He stripped away my clothes with reverent hands, like he was unwrapping a gift he'd thought he'd lost. When I was naked before him, he just stared for a moment."You're so fucking beautiful," he breathed.I reached for his shirt, wanting skin against skin. "Your turn."He helped me undress him, our movements urgent but not rushed. This felt different than our previous times together. More meaningful. Like we were choosing each other all over again.When we were both naked, he pulled me close and just held me for a moment. Skin to skin, heartbeat to heartbeat."I don't want to fight anymore," I whispered."Neither do I."His mouth found mine again, and this time the kiss was slow and thorough. Like he was trying to apologize with his tongue, trying to show me how much he'd missed me.I could almost taste the regret and love and desperate need on his lips.His hands roamed my body like he was relearning every curve. When his fingers found those sensitive spots that made me gasp, he smil
I stared at the ceiling of my old room all night, listening to the sounds of the compound settling around me. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant voice reminded me that I was alone while my pack slept peacefully nearby.But I wasn't part of the pack anymore, was I? Not after what Axel had said. Not after I'd proven him right about being dangerous and reckless.The worst part was knowing he wasn't completely wrong. I had been careless. I had put people at risk with my stupid decisions.But it was the way he'd said it. Like I was just a burden he was tired of carrying.By the time pale morning light crept through the small window, I'd made my decision. I couldn't keep hiding in this room like a child. Whatever was happening between us, we needed to figure it out.Because despite everything, despite the cruel words and hurt feelings, I still loved him. And I was pretty sure he still loved me too.At six AM, I finally got up and walked through the quiet hallways toward our room.
Sleep was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Calla's face when I'd said those cruel things. The way she'd looked at me like I was a stranger. Like I'd become someone she couldn't trust.I deserved that look. I'd earned it with every harsh word.But lying there feeling sorry for myself wouldn't solve anything. That vampire had called her a moonkeeper, and I needed to know what the hell that meant before more enemies came hunting.I found Jace in the common room, sitting by the dying fire with a cup of coffee in his hand as he took a sip out of it thinking."Can't sleep either?" I asked quietly.He looked up, taking in my appearance. I probably looked like hell. "Heard about the fight.""Who hasn't?" I sat down across from him, running my hands through my hair. "Look, I need your help with something.... Research.""About Calla?""About what that vampire called her. Moonkeeper. Ever heard the term?"Jace frowned, thinking. "I think so, can't remember. Something from old pack
The walk back to the compound started in tense silence. I kept my mouth shut, trying to process what had just happened. The fucking vampire knew about Calla's origin and he'd escaped. And Calla had nearly died because she couldn't follow simple fucking safety rules.I tried to keep my calm but with each step, my anger grew hotter instead.How could she be so reckless? After everything we'd been through, after all the warnings, she'd gone off alone like some naive tourist taking a fucking stroll.I could feel her walking behind me, probably thinking I was overreacting and that just pissed me off more.By the time we reached the compound gates, I was ready to explode.Rikka was waiting by the entrance, her gray eyes immediately picking up on the tension radiating between us. She'd been the one to tell me Calla had left. The one who'd watched me panic and run off to find her."Everything okay?" she asked carefully."Just peachy," I muttered, not slowing down as I walked past her.Calla s
I asked Rikka about Eden before making my decision to leave. Her answer was both relief and guilt wrapped together."Jace hasn't left her side, but she's okay. Mild concussion. She'll heal faster than a human would." Rikka's gray eyes studied my face. "She was asking for you."The thought of facing Jace after what I'd done to the woman he loved made my stomach twist. I couldn't handle his anger right now. Not when I was barely holding myself together."I need some air," I said. "Just for a little while.""Don't go alone.""I won't go far. Just into town."Rikka looked like she wanted to argue, but something in my expression must have convinced her I needed space. "Be back before dark."I slipped out while the pack was busy with evening preparations. The compound felt suffocating, full of worried whispers and sideways glances. Everyone trying to be supportive while clearly wondering if I was safe to have around.The walk into town helped clear my head. Normal people doing normal things
I don't know how long I sat on the floor of our bedroom, staring at my hands. The same hands that had hurt Eden. The same hands that might hurt someone else if I couldn't control whatever was happening to me.Axel had tried the door handle for maybe twenty minutes before giving up. I could hear him pacing outside, the floorboards creaking under his weight. Part of me wanted to open the door and let him comfort me. But a bigger part was terrified of how good he would make me feel and I low-key wanted to really feel miserable.A soft knock made me look up."Calla?" Rikka's voice was quiet through the wood. "I brought tea."I almost didn't answer. But something in her tone was different from Axel's worried pleading. It felt calmer and more understanding."The door's unlocked," I said finally after standing up to unlock it and sitting back down.Rikka entered carrying two steaming mugs, her gray eyes taking in my position on the floor without judgment. She set the mugs on the nightstand a