Chapter 18
He stood up, both concerned and confused by my fear. “You invited me. Two years ago p>
“I told you to leave a long time ago! Two months ago! Get out of my
apartment!” I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.
“Tessa, don’t do this p>
“Leave. Now.” I dodged his outstretched hand. He lowered it, still
frowning in confusion. “It’s not like that. You can’t leave me. You’re
mine p>
“911, what’s your address?” The dispatcher’s voice came through the
phone.
I gave my address while silently pleading with him with my eyes. Alex looked shocked. He walked around me and finally left.
By the time the police arrived, he was long gone. They said there was nothing they could do. Suggested I apply for a restraining order.
So I did.
I never saw him in person after that. But I kept seeing traces of him: anonymous flower deliveries to my apartment. Every other car in the school parking lot covered in three inches of snow–mine wiped clean. Coasters from the bar where we’d met stuffed into my mailbox. My favorite chocolate on my car hood.
The worst part was when my memory box disappeared. It held years of personal things. After Alex left, it vanished from my closet. I
never found it again.
That’s when I decided to leave. The city was suffocating me. I
Chapter 18
wanted to go somewhere open. Somewhere with fewer people.
In a big city, he had too many places to hide. Too many people to blend in with. I wanted to get far away from Alex. Far away from the monotony of my life. I wanted to pull myself together. Find the version of me who used to care about things. Who wasn’t just going through the motions.
Cynthia Morgan and the Tikkonnit Valley School District were the first to offer me a position. That made my decision.
But now that I was in Alaska, nothing had changed.
I was still empty inside. Still cold. Just going through the motions.
Declan’s mockery–there was some truth to it. Part of why I came to Alaska was to change. Just like every other naive outsider.
The flight back to Graytooth was quiet. I could feel Declan thinking
about what I’d told him.
I alternated between feeling humiliated and angry.
How had I misread him so badly–thinking he was about to kiss me when he actually hated me? But I hadn’t done anything to deserve that kind of assumption. What gave him the right to think the worst
of me?
By the time Tikkonnit Valley appeared below us again, I didn’t feel
humiliated or angry anymore. Just tired.
While we were in Anchorage, the sun had risen and set. The flight
back to Graytooth was pitch black.
We landed on the crude little runway. Declan shut off the engine. I
turned to him. “Don’t tell anyone what I told you. About my ex p>
Chapter 18
He looked at me for a moment. Didn’t say anything.
“Please.” I didn’t want everyone pitying me. Didn’t want them
thinking I had bad judgment–that I’d picked a bad guy and could only run away instead of facing it.
Finally, he said, “I won’t say anything.” He looked at me for another moment, like he wanted to say something else.
“What?” I asked.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Frowned.
“What is it, Declan p>
Finally, he shook his head. “Nothing.” He reached into his jacket
pocket and pulled out the keys. “Go start the truck. I’ll get the books p>
We drove back to the Spruce in silence. He didn’t say a word. Helped
me load all the books into the back seat of my truck. In the distance,
wolves let out a terrifying howl. Declan turned his head and listened
in the direction of the sound.
“They sound so close. Will the wolves come?” I said, shivering.
His gaze drifted into the distance, settling above the treetops. “They
won’t p>
We went into the Spruce dining room together. It was
dinnertime–but I wasn’t hungry. Didn’t want to see anyone. I was
exhausted, body and soul.
“Hey, Tessa,” Roger greeted me as I walked in. “Declan p>
“Hi, Roger.” I skirted the counter and headed for the stairs. “Can you
tell Natalia I’m skipping dinner tonight p>
Chapter 18
“Everything okay?” Maybe I was imagining it–but I felt like his gaze shifted accusingly toward Declan.
“She’s fine,” Declan said.
Roger ignored him. “Want me to have Tasha send something up for
you p>
“No, thanks. I’ve got food in my fridge p>
Actually, my fridge was empty. But I wanted to get away from
everyone. I could handle being hungry until morning.
I went upstairs, listening for Declan’s footsteps. Relieved when he
didn’t follow.
It was only five in the evening. I changed into an old T–shirt, turned
off all the lights, and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, a familiar voice woke me from a deep
sleep.
“Tessa p>
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.