Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Paula

It’s been a month since Henrik hired me. I don’t see him very often, except when I work late, and he offers me a ride home. It’s been nice, and I love checking him out when he isn’t looking at me, but our small “dates” will soon end.

I’ve made friends with a few young vampire girls that work in the reception and they have kindly offered to take over Henrik’s job. It might be for the better since I’m still together with Timothy–yes, it’s stupid, but leaving him isn’t easy.

Timothy isn’t always mean to me. He is nice sometimes, and this entire week, he has cooked me dinner. The guy even a job, and yeah, it’s an illegal one, but it’s still a job! I’m proud of him…even if he did heat me yesterday after he found out Henrik has been giving me car rides home.

Found

But I’m not sad! Timothy texted me to apologize and said he would cook me dinner plus he also bought me a secret present.

I’m excited.

or I should be.

Tears are prickling behind my eyelids. I don’t want to leave the office. My body is in pain from all the beatings I’ve had to endure this month. Perhaps if I were quiet, no one would notice if I slept in my chair?

“Working late again?”

1 whip around in shock and freeze when I see Henrik. He is smiling at me…until he sees my expression. Shit. Am I looking sad and miserable

I quickly dry my tears and fake a smile. “Y–yeah, I need the money. Food is very expensive these days.”

Henrik’s smile fades, replaced by a look of concern. I watch his gaze trail over me, taking in my disheveled state. He walks towards me, and I can’t help but flinch. It wasn’t meant to be a reaction towards him but rather a response programmed via Timothy’s abuse.

It’s there in an instant–the flash of hurt in his eyes–before it’s replaced by an even deeper concern. “Paula,” he begins hesitantly. “are you okay!”

“Yes,” I lie with as much conviction as I can muster, which is not much at all. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”

He studies me for a moment longer before nodding slowly. “Alright, do you need a ride home?”

“No!” The answer is out before I can stop it. God, I’m such an idiot! “L.. I mean, no, thank you, Henrik. The girls offered to give me a ride.”

He looks surprised, but his expression quickly changes to a darker one, which makes him appear a hundred times more intimidating. I swallow thickly. Is he mad at me? Did I do something wrong?

Henrik walks up to my chair, and I shriek when he suddenly falls down on his knees.

“Wh–what are you doing?!”

He doesn’t seem bothered by my disconffort and instead grabs my arm. I try to pull it away from him, but he is too strong and calmly pulls up my sleeve to reveal an arm filled with bruises.

His

eyes immediately widen before they harden into a deadly glare. “Who did this to you, Paula?” His voice is a low growl, but the anger is unmistakable.

“I… I..” I stammer, too panicked to think of an excuse.

Chapter 56

“Was it Timothy?” Henrik’s question hangs in the air heavily, and I know there’s no point in trying to deny it. Still, I can’t find my voice to answer him.

Henrik releases my arm gently and places his hands on my thighs while gazing up into my eyes. He takes several deep breaths before speaking again. “I’m driving you home tonight”

“No, Hen–1 begin to protest, but he cuts me off with a single look that tells me this isn’t up for debate. My shoulders slump in defeat. “As you wish.”

The ride is silent. Henrik’s expression remains stern, his gaze focused on the road. But I can see his knuckles turning white from gripping the steering wheel too firmly.

As we reach my apartment building, he doesn’t pull up at the entrance but drives around to a quieter side street.

here, he orders before getting out of the car and walking towards the back of the building. I’m left alone in the car, and my mind whirls with thoughts and fears.

I don’t know what Henrik plans to do, and I am terrified for Timothy. I know what he is capable of when threatened. But Henrik is a freaking dragon–he scares me more than a normal human like Timothy ever could

He wouldn’t kill Timothy, would he?

It feels like I’m sitting on pins and needles until Henrik finally returns to the car. There are two big bags in his hands–did he pack my stuff?

I’m….baffled and can only stare as Henrik throws the bags into the trunk before sliding behind the wheel.

“You will sleep at my place tonight,” he says without looking at me. There’s blood on his right hand, and my stomach clenches with fear.

“You didn’t kill him, did you?” I whisper.

“No.” Henrik responds calmly, his knuckles tightening on the steering wheel. “But he will think twice before laying a hand on you again.”

“I see,” I stare down at my knees, unsure what else to say. There is this tension inside the car. “Are you mad at me?

“For not telling me about your abuse boyfriend?”

The only answer I can manage is a nod. I know it’s stupid, but part of me is afraid of Henrik. What if he is just pretending to be nice when, in reality, he is just as bad as Timothy?

“I’m not mad at you,” he drives away from the curb with his eyes on the road. “I’m mad at your boyfriend for being a piece of shit…and I guess I’m also a bit confused.”

“Confused?”

Anger ticks against his jaw. “I don’t understand why you choose to be with a man like that when I’ve told you countless times that you’re meant for me. Do you honestly believe Timothy is a better partner than me? That he is better boyfriend

material?”

“For all his faults, at least Timothy doesn’t puff smoke and breathe fire. Neither is a gorgeous billionaire who could have whoever he wanted. Admit it–you don’t want me, you’re just addicted to the chase!”

Silence falls, and I immediately regret my words when I see Henrik’s shocked expression. His purple eyes rake me up and down, and my heart races when he makes a right turn into the dark forest. Great. Now I’ve pissed him off–what a brilliant way to die, Paula!

Chapter 56

Fear churns in the pit of my belly, and the longer Henrik remains silent, the bigger it grows. I swallow hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. I have to apologize before Henrik does something rash.

“Henrik,” my voice trembles, “I–I didn’t mean..”

He cuts me off with a wave of his hand, the gesture sharp and dismissive. The sight of it sends a jolt of terror through me. Even though I’ve seen a lot of angry men, this is more upsetting since Henrik isn’t a human..

The man is a dragon who could easily eat me.

New tears prickle behind my eyelids, and I swallow a whimper when Henrik stops the car to glare at me. He looks so scary that I hold up my phone, ready to smack him.

“Don’t,” he warns icily, his irises glowing with a fierce violet light.

1 shrink back into my seat, pressing myself against the door as though I could somehow melt through it and escape. Henrik seems to deflate slightly at my visible fear, his blazing eyes dimming back to their normal color. He sighs heavily, running a hand through his tousled, blue hair.

“I’m not going to hurt you. Paula,” he says, and something in his voice suggests that he’s telling the truth. The familiar sternness is gone. replaced by a sort of quiet sorrow that tugs at my heartstrings.

“Then why did you bring me here?” I whisper, and all the fight leaves me as I put down my phone. I’m too tired to fight. I just want tonight to be over..

“I brought you here because I want to show you what it’s like to be loved by a real man.”

He says it so gently, softly, that I’m the one who is taken aback now. My mouth drops open a little in surprise, but before any words can form, he reaches for me. His hand hovers in the air for a moment as if he’s unsure of what to do, then he gently lays it on top of mine. His skin is warm and comforting, and for some reason, it doesn’t scare me.

“It’s not about the chase, Paula,” he continues in the same soft tone. “I didn’t chase you because I thought it would be fun or exciting. I chased you because you’re my mate and meant to be with me.”

I stare at him in disbelief. There is nothing conceited or boastful about his words… they’re just honest and sincere. The look in his eyes seems to reflect that sincerity. For a moment, I feel my heart twitch with something akin to hope.

“But you’re a dragon,” I say weakly, confused now more than ever. “Why would you want to be with someone like me?”

Henrik chuckles softly, but there’s no amusement in his eyes–only warmth and kindness. “Does it matter? I might be a dragon, but you’re still my fated mate.”

The silence between us is intimate now rather than oppressive. Henrik doesn’t push me for an answer or pressure me into doing anything; he just waits patiently for my response while gently caressing my hand.

I’m scared…Henrik.. My voice is incredibly vulnerable as I admit this to him.

“I know,” he says simply, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. But believe me when I say this–you have nothing to fear

from me.

With those words and the softness in his gaze, I find myself beginning to believe him. It might be the patient way he looks at me or the gentleness in his touch. Whatever it is, it makes me feel as if I can trust him.

Slowly, I lift my hand to touch his soft cheek, fingers trembling. His eyes close at the touch, a content hum vibrating from

his throat.

“Is that a dragon thing?” I ask.

aw

Chapter 56

His cheek turns hotter. “You know when you touch a cat and they like it?”

“Yeah?”

“Dragons are the same as cats…”

1 giggle. “You guys purr?”

His answer is an embarrassed n