I sat in the corner of the cold, opulent room, staring blankly at the large window, the moonlight casting long shadows across the floor. Pierre’s mansion felt like a prison. Every luxurious detail, every silk sheet and velvet curtain, was a mockery of the freedom I had lost. I wasn’t Raphaella, the strong, independent woman I once thought I was—I was nothing more than a caged bird, a possession.
I had refused everything he offered me. Food, clothes, comforts—none of it mattered. I wanted nothing from him. Every time I looked at Pierre, the man who had ruined my life, it felt like my heart was being crushed under the weight of his obsession. He could have anything he wanted in this world, but for some reason, he wanted me.
There was a soft knock at the door before Pierre entered, his presence filling the room as usual. He was dressed in his usual tailored suit, looking every bit the powerful Lycan King that he was. But in his eyes, there was something else—a vulnerability I hadn’t noticed before. He approached slowly as if I might bolt if he moved too quickly.
“Raphaella...” His voice was low, almost tender, but I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t.