Page 16 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

Instead, I walked past her door and into my own room.I sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair.My wolf was restless, pacing beneath the surface, its instincts screaming at me to protect her, to claim her.But I couldn't.Not yet.

As I set my phone down, my gaze landed on the photo on my nightstand.It was a rare picture of me and my mom from when I was a kid.Her gentle smile was a stark contrast to the chaos she'd left behind when she was gone.I picked it up, tracing the edge of the frame with my thumb.

"I wish you were here," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper."I'm trying to do the right thing, but it feels like I'm just messing everything up."

The photo didn't answer, of course.It never did.I set it back down and leaned back against the headboard, my exhaustion finally catching up with me.My eyes drifted shut, but my mind wouldn't stop racing.Selene's voice echoed in my head, her plea for help before the line went dead.Dante's smug face taunted me, his cold eyes promising retribution.And Krista's disappointed eyes looking up at me after I pushed her away.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not even for a moment.But the truth was, I was tired.Tired of fighting, tired of running, tired of pretending I had it all together.The only thing keeping me going was the thought of taking Dante down and the hope that maybe, just maybe, I could keep Krista safe in the process.

Just hold on a little longer, I told myself.We're closer than ever.You can do this.

Chapter 7

KRISTA

I groaned as I sat up, my body sore from another sleepless night.My mind was a whirlwind as I replayed Levi's lingering gaze on the balcony, the way his hand had brushed my cheek, the electric tension that had crackled between us.I pressed my palms to my eyes, trying to push the memories away.I couldn't afford distractions, not with Dante circling like a vulture and Levi's career and maybe his life, hanging by a thread.But try as I might, I couldn't shake the growing pull I felt toward him.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Zane: We've got a problem.

I sighed, running a hand over my face.Of course we did.I forced myself out of bed.The house was quiet as I made my way downstairs, the remnants of last night's tension lingering in the air.Levi's door was closed, and I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the knob.I shook my head and turned away.Whatever was happening between us would have to wait.

Zane was already pacing the inside of our makeshift office like a caged animal.

"Okay," I said as I walked in."What's the crisis now?"

Zane turned his open laptop toward me."These."His browser had multiple tabs open, all of them with similar headlines blaring at the top of each page.

LEVI STORM: FROM HOLLYWOOD HERO TO DANGEROUS LIAR?

INSIDE THE DARK SECRET PAST OF HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN BOY.

The articles were filled with speculation, half-truths, and outright lies, painting Levi as a manipulative, violent monster.

"This is bad," I muttered, collapsing onto a chair next to Zane.

He nodded, running a hand through his already messy hair."No kidding.Dante's been busy.These hit the internet at midnight, and they're already trending."

I sank into a chair, my mind racing."Okay, we need to counter this.What's our play?More animal shelter footage?A heartfelt interview?"

Zane shook his head."We've leaned on the shelter angle too much already.People are starting to see it as a PR move.We need something bigger, something that shifts the narrative entirely."

"But what?"I asked, frustration creeping into my voice."We're running out of options."

Zane sat across from me, his expression softening."Krista, you've been working nonstop.Maybe it's time to take a step back and let someone else handle this for a bit."

I narrowed my eyes at him."Are you saying I can't handle it?"

"No," he said quickly, holding up his hands."I'm saying you don't have to handle it alone.You're not indestructible, as much as you pretend to be."

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit.I looked away, my throat tightening.

"I just need to fix this, Zane," I said quietly."It's my job, my reputation."

"And Levi's life," Zane added gently."But you're not going to help him by burning yourself out."

Before I could respond, a knock at the door interrupted us.Garrett stood in the doorway, his usual stoic expression in place.

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