Chapter 19: Shadows of Protection

[Margaret’s POV] The moment I stepped outside, the cold air brushed against my skin, but that wasn’t what made me freeze. There they were—two towering werewolves stationed right at my door, just like yesterday. Their imposing figures stood still, like statues, their sharp eyes tracking my every move. My heart sank. I had completely forgotten about them. Donald had ordered them to guard me, to make sure I didn’t leave without permission. The realization felt suffocating. *He has no right to do this,* I thought bitterly. I wasn’t a prisoner. Yet, every time I stood in front of him, my resolve crumbled. I could never find the courage to oppose him directly, and that helplessness gnawed at me. My footsteps faltered, my mind replaying the conversation we’d had yesterday. Donald had instructed Elizabeth to bring me clothes this morning. I took that as a sign—I should be allowed to go out. But my gaze drifted back to the two guards. Their stern expressions and massive, muscular frames in