He pressed his lips together, then reached for my hand again, holding it this time. “Wife… Chiara prepared something for you. An animal show. She said she wants to apologize properly. At least go take a look, okay?”
“I don’t want to,” I said quietly.
He didn’t listen. Of course he didn’t.
Without another word, he lifted me into his arms and carried me downstairs.
The night air hit me hard. Cold. Sharp.
I was only in a thin nightgown, and my body started shaking almost immediately. But he didn’t notice. Or maybe he did, and just didn’t care enough.
I watched him walk ahead, carrying clothes in his arms.
But not for me.
For her.
He went straight to Chiara and carefully helped her into a thick protective suit, pulling it over her shoulders, adjusting it like she was something fragile. He slipped gloves onto her hands, fixed the helmet over her head, every movement slow and careful.
Then he leaned in and kissed her cheek, soft and full of affection.
“Chiara,” he said gently, “don’t push yourself too hard. You and the pup… you’re what matters most right now. Nothing else is more important than you.”
The wind carried his voice straight to me.
The moment Chiara pulled the cloth off the cage, my whole body went stiff.
Inside were two beasts. A massive bear and a shadow lynx, both fully grown, both restless, their claws scraping against the metal bars like they wanted out.
The second the cloth dropped, they froze… and then their heads snapped toward me.
“Rawrrr—”
The bear roared, low and hungry, its black eyes locking onto mine like it already chose me.
My heart dropped.
Why are they looking at me like that…?
I took a step back without thinking, my chest tightening. And then it hit me. The bouquet earlier. That weird, sharp smell.
My fingers curled slightly. No… no, don’t tell me…
I forced my voice to stay steady. “Drake… I don’t feel good. Can we just go back? Please… I don’t want to stay here.”
Before, he would’ve panicked. He would’ve carried me back himself, asked a hundred questions, made sure I was okay.
Now…
He frowned, like I was being difficult. “Chloe, don’t start this again. She’s been preparing for a long time. Can’t you just stay and watch for a bit? Don’t ruin it.”
Don’t ruin it.
I swallowed, my throat tight. “I’m not trying to ruin anything. I just… I really don’t feel well. Can’t we leave after this? Or even now?”