Chapter 45

The day passed in a blur of fear and anger. I tried to ignore the ache in my chest, the inexplicable pull towards him that grew stronger with each passing hour. The room felt like it was closing in on me, the walls suffocating.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a warm orange glow, the door opened again. Alex walked in, his eyes glowing faintly in the dusk. He looked at me with a mix of hunger and frustration, and something else I couldn't quite place. "You can't keep running from this," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.

I stood, my fists clenched at my sides. "I'm not running," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "I'm fighting for my life."

He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "Our life," he corrected, his voice a caress that sent heat pooling in my belly despite my anger.

The air crackled with tension, and I could feel the bond pulsing between us. It was like a living entity, demanding to be acknowledged, demanding I give