Bound To The Broken Alpha (Amy and Daniel) novel Chapter 14

**When Dawn Breaks Slowly Hope Finds Space To Grow by Jin Rowan Vale**
**Chapter 14: My Body Pressed Down**

**AMY**

The moment my words left my lips, I noticed Clara’s eyes widen in shock, but in a heartbeat, she masked her expression with a facade of innocence that trembled on the edges, as if it could shatter at any moment. I felt a rush of adrenaline surge through me, and without a second thought, I stood up abruptly, letting the scissors slip from my fingers. They clattered to the ground with a sharp, jarring sound that made the seamstresses flinch, their heads snapping toward the noise like startled birds.

I didn’t wait for Mrs. Carter’s judgment to hang in the air like a heavy cloud; instead, I turned on my heel and walked out, my heart thundering in my chest, each beat echoing a painful reminder of the confrontation. It was as if the world around me had dimmed, and the only thing I could focus on was the weight of their stares boring into my back—accusatory, skeptical, and intensely curious. But I was done caring. Let them think whatever they wanted.

As I pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the hall, a rush of cold air enveloped me, and I felt my wolf stir within, her voice a steady whisper in my mind. “They believe they’ve trapped us. But they have no idea who we truly are.”

For a fleeting moment, I exhaled, releasing the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Yet, deep within me, a sense of foreboding settled. Clara was no longer just toying with me; she was intent on my complete destruction. And the most unsettling realization? She was exceptionally skilled at it.

But I refused to let her claim victory. The corridor outside was chillingly quiet, the familiar scent of the Carter household thick in the air, a reminder of the chaos I had just fled. I clenched my fists tightly, forcing myself to move forward despite the turmoil swirling inside. Clara’s soft sobs still echoed faintly behind me, a haunting reminder of the betrayal I had just witnessed.

As I approached the front doors, a sudden buzz from my pocket halted my steps. I pulled out my phone, my heart racing as I read the message displayed on the screen: “We know what she did. Be careful who you trust in the Carter household.”

A shiver ran down my spine as my wolf bristled at the implication. Someone was watching me, and the thought sent a chill through my bones. I glanced at the sender, but the number was private, a faceless warning that left me unsettled.

The drive back to the hotel was silent, the radio off, the world outside a blur of streetlights that flickered past like distant stars. I didn’t reach out to anyone; I didn’t want to risk exposing my whereabouts. My head throbbed with the remnants of the confrontation at the Carter house, Clara’s feigned blood, and the weight of the entire night pressing down on me. All I craved was a sanctuary, a place where I could be alone, and I had hoped the hotel would provide that refuge.

Once inside my room, I slammed the door behind me with a force that echoed in the stillness. Kicking off my shoes, I tossed my bag onto the chair, the darkened room wrapping around me like a shroud. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to breathe, but the adrenaline still coursed through my veins, and the bruise on my forearm throbbed where Clara had gripped me. My wolf growled low within, restless and furious, yearning for action, for blood, for the thrill of the hunt.

I collapsed onto the bed, still fully clothed, thinking that if I could just close my eyes for a moment, perhaps the world would pause along with me. My phone lay on the nightstand, its screen turned down, as if it could shield me from unwanted messages. I didn’t want to hear anything more—no lies, no manipulations. The last thing I needed was another stunt from Clara or a hollow message from Mark pretending to care.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify