I let out a broken laugh, I’m sure they were terrified, but I had too. I had to make my own way. If they wanted family unity they got it, just not in the way they imagined for me.
Bria continues, “He told me why I was really here. That you were marrying Zeik!” She cackles. “Sin would have fucking killed him, I think Cameron has literally lost his mind.”
“I know!” I sigh. “Sin told me last night, that’s why all of this happened.”
She smiles, “Yeah, he told me you didn’t know. I figured that wouldn’t have gone over well.” She shrieks, pulling me into a hug. “Well, we’re sisters now!”
The air smells like sweet flowers and broken promises.
This could have been for Sin and I, if my brother would have listened to me. My chest aches as I walk through the space.
Axle barrels towards Sin. “Hey boy.” Sin coos, petting his soft fir. His left hand is ringless, and I make a note to go out with Bria later to choose the perfect onyx ring for him.
I don’t know what I’m doing here, but this is my family home, although this will be awkward, I need to see my mother.
Axlestays close to Sin’s side, wagging his tail happily.He doesn’t care about the heavy stares of the staff or the tension curling through the air.
Sin’s fingerspress against my back.“Ignore them.”
Easy for him to say.
Bria walks beside me,arms crossed.“What are we doing?”
“I don’t know.” I admit. “I need to see my mom, and Zeik.”
The thought offacing him now, of seeing whatever judgment lingers in his eyes, makes my pulse spike.
Sin must sense my hesitation becausehis fingers press slightly against my back.“He won’t be a problem.”
“We don’t know how he feels with any of this.” I say.
Bria nods, “He just got here right before you two did.”
Sin cracks his knuckles. “I can make him leave.”
I nod toward the stairs, “That is exactly why I’m going to talk to him on my own. I’m going to pack first.”
“Want me to come?” Bria and Sin say in unison.
“No, let me do this on my own.”
I swallow hard, leaving them behind.
I haven’t seenZeik since this all came to light, before I burned my bridges with my family. But who could blame me? I wasn’t even aware I would be someone’s wife today.
My suitcase is half-zipped, clothes stuffed inside without care. I don’t bother folding anymore. My hands shake too badly anyway. Every second I spend here feels like I’m suffocating, the walls pressing in tighter, the flowers being strung up downstairs like a noose around my neck.
I drag the zipper closed, grab my coat, and slip into the hall.
That’s when I see him.
Zeik.
He’s at the far end, framed by the tall windows that overlook the gardens. His posture is sharp but heavy, hands shoved into his pockets, shoulders drawn tight like he’s holding the world on his back. The morning light through the glass paints him in pale gold, but his face is unreadable.
For a moment, I consider walking the other way. Pretending I didn’t see him. But my feet betray me, carrying me forward, the soft click of my heels breaking the silence. This needs to happen.
His head turns slightly when he hears me. His eyes fall to the suitcase at my side, then linger on the ring glittering on my finger. Something flickers in his expression, gone too fast for me to name.
