Chapter 136 - among the gang

Stella

"Lawrence, wait--" My voice cracked reaching after his swift departing form. But duty's biting lash drove him relentlessly onward.

I stood anchored by unfamiliar gazes assessing my worth now severe protection had vanished.

"This is important Babe, we'll talk later. I promise."

Rough men, scarred visages marked by brutality endured and meted.

Hands calloused wielding tools of violent justice ordinarily hidden from genteel eyes too soft witnessing messy necessities securing safe illusion.

Now curiosity and skepticism weighed heavy as judgement against frail feminine interloper on their territory by alpha's inexplicable blind affection alone.

Had sheltering walls cracked enough revealing darker currents flowing beneath cultured veneer?

I wavered torn by lingering dread and deeper conscience whispering kinship with ragtag warriors not gentle forged.

We trod the same veiled borderlands few travelled willfully, sacrificing innocence that some beauty persistuntainted for rare traver