Page 1 of The Reaper's Vow

Karina

The monster inside me doesn't growl when Travis dumps his cheap cologne into a cardboard box—it purrs.

“You sure you want me gone, babe?” Travis's voice slithers across the apartment, wrapping around my throat like it has for the past eighteen months. He sets down the box and stretches, making sure his t-shirt rides up just enough to show the abs he spends more time admiring than I ever did. “We had some good times.”

I fold my arms across my chest, keeping my distance near the kitchen counter, “Come on, Karina.” He steps closer, and Icatch the scent, arousal mixed with desperation. My heightened senses make it impossible to miss. “One last time for the road?”

“I’ll pass.”

His smile falters, then returns with an edge. “Still playing the ice queen? That's why we're done, you know. You're always so...distant.” He runs a hand through his perfectly styled hair. “Except in bed. That was the only time you seemed alive.”

The monster inside me stirs, not with desire but with rage. If he knew what lived beneath my skin, what prowled beneath the surface on full moon nights, he’d be clawing his way out the door.

“I said no.” I flick a glance at my watch, “You’ve got thirty more minutes before my lunch break ends.”

Travis snorts and grabs another box, shoving his gaming console inside with far too much force. “You’ve been saying ‘no’ a lot lately. Disappearing in the middle of the night. Coming back smelling like the woods.” His jaw tightens, suspicion hanging heavy in the air. “Who is he, Karina?”

“There’s no one.” The lie slips out easily, familiar on my tongue. Not because I’m unfaithful, but because my entire life has been built on half-truths.

“Bullshit.” He slams the box down. “Normal people don't just vanish at 2 AM.”

I bite back the response that burns in my throat. I'm not normal. I'll never be normal.

“I have insomnia,” I say instead, the same excuse I've used a hundred times. “I go for walks.”

“In the fucking forest? In the middle of the night?” He laughs, but there's no humor in it. “You expect me to believe that?”

The monster inside me paces restlessly. Three days until the full moon. Three days until I have no choice but to let it outagain. My skin already feels too tight, like I'm wearing clothes a size too small.

“Believe whatever you want, Travis. It doesn't matter anymore.”

He moves toward me suddenly, and I tense. Not out of fear—though I've learned to act afraid when appropriate—but to keep the wolf at bay. She doesn't like sudden movements, especially from men who reek of anger and testosterone.

“You know what?” Travis takes another step closer, invading my space. “I think you've been lying to me this whole time. I think there's a lot you haven't told me.”

If he only knew how right he is.

“Back up, Travis.”

“Or what?” He cocks his head. “You gonna call the station and report me to my sergeant? Who do you think they'll believe?”

The monster inside me is fully awake now, clawing at my ribs. She wants out. She wants to show him exactly what happens when you corner a wolf.

“Three minutes,” I say, forcing my breathing to slow. “Then I'm calling someone to remove you.”

He laughs but takes a half-step back. “Who? Your mystery man?”

“The property manager. I've already spoken with him.”

Something in my tone must finally get through to him. Travis's expression shifts, the facade of confidence cracking just enough to reveal the insecurity beneath.

“You'll regret this,” he mutters, turning back to his boxes. “When you're alone in this place at night, you'll miss me.”

I almost laugh. I'd rather face a thousand lonely nights than one more with him. But I keep that thought locked behind my teeth as I watch him pack. The air in the apartment feelscharged, like the moments before a thunderstorm breaks. I've become good at weathering storms.

“You'll call,” Travis says with the certainty of someone who's never been told no. “When you're done playing hard to get, you'll call.”

“I won't,” I say simply.