Mattias’ POVI had never been the type to hesitate before speaking. But this time around I did. It took a second, enough to feel the weight of what I was about to say. I looked at Selena. She was sitting with her legs crossed and held one finger tapping as if she was following the melody of a songI cleared my throat, “There is something I need to tell you.”She didn’t move an inch. Apart from the fact that she raised an eyebrow, like she already knew it was serious.“It’s about Anna,” I said.That got her attention.“Who else would we be talking about?” She rolled her eyes.I expected her to react immediately. She didn’t. Instead, she winked her eyes and sat back into the chair relaxing more, at the same time resting her chin on her palm.I started to talk. Everything I had been holding everything I have been trying to handle myself I poured it out because it was heavy. How I met Anna. How I felt around her. The way my wolf reacted to her. The time I tried to convince myself it was n
Selena’s POVI sat down in a chair close to the window, holding an old picture in my hand.My finger lined the uneven edges of the paragraph,an obvious effect from the many years it has stayed with me.Richard and I looked at a picture of me , much younger than we are now. In the picture he had his left arm around my shoulder, smiling that familiar and funny smile, while I stood beside him with my normal, simple expression.With my index finger, I traced the weak lines on our faces in the picture. It brought back memories, of which some were wonderful and some painful, and for a moment, I considered putting it away for good.Before I could drop the picture, I heard a knock at the door.I looked up.“The door is open,” I said softly, placing the picture back on the table to my right.The door opened slowly, and Richard came inside.He looked much like I remembered—only older. His personality filled the room in a way that hadn’t changed with the years even with differences in age, th
Mattias’ POVI wasn’t sure what had come over me.One moment, I was just standing there watching her dry her hair, the soft strands falling across her face like a curtain. The next, I was stepping forward, closing the gap between us without even thinking.Anna froze when she noticed me, her eyes widening slightly as our gazes met. I could hear her heartbeat, faint but quick, and it only made me want to get closer.But she turned away.“Mattias,” she said quietly, her tone almost tired.I reached out to touch her shoulder, but she stepped aside, putting distance between us.“Anna,” I said softly.She shook her head, still not looking at me. “Not now.”I frowned. “Why not?”She finally turned, her eyes sharp and guarded. “Because you disappear for days,” she said, her voice low. “Because I never know where you are or why you stay away. And then you show up and act like nothing’s wrong.”I tried to hold her gaze, but the words felt heavier than I expected.She pulled open her wardrobe an
Yvonne’s POVI stood frozen, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure Selena could hear it.She was still smiling, standing in the middle of her room as though she had been expecting this exact moment. I clutched the small tray I’d used to arrange her things, my knuckles white as I stared at her.“What did you just say?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly.Selena tilted her head, the soft strands of her sleek dark hair shifting slightly over her shoulder. Her smile didn’t falter.“You heard me,” she said calmly. “What’s going on between you and Lucas these days? And don't lie to me, Yvonne.”I blinked rapidly, unable to form a coherent answer. My mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.There were no witnesses, no excuses. It was just her and me.“I… I don’t…” I stammered, taking a small step back.She stepped forward.“Don’t play dumb with me, Yvonne,” she said quietly, though her tone carried enough weight to make my knees feel weak. “I asked a simple question. It shouldn’t be
Anna’s POVThe air felt heavier the moment I stepped out of the bathroom. I was drying my hair lazily with a towel, not paying much attention to my surroundings until the sharp, familiar scent filled my nose.My wolf reacted first.Mate!I froze in place, the towel dropping slightly from my hands as my head snapped toward the door. And there he was.Mattias.He stood there quietly, filling the doorway with his broad frame as though he had every right to be there. His eyes followed me, soft yet intense, and my wolf stirred violently at the sight of him.A part of me wanted to run straight into his arms. I had missed him, more than I would ever admit out loud. But the other part… the other part was angry.I wasn’t just upset that he had been away. I was tired. Tired of waiting. Tired of pretending to believe his excuses when I knew something was wrong.I held the towel tightly against my chest and stepped back instinctively, as though putting distance between us could shield me from the
Yvonne’s POVThe moment I saw her, my entire body froze.Selena.It had been years since I last saw her, but the fear was instant, raw, and familiar. All the old memories came rushing back as though no time had passed. The punishments. The cruel remarks. The feeling of being so small in her presence. I swallowed hard and stepped back, almost instinctively, as if giving her space could shield me from her notice.She didn’t look much different. Her hair was pinned neatly at the back of her head, streaks of silver glinting under the early morning sun. She carried herself the same way too, elegant and unbothered, the type of woman who could command a room without speaking a word.And then she smiled.“Oh, Yvonne… and Lucas,” she greeted, her voice soft, almost sweet. It should have comforted me, but instead, my stomach knotted tighter. I could hardly find my words.I forced my lips into what I hoped passed for a smile and bowed my head slightly, not trusting myself to speak just yet.Sele