11. Paying the Price

CAST POV

The memory of Lila's face that day haunted me. She looked at me, eyes steady, as she told me she was leaving. At first, I couldn't believe it. I thought it was just a phase, that she'd come back, see reason. But she hadn't. And the longer she stayed away, the more I panicked.

"Mr. Roman, the Blakely contract needs your signature," Maya, my assistant, called from the doorway.

I barely glanced up. "I'll get to it later." It came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't care. The frustration was too much. Maya knew better than to push when I was like this.

I heard the door click shut behind her as she left me alone with my thoughts.

I stood and started pacing the length of the office. I couldn't get Lila's face out of my mind.

The cold, determined way she'd looked at me before walking out. At first, I thought she was bluffing, that she'd return.

She had to, she was my fated mate.

My Luna.

But she didn't, and that's when the panic set in.

Slamming my fist on the desk, I let the