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But with that possession came responsibility.I had brought her into my world, a world filled with danger and secrets.I had exposed her to the scrutiny of the media and the threats from my family.I had to protect her, shield her from the dangers that were sure to come.

As the night wore on, I found myself unable to sleep.My mind raced with thoughts of the future.I tightened my hold on her, my wolf letting out a protective snarl.Whatever came our way, I was determined to keep her safe, to protect her from the darkness that lurked in the shadows of my world.She was my light, and I would do everything in my power to ensure that her brightness was never extinguished.

With that thought, I finally drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 10

ARIEL

The helicopter blades thundered overhead as we lifted higher into the sky.I pressed my palm to the window and watched as Huntington Harbor shrank below us like a miniature model city.When Sterling suggested that we flee the media circus and Violet’s threats by taking a vacation, I jumped at the chance.Except, I never factored in the fact that I had never been on an airplane before, much less a helicopter.

Sterling’s hand tightened around mine.His thumb brushed against my knuckles.“Breathe.”His command cut through the rotor’s roar like a knife.

Outside, the world transformed as we left the concrete jungle behind for jagged mountain peaks and the endless pine tree forests of Paradise Peaks.The Hughes Hotel emerged like a mirage, its stone turrets and arched windows straight out of a Gothic romance.This wasn’t just luxury.It was a fairy tale come to life.

The moment we touched down on the hotel’s private landing pad, I knew Sterling hadn’t just brought me to any resort.A concierge team was waiting for us before the rotors had even stilled.Their synchronized bowing was something out of a movie.As they led us to the presidential suite, I gaped in awe at my surroundings.Everything reeked of exclusivity and money.The staff didn’t just greet Sterling, they catered to his exact demands.

The suite was impressive, an entire apartment with an unobstructed view of snowcapped peaks and the shimmering blue alpine lake at the foot of the mountains.Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be staying in the same hotel as royalty and presidents.

Sterling watched with an amused expression as I explored the suite, my fingers trailing over the imported Italian marble surfaces and hand-embroidered silk curtains.When I walked into the bedroom, I stopped and stared at the package in the middle of the king-sized bed.

The gift waited like a promise wrapped in shimmering silver paper.Carefully, I unwrapped the present without tearing the paper.Inside, was a bound notebook with a buttery-soft tawny leather cover and thick creamy pages that felt like fabric.Next to the notebook was a slender black box that contained a silver fountain pen.

My breath caught in my throat and my eyes grew wet when I noticed my initials etched along the barrel.This gift was the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for me.Sterling had noticed and remembered all the times I complained about the cheap dollar-store spiral notebooks I used.They were perfectly fine for jotting down notes and book ideas, but it always felt wrong to keep my journal in something disposable.I could never justify spending more for something better, no matter how much I had always wanted a proper journal.

But now, I had something worthy of my private thoughts.“Sterling, I don’t know what to say,” I breathed out.

He watched me from the doorway, all casual indifference, but his soft eyes revealed the truth.“You said your old one was falling apart.”

Even among the chaos and danger surrounding us, he took the time to find something that was perfectly me.“Thank you.It’s perfect.”

That night we went downstairs to the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant for dinner.After we had savored every morsel of the exquisite truffle tortellini and sipped wine that was older than me, we found ourselves drawn to the warmth of the crackling fireplace in our room.The vintage Barolo had left us both pleasantly relaxed.

Sterling sprawled across the plush leather sofa first, his long legs stretching toward the hearth, while I curled up against his side.The flames danced hypnotically in the grate, casting an amber glow throughout the dimly lit room.

As the fire crackled and popped, I found myself mesmerized by the way the golden light played across Sterling’s features.The fire highlighted the strong line of his jaw, the gentle curve of his lips, and most notably, the thin white scar that traced from just below his collarbone down the side of his ribs.The dancing flames painted ever-changing shadows across that familiar mark, a permanent reminder of his nightmarish childhood.

I reached out with tentative fingers to touch the raised flesh.My fingertips followed the raised line of scar tissue, feeling the slight roughness where the skin had healed imperfectly all those years ago.

“What are you thinking?”he asked.

I hesitated.“That I wish I could take away your pain.”

Sterling’s throat worked as he swallowed hard, his amber eyes darkening with raw emotion.“You have,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.“God, Ariel, you have no idea what you’ve done to me.”

His large hands framed my face.“The mate bond has filled the constant aching hole that I’d carried for so long I thought it was just part of who I was.”A tremor ran through his powerful frame.“But you.Fuck.You filled every broken part of me with light.It’s like I can finally breathe without it hurting.”

It couldn’t have been easy for someone like Sterling to bear his heart.That made his confession all the more touching.I rose to my knees and pressed my lips to his.The kiss was soft at first, a gentle promise, but Sterling groaned low in his throat and yanked me across his lap.His mouth moved against mine with desperate tenderness, pouring every emotion he couldn’t voice into this single point of connection.Through the bond, a warm comforting sensation filled my chest.He was finally at peace.

The next morning, we got up early.Room service arrived with silver-domed trays, and we lingered over coffee and croissants, crumbs scattered across the white sheets.After we finished eating breakfast, Sterling suggested we go for a hike around the lake.

In the closet hung a new fleece-lined jacket, the tags still attached, alongside hiking trousers and boots in exactly my size.The leather still smelled fresh from the box.Sterling must have made a call during dinner last night.A single message and the hotel anticipated our every need.It was amazing the kind of service money could buy.

We walked in comfortable silence.The air smelled of frost and pine.Each breath I took came out in a puff of steam.But as we reached a rocky outcrop, the hairs on my neck stood up.The forest had gone eerily quiet.The birds had stopped singing.Not even the buzz of insects broke the silence.Our footsteps seemed as loud as an exploding bomb in the stillness.

“Sterling,” I whispered.“Something’s wrong.”

He stopped, his body coiled tight as he scanned the tree line.“Stay close,” he muttered.