There's no us, Caden.

Amara's POV

As the morning settled into its usual rhythm, I tried to shake the memory of Ryder’s warmth and the quiet moments we had shared. But no matter how hard I tried, the way his voice softened when he spoke to me, the way his hand had lingered in mine—it all lingered in my mind like an echo.

I sighed and wandered into the hallway, hoping to distract myself. But as I turned the corner, I nearly ran straight into someone else.

“Amara,” Caden said, his deep voice pulling me from my thoughts.

I blinked up at him, startled. Caden stood tall, his features softer than Ryder’s but no less striking. His blue eyes shimmered like glaciers, cold yet brimming with hidden emotions. His dark hair was slightly messy, as though he had been running his hands through it all morning.

“Caden,” I murmured, stepping back slightly, suddenly all too aware of the proximity between us.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, his voice low and filled with an edge of something I couldn’t place.

“I’ve been avoiding all of you,” I corrected, crossing my arms in an attempt to steady myself. “It’s easier that way.”

“For you or for us?” His question was soft but pointed. He wasn’t angry—at least not like Ryder would have been—but there was a quiet hurt in his eyes that made my chest tighten.

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Caden.”

He took a small step closer, closing the distance between us. “I want you to tell me what you’re feeling, Amara. Because I... I can’t take this silence anymore.”

My eyes snapped up to meet his, startled by the raw honesty in his voice. “Caden, I don’t know how to feel. I don’t know how to trust you, any of you.”

He nodded slowly, as if he understood exactly what I meant. “I get that. We’ve done nothing to deserve your trust. But you have to know that... that I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to make you feel like this.”

His words caught me off guard, and I felt the walls I had carefully built around myself crack ever so slightly. “Then why didn’t you stop them?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Caden’s jaw tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair, his frustration clear. “Because I was weak. I let my brothers lead, and I didn’t stand up for what was right. I’m sorry, Amara. For everything.”

The sincerity in his voice was undeniable, and it made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Before I could respond, he stepped closer again, his hand reaching out to gently brush against my arm.

“You don’t have to forgive me,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “But please don’t shut me out completely. Let me... let me try to make it right.”

I looked at him, his face so open and vulnerable that it was almost painful to look at. For a moment, I saw past the confident façade he usually wore, past the ice that seemed to guard his every word. He was just a boy trying to fix something that had been broken for far too long.

“Caden,” I said softly, my voice wavering. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

He nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. “I’m not asking you to decide now. Just... think about it.”

Before I could respond, he took a step back, his hand dropping to his side. The warmth of his touch lingered, and I found myself missing it the moment it was gone.

“I’ll see you around, Amara,” he said, his voice quieter now. And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the hallway with my thoughts spiraling.

As I watched him disappear, I felt a strange mix of emotions—confusion, guilt, and something else I wasn’t ready to name. Ryder might have been the storm, but Caden... Caden felt like the quiet after, the calm that made me wonder if it was safe to hope again.

But hope was dangerous. And I wasn’t sure I was ready to risk it.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur, my mind tangled between Ryder’s intensity and Caden’s quiet sincerity. My emotions felt like a storm, each wave threatening to pull me under. I barely made it through my classes, avoiding Ryder’s piercing stares and pretending not to notice the whispers that followed me down the halls.

By the time school ended, I was ready to bolt home and collapse in my room, but of course, fate had other plans.

As I stepped outside, I spotted Caden leaning casually against his car. His sharp blue eyes found me immediately, and a small, hesitant smile tugged at his lips. For a moment, I considered ignoring him and walking straight past, but something about the way he stood there—like he was waiting for me and no one else—made me pause.

“Amara,” he called, his voice smooth but tinged with uncertainty.

I sighed, clutching the strap of my bag tighter before walking over to him. “What are you doing here, Caden?”

“Waiting for you,” he said simply, his gaze unwavering.

I raised a brow. “Why?”

He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “Because... I wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed off earlier, and I know things have been complicated lately, but—”

“Complicated?” I interrupted, letting out a dry laugh. “That’s putting it mildly.”

His expression softened, and he took a cautious step closer. “You’re right. It’s a mess. But I want to fix it, Amara. I want to fix us.”

“There is no us, Caden,” I said firmly, though my voice wavered slightly. “There never was.”

He flinched as if my words had physically hurt him, but he didn’t back down. “Maybe not before. But things are different now. You have to feel it too—this... connection between us.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, to tell him he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. Because deep down, I knew he was right. There was something there, something I couldn’t explain or ignore.

“Caden,” I started, my voice softer now, “it’s not that simple. It’s not just you—it’s Ryder, it’s Jaxon, it’s... everything. I don’t know how to deal with all of it.”

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he looked like he was struggling to find the right words. Finally, he said, “Then let me help you. Let me be there for you, Amara. Please.”

Before I could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Amara.”

I turned to see Ryder approaching, his stormy eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my heart race. He looked furious, his jaw tight and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Ryder,” I said, my voice coming out more exasperated than I intended. “What now?”

He ignored my tone, his gaze flicking to Caden. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Caden shot back, his calm demeanor slipping slightly.

Ryder stepped closer, his towering presence suddenly overwhelming. “She doesn’t need you meddling in her life, Caden. Back off.”

“I’m not meddling,” Caden said, his voice steady. “I’m trying to make things right.”

“Yeah? By suffocating her with your guilt?” Ryder sneered.

“Stop!” I snapped, stepping between them before things could escalate. “This isn’t about either of you, okay? This is about me. And right now, I don’t need your arguments or your egos. I just need space.”

They both froze, their gazes snapping to me in unison. For a moment, the tension was palpable, and I could feel the weight of their emotions pressing down on me.

“Amara,” Ryder started, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

“No,” I said firmly, holding up a hand. “I mean it. Both of you—just... leave me alone for now.”

Caden’s shoulders sagged slightly, his expression filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Amara. I didn’t mean to overwhelm you.”

Ryder, on the other hand, looked like he was struggling to hold himself back. His stormy gaze met mine, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But then he sighed heavily and nodded.

“Fine,” he muttered, his voice low. “If that’s what you want.”

It wasn’t what I wanted—not really. But I couldn’t handle the weight of their emotions, their intensity, their pull. Not yet.

As they walked away, the space they left felt both freeing and suffocating. I didn’t know how to untangle the mess we had created, but one thing was clear: this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.