Elsa
Lucas came home earlier than expected, and I immediately fell into the role I had planned—I pretended to be sick.
His face darkened with disappointment, clearly unhappy that it meant his plans for the evening were ruined. Still, he didn’t lash out or get angry. Instead, he held me gently, almost tenderly, as though he truly cared about my well-being. There was something genuine in his care, which confused me, but I knew better than to lower my guard.
The worst part was how much Lucas smelled like Adam. It was subtle but just enough to stir something in Claire, putting her on edge. I couldn’t let her react. I had to keep her in check, had to remind her that we were in a dangerous situation.
I didn’t know how Lucas managed to carry Adam’s scent like that, but I kept my thoughts to
