The cycle of thoughts was endless.

I made my way through the throng of people, nodding and smiling when necessary, but not really engaging on a deeper level than that. My friends were scattered throughout the house, each caught up in their own conversations and games. Tina was playing an intense game of beer pong with a girl she had been flirting with lately, while Betty was leading an animated discussion about fashion trends in the living

room.

I should have been happy, excited even, to be here. I should have been playing beer pong or talking about fashion.

But all I could think about was Edwin.

The bass from the speakers thrummed through my body, matching the dull ache in my chest. The scent of sweat and alcohol hung heavy in the air, reminding me of our romp in the woods and making it hard to breathe. I needed to escape.

With a sigh, I grabbed another bottle of beer and slipped out the back door, breathing in the cool night air with relief. Finally-a cool breeze and some solitude. Something, anything, to take my mind off of him. I settled onto the porch steps, wrapping my arms around my knees. The music from inside was m**d now, the sounds of laughter and voices fading into a dull hum. The rough wood of the steps pressed against my bare legs, grounding me in the present, and the stars twinkled pleasantly overhead.

Betty's family's mansion, situated in a small neighborhood outside the city, was mostly wooded all around. The only neighbors were a good quarter-mile down the road in either direction, and the tall pine trees flanking the property made it feel like we were well and truly secluded.

And I was glad for that. The seclusion was nice, and I could already picture a summer of backyard barbecues and nights watching meteor showers.

"Mind if I join you?"

standing there with a gentle smile on his face. He

scooting over to make room for

down, offering me half of a cookie off his plate. "Thought you might want a snack. Avis's

the offered treat. The cookie was still warm, and the chocolate melted on my tongue. We sat in companionable silence for a

Chapter 104

that everything was okay.

Gavin asked softly, his breath stirring my hair. "You've seemed

could mist over with tears. How could I possibly explain everything? The hurt, the betrayal, the lingering desire

plaything," I finally admitted, the candid words slipping out before I could

not a plaything to

eyes were dark, serious, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. He was close enough to, and his arm snaked around

him to kiss me. Wanted to lose myself in the comfort of someone who cared, who saw me as

and that dark fur. I gently pushed my hand into his shoulder and leaned back. "Gavin," I said, his

but he nodded, understanding in his eyes. We had been here before, too many times. Chuckling softly, he held up his almost-empty beer bottle. "Blame it on the alcohol?" he whispered. I nodded, looking away and biting the inside of my cheek.

an excuse and got up and went back into the house, leaving me

my sweet Gavin, clearly interested in me. And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about Edwin, a man who had used me as a side fling while engaged to someone else. I dropped my head into my hands, tears of frustration pricking at the backs of my eyes. Why couldn't I just move on? The memory of Edwin's touch, his kisses, the way he made me feel... it all haunted me, refusing to let me forget. I wished I cond just

the nearby bushes caught my attention. I looked up, squinting into the darkness. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes watching me from

it be? I hardly dared to hope, but in that moment, it was as

the edge of the trees. A gentle

The shadows shifted, and I thought I caught

dark wolf.

I called out without

No movement. No sound,

voice suddenly called from inside, cutting through the night air. "Where are you? We're about

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Chapter 104

game!" Sep

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