~Octavia's POV~
The clock on the wall ticked past 2 a.m., its relentless rhythm mocking me as I fumbled with the back door key, my heart slamming against my ribs like a trapped animal. I'd done it again... slipped out for that underground party in the warehouse district, bodies grinding under strobe lights, the air thick with sweat and cheap booze. But tonight felt different.
The house was too quiet, too still, and as the door creaked open, a shadow detached from the darkness of the living room. My stepdad... Jeremy, stood there like a goddamn predator, his broad shoulders filling the doorway, eyes gleaming in the faint glow from the city lights filtering through the blinds.
'Going somewhere, princess?' His voice was low, a velvet growl that sent a shiver straight down my spine. Not f
