#Chapter 81: Straight to the Heart

Ella The shadows on the ceiling seemed to sway and dance as I lay on the plush bed, the soft linens providing little comfort to my restless mind. Each tick of the ornate clock on the wall reverberated in my ears, amplifying my rising anxiety. But it was the silence that was the loudest of all, the quiet punctuated only by my shallow breaths. “Can’t sleep?” a familiar voice echoed in the depths of my mind, its tone soft and playful. Ema. “Hey, Ema,” I whispered out loud to the wolf within me, grateful for the company. She chuffed in amusement. “You’re thinking about him. I can tell.” I sighed, turning onto my side, curling up as if shielding myself. “I’m not. I’m just... restless.” There was a pause, a stillness, before she responded. “Don’t pretend that you’re not worried about him.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not worried.” She chuckled, a sound that reverberated through my core. “Ella, after all these years, do you think you can hide