Chapter 102

• *Isabel*
• Dante, oblivious to the depth of my worries, leaned in and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. His hand moved to my ass and he patted it playfully as he caressed my cheek with his other hand. "Go upstairs and change. See if you can get some rest before they get here. You’ll feel better." I wasn’t sure how a shower could magically fix this, but I nodded because it was easier than arguing. Sliding out of his arms, I reached for my bag on the couch, my fingers clumsy and cold. Dante gave me a gentle nudge toward the stairs, and I managed a small smile for him before taking the first step. I made it to the guest room on autopilot, my thoughts spinning so fast they blurred together. Stella's parents. Alpha and Luna. What could they possibly want to say to me?
• The bathroom tiles were cool under my feet, as I stepped into the shower. The water poured over me, hot enough to sting, but even that wasn’t enough to silence the doubts clawing at the edges of my mind. My fingers worked through my hair mechanically, my chest felt tight with an ache I desperately wanted to claw out. My shower only lasted for a few minutes, and then I stepped back into the guest room, pulling on a pair of clean jeans and a soft sweater, something comfortable but not too casual. I was towel-drying my hair when the door creaked open behind me. My stomach dropped as I turned to see Dante standing there, his eyes immediately finding mine.