The question settled heavily between them.
For a moment, she considered lying. For another, she considered telling him everything. The pack. The escape. The bond. The pain.
Instead, she smiled tightly, as she decided to stay cautious.
“Some things,” she said softly, “are better left unspoken.”
Sergio’s eyes sharpened for a brief second. Then he nodded.
“Fair enough.”
She left.
--
The next day was her only day off.
She woke early, energy buzzing through her despite the soreness in her body. The first thing she did was rush to the bank, clutching the envelope like it might disappear.
When the teller counted the money, Iva froze.
The amount was… more than generous. More than she had expected. Enough to breathe a little easier. Enough to stretch her time.
For a second, she thought
