Chapter 29
Micah
She comes out of Vale’s office like a ghost escaping a grave—her shoulders hunched, her arms locked around herself, hazel eyes darting like she can’t decide if she’s being hunted or already caught.
Her fingers tremble. Her lips move in soundless denials. She’s rattled—rattled enough that my fists twitch with the urge to torch this place until there’s nothing left but ash.
I stay in the corridor’s shadow, carved into the wall, watching every falter in her step. Vale pressed her harder today; I can see it stamped into her bones. She fed him crumbs before, but crumbs don’t keep a wolf at bay. He’s circling closer. Testing her. Waiting for the slip.
A prickle crawls up my neck.
Slowly, I turn.
Vale stands in his doorway, motionless, watching me. His eyes are dark and flat—a predator’s stare. He doesn’t blink. Doesn’t move. Just looks—curious and suspicious. A fucking challenge blazoning in his irises.
The corner of his mouth twitches, almost turning into a smile.
I let my jaw tighten until my teeth ache, but I don’t give him more. My expression stays neutral, unreadable, but my stare holds. For a heartbeat, the hall feels like a wire strung too tightly between us, the air charged, waiting to snap.
Then he heads back inside his office, shutting the door with a soft click.
But I know what I saw.
He’s watching me now.
Watching us.
And if he thinks he can sink his claws into what’s mine, I’ll rip them out, one by one, and feed them to him before I make sure he never breathes again.