Chapter 77

Sylvia’s POV I stared at the flood of text messages from Caesar on my phone, my thumb hovering indecisively over the screen. What did his past have to do with me? When I really thought about it, Caesar had absolutely no reason to send me these messages. I was in the kitchen getting water when I heard the front door open. The distinct sound of his footsteps made my wolf senses tingle with awareness. I quickly drained my glass, planning to head upstairs and avoid any interaction. But as I turned to leave, my escape route was completely blocked. Caesar stood in the doorway, his towering frame filling the entire space. His presence dominated the kitchen—an Alpha trait I recognized all too well. The way he positioned himself made it clear: I wasn't leaving unless he allowed it. "Excuse me," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "I need to get ready for bed." His dark eyes studied me with unsettling intensity. "Why didn't you respond to my messages?" I averted my gaze, refusing to let him see an