Chapter 350: Don’t Talk
Hayley’s POV:
Covering my mouth and nose, I grabbed Benjamin’s arm urgently. “We need to go now!”
But the door was jammed, and the windows were surrounded by relentless flames threatening to engulf us. In the chaos, Hera offered to shield me with her strength, even if it meant revealing my true Alpha identity to Benjamin. As I hesitated, Benjamin pulled me close, positioning himself protectively in front of me. He guided me toward a section of the room untouched by flames.
“Stay with me. Don’t talk,” he instructed, quickly trying to make a call on his phone.
Unfortunately, the studio, packed with flammable materials and drenched in gasoline, became a raging inferno before we could act. Thick smoke filled the air, making it nearly impossible to see or breathe. I started coughing violently, the smoke tightening its grip on my lungs. Benjamin grabbed a nearby shovel and desperately tried to force the door open, but it didn’t budge.
“I’m sorry, Hayley,” he said, frustration clear in his voice. “My wolf, Lawrence, is dormant today, so I can’t shift to carry you out through the window.”
“But I promise—I’ll get you out of here alive!” he added firmly.
Outside, someone made a call after noticing the fire spreading.
“Ms. Kilmer, the studio’s burning as planned, but I just heard someone inside. Are you sure this is okay?”
On the other end, Madeline’s expression was cold and unbothered. She didn’t care about the consequences, even if it meant eternal damnation. Since Tanner dared to humiliate her and leave her with nothing, she would destroy his precious studio and see how he responded.
“Don’t worry about it. Who would be foolish enough to stay there so late? Put out the fire and leave. Forget the rest,” she ordered.
After the call ended, the culprits exchanged uneasy glances before quietly dispersing into the night.
Hayley’s POV:
Benjamin and I clung tightly to each other’s hands, both coughing uncontrollably as the suffocating smoke surrounded us.
Chapter 250: Don’t Talk
began to take over.
“Just hold on a little longer. We’ll be okay,” Benjamin said, using every ounce of his strength to comfort me while pounding relentlessly on the door.
Watching him struggle, I hesitated briefly before deciding to reveal my Alpha identity and let Hera take control. But just as I was about to summon her, my body gave out, and I sank into unconsciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by a stark, blinding white. The sharp smell of disinfectant in the air made it clear I had survived. I frowned, tried to move my arms, and was about to sit up when a pair of hands gently but firmly pressed me back down.
“Stay still. You just woke up and need to rest.”
I looked up and saw Benjamin’s exhausted face.
“Are you okay? We were in the fire, right?” I asked, quickly scanning him for any signs of injury.
Benjamin reassured me immediately, “I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt. We’re safe now.”
I let out a relieved breath, but something still felt off. “Everything was fine before. How did the fire start?”
The moment I asked, I could feel Benjamin’s anger rise.
“Did someone set the fire? Don’t hide it from me. I heard footsteps outside last night,” I pressed, hoping he would tell me the truth.
Benjamin sighed deeply, his expression serious as he looked at me.
“Yes, the fire wasn’t an accident. Someone set it intentionally. It was an attempt to kill us.”
He paused, then added, “I’ve already asked my Beta police to look into it. I’m confident we’ll find out who did it soon.”
He gave me a reassuring smile. “For now, focus on resting and taking care of yourself.”
But deep down, I sensed that things were more complicated than he was letting on. Arson wasn’t something to take lightly, and I could tell Benjamin wasn’t ready to talk more about it. I decided to hold back my questions for the time being.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.