Trapped by Seven Mafia Wolves novel Chapter 45

**Stars Refuse To Blink by Asa River Knox**

As I step out of Leon’s room, the door clicks shut behind me, a soft but definitive sound that signifies the world I’m leaving behind. The hallway stretches out before me, feeling colder and emptier than I ever remembered. It’s as if Leon’s quiet presence had wrapped me in a warm embrace, shielding me from the oppressive weight that now presses heavily against my chest. The silence wraps around me like a suffocating cloak, amplifying my unease and sending shivers down my spine.

I can’t shake the feeling that this stillness is a prelude to something ominous, a silent warning that something is amiss. My arms instinctively wrap around myself, a futile attempt to ward off the chill that seeps into my bones as I shuffle toward the stairs. I am uncertain of my destination; it feels like a blurred line in a foggy landscape. My stomach growls audibly, a harsh reminder of my neglect, but I push the thought aside, determined to ignore it. The familiar ache in my body is a companion I’ve grown accustomed to over time. I’ve endured worse, haven’t I?

Finally, I reach the bottom of the stairs, and as I do, my gaze catches a fleeting glimpse of my reflection in the hallway mirror. I stop dead in my tracks, and my heart sinks at the sight before me. My complexion is ghostly pale, my eyes swollen and haunted, and my lips are chapped, cracked like parched earth. I look like a specter, a mere shadow of the girl I once was. A small gasp escapes my lips as the harsh reality of my appearance washes over me like a cold wave.

Quickly, I avert my gaze, unwilling to confront the truth any longer.

The kitchen stands empty, its silence echoing my own solitude, while the living room is just as desolate. It’s as if the entire house is holding its breath, waiting for something—or someone—to shatter the stillness.

A thought crosses my mind, tempting yet terrifying: the library. But my chest constricts at the very idea. Matteo might be lurking there, hiding in the shadows of my thoughts. Even if he’s not physically present, his voice reverberates in my mind, a haunting reminder of words that linger like smoke, refusing to dissipate.

Instead, I find myself slipping into the movie room, a sanctuary of sorts. The atmosphere here is serene, the light soft and gentle as it filters through the windows and curtains, as if it fears being too intrusive. I sink into a plush armchair nestled in the corner, curling into myself as I pull my knees tightly to my chest, seeking comfort in the smallness of my form.

I breathe in deeply, letting the air fill my lungs, then exhale slowly, trying to dispel the tension that clings to me. In. Out. Again.

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