CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED ONE: STEPHANIE'S ESCAPE: A NEED FOR FRESH AIR

Stephanie's Perception:

Brock and I took our places at the podium, side by side upon the stage. A collective swoon rippled through the female audience, entranced by the vampire's allure. In stark contrast, the men shot venomous glares at Vincent, their disdain for his vampiric nature palpable.

I noticed then that Vincent was exuding a mysterious pheromone, one that bewitched only the unmated women in the room. The mystery behind my draw to Vincent became clear.

As Brock clasped my hand, I let him, much to my own surprise. The barriers I had erected against him—and all men—had crumbled quietly away, like an ancient bridge succumbing to time and the elements. This shift occurred gradually, as I observed his devoted care for his pack, his willingness to risk his life for them, and his efforts to honor my desire for equality, which was challenging for him as a male werewolf. I never opposed the role of being a Luna per se, just the outdated notions that clung to the title.

Indeed, while w