Chapter 124
Without thinking. I rushed to the door and flung it open, determined to confront him. But when I stepped outside, there was no sign of Merhold. The hallway was empty, and my heart skipped a beat. Where had he gone? Was this all part of some cruel game? My hands shook as I closed the door behind me, my mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.
I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t let him have control over me. I needed to get back to Cyrus, to make sure he was safe. I knew Nathan and Carlos would be looking out for him. They were strong. They could protect him while I was gone. But what if they couldn’t? What if something happened to Cyrus while I was trapped in this place? The thought made my
stomach churn with fear.
I closed my eyes, pushing the fear aside. Cyrus was strong. He was brave. He would be okay. He would wait for me. He had to.
Tina’s voice interrupted my thoughts, soft and comforting. “Cyrus is a brave boy,” she said, her tone filled with warmth. “He will take care of himself. He will wait for you to come.
home.”
I nodded, trying to find some peace in her words. I had to believe in him. I had to believe that he was strong enough to survive without me. I couldn’t let fear consume me. I would find a way to return to him. I would make sure he was safe, no matter what it took.
I woke up still fuming from last night. Merhold’s threats echoed in my head, and I could feel the anger settling in my chest. Just as I was about to step out ready to get some fresh air, I froze; there he was, walking toward me with a big bunch of sunflowers.
“Good morning, Doris,” Merhold greeted. He held out the flowers with a gentle smile. “Thought I’d keep you company today.”
For a moment, I just stared at him, completely thrown off. Sunflowers? After everything he’d said the night before? The bright yellow petals seemed almost mocking, clashing against the cold memories of his threats.
Yet, his face held no hint of the harshness I’d seen in him last night. He looked calm, patient, as though he hadn’t unsettled me deeply less than twelve hours ago. His smile
“Giving Up My First Love For Secret Research Second Chance at Happiness
didn’t waver as he held the flowers out, waiting, like he genuinely believed a bunch of
unflowers could make up for the mess he’d created.
I raised an eyebrow, not buying this act. But he seemed unbothered, just smiling at me patiently, waiting for me to take the flowers. I finally reached out, not wanting to argue this early in the day. He began talking about how we could spend the day, maybe have some food, sunbathe, take a walk. He was gentle, unusually so, and it threw me off.
I hesitated, trying to decide if this was just another one of his tricks. Merhold wasn’t exactly known for being considerate, and yet here he was, acting like he’d suddenly become the perfect companion. Part of me wanted to turn away, to remind him that flowers wouldn’t erase what he’d done or the things he’d said.
But something in his calm gaze softened my defenses, if only a little. Maybe it was curiosity, maybe it was fatigue from holding onto so much anger, but I found myself giving in, just for now, willing to see what game he was playing.
We walked around together for a while. Merhold kept up a steady stream of small talk, telling random stories and trying to make me laugh. It was so strange to see this side of him, the warm, almost funny side. I found myself relaxing despite my efforts to stay angry.
As we strolled, I couldn’t help but glance at him, my mind wrestling with a question I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Why are you doing this, Merhold?” I asked, finally breaking through his easy chatter. “One minute, you’re threatening me, and the next, you’re bringing me flowers and acting like… like we’re friends.” I stopped walking and looked at him, trying to read his expression. “What are you trying to prove?”
Merhold stopped, his playful grin fading as he met my gaze. “Maybe I’m trying to show you? I’m more than just threats and power plays,” he replied quietly, surprising me with a rare trace of vulnerability in his voice. “I know I’m not exactly easy to trust, Doris. But there’s more to me than what you’ve seen so far.” He paused, searching my face for any sign that I believed him. “Maybe I just… wanted you to know that.”
When we got to the yard, we saw a group of young werewolves setting up a rugby game. Merhold’s face lit up, and he jogged over to join them, a playful grin on his face. He looked. Back at me, his eyes twinkling. “Cheer me on from the sidelines, Doris,” he called, giving met a charming look.
“Göying Up My First Love Fur Secret Research. Second Chance at Happiness.
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