LAURA’S POV
The morning light bled slowly through the curtains, spilling over the polished marble floor like golden silk. But there was no peace in my chest—only a gaping ache where hope and terror collided.
I stared at the photo Serena had sent, still trembling in my hands. Elina’s bruised wrist, the tag with the date… it was a haunting reminder that monsters didn’t always hide in the dark. Sometimes they were women with soft voices and cruel smiles.
“Elijah,” I whispered, not turning around. “What if we’re too late?”
His arms wrapped around me from behind, grounding me with the scent of cedar and musk, the warmth of his bare skin against my back. “We won’t be. I already called in my team. No more playing defense.”
I turned in his arms, pressing my forehead to his chest. “If somethin
