CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO - INVESTIGATION

She awoke with a start, the harsh light of midday filtering through the window. Disoriented, she sat up, the events of the previous night flooding back to her with terrifying clarity. John, the clearing, the monstrous transformation, the desperate plea to run – it all seemed like a horrific fever dream. But the memory of the black sedan's smooth leather beneath her palms, the way the engine roared to life under her touch, confirmed it was all too real. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Karina wrapped her arms around herself, trying to make sense of it all. John Hardy, the powerful CEO, the arrogant man who'd rejected her, was a werewolf. The implications were mind-boggling. Did he know about his condition? How did he control it? And most importantly, was he safe? Shame washed over her again, hotter and more persistent this time. John was in pain, and she had run. He might need help, and she had abandoned him. The woman's kind face from the B&B floated into her mind. "Sunrise Have