Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I stared up at the dark, overcast sky. The storm had been brewing for days, and now the weather had turned colder with the relentless winds.

I hugged myself, feeling the chill as I reached into my bag and pulled out my umbrella, stepping out of the house and toward my car.

As I drove toward the hospital, the radio blared reports of the approaching storm hitting Remorse. It seemed I would need to stock up on groceries for Papa and me for the coming days. Fortunately, Mr. Pio had given me a two-week leave to recover from my injured arm.

By the time I arrived at the hospital, the rain had intensified. I tightened my grip on the umbrella, fighting against the strong winds, but within moments, it was flipped inside out, leaving me completely soaked.

I rushed inside, hoping to avoid looking like a drowned rat. My umbrella was useless against the torrential downpour. My now-dry hair was drenched once again.

In the elevator, I wiped the water from my skin. Even my hoodie had done nothing to protect me—it was soaked through, leaving me no choice but to pull it off. Now, all I could do was hug myself to stay warm.

The elevator stopped on the third floor. My gaze froze as a man stood before me. He wore a white V-neck shirt beneath a brown leather jacket, his hands tucked into his pockets, and a serious expression etched on his face. The shock in his eyes was brief, replaced by his usual stoic demeanor—nothing like the carefree Levi I once knew.

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. The memory of what happened at his house haunted me—his kiss, my reluctance to pull away, and most of all, his cold refusal to help Rouge. The anger churned inside me. They’re still human. Why doesn’t he have a heart?

You don’t have a heart, either.

The words whispered through my mind, biting. I bit my bottom lip, the memory of what I said to him before leaving his house that day stinging.

I found myself rummaging through his closet, finding nothing but his clothes. A soft curse escaped me as I realized I had no choice but to leave wearing his clothes.

I grabbed some slippers from the side of the bed and stepped out of the room. Several passersby bowed as I walked by, confused by their sudden formality. Why are they bowing?

I ignored it, continuing down the stairs. At the bottom, I came face-to-face with Levi, engaged in conversation with Baron and Hank.

Hank wore his usual playful grin, while Baron remained stoic as ever.

"Hi, Tracy," Hank greeted with a smile.

Levi shot him a glare. Instead of backing down, Hank chuckled, raising his hands as if surrendering. "Chill, Alpha. Just wanna be friends with the future Luna." He winked at me.

Levi’s brow furrowed deeper, and his jaw clenched. He shot Hank a warning look, and Hank, still grinning, lowered his head in defeat.

Levi’s serious gaze shifted to me. His biceps flexed as he folded his arms over his broad chest. He raised a questioning brow, his expression demanding to know what I was doing there.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I glared back at him, returning his penetrating gaze with disdain. No way am I ending up with this heartless beast.

I extended my hand, keeping my eyes fixed on him. "Where’s my car key?"

Levi raised his brow, his expression hardening. After a brief glance at Baron and Hank, he motioned for them to leave. Once they were gone, he stepped closer, his grip tightening on my arms. I instinctively stepped back, causing his expression to darken further, his eyes now a deeper golden-yellow.

"You're not leaving this house, Tracy," he said firmly.

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" I shot back defiantly.

His eyes narrowed at my defiance. He stepped forward again, and this time, a wave of fear washed over me. His grip on my arms tightened further.

"I'm the one who saved you. Now, you're gonna listen to what I say, or—"

"Or what? You're gonna rip my throat out? Isn’t that what you do to us? Tear us apart and eat?" My voice rose, fueled by anger and frustration.

His jaw clenched, his golden-yellow eyes blazing. His hold on me became even more painful.

"Enough!" His growl echoed through the house.

I winced as his grip became almost unbearable. When he realized he was hurting me, he suddenly released me, and I stumbled backward onto the nearby sofa. He turned away, running his fingers through his hair, his irritation evident.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he remained turned from me.

"I'm sorry... I just want you to be safe," his voice softened, now quieter, almost defeated.

"I don’t need you to do that for me. I’m not a child, Levi. I wouldn’t run to Brenther and get bitten if you had just helped me earlier. Please, I can’t picture my future without Rouge. Please, how hard is it for you to help someone who needs it?"

I could see his fists clenching, his breathing growing heavier.

"You have a choice. I gave you a choice," he said, his voice struggling to remain steady, as if he was barely keeping his emotions in check.

I stood up, taking a tentative step closer to him. "Yes, but I barely even know you, Levi. I can’t just leave Rouge like that for you. You’re not just some guy in this society. You’re the alpha of your pack and a freaking multi-millionaire, for heaven's sake. Can’t you pick someone from your own world? Someone who matches your status? I’m sure there are plenty of women—"

Before I could finish, he was suddenly close to me, trapping me in his arms. His warmth enveloped me, his head resting against my forehead.

"But I want you... And you’re not just some girl," he murmured, his husky voice sending shivers down my spine.

I swallowed hard, trying to push him away, but he only tightened his grip.

I lowered my gaze to his chest. "Stop playing games... Please."

Another heavy sigh escaped him. "I’m not."

I let out a faint, incredulous laugh. "Really? Come on. Is this some kind of bet? What is it with you, playing with me? You’re telling me you like me, but we don’t even know each other. Twice our paths have crossed, and now you say you love me? Classic lines for heartbreakers, huh?"

He was silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, he brushed a strand of my hair from my shoulder, his fingers tracing the scar there. Before I could react, he pressed a soft kiss to it.

And my heart almost stopped from the intensity of the moment.

"Someday, you’ll understand everything... how you became mine, why you became mine. Not his—mine," he whispered in my ear, placing another gentle kiss on the side of my head.

Before I could be fully swept away by him again, I pushed him away, succeeding this time.

I backed away, creating distance between us. His expression remained dark, his eyes fixated on the wooden floor.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands.

"That day will never come. I’m not yours, Mr. Grimmerson, and I never will be. We met because the man I love is dying, and I had no other choice but to ask help from a beast. I loathe your kind, Levi! Everything about you disgusts me. Mark my words—I will never choose you. Never."

Tears streamed down my face as I walked away. I quickly wiped them away, not wanting him to see my weakness.

I couldn’t bear to stay in the same space with him. The ache in my heart tightened, seeing how broken he looked. His shoulders, once strong and imposing, now seemed burdened by some unseen weight.

He didn’t say a word as I passed by him.

"Butler Finn, give Tracy her car keys." His voice was cold, distant. I froze, turning to see an older man holding my car keys by the door.

I felt a pang of guilt for my harsh words. Biting my bottom lip, I lowered my gaze.

After a moment, Levi moved toward the door, standing there silently. His brow furrowed, his jaw clenched. His eyes remained on me, searching, but I avoided his gaze.

Blushing, I realized how pitiful I must have looked—wet, shivering, hair stuck to my face. Embarrassed, I quickly averted my eyes, staring at my muddy rubber shoes.

Then, he was beside me again, his face unreadable. Without a word, he removed his jacket and placed it over my shoulders.

His scent filled my senses, warming me in a way I couldn’t explain.

"I don’t need you to do that," I murmured, my voice trembling.

"Don’t feel special. Whether it’s you or just some girl, I’ll do it," he said, his tone emotionless, devoid of any warmth.

The words felt like a slap. I swallowed the growing pain in my chest, feeling my face flush with shame.

Once he adjusted the jacket properly, he turned, walking away without a glance back. Before the elevator doors shut, I caught sight of his blue eyes again—only this time, they weren’t cold. They were full of pain.

Pain that I had caused.

As the rain continued to pour outside, I felt my tears mix with the cold, letting them fall as I walked away.