Chapter 217

Claire's POV I jerked awake, my heart pounding. Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of my apartment, showing the empty space beside me. For one moment, I thought last night had been nothing but a nightmare. My hands shook as I reached for my phone on the nightstand. A message from Joey flashed on the screen: "Staying at Lily's tonight. See you at work tomorrow!" A sad smile crossed my face. "Joey, please tell me you didn't get swept away by some handsome stranger," I said to myself. The moment I tried to sit up, pain shot through my body. Every muscle ached, every inch of skin felt tender. The physical reminder of what had happened with Lucius last night hit me like a cold wave. This wasn't a dream. It was my harsh reality. I looked at my wrists where he had tied me with the belt. Thanks to my werewolf healing, the bruises had already faded to faint red marks. The physical evidence might disappear, but the emotional wounds felt raw and open. "Why?" I whispered to my empty apart