Lucia’s heart raced as she stepped toward the den's exit, her emotions tangled in knots. Every word she had said to Nicholo weighed heavily on her. As much as she had tried to keep her voice steady, the truth was, it hurt. It hurt more than anything she'd ever known. But she needed to leave, to breathe, to think.
Miranda stood by the entrance, waiting for her. She gave Lucia a look that wasn’t pushy but firm, as if reminding her of their plan. They needed to find Luke and update him on Nicholo’s reaction. But just as Lucia was about to cross the threshold, a strong hand gripped her wrist.
It was Nicholo.
"Lucia," his voice was low, rough, and trembling with emotion. “Wait.”
She stopped, feeling his touch burn through her like an electric shock. Nicholo stepped closer, leaning in so tha
