33

33

Bethany's POV

The office was suffocating today.

Stacks of paperwork, Mason's snide remarks, the constant pressure to be perfect—it all blended into a dull, crushing weight on my chest. I was so tired of pretending.

"Bethany."

I flinched, snapping my head up. Mason's voice wasn't there, thank god.

It was Adrian.

He stood by the doorway to my tiny office, casually leaning against the frame like he owned the place. His eyes softened when they met mine.

"Oh, it's you." I exhaled, letting my shoulders drop. "For a second, I thought..." I shook my head. "Never mind."

Adrian smirked, stepping in. "Relax. I'm not here to bark orders at you."

"That's a first," I muttered, eyes flicking back to the spreadsheet on my monitor.

"Careful," he warned playfully. "You're getting bold."

I snorted, but it lacked humor.

He placed something on my desk. A small, paper-wrapped box.

I stared at it, blinking.

"What's this?"

"Open it."

I hesitated. Last time someone in this house gave me a gift, it was Mason handing me a new planner, so I could better manage his schedule.

But this didn't feel like that.

I peeled the paper away and lifted the lid.

Inside was a delicate glass wolf figurine, tiny and clear, catching the light just enough to shimmer.

I swallowed.

"It's nothing," Adrian said quickly, like he regretted it. "Just... I saw it in town. Thought of you."

"Why?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Adrian's smirk faltered. "Why not?"

I ran my thumb over the smooth glass. It was cold to the touch but beautiful.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

He nodded but didn't move to leave.

"You look like hell," he said after a moment.

"Wow. Thanks."

"You know what I mean."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "It's Mason. He's… worse lately."

Adrian didn't respond right away. He just watched me. Waiting.

I hadn't talked to anyone about this. Not really. Not even Lily knew the full extent of it.

But something about Adrian made it easier.

"He's strangling me," I admitted. "I can't breathe in this place. Every second, it's like I have to prove I belong here, and even when I do everything right, it's not enough."

Adrian's eyes darkened, his jaw ticking.

"He wants me to break," I said, softer now. "I can feel it."

"You won't." His voice was sharp, certain.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you're still here."

I let out a humorless laugh. "That's not strength. That's being trapped."

He leaned closer, placing both hands on my desk. His presence filled the space between us.

"You think I don't know what it's like to be stuck under someone's thumb?" His voice dropped lower. "To be reminded every day that you're replaceable? That you're not enough?"

I looked at him then. Really looked.

Adrian always carried himself like nothing could touch him, but now... there was something raw in his eyes.

"I didn't think you cared about any of this," I admitted.

He tilted his head. "I care more than you think."

Silence stretched between us, heavier than before.

I glanced at the glass wolf again, its delicate form glinting in the light.

"My dad used to give me things like this," I murmured. "Before he died."

Adrian didn't say anything, just listened.

"He told me I was going to do great things. That I had this... fire in me." I smiled sadly. "Mason's pretty good at snuffing that out."

"You're still breathing."

I looked at him.

"That means the fire's still there."

I swallowed hard, his words cutting deeper than I expected.

"I used to dream about running my own company," I admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I had this offer from Kensington & Co. But Mason—"

"He made you turn it down."

I nodded.

Adrian cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

"I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I took that job," I said. "But now I'm stuck here. Taking orders. Filing paperwork. Pretending I'm okay."

"You shouldn't have to pretend."

"Tell that to Mason."

Adrian's jaw tightened again.

"Come with me."

I blinked. "What?"

"Not far. Just... out of this damn house. You need to breathe."

I hesitated, but the thought of sitting at this desk another minute felt unbearable.

"Fine," I sighed. "But if Mason finds out—"

"Let me worry about him."

***

The woods behind the estate were quiet, except for the rustle of leaves beneath our feet.

I hugged my arms around myself, the cold biting at my skin.

Adrian glanced at me. "Cold?"

"I'm fine."

Without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

I stared at him.

"You didn't have to—"

"Just wear it."

I sighed but didn't argue. His scent lingered on the fabric, warm and earthy.

"You didn't bring me out here just to freeze, did you?" I asked.

Adrian smirked. "No. I wanted to show you something."

We walked a bit further until he stopped near a large, ancient tree. Its roots twisted deep into the earth, and something about it felt... important.

"This tree's been here longer than the pack itself," he said. "It's a symbol of strength. No matter how many storms hit it, it's still standing."

I ran my hand along the rough bark.

"Why are you showing me this?"

"Because you need to remember who you are. Not who Mason wants you to be."

I didn't know what to say.

"You're tied to this family now. Whether you want to be or not. But that doesn't mean you let him control you."

"You make it sound easy."

"It's not."

He moved closer, eyes steady on mine.

"But you have more strength than you realize."

I swallowed.

His words dug into something fragile in me, something I wasn't ready to confront.

"Adrian..."

His hand brushed against mine.

It was subtle, almost accidental. But I felt it. And for a second, I didn't pull away. Neither did he.

And all of a sudden, the cold didn't seem so biting anymore.

"Thank you," I whispered.

His smirk softened. "Anytime, Bethany."