I felt the tension ripple through Nicholas's body beside me. His normally warm presence turned cold, his muscles rigid like a predator cornered. I knew I had crossed an invisible line. The question was, how would the Alpha in him respond? A searing pain shot through my chest, not from anger but from the bond we shared. Mates could sense deception, and the bitter taste of his lie stung more than I could handle. My scent was lavender. That fragrance belonged to someone elseβSofia, he probably got it when she leaned her head on his shoulder.
What could I say? What could I possibly say to the Alpha of the pack without shattering everything? What was left for us to say? I could almost hear his voice in my mind if I dared to ask him. The soft pleading, the reasoned excuse-anything but the truth. I was so tired of his "good friend" routine.
Tired of the endless dance we did around everything, pretending there wasn't a gulf between us that non amount of words could fill. The truth lay heavy between us, unspoken but suffocating. Days of avoiding this rift had left it raw and unhealed.
I was exhausted from it. Was this what it was like for mates in love after years of silence? Just helpless understanding? It felt disgusting. I showed it that I didn't want to talk to him anymore. The morning light brought no comfort but I was rather awakened up by the sound of movement.
It was from Nicholas and l found him emerging from the bathroom, already dressed. His presence filled the room like an unspoken promise, commanding and magnetic.
