Joyce’s POV
I’m falling apart. Callum didn’t just leap out of that window that day–he has been avoiding me completely, in every possible way. It’s gotten so noticeable that even other members of the pack are starting to pick up on it.
“Joyce,” his voice–cool but still magnetic–calls out to me. I turn around, only just becoming aware of
where I am.
I find myself in the open fields, but far enough from the others that no one could easily hear or spot us unless they were actively searching. “Can we talk for a moment?” he asks. I stare at him for a long time, saying nothing.
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Callum.” I turn to walk away, silently berating myself for even being in such an isolated spot in the first place.
“But I do,” he says. “Please, just listen to me.” There’s a raw urgency in his tone, and though I want to resist, I stay, folding my arms over my chest in a weak attempt to assert control–but it does little.
“I’m sorry for last week,” he begins. “I thought I could handle it, but I can’t.” He keeps apologizing, but each word that leaves his mouth only adds to my confusion. “You’re beautiful, but I don’t think I can go through with this. I can’t drag you into it,” he finishes, turning to walk away.
I never believed I had quick reflexes, but in that moment, I react fast enough to grab him before he can escape. I pull him toward me–it’s surprisingly easy since he clearly didn’t see it coming. He stumbles slightly.
“What the-” he begins, stunned.
“You’re out of your mind if you think you can just show up, ramble nonsense, and leave like it means nothing!” I shout, cutting him off. His eyes go wide–he clearly didn’t expect that.
“I was just-”
“No,” I interrupt again. “If you want any real chance of forgiveness, then you owe me the truth. That’s the bare minimum!” My voice starts to tremble, threatening to fall apart completely.
He stares at me, silent, unsure of what to say or how to act. “What exactly is it that you can’t do? What is it that’s so impossible for you?”
I exhale deeply, trying to steady my breath.
“I… I can’t tell you,” he replies quietly.
“I understand,” I whisper, hugging myself a little tighter. “Then why won’t you let go? It’s clear you don’t want to be with me, so why keep doing this?”
He steps forward, and I instinctively move a step back. “Is that really what you believe? That I don’t want you?” The disbelief in his eyes is unmistakable and almost painful to see.
I shake my head. At this point, all I want is to crawl into bed and escape this reality through sleep.
“I’m offering you an easy exit, Callum. You know where to find me once you’re ready to set me free.”
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My voice carries the same exhaustion weighing down on me–it was never meant to be this difficult. My thoughts wander back to the times when Aurelia and I would imagine what our future mates might be like. I manage to hold back the tears until I’m safely locked inside my room.
But that doesn’t last long; soon enough, there’s knocking at my door–my mom needs help with the
kids.
“I can’t even fall apart in peace,” I mutter under my breath as I step out of the room.
By the time the sun dips below the horizon, I’m completely spent. My mom says she needs some time to herself and leaves me in charge of the twins. My brother offers no support; he shuts himself in his room and disappears from the chaos. When my mom finally returns later that evening, I don’t say a word–I just walk straight out of the house.
I don’t turn around when she calls after me, not even when one of the twins starts crying. I need to get away before everything inside me snaps.
Without even realizing it, my feet lead me to the pond as I wander aimlessly, time stretching on with no
meaning.
I exhale deeply. “I really miss how we used to be,” I whisper, memories of Ria and me bubbling to the surface. I let out one more sigh and decide to go see her. She might not want me there, but I need my best friend now more than ever. Hopefully, she needs me too.
I linger for a few more minutes, letting the cool evening air settle around me, before I head toward the pack house–this time, to find Aurelia.
Climbing the stairs, I immediately notice a crowd gathered near her room. My heart skips. Something must be wrong. I hurry forward, anxiety rising. I pass Callum, who is standing with a few guards. I don’t stop, not even to acknowledge the look he gives me, and push through into the room.
At the center stands Theron.
He’s mid–shift–claws extended, fur covering most of his body, and his eyes glowing a brilliant gold I’ve
never seen before.
“Where the hell is she?” he roars, slamming his fist through the wall, drawing a bit of blood. He’s barely keeping it together. Everyone else in the room stays rooted in place, afraid to approach–everyone except Selene, his mate.
“Theron, calm down!” she says gently, but in a flash, he turns and slashes her–not deep enough to cause real harm, especially since she heals almost instantly, but enough to warn her off. Her expression says it all–she understands.
He scans the room with urgency, his gaze darting wildly in search of Aurelia until it finally lands on me. Saying I’m scared doesn’t even begin to cover it. A chill races down my spine–one I try hard to conceal as I lower my head in a show of respect.
“Hey!” he exclaims, eyes wild with fury. “You know where she is, right?” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone edging closer to me, but fear grips me so tightly I can’t identify them, let alone respond.
“Speak!” he roars, slamming his fist into the nearest object, which unfortunately is the bed. I watch in horror as the bedframe gives way beneath his blow. My entire body shakes. I instinctively step backward, desperate to put distance between us, though I know I can’t escape.
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“Alpha,” Callum’s voice cuts through the tension, familiar even in the chaos. His tone holds a sharp warning. Theron doesn’t break eye contact–if anything, his stare intensifies, piercing right through me.
“You knew. She had your help escaping, didn’t she? She wouldn’t have gotten out without someone like you,” he accuses, moving toward me one slow step at a time. My body trembles uncontrollably.
“I know nothing about her departure, Alpha,” I manage to say, my voice shaking from both fear and the heat of his rage. “I haven’t met her since you-”
“You’re lying!” he snarls, seizing a handful of my hair and jerking my head back, his claws grazing my neck to keep me still. I cry out in pain, the sensation sharp and searing, like a blade cutting into me.
“Theron!” Callum’s voice rings out again, more dangerous than I’ve ever heard it. All traces of reverence are gone. I frantically look around, silently begging someone–anyone–to step in. My eyes lock with Selene’s. She stands frozen, hatred and fury blazing in her gaze.
“Theron, this is your final warning,” Callum’s growl is deep, rough, and full of threat.
It’s entirely the wrong moment to find him attractive, especially after our last unresolved fight and with Theron’s claws at my throat. But hearing that voice–it makes me want to throw myself at him and
shut him up with a kiss.
