Page 11 of Every Shade of Shadow

Against my better judgment, I find myself smoothing the card flat once more, tracing the indentations with a fingertip. I can almost hear his whisper in my ear, feel the heat of his gaze through the mask.

Without realizing it, I’ve taken out my phone and started to dial the number. My thumb hovers over the call button, hesitating.

Do I dare?

The woman's scarred face flashes in my mind again, twisted. I jerk back as if burned, the phone tumbling from my hands to clatter on the floor.

No. Something about this feels wrong, dangerous in a way I don't understand. I crush the card in my fist, my knuckles turning white with the force of my grip as I stride to the trash can and toss it in.

Let this mystery remain unsolved. I want no part of it.

Breathing hard, I stare at the crumpled card lying at the bottom of the bin. But I can still feel the imprint of the number in my palm, as if it's been branded there.

No, I remind myself. Fucking go, will you?

I stumble out of the bathroom in a daze. The ballroom seems darker and more sinister now, shadows lurking in every corner. The woman's warning echoes in my mind as I search the crowd for any sign of Sabrina. It’s high time we get out of here before things go full Eyes Wide Shut.

I don't understand any of this. I shouldn’t be here.

Sabrina is chatting with someone on the edge of the dance floor. I grab her arm, pulling her aside with more force than necessary. She gives me a startled look.

"Ana, what on Earth—?"

"We have to leave," I say urgently. "Now."

Sabrina frowns. "What? Why?"

I shake my head, casting another uneasy glance around the ballroom. "I can't explain right now. Please, just trust me."

Her eyes narrow, seeing my obvious distress. "All right. Let's go."

Relief washes over me as we make our way toward the exit. The stranger's warning echoes again in my mind, and I quicken my steps, eager to escape.

We're nearly at the door when a hand closes around my upper arm. I gasp, whirling to find piercing emerald eyes gazing down at me in the semi-dark.

It's him.

The Wolf.

I let out a whimper. The memory of scarred flesh flashes behind my eyes, the Wolf’s grip on my arm burning like a brand.

I know then, with cold certainty, this is not going to end well.

Sabrina looks between us, confusion etched on her face. The stranger's lips curl into a predatory smile as his gaze rakes over me.

"Leaving so soon?" His voice is velvet and poison. "The night has only just begun."

I try to pull my arm from his grasp, but his fingers only tighten. Panic rises in my chest, strangling the breath from my lungs.

"Let go of me," I say through gritted teeth.

The stranger leans down, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. "As you wish.”

Revulsion churns with desire in my stomach at his touch—the worst kind of contradiction. I twist violently, wrenching my arm free. The Wolf makes no move to stop me as I stumble back. His eyes follow me, hungry and knowing, as if he already has me in his grasp.

“Fucking psycho!” Sabrina yells back at him.

I grab Sab's hand, dragging her after me. We burst through the doors of the ballroom and out into the night. The cold air is a shock to my fevered skin. I lead Sab down the alleyway, thankful to be free. I keep my silence throughout our short stroll knowing I’m a complete mess. Only when we're in the back of the limo, speeding away from the ball, do I finally feel I can breathe again.

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