Shauna’s eyes flickered over to you, her gaze icy and sharp. Her features were set in that familiar, cold mask she always wore, and her lips pressed into a tight line as her eyes narrowed. The way she observed you made your heart race—she knew. She always knew. Her silence stretched for a moment, heavy and filled with tension, before her voice broke it, cutting through the air like a blade.

“What’s wrong?”

The words weren’t soft, not even close. They were clipped, demanding, and they sent a chill crawling up your spine. Yet, despite the bite in her tone, you felt a strange thrill, something almost intoxicating about how she could make you feel so small, so vulnerable. You wanted to hear it again, that sharpness in her voice, again and again.

You shook your head quickly, muttering a weak, “Nothing,” hoping to brush it off, but she wasn’t fooled.

Her lips curled into a thin, knowing smile, one that only made your stomach tighten with both unease and something else, something you couldn’t quite explain. “I’m not stupid.” Her eyes drilled into yours. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

There was no escaping her now. The demand in her voice made your breath hitch, and though it unnerved you, you couldn’t help but want to stay right there, caught in her gaze.