Chapter 34
Chapter 34
SHANE
Before I could answer, I spun on my heels and ran towards the exit. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and pain, my breath coming in ragged gasps. As I fled the mansion, the throng of people around me blurred, ignoring my frantic energy. I just wanted to escape, feel the cool night air on my face, flee from this chaos.
But behind me, footsteps quickened, and when I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the two men pursuing me. Alarm shot through me. I stopped mid-hallway, the crowds parting around me, my heart hammering against my ribs, unable to contain the rising tide of fear. Ignoring everyone else, I turned, my voice firm, laced with defiance.
"Don't come any closer!" I shouted, raising my hand in a warning. "Let me go!"
Hassel stopped, clearly taken aback by my reaction, and Liam frowned, puzzled by the mixture of fragility and determination in me. At that moment, his indifference towards my feelings-a harsh realization of his callous nature-became more important than what he might think. I couldn't be weighed down by his world, where a simple kiss with another she-wolf spoke louder than my words.
The crowd seemed to halt, their gazes drawn to us. My cheeks burned, but I wouldn't back down. Despite the whispers swirling through the room, my mind was fogged with confusion and pain. I determined that whatever else happened, my freedom was paramount. Without looking back, I resumed my flight toward the exit, desperately longing to escape this wolf pack and royal life I never asked for.
Outside the mansion, the cool night air hit me with startling force, yet the atmosphere remained thick with the lingering moisture of the storm that had just passed. I looked down to see my bare feet sinking into a small puddle that had formed at the doorway. A shiver ran through me at the cold, damp ground, but I couldn't turn back. The evening had been too intense to dwell on small inconveniences, and all I wanted now was to leave this whole debacle behind.
Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name from a little further down the path. Slowly turning, my eyes met Marc and Gigit's, who were approaching me with a mixture of concern and relief. The sight of Gigit smiling warmly as she held Marc's hand offered a small moment of peace amidst the emotional storm raging within me.
"Hey!" Gigit exclaimed, full of energy. "Are you okay? We need to get out of here."
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, though the words sounded hollow. The truth was, I felt dizzy and confused, but he didn't need to know that.
Marc stepped forward, and after a quick exchange between them, Gigit handed him the car keys.
"Take her, I'll handle everything," Gigit said, her voice conveying more command than suggestion.
I looked at Marc, who smiled kindly. Without hesitation, I nodded and followed him towards his car. The evening's tension still hung heavy in the air, and I reminded myself that I needed to stay strong and detached.
Just as we reached the car, a pang of discomfort shot through me. I looked up, and there stood Liam and Hassel, their gazes locked on me. In Liam's eyes was the familiar worry, the concern that usually comforted me. But in Hassel's face was something entirely foreign. My chest tightened at the confused mix of feelings I had toward him. Despite all the bitterness, there was an inexplicable pull I couldn't explain.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and climbed into the car, slamming the door shut, as if that could sever the invisible threads tying me to them, especially Liam. I didn't want to dwell on his kiss with Ana, or how it had shattered what little trust I had left. I couldn't forgive infidelity, not tonight, not ever.
Marc started the engine, and we pulled away from the mansion. The road stretched ahead, dark and full of shadows, as was my mind. Throughout the ride, I remained silent, though Marc tried several times with casual questions, my responses were monosyllabic, or simply a quiet nod. I knew I couldn't unravel what I felt, and avoid any conversation that might bring the night's events back into focus.
When we reached my apartment, the tension still pressed against my chest. Before I could exit the car, I turned to Marc, a blend of gratitude and anxiety in my voice.
"Listen…" I began, before swallowing my words. "... I don't want you to let Liam in, okay? I don't want to see him."
Marc narrowed his eyes, clearly surprised by my sudden need for control, but nodded.
"Fine."
I slid the key into the lock, and as I entered my apartment, the quiet embraced me. I turned, but the weight of the night still pressed down, a shadow in every corner of my mind. Dealing with my emotions seemed unavoidable, but in that moment, I decided I just needed space.
What had transpired in the mansion had been a whirlwind of emotions and revelations. I could feel the coming sadness, the pile of questions and doubts that would accompany me. But now, I craved a moment of peace, a brief respite from the chaos. My heart throbbed with anger, confusion, and a flicker of sadness. The mansion receded, but its shadow still lingered, a persistent reminder of what I couldn't change or avoid.