Chapter Six

Sweat, adrenaline, unspoken words — it was a heady mix that hung in the air in the training grounds between us. Warriors ringed the sparring mat, some whispering, some staring frozen and silent, as I shoved myself off Gabriel, rolling to my feet.

He propped himself up on his elbows, his golden eyes following my every move as he raked a hand through his dark hair. He wasn’t used to losing. I could sense the frustration within him, the way his muscles clenched like his wolf was scratching itself just below the surface.

Good. Let him stew in it.

"Alright, show's over!" Kayden clapped his hands, stepping to the edge of the mat. “Unless our dear Alpha wants to try round two?”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened. "We’re done."

I scoffed. "Figures."

His gaze locked onto mine, with a challenge lurking there, but he swallowed it. Instead, he fixed on the warriors and his voice took on that Alpha tone that commanded. "You’ve seen how she fights. Pay attention. If any of you think you’re too good for training, just remember she didn’t come this strong. She made herself strong. If you want to live, do it too.”

It took my breath away for a moment. I didn’t think he would say something like that.

Then whose who were warriors whispered to each other and nodded their support, looking at me as if I was no longer just an outsider.

I should’ve felt victorious. I had won. I had proven myself.

So why did I suddenly feel like I had just lost something?

Gabriel turned and walked off the mat, his shoulders tense. I called after him, without thinking. "That’s it? You’re walking away?"

He hesitated, half turned away from me. "What else is there to say?"

I clenched my fists. “You might begin with an apology.”

The whispered conversations around us stopped.

Gabriel turned slowly to look at me, his eyes turbulent. "An apology?"

“Yes,” I said, moving closer, years resting heavily atop my chest. “Just because you say that you recognize that I worked hard, that it somehow erases what you did to me? What you said? The way you humiliated me in front of everybody?”

His face darkened. “You think I don’t feel bad about it?”

“Oh, I know you’re sorry,” I said sharply. “But do you regret it because of what it did to me? Or because you had to deal with the repercussions?”

Silence.

He had no answer.

Kayden stepped a little closer and tilted his body slightly toward me with protectiveness. "We’re done here, Angel. Let’s go."

But I didn’t move.

I was so fucking done with running.

I crossed my arms and tilted my head. “I mean, you know, after years of wondering why the Moon Goddess paired us, I finally figured it out, Gabriel. Why me? Why you? But now, I know… that it was probably a test. A test of whether I had the potential to be greater than the man you’d made me out to be.”

Steps were taken to move him closer to me. His body stiffened, his breath shallow.

“You failed that test,” I whispered.

"I didn’t."

His eyes sparked with something raw, something real, before he covered it.

Then he pivoted and walked away.

Again.

Coward.

Later That Night

The Moon Crescent Pack House smelled no different.

A combination of pine, burning firewood and something else — something nostalgic. I hated that my body still would remember it, that somewhere deep inside, I still craved it.

I was on the balcony of my room, the briskness of the night air nipping on my flesh when I heard the knock.

Kayden.

"Mind if I come in?" he asked, arms crossed, leaning into the doorframe.

I indicated toward the chair next to me. "Sure. Want a drink?"

He arched a brow. “Do I look like someone who says no to alcohol?”

“Not gonna happen,” I said under my breath, lifting the whiskey bottle snatched from the pack’s bar downstairs. Kayden poured himself a cup, taking his time before taking a sip and letting out a deep sigh. "You alright?"

I scoffed. “What about today made you think I’d be OK?”

He exhaled. "Yeah. Figured."

We sat quietly for a moment, under the stars.

“I’m proud of you, you know,” he said after a beat.

I turned to him, startled. "For what?"

"For standing your ground. For not letting him destroy you again.”

I swallowed hard. "It still hurts."

"I know," he murmured. "But you’re stronger now. And he sees it. That’s why he’s pissed."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Good."

Kayden moved, his expression sober. “Angel… do you love him still?”

The question landed harder than I expected.

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

At last, I murmured, “I don’t know.”

Kayden stared at me for a long moment and then nodded. "Fair enough."

I sipped at the whiskey again. "What about you? Ever think about your mate?"

He breathed out through his nose with a wry smile. "Every damn day."

I frowned. "Do you… want a mate?"

His smile faded. "I used to. Before I met you."

Something inside me twisted.

"Kayden—"

"Don’t," he said gently. “I know what your heart is, Angel. I’m not asking for anything. I just…" He exhaled. “I just wish you could see yourself through my eyes.”

I looked away. "I’m a mess."

“You’re magnificent,” he whispered.

I swallowed hard. "Kayden—"

The knock on the door interrupted us.

We both turned toward it.

Another knock.

"Expecting someone?" Kayden asked, voice sharp.

I shook my head, standing.

I opened the door.

Gabriel.

Because of course it was.

He was expressionless, but his jaw was rigid, and his eyes burned with something dangerous.

"Can we talk?"

Kayden was behind me, shoulders back. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

Gabriel ignored him, his gaze still fixed on mine. "Please, Angel."

And fuck him — because even after all of this time, even after all that we’ve been through — I still cared.

I stepped aside. "Five minutes. That’s all you get."

Kayden tensed but nodded. "I’ll be outside." He gave Gabriel a glare and stepped outside.

I closed the door.

Gabriel ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know where to begin.”

I crossed my arms. "Try ‘I’m sorry.’ "

He let out a slow breath. "I am. More than you know."

I tilted my head. "And?"

"And…" He clenched his fists. "I hate that I hurt you. I hate that I let you go."

I swallowed and steadied my voice. “You failed to let go of me, Gabriel. You pushed me away."

He flinched. "I was a coward."

"No arguments there."

He stepped forward, and I stayed where I was.

“I don’t deserve forgiveness,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want it.

I exhaled slowly. “You don’t get to re-enter my life and reverse everything. That’s not how it works."

His throat bobbed. "Then tell me how."

I laughed, but it was hollow. “You don’t get an instruction manual on how to mend this, Gabriel. You made your choice."

He hesitated. “And what if I want to make another choice now?”

I stared at him.

Then at last I whispered, “It’s too late for that.”

But even as I said it…

A piece of me didn’t believe it was real.