Tears

(Cameron pov)

"Delivery!"

The voice is sharp and abrupt, cutting through the quiet like a blade.

I glance up from my laptop, my attention snagged by the sudden intrusion. The screen's glow feels cold against my face, my half-finished work document forgotten as curiosity drags me to my feet.

I move toward the window, the wooden floor creaking softly beneath me.

And that's when I see it.Them.Lenora and Ronan.

Outside, standing way too close near a dusty Jeep, sunlight pouring over them like some romantic cliché from a movie I'd rather not be thinking about.

She's hugging him.

And not just a quick, friendly hug—it lingers.

Longer than necessary.

Way longer.

Something flares in my chest, sharp and hot, igniting before I can even process it.I'm already moving, storming toward the door without thinking. My hand grips the handle so tightly my knuckles turn white, and I yank it open with more force than necessary.

The door slams against the wall with a satisfying thud.

Lenora jumps away from Ronan like she's been caught stealing.

Good.

But before I can feel the small, petty victory of that moment, Ronan's arm snakes around her waist, pulling her right back to him—casual, cocky, like he owns the goddamn air she breathes.

I swear, I can feel the snap inside my chest, like something invisible but very real just broke.

My jaw clenches.

I want to hit him.

Hard.

Ronan's eyes meet mine, and there's this smug, infuriating glint in them, like he knows exactly what he's doing.And maybe he does, no I'm sure he does.

I don't even bother with words—I'm afraid of what might come out if I open my mouth.

Instead, I march straight past them, heading for the Jeep like it owes me an explanation.

I reach the backseat, yank open the door, and grab my suitcase—my fingers curling around the handle so tightly it feels like an anchor.

But I'm not done.

On my way back, I shoulder-check Ronan—hard.

It's not an accident.

It's intentional.

He barely moves, the bastard, but I feel the tension ripple between us like an invisible thread pulled tight.I just walk back inside, slamming the door behind me, my heart racing like I've just run a marathon.

I drop my suitcase in the hallway, my hands shaking with adrenaline—or something worse.What the hell is wrong with me?

Why do I care?

She's nothing to me.

Right?

***

(Lenora's POV )

I watch as Cameron disappears through the door, his broad shoulders tense, posture stiff with an anger he refuses to acknowledge.

The door slams shut behind him with a sharp finality that echoes louder than it should in the open air.

I pinch Ronan sharply in the waist, letting out some of the frustration boiling inside me.

"Ow, ow, ow!" he yelps dramatically, swatting at my hand. "Normal human here, remember? Fragile. Breakable."

I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. He's impossible.

"Don't tease my mate," I grumble, even though part of me knows he's doing it just to get a reaction—maybe even to distract me from the heavy ache lodged in my chest.

Ronan just laughs, the sound light and easy, the exact opposite of how I feel.

"Please," he snorts, rubbing his side dramatically, "it's hard not to."

I narrow my eyes at him, but he leans in slightly, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Don't act like you didn't love the look of possessiveness in his eyes." He gives me a smug grin, nodding toward the door. "He's a wolf, alright."

My heart stutters.

Because… he's right.

I did love it.

The way Cameron's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with something feral when he saw Ronan's arm around me. That sharp, burning flicker of possessiveness—like, for just a second, I wasn't a stranger.

Even in my father's old, ridiculous hand-me-down clothes, he looked like he was carved from stone—all tension and heat, his emotions barely contained beneath the surface.

And it was… hot.

Ronan's laughter snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"So," he says casually, "have you had an actual conversation yet? You know, words? Sentences? The basics?"

The question hits me harder than I expect.

I feel my chest tighten, my smile fading as reality settles back over me like a heavy blanket.

"No," I admit quietly, looking down at the ground. My foot kicks at a loose pebble near the Jeep's tire, the small stone skittering away—just like Cameron keeps doing from me.

"We've kind of been…" I trail off, searching for the right words.

"Walking on eggshells?" Ronan finishes for me, his brow arched knowingly.

I nod, swallowing around the lump forming in my throat.

"I suppose that makes sense," he says gently.

But his words don't make me feel better.Not even a little.

He tries to keep the mood light, but his voice softens, as if he knows that beneath my tough exterior, I'm barely holding it together.

"I mean… you did essentially kidnap him."

He says it with a laugh, clearly a joke.

But it lands like a punch to the gut.

Because it's true.I feel the tears before I realize they're there—hot and unwelcome, blurring my vision as guilt claws at my chest.

"It's just so hard," I whisper, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound strong. "He's essentially already the love of my life, and he's my mate. But… he looks at me like I'm a stranger."

The words spill out, raw and unfiltered.

"It hurts so much, Ronan." My voice breaks on his name, and I hate it—I hate how vulnerable I sound, how fragile. How broken.

Ronan's expression softens immediately.

"Hey, hey," he murmurs, stepping closer.

His thumb brushes gently under my eye, wiping away a tear I didn't even realize had fallen.

"You talk like it's not just a matter of time before he falls in love with you," he says softly, his voice filled with warmth. "I mean, look at you. Who wouldn't love you?"

I let out a shaky laugh, though it's more of a sob than anything else.

"And that's your mate we're talking about," he adds, pulling me into a tight hug. "The one person who's supposed to love you the most. So don't cry, Snowball."

I melt into his arms, burying my face against his shoulder, letting myself feel the comfort I've been denying all week.

I needed this.

I needed someone to remind me that I'm not as alone as I feel.

The sound of footsteps pulls us apart, and I glance over to see Cameron heading back toward the Jeep, his expression unreadable.

I wipe at my face quickly, trying to hide any evidence of tears, but I know he saw.

Of course he saw.

"Stay for dinner?" I ask Ronan, desperate for an excuse to delay the emptiness I know will follow once he's gone.

He gives me an apologetic smile.

"Unfortunately, I've got errands with Grandma. Next time, Snowball."

I nod, forcing a smile, even though my heart feels heavier with every step he takes away from me.

As he drives off, the dust from the tires rising in the fading light, I stand there for a long moment, staring at the empty road.

And I sigh.