Chapter 29

Elena's POV

"Let's go running!" Zoe announced suddenly, jumping up from the couch with a wild gleam in her eyes.

"Running?" I looked at her skeptically. "You can barely stand straight."

She waved dismissively, nearly sloshing more wine onto Axton's carpet. "That's the beauty of it! Running while tipsy is the *ultimate* stress reliever. Everything just... whooshes away!" She made an exaggerated sweeping gesture with her arms.

Axton raised an eyebrow. "Zoe, maybe that's not the best—"

"No!" she interrupted, pointing at him dramatically. "No responsible boyfriend talk right now. This is girls' therapy time." She turned back to me, extending her hand. "Come on, Elena. When was the last time you did something completely crazy just because it felt good?"

I hesitated. The responsible part of me knew this was a terrible idea, running through the streets at night with a drunk friend wasn't exactly safe. But after everything that had happened with Dominic, the raw emotions still churning inside me, the thought of just... running, letting everything go for a few minutes, was strangely appealing.

"Fine," I said, setting down my wine glass. "But just for a few blocks."

Zoe squealed in delight, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the door. Axton sighed, reaching for his jacket.

"I'm coming too," he said firmly. "Someone needs to make sure you two don't get arrested."

The night air was cool against my skin as we burst out of the apartment building. Zoe immediately took off down the sidewalk, arms spread wide, laughing as she zigzagged along the empty street.

"Freedom!" she shouted, her voice echoing between the buildings.

I glanced at Axton, who shook his head with a mixture of exasperation and fondness. "Go," he encouraged. "I'll keep an eye on both of you."

Something loosened in my chest as I began to run after Zoe. At first, I felt self-conscious, aware of how ridiculous we must look—two grown women sprinting down the street at night without any apparent destination. But as my legs stretched and my lungs filled with the crisp air, I found myself caring less and less.

"That's it!" Zoe called back to me. "Let it all out!"

And suddenly, I was laughing too, the sound surprising me with its genuine joy. We raced past closed storefronts, our reflections flashing in darkened windows. Zoe started improvising a song about terrible men and loyal friends, her voice carrying through the quiet neighborhood.

"Werewolves are stupid! Males are worse!" she sang off-key, twirling at a street corner. "But they're hot as hell, and that's our curse!"

"Zoe!" Axton called from behind us, but he was laughing too.

We eventually circled back toward Zoe's apartment, all of us breathless from running and laughing. Zoe stumbled on the curb, and Axton caught her effortlessly, sweeping her up into his arms.

"My hero," she sighed dramatically, planting a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "You're going to feel this tomorrow."

"Worth it," she declared, nestling against his chest. She pointed at me accusingly. "Did it help? Tell me it helped."

I nodded, surprised to find it was true. "It did, actually. I feel... lighter."

"Running therapy! Works every time!" She attempted to snap her fingers while still in Axton's arms, failed completely, and dissolved into giggles.

We made our way back to her apartment building, the night air cooling the sweat on my skin. Watching Axton carry Zoe, the tender way he looked at her despite her ridiculous antics, sent a pang through my chest, not jealousy exactly, but a wistful longing for that kind of uncomplicated affection.

"I should head home," I said as we reached their door. "My dad might worry if I don't check in."

Zoe pouted from her perch in Axton's arms. "You sure? The couch pulls out."

"I'm sure," I smiled, feeling genuinely better than I had in days. "Thanks for... everything. The wine, the running, just being there."

"That's what friends are for," she said, suddenly solemn. "Seriously, Elena, any time. Day or night."

I turned to Axton. "Take care of her, okay?"

"Always," he replied with quiet certainty.

Zoe grinned wickedly. "Oh, he'll take very good care of me tonight. In bed." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Axton's cheeks flushed dark red. "And that's our cue to say goodnight."

I laughed, waving as they disappeared into the apartment. The light feeling from our impromptu run lingered as I made my way toward the bus stop, my steps lighter than they had been in weeks.

The streets were mostly empty, the occasional car passing by with a gentle woosh of tires on asphalt. I was about halfway to the bus stop when I heard it.

Dominic.

I froze, instinctively stepping back into the shadow of a building. A sleek black car was parked across the street, its engine running. The passenger door was open, and Olivia stood beside it, her body language unmistakably flirtatious as she leaned toward the driver's side.

"Are you sure you don't want to come up?" she asked, her voice carrying clearly through the quiet night. "I make an excellent nightcap."

"I think we've had enough excitement for one evening," came Dominic's reply.

Olivia laughed again,. "The night is still young... and so are we."

She leaned further into the car, and I watched, unable to look away, as she climbed into the passenger seat. The car door remained open, their voices now hushed but still audible in fragments.

A soft moan escaped Olivia, and I felt my stomach twist painfully. I should leave. I should turn around and walk away, but my feet remained rooted to the spot as if held there by some invisible force.

When I finally forced myself to move, to turn away from the scene, I caught a glimpse of Dominic's hand reaching toward Olivia, his fingers hooking under the thin strap of her dress, slowly drawing it down her shoulder.