STERLING
Ariel sat on the edge of the guest bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She hadn’t said much since we’d left the hotel, and the silence was unnerving. I wasn’t used to seeing her like this. It was wrong.
“Are you hungry?” I asked. Stupid question, but my vocabulary had shrunk to idiot levels whenever she was around.
She shook her head, her gaze fixed on the floor. “No.I’m fine.”
“You’re not,” I snapped, the words coming out harsher than I intended. She flinched, and I immediately regretted it. Fuck. I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “Sorry. I don’t know how to do this.”
“Do what?” she asked softly, finally looking up at me.
“This. I’m not used to caring about someone else’s safety. Not like this.”
Her lips curved into a small, sad smile. “You’re doing fine, Sterling. Really.”
I grunted, unconvinced. “You don’t know what you’re signing up for, Ariel. Rafe’s dangerous. And my mother is even worse.”
“I know,” she said simply. “But you’re not getting rid of me.”
She didn’t understand. She couldn’t. The Nightfang legacy was a rot deep in my bones, and I’d spent my entire life trying to outrun it. But now, it was catching up to me and dragging her down with it.
I couldn’t let that happen.
“Get some rest. We’ll figure this out in the morning. She nodded, but as I turned to leave, her voice stopped me.”Sterling?"
I glanced back, my hand on the doorframe. “Yeah?”
“Thank you. For letting me in.”
I gave a stiff nod and stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind me with a quiet click.
I paced the length of the living room, my mind racing. Rafe’s message had been clear, a venomous whisper that slithered through my thoughts. Ariel was a target now, a pawn in Rafe’s twisted game. And if I knew my brother, this was only the beginning.
I poured myself a whiskey, the burn as it went down my throat did little to settle the storm inside me.
The amber liquid sloshed in the glass as my hand shook.
I hated this helplessness and fear. I’d spent years building walls, making it impossible for anyone to hurt me again.
And now, in a matter of weeks, armed with nothing than a cheap notebook and a disposable ballpoint pen, Ariel had dismantled my defenses without even trying.
It was past midnight, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. I found myself standing outside the guest room door, listening for any sign that Ariel was still awake. The faint rustling of sheets confirmed it.
I knocked softly. “Ariel?”
The door opened a crack, revealing her tired face. “Couldn’t sleep either?”
I shook my head. “Kitchen. Now.”
She followed without protest, padding barefoot across the marble floor. I poured her a whiskey, sliding it across the counter. She took it with a grateful sigh.
We drank in silence for a while, the alcohol warming the space between us. Finally, Ariel spoke. “Tell me about them. Your family.”
I stiffened, my grip tightening around my glass. “What’s there to tell? They’re criminals. Violent. Manipulative. Ruthless. Take your pick.”
“But you’re not like them,” she said softly.
I scoffed. “You don’t know that.”
“I do,” she insisted. “You’re nothing like them, Sterling. You never were.”
I looked away, focusing on the night sky beyond the window. “I used to think that. But I’m starting to think that it’s impossible to wash away your past, Ariel. No matter how far you run.”
She reached across the counter, her fingers brushing mine as she took the glass from my hand.
Her fingers lingered for a moment, and I could feel the gentle pressure of her touch, the softness of her skin.
In that instant, time seemed to slow, and I was acutely aware of the space between us.
“You’re not your family, Sterling. You’re you.
And from what I’ve seen, that’s someone worth fighting for. ”
I stared at her, my throat tight. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I do. And I’m not going to let you push me away because you’re scared.”
“Scared?” I echoed. “I’m not scared.”
She raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. “Aren’t you? Because it sounds to me like you’re terrified of letting someone in. Terrified of caring about someone who might get hurt because of you.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. She was right, and we both knew it. I was scared. Scared of losing her. Scared of failing her. Scared of the chaos my family could bring into her life. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
She grinned. “So I’ve been told.”
I shook my head, a reluctant smile tugging at my lips. “Alright, Hayes. You win. For now.”
Her smile widened. But the reprieve was short-lived. My phone buzzed on the counter, the screen lighting up with a notification. I picked it up, my stomach sinking as I read the headline.
I scanned the article, my stomach sinking further with every word. The piece didn’t just target me. It went after Ariel, too.
“Who is Ariel Hayes? The mysterious woman spotted with Sterling Nightfang has been revealed as his ghostwriter. But sources close to the Nightfang family suggest there’s more to their relationship than meets the eye.
Is she a gold-digger capitalizing on Sterling’s vulnerability, or is she another pawn in the Nightfang family’s dangerous game? ”
I cursed under my breath. “She’s making her move.”
Ariel leaned over. The furrow on her forehead deepened as she read the screen. “Your mother?”
I nodded. “Violet’s not going to stop until she’s ruined me. And now, she’s dragging you into it.”
Ariel’s hand found mine, her fingers lacing through my own.
I looked at her, the determination in her eyes mirroring my own. It scared the shit out of me.
But I didn’t pull away.
The next morning, I found Ariel in the kitchen, already dressed and nursing a cup of coffee. She looked up as I entered. Dark shadows under her eyes revealed that her night had been as restless as mine. “Sleep okay?”
I grunted, pouring myself a cup. “You?”
She shrugged. “Better than expected. Though I did have a dream about being chased by a very angry Rafe in wolf form.”
I set my cup down, studying her. “We need to talk about last night.”
Her smile faded. “The article?”
“That, and Rafe.” I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms. “He’s not going to stop. And neither is Violet. You’re in danger as long as you’re with me.”
Ariel set her mug down with a sharp clink. “So what? You’re just going to fire me?”
“It’s the only way to keep you safe.”
“Bullshit.” She stood, her hands braced on the counter."
“You didn’t sign up for my family’s bullshit, for Rafe breaking into your room, for the media painting you as some kind of—”
“Gold-digging slut?” she finished dryly. “Yeah, I saw the comments section. Real classy stuff.”
I exhaled sharply. “Ariel, this isn’t a joke.”
“I know it’s not. But running isn’t the answer. You’ve spent your whole life running from them. It’s why you hired me, remember? When does it stop?”
The question hung between us, heavy and unanswerable. I turned away. “I don’t know.”
She moved then, closing the distance between us. “It’s time to stop running.”
I looked down at her, at the stubborn set of her jaw and the fire in her eyes. She was infuriatingly reckless. And too foolishly brave for her own good. Yet, right now, she was the only thing that made sense.
“Fine,” I muttered, squeezing her hand. “But we do this my way.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Your way or the highway. Got it, boss.”
I scowled, but the corner of my mouth twitched despite myself. “Smartass.”
“Takes one to know one.” She grinned, then sobered. “So, what’s the plan?”
I exhaled, my mind already racing. “First, we make sure you can defend yourself. Rafe won’t hesitate to go for your throat if he gets the chance.”
Ariel paled slightly but nodded. “Okay. Teach me.”
The penthouse gym was spacious and outfitted with top-of-the-line equipment that I rarely used these days. Ariel stood in the center of the mat, her arms crossed as she eyed me warily. “So, what? You’re going to show me how to punch?”
“Among other things. I rolled up my sleeves.”First rule, don’t panic. That’s when you make mistakes."
“Easy for you to say,” she muttered. “You’re basically a walking tank.”
I ignored that, stepping closer. “If someone grabs you, you go for the weak points. Eyes, throat, groin. Nothing is off-limits in a fight for your life.”
Ariel swallowed but squared her shoulders. “Eyes,” she breathed. “Throat. Groin.”
My cock twitched at each word. “Exactly.” I moved behind her, my hands hovering near her shoulders. Her body was warm against mine, her back pressed firmly to my chest as I demonstrated a hold. The scent of her floral shampoo filled my senses, driving the wolf wild. I had to force myself to focus.
“If someone grabs you from behind, you drop your weight and twist. Like this.”
I guided her through the motion, my hands firm on her shoulders. She moved with surprising agility, her elbow jabbing back toward my ribs. I caught her wrist, spinning her to face me.
Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths. For a moment, neither of us moved. The wolf stirred restlessly.
“Good,” I managed. “But don’t hesitate. Hesitation gets you killed.”
She nodded, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came. My hands trembled at my sides, itching to reach out and pull her close. I stepped back, putting distance between us before I did something reckless.
For the next hour, I walked her through basic moves, how to break a hold, how to use her smaller size to her advantage, and how to put enough force behind a strike to actually hurt someone. She was a quick learner. The same determination she showed in her writing carried through in every movement.