60. J A E L A

Cade walked into the room with a puzzled look on his face. The tension crackled between us like electricity, and the air was heavy with unspoken words. I fidgeted nervously, crossing and uncrossing my arms.

"Hi, Jaela," he said softly to me, his gaze softening. He looked like he would rather be somewhere else than with me. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands folded tightly in my lap. My heart felt like it was being ripped in two as I gazed into the eyes of my mate. Despite my best efforts to hold back my emotions, my eyes were glossy with unshed tears.

His expression was unreadable, a mixture of confusion and uncertainty. He sat opposite me, his hands resting awkwardly on his thighs. The silence between us was deafening, only punctuated by the occasional deep breath I took to steady myself.

"Listen, I know you're mad at me and honestly, you have every right to be," he began, his voice gentle. I stole a glance at him, a