Lawrence.

My brothers had finally agreed.

After everything, the arguments, the tension, the threats, we had come to a decision. A condition had been set, something we all silently accepted, and in return...we let her keep the baby.

It wasn’t an easy choice, not for any of us but there was one thing we all feared more than anything else.

Losing her again.

Six years had already been stolen from us...six years of searching, of wondering, of regret. None of us were willing to go through that a second time.

And me?

I knew my place.

Theresa had always loved Leonard. That much had never been a secret, even before she disappeared. I had seen it in the way she looked at him, the way she gravitated toward him without even realizing it.

So the last thing I wanted...was to push her further away.

Leonard had stepped out of the room moments ago, leaving just the two of us behind. The silence that followed felt heavier than it should have been.

My gaze drifted back to her and she looked fragile.

Still in that hospital gown, her hands restrained by chains against the bed, her expression guarded, worried.

If things were different, if she wasn’t in this condition, if everything between us wasn’t so complicated, I would have closed the distance between us without hesitation.

I would have kissed that worry away, slowly and gently until she stopped looking at me like I was someone she needed to fear.

But reality wasn’t that kind.

I exhaled quietly and turned my attention to the cupboard beside her bed, reaching for the keys. The faint clink of metal echoed softly as I picked them up.

She wasn’t comfortable, anyone could see that and no matter what had happened earlier... I didn’t want her restrained like this.

I stepped closer, one step then another and that was when it hit me hard.

My wolf surged forward violently, slamming against my control with a force I hadn’t expected. The sudden intensity made my breath hitch, my body going rigid as something primal took over.

"Mate." The word slipped out before I could stop it.

It hung in the air, heavy and unavoidable.

I saw it instantly, the way her face paled, the way her body tensed at the sound of it and something inside me sank.

I inhaled slowly, trying to steady myself, but the thought had already crept in.

Was she disappointed?

Disappointed that it was me... and not Leonard?

The idea twisted uncomfortably in my chest.

"Lawrence, I..." she began, her voice hesitant, unsure.

But I didn’t let her finish. I turned my gaze away immediately, cutting her off before she could say something I wasn’t ready to hear.

"Theresa, you don’t need to say anything," I said quickly, my voice quieter now, controlled, but not without strain. "I understand."

Even if I didn’t want to.

Even if it stung more than I cared to admit.

"We can keep it a secret from my brothers," I added, forcing the words out before looking back at her.

Her expression shifted slightly, her brows raising in a way I couldn’t quite read.

Was it confusion?

Relief?

Amusement?

I couldn’t tell and that only made it worse.

Damn it.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to feel.

Finding your mate was supposed to be... everything. Something worth celebrating. Something you claimed without hesitation.

I was supposed to be pulling her closer, stealing kisses, losing myself in her, not standing here...pretending it didn’t matter...pretending she didn’t want someone else.

So unfortunate.

"Theresa..." I called, my voice breaking the thick silence that had settled between us.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, the tension in the room almost suffocating. Nothing about this felt normal anymore, not after what had just been revealed, not after what my wolf had just declared so boldly.

"This shouldn’t affect our friendship, right?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though the impatience beneath my words betrayed me. My eyes searched hers, almost desperately. "I mean... you wouldn’t suddenly start avoiding me," I added, forcing a small smile onto my face, even though it felt unnatural.

For a second, she just looked at me, then she rolled her eyes.

"To be honest," she began, her tone flat, almost indifferent, "I would hope to really stay far away from you all... but now I’m stuck with you, so how can I avoid you?"

The words landed harder than I expected.

They stung deeply and yet...at the same time, something inside me loosened slightly.

At least she wasn’t running.

At least she wasn’t pushing me out completely.

I let out a quiet breath I didn’t realize I had been holding and smiled faintly, reaching for her hand, the one restrained by the cold metal.

The chains.

Right.

Carefully, I slid the key into the lock, my fingers brushing lightly against her skin as I tried to focus on something, anything that wasn’t the ache in my chest.

"Have you thought about the person’s office you would like to stay in?" I asked, my tone softer now, attempting to shift the conversation into something less... fragile. "I mean, my brothers and I don’t share the same office, so you’ll likely have to choose one."

The lock clicked open, one chain loosened but her reaction wasn’t what I expected.

She scoffed.

"Why are you asking?" she shot back, her expression turning stern as she fixed her gaze on me. "Do you want me to choose you?"

"Yes..." The answer slipped out before I could stop it.

I froze for a split second before lowering my head slightly, trying to mask it.

"I mean... you get to decide," I corrected quickly, my voice quieter now, as if I could somehow take it back.

I moved to her other hand, focusing on unlocking the second chain, avoiding her gaze.

Click.

The metal loosened again.

"Lawrence, I am tired," she said suddenly, her voice cutting through my thoughts. She rolled her eyes slightly, as though even this conversation had drained her. "I need rest." she paused. "I need you to leave."

The words were simple but they hit harder than anything else she had said.

So soon.

She was already chasing me away.

I didn’t want to go, not when everything inside me was pulling me closer to her, refusing to let go.

My restraint snapped, and before I could overthink it....before I could stop myself...I leaned in slowly and carefully, as I captured her lips.

The kiss wasn’t forceful, it wasn’t desperate, it was soft, gentle and lingering as though I was trying to memorize the feel of her, even if she didn’t want me.

Even if this was the only moment I would get.