Chapter 173: Grey wolf

As the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, Blake stirred from his uneasy slumber, the remnants of a restless night clinging to the edges of his consciousness. With a sigh, he pushed himself upright, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he cast a glance around the room.

To his surprise, the bed beside him was empty, the sheets rumpled from where Elena had lain. A sense of relief washed over him as he realized that nothing untoward had occurred during the night, no boundary crossed or line blurred in the darkness.

With a silent prayer of gratitude, Blake swung his legs over the edge of the bed and rose to his feet, stretching his limbs as he tried to shake off the lingering remnants of sleep. Padding across the room, he made his way to the bathroom, intent on starting the day with a fresh start.