Chapter 26

Twenty-Six

IZZY

I wake to the sound of incessant knocking on the apartment door.

I blink and roll over, struggling to orient myself to my surroundings.

I’m lying in Grayson’s bed, in his apartment. It’s—I glance at the clock on the bedside table—just after three in the morning.

Who the fuck is banging on the door?

My first thought is Grayson. He didn’t return home last night, but he sent me a text a little after midnight telling me he had to work third shift and not to worry. Did he return home and forget his key?

I roll out of bed and pad towards the bedroom door. My gaze snags on my reflection in the mirror hanging over the dresser, and I wince.

My blonde hair sticks up in all directions, and there are dark smudges beneath both of my eyes. Tiny bruises dot my chin where that asshole grabbed me, but hopefully, I’ll be able to hide them with makeup.

A shiver rolls through me when I think about the night before.

Those three men.

That strange shadow.

Those agonized screams.

The blood dripping down the wall.

I squeeze my eyelids shut, desperately willing those images to dissipate, and when I reopen them, I feel calmer. More in control.

I need to talk to Christian about what I saw first thing in the morning.

Someone knocks again, and I huff out a breath as I throw on a pair of leggings underneath Grayson’s oversized T-shirt. It practically engulfs my petite frame like a dress.

“I’m coming!” I call, exiting the bedroom and walking towards the apartment door.

But then I freeze as an insidious thought occurs to me.

What if the monster from last night returned?

I hesitate, my feet stilling, and someone knocks again.

“Grayson!” an unfamiliar voice screeches. “Let me in!”

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I wrench the door open.

Only to immediately wish I hadn’t.

Sidney stands in the doorframe, her eyes red-rimmed from crying and her brown hair disheveled. The second she catches sight of me, her eyes narrow into thin slits.

“I fucking knew it.” She shoulders past me and stomps into the apartment. “Grayson! Come out here right this fucking instance!”

I have no idea what to say.

What to do.

Never in a million years did I expect to be the other woman. Yes, Grayson told me he broke up with her—and he assured me time and time again that their relationship meant nothing to him—but seeing the devastation and anger on Sidney’s face…

An uneasy feeling snakes through my stomach.

“Grayson!” Sidney storms towards the bed without hesitation.

As if she knows exactly where to go…

As if she’s been here before.

Stop it! I mentally chastise myself. Grayson told me he never slept with her, and I believe him. Hell, he promised me he didn’t even kiss her.

“ You .” Sidney whirls on me, her eyes spewing vitriol. She lifts a trembling finger and points it at my chest. “You’re the whore my boyfriend’s been sleeping with.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” I correct automatically, and then I instantly flinch when Sidney’s face flashes with rage.

“He wasn’t my ex when he first stuck his dick in you,” she snaps.

I wince.

I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it doesn’t change the fact that, in some ways, I am a home-wrecker.

Self-loathing slithers its way through me and makes a nest in my chest.

“I’m sorry?—”

The slap comes out of nowhere. I honestly don’t see it coming.

Pain explodes in my cheek, and tears prick my eyes. I rub at the aching skin to see Sidney standing in front of me, her chest heaving, her eyes twin flames of anger.

“You’re sleeping in his bed, wearing his clothes.” She scoffs derisively. “How does it feel to know that you got my sloppy leftovers?”

I just stare at her, refusing to rise to the bait.

“Did he tell you that you were his one and only? That he loved you?” She laughs, but the noise is devoid of any humor. “That’s what he told me—before and after he fucked the daylights out of me.” Whatever she sees on my face causes her smile to broaden, turning predatory. “You didn’t know that, did you? Tell me…did he do that thing with his tongue in your pussy? I taught him that. It felt good, didn’t it?”

Rage sweeps across my vision in a curtain of red. My hands ball into fists by my sides, but it’s like someone else is in control of my body. I’m barely aware of myself moving.

A part of me wants to punch her in the face. I totally could. Sidney may be a wolf shifter like her brothers, but I know I could take her in a hand-to-hand fight.

But…

Hurting her isn’t the answer. She’s in pain and taking her anger out on me.

Besides, I already won this battle, and we both know it. At the end of the day, Grayson is mine , not hers. Despite the little green monster inside of me peeking a single eye open, I know that all of her taunts are bullshit.

What’s the point of attacking her when the war is already over and I’ve been declared victorious?

So, as much as I’d like to stab her in the neck with one of my blades, I restrain myself. She’s not worth my anger.

Or jail time.

Sometimes it sucks having to be the bigger person.

“Tell Grayson that when he gets the balls to come see me. Or at least call me.” Sidney tosses a strand of silky brown hair in a way that whips me across the face. She once again shoulders past me to get to the door. “And Gracie?” She pauses at the door frame, stopping to peer over her shoulder at me. “I’d be careful with him if I were you. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Remember that.”

And with that, she stomps out of the apartment, leaving me alone once more.