8. Stay here tonight.

When Olivia turned around, she saw no one. Yet, the fear in her heart refused to fade. Unconsciously, she began gesturing to herself—a habit she hadn't even realized she had formed.

Devon stiffened at the sight. Her gestures always unsettled him. He had thought sneaking up on her might force her to speak, but he was wrong. Watching her now, still silent, frustration tightened his chest.

She reminded him too much of his mother—mute, like Olivia. His father had forced sign language upon him from a young age, his lessons laced with violence. And Devon had endured more than just those punishments—he had been forced to watch his father mistreat his silent mother, powerless to stop it.

"Why do I have a mute mate too? Is this some kind of curse?" he thought bitterly. Was this the Moon Goddess testing him, seeing if he was just like his father?