Chapter 18 Marked Mine

• (POV: Isabela)
• The heavy bedroom door clicked shut behind me. The sound seemed loud in the sudden, deep silence. Alone. Finally. Thank goodness. And terrifyingly alone. The stress of the party – the fake smiles, the judging looks, being too close to Mateo, seeing his cruelty, Quino’s fearful warnings, Rena’s tricky whispers – all faded away. Left behind was a deep exhaustion mixed with a jumpy, nervous energy.
• I leaned back against the strong wooden door, closing my eyes. My breath came in short, rough gasps. My fancy bedroom suite, usually feeling like a beautiful cage, felt like a safe place for a moment, even if it wasn't perfect. The air still seemed tight with the tension from the party, heavy with the memory of Mateo’s possessive touch and his threatening words.