Lurgard.

The moment I opened the door, I froze.

Shock rooted me to the spot, my hand still resting against the frame as the scene before me registered fully in my mind.

Lawrence...kissing Theresa.

The sight burned into me, sharp and undeniable, sending a surge of something raw through my chest. My jaw tightened instantly, my fingers curling slightly as I stood there, unable to look away for a split second longer than I should have.

How dare he? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The question echoed loudly in my mind, laced with a possessiveness I couldn’t even begin to hide from myself.

Memories came rushing in without warning.

Back then... when we were younger...I was the one she spent the most time with.

We would run through the corridors endlessly, laughter trailing behind us as though nothing in the world could touch us. She would chase me, or I would chase her, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that we were always together.

It felt natural, effortless and somewhere along the way, without even realizing when it started, that bond changed, It deepened.

I began to love her, not as a friend, not as a companion but as something more. I had thought... hoped... that she felt the same.

Until that day, she had confessed, not to me but to Leonard.

I could still hear it, her voice, soft but certain, admitting feelings that were never meant for me. I stood by the door, listening, every word sinking deeper than the last.

I didn’t stay.

I didn’t want to hear anything else.

I had walked away before they could notice me, before anyone could see what that moment had done to me.

After that... everything changed, I stayed away from her, avoided her whenever I could, refused to speak to her and sometimes... I went further.

I hurt her.

Intentionally.

Small things. Sharp words. Cold actions. Enough to create distance, enough to make her feel what I couldn’t express.

I hated her for choosing him, hated the way things turned out and we never settled it, we never fixed anything because she disappeared.

Just like that.

Her absence left something hollow behind, a quiet emptiness I didn’t want to acknowledge. It affected me more than I ever admitted, turning everything dull, grey.

But Bella had been there, she filled the silence, helped me move on or at least, pretend to.

And then...We found her.

After all those years.

Standing there again, within reach, I had made a promise to myself at that moment, to make amends, to fix what I had broken but that didn’t mean I was ready for this.

I wasn’t ready to watch my brothers get close to her like that.

To touch her.

To claim something I had buried but never truly let go of.

I didn’t want anyone near her.

The thought alone made something in me tighten.

So when she agreed to divorce Alex...Relief washed over me, a deep, quiet relief I couldn’t ignore.

We had prepared the documents long ago, anticipating this moment, waiting for the right time. But getting her to agree so easily, that surprised me.

Still, I didn’t question it.

I stepped closer, my voice steady as I spoke to her.

"Theresa, from now henceforth," I said, my tone softer than before, "whenever you need anything... just ask us."

It was a promise.

One I intended to keep.

***

I moved restlessly on the bed, unable to find a comfortable position as my thoughts refused to settle.

They clashed endlessly in my mind, memories, regrets, I had buried long ago, all rising at once, demanding to be acknowledged. Every time I closed my eyes, her face appeared. Every time I tried to push it away, it only came back stronger.

It was exhausting.

"If you want to see her again, just go!"

Lu’s voice echoed suddenly through the mind link, loud and impatient, breaking through the chaos in my head.

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face before sitting up abruptly.

"Just shut up, Lu," I muttered under my breath, irritation lacing my tone. "I fear I might scare her away."

The thought alone made my chest tighten.

"What if she suddenly remembers?" I continued, my voice quieter now, edged with something I didn’t want to name. "What if she remembers how cruel I treated her?"

There was a pause, but then my wolf stirred.

"Coward!" Lu thundered, his voice filled with blunt accusations.

My jaw clenched, but I ignored him.

There was no point arguing. Not when a part of me already knew he wasn’t entirely wrong.

I leaned back against the bed, forcing my eyes shut, willing myself to sleep. If I could just rest, just for a moment, maybe everything would quiet down but it didn’t.

Sleep refused to come.

The more I tried, the more restless I became, my thoughts growing louder, heavier, impossible to silence.

And before I could stop myself...I gave in.

With a frustrated exhale, I pushed myself off the bed and stood up. My movements were slow at first, almost hesitant, but that hesitation didn’t last long.

My feet carried me forward out of the room, down the corridor, and straight to her door.

I didn’t knock, I had never done that in the past, so it didn’t matter.

I just opened it and the moment I stepped inside...

I froze.

My throat went dry instantly.

She stood there, fresh from bathing, a white towel wrapped securely around her body. Her skin still carried a faint sheen, her hair slightly damp, framing her face in a way that made it impossible to look away.

I swallowed hard.

I tried—truly tried—to avert my gaze, to look elsewhere, to give her the space and respect I should have but it was harder than I expected.

Much harder.

My eyes betrayed me, lingering for a second too long before I forced them upward again, my chest tightening with something I couldn’t fully control.

"Lurgard... what are you—"

Her voice broke through the moment, soft but startled, trailing off as she noticed the intensity of my stare.

Before she could finish, I moved forward, in two quick strides. Closing the distance between us before either of us could rethink it.

"Claim her!" Lu’s voice suddenly filled my head.