*~~Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Six~~*

{~~Avery Sterling~~}

Logan shifted back, his body transforming seamlessly, and his naked form stood before my eyes, commanding attention. It was the perfect distraction from the chaos that had been ripping through my mind. For a moment, I could let go of everything, even if it was just for a fleeting second. His presence was grounding, a brief respite from the storm of betrayal and confusion swirling inside me.

He moved toward me, his strong arms easily lifting me from where I’d been sitting. His eyes dropped to the blood on my scraped skin, his brow furrowing in concern. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with an undertone of protective urgency.

“I’m…” I tried to answer, but the words wobbled in my throat, shaky and uncertain. As I glanced to the side, my vision locked onto Aisha. She was still standing there, frozen in place, her face pale with shock. Her wide eyes reflected a mix of remorse and fear that only deepened my own confusion. How had it come to this?

“I