Chapter 242

Chapter 242:

They didn’t hesitate. They hauled Braydon toward the doors, ignoring his shouted curses. When the heavy glass doors finally swung shut behind him, the air in the lobby seemed to clear all at once.

I turned to Adella. She was trembling now, the adrenaline fading from her body. Without a word, I guided her toward the private elevator.

The doors slid shut, sealing us in a box of brushed steel and silence.

My heart was hammering against my ribs—not from the fight, but from the fear that had been gnawing at me since she had called out those words. The beast was pacing in my mind, desperate for reassurance.

аddі𝗰tі𝘷𝖾 𝘴𝘁o𝘳𝗂е𝗌 𝘰ո ѕ.𝗰o𝘮

I cornered her.

I moved until her back met the cool metal wall, trapping her between the elevator and my body. I didn’t touch her. Not yet. I simply looked down at her, searching her face for any trace of regret.

“You claimed me, Adella,” I rasped, my voice rough with need. “In front of him. In front of my Pack p>

She looked up at me, her breath hitching. “I did p>

“Was that a weapon?” I asked, leaning closer until our noses nearly touched. “Did you say it just to stop him? To survive?” I swallowed hard, the vulnerability tasting like ash on my tongue. “Or was it a vow p>

Her eyes widened slightly, then softened into something that looked terrifyingly like love. She reached up, her cool palm cupping my cheek, grounding me completely.

“It wasn’t a weapon, Dallas,” she whispered. “It was a vow. I love you p>

The beast inside me roared in triumph. Every last thread of restraint I had been clinging to snapped clean.

I crashed my lips onto hers.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was a claiming—desperate and starving. I devoured her sigh, my hands tangling in her hair, pulling her closer until there was no air left between us. She tasted like moonflowers and salvation. She melted against me, her hands gripping my lapels, matching my intensity with her own.

Mine. She is mine.

The elevator chimed, announcing our arrival at the fourth floor, but I could barely bring myself to break away. I pulled back breathless, my forehead resting against hers.

“Come,” I murmured against her lips.

I took her hand, interlacing our fingers. Her skin was warm against mine—a stark contrast to the cold fury of the lobby below. I led her down the short hallway to the door of Unit 4A.

My den.

I entered the code. The electronic beep cut through the quiet corridor, and the lock disengaged with a soft click. I looked at her one last time before opening the door.

She was here. She was mine. And tonight, I would make sure she never forgot it.

Adella

The heavy steel door clicked shut, sealing us inside Unit 4A. The sound was final, like the closing of a vault. Before I could even draw a breath, Dallas was on me.