_Chase’s POV_I caught Elodie as she collapsed, her body limp in my arms. I held her close, feeling her erratic heartbeat against my chest. My own heart was racing, filled with worry and fear."Elodie," I whispered, my voice shaking. I scooped her up, cradling her in my arms, and strode back to the hotel room. The city lights blurred around me, a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to mock my despair.As I laid her on the bed, I couldn't help but think about the look of horror in her eyes. "You're a monster," she'd said. The words cut deep, but I knew I deserved them. I'd kept my true nature hidden, afraid of losing her. Now, I'd lost her trust, maybe forever.I sat beside her, gently brushing her hair back. She was so fragile, so human. And I'd dragged her into my world, a world of darkness and danger. The weight of my responsibility crushed me.Elodie's face, pale and exhausted, haunted me. I'd seen the fear in her eyes, the revulsion. How could I expect her to understand? To accept
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