The house had become a minefield of stolen glances and barely contained hunger. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant hum of the refrigerator, felt like a warning. Mom was off for the next two days—her rare stretch of real time off—and she was determined to make it “cozy family time.” She had no idea she’d invited the wolf right into our den.

I spent the morning pretending to study in my room, earbuds in but music off, listening to the low rumble of Marcus’s voice downstairs as he helped Mom with some yard work. Every time I heard his laugh, deep and rough, my thighs clenched. I was still...