“Back off,” Talon growled, his body coiling with anger. “You don’t want to do this.”

  Lillian felt heat boiling under her skin, flushed with the anxiety of the situation. “Talon, please,” she urged softly, pulling at the hem of his shirt. Her voice was drowned out by the charged atmosphere, the two Alphas locked eyes, rumbling lowly towards each other.

  “Just walk away,” Talon warned, his tone low and dangerous. “I won’t say it again.”

  The Alpha didn’t back down, clearly, he had no intentions to anyway. Instead, he leaned in closer, eyeing Lillian with desire and competition. “I think she deserves to make her own choice,” he taunted, glancing at her with an unsettling grin while licking his lips.

  Lillian wasn’t sure if it was him, or the fact that she had just spent enough time with Talon to find other Alphas repulsive, but his scent stung her nose in the most uncomfortable way. His presence made her feel small and worthless, even her Wolf recoiled at the sight of him. They needed to get out of here.

  Panic continued to rupture within Lillian as she realized the situation was spiralling out of control. “Talon!” she exclaimed, stepping between them to interject. “Let’s just go.” She insisted. Classes on intersecondary gender dynamics made it clear Lillian had made a potentially poor decision. When Alphas were fighting over something, especially a mate, the Omega should never step between them. That was asking for things to escalate and a fight to start. This guy was huge, but Talon’s rut gave him a fighting chance. Lillian just wanted to leave.

  In an instant, Talon broke his eyes from the Alpha’s gaze to her, his expression softening as he met her eyes. “I won’t let him take you,” he insisted, his voice strained and frustrated. He felt like a lousy Alpha. He couldn’t even convince one Alpha to leave his mate alone. But, oh, she wasn’t his. She did have a right to make her own decision. Maybe she wanted someone stronger than him, more confident, more-

  “Please,” she begged, reaching for his hand. “We can’t fight here. Let’s just go back upstairs.” By this point, the lobby had a few people onlooking, and Lillian herself was pushing out enough distress pheromones to fill the room. It was bitter, panicked, it honestly should have been enough to give that Alpha the answer to her choice. Her scent stung out of her scent glands, tingling against her skin with the slight burning of soured fruit, the odour was a long way off from the citrusy soft delight she normally exuded.

  Seeing the anxiety in her eyes, Talon hesitated, his tension easing slightly. “Okay,” he relented, but the fire in his gaze remained. He locked eyes with the Alpha again.

  With urgency, Lillian tugged him toward the staircase, feeling the Alpha’s eyes boring into their backs. As they stepped inside the stairwell, she pressed her back to the cool concrete, her heart racing as she felt Talon’s agitation bubbling next to her.

  Once they reached their floor, Lillian hurriedly led him to their room. She fumbled with the knob, her hands shaking as she finally pushed the door open. They slipped inside, and she quickly deadbolted the door behind them, leaning against it with a sigh.

  “Fuck, Talon,” she breathed, turning to face him, her heart still pounding. “That was too close.”

  He ran a hand through his hair, tension radiating from him as he paced the entryway. “I can’t believe that guy,” he ranted, frustration etched across his features. “He had no right to look at you like that. Talk to you like that. Exist around you like that-”

  Lillian stepped forward quickly, placing a calming hand on his arm. “But I’m here with you,” she reassured him, her voice steady. “You don’t have to worry about him. I want to be with you. I chose you.”

  Talon’s expression softened as he pulled her into a stressed embrace, pressing together as the heat began to settle. “I just… I don’t want to lose you,” he stuttered, his voice a whisper against her hair.

  “You won’t,” she promised, squeezing around his waist with her arms. “We’re in this together.” Lillian exhaled a shaky breath, the tension still heavy in the air. “I’m just glad we got away,” she follows, stepping further into the room. “But Talon, you don’t have to worry about him. I’m here with you.”

  He turns to her, his gaze gentle. “I just want to protect you, sometimes I worry I can’t.” he said, his voice earnest. “I don’t want anyone to make you feel uncomfortable or threatened. I’m not the confrontational type, but I couldn’t sit back and do nothing, especially with those knotheads at the Fox.”

  With a nod, Lillian walked towards the bedroom, and Talon followed. They sat together on the edge of the bed, the atmosphere shifting as they begin to settle, finally. As Lillian shifted closer, Talon instinctively wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against him as they laid back onto the soft sheets.

  For a moment, there was a silence between them as they snuggled up. Talon adjusted his position, pulling her closer until she fit perfectly against his side, her head resting against his broad chest. The chaos of everything outside faded into the background once again as Lillian felt the warmth of Talon’s body next to hers, grounding her. She closed her eyes, letting the tension leave her.

  Breaking the quiet, Talon took a deep breath. “Lillian,” he starts, his voice steady but slightly charged. “I’ve been watching you for the past year.”

  Her eyes fluttered open as she looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I’ve noticed you around,” he continues. “I’ve seen you going into classes, into the café… every time I saw you, I couldn’t help but be drawn to you. But I was too nervous to say anything because… well, you’re just so pretty. I was scared.”

  Lillian’s heart swells at his confession, a mixture of warmth and shyness flooding her. “I’ve seen you a few times too,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just... didn’t know you noticed me. Nobody seems to. I thought I was just another Omega. Keeping her head down.”

  Talon’s expression seemed slightly pained as he moved closer, his eyes locked onto hers. “You’ve never been just another Omega to me, Lillian. You’re special. I didn’t think someone like you would ever be interested in someone like me.”

  The air between them quickly surged, Lillian felt the rush crashing under her skin. “I like you too, Talon,” she replied, her heartbeat deafening in her ears. “I’m just afraid to say anything. Talking is hard.”

  A smile broke across Talon’s face, he definitely understood how she felt. As they laid, Talon wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. He loved having her close, it felt right. Lillian rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The sun was ready to set, and the rain had cleared. Lillian mused she may need another shower after the filth she participated in while outside for the fire alarm.

  Lillian had always been one to wake when she didn’t wish to. She wasn’t sure what time it was, but she felt it may be morning. She was surprised Talon slept through the night; she assumed his rut must be wearing off if his Wolf didn’t wake him up for more coupling. As Lillian stirred awake, she enjoyed feeling the weight of Talon’s arm draped protectively over her. She took a moment to savour the peace of the morning; the tension from the night before having settled, finally. She felt she had been too open about her growing feelings for Talon. She didn’t want him to feel guilted into a relationship with her, he had a right to get back to his life after this.

  As she shifted slightly, Talon stirred, blinking sleepily. His eyes met hers, sleepy blue finding her green in the dark room. A subtle, goofy smile spread across his face as he brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “Good morning,” he mumbled, his voice scratchy with sleep. He could definitely get used to a view like this in the morning.

  “Good morning,” Lillian chirped quietly, her heart fluttering at the sight of him. The warmth bloomed in her chest, a mix of affection and the lingering anxiety about the day ahead. She’d have to leave soon, regardless of how much she didn’t want to.

  They spent a few moments in silence, quietly enjoying each other’s presence before Talon stretched and sat up. “What do you want to do today?” he asked, yawning as he ran a hand through his hair. When had he taken his shirt off?

  “I thought we could just relax,” Lillian suggested, feeling a hint of shyness at his exposed skin, and at the prospect of another quiet day together. A girl could pretend this is how her life was going, waking up next to a handsome and very shirtless Alpha, “Maybe we can heat up that soup I made the first night later on?”

  “Sounds perfect,” Talon replied, a soft smile gracing his lips as he gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. He seemed more at ease, but Lillian felt the trickle under her skin. She felt several chaotic emotions from the way he was treating her, the confrontation still lingering in the back of her mind. Just yesterday he was dragging her around by her hair, aggressively fucking her, and trying to fight some idiot in the lobby. Now he was snuggling her, kissing her forehead, and asking her what she wanted to do today.

  This was so far away from what she had expected at the end of his rut. She expected him to ease back a bit, not turn into a huge puppy. It was kind of nice though, she decided she didn’t mind. Her old Alpha had been so aggressive and rude all the time, she still kicks herself for being with him as long as she had. Even in the haze of his rut, Talon was still mindful of her. She had been nervous at the start, but now, she was dreading going back to her life without him.

  As they got up and moved around the apartment, Lillian could sense the subtle tension that still surrounded Talon. She could see that he was still fighting the remnants of his rut, the energy still simmering beneath the surface. It was both comforting and concerning, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit of anticipation. The longer he felt like this, the longer she’d get to stay. But she came here to help his rut, and make sure he was there for his final in a few days. She hadn’t come here to fall in love or be a distraction to him.

  “Hey,” Talon said, glancing over at her as he poured himself a glass of water. He could tell she was deep in thought but wasn’t sure what about. Maybe he had taken it too far yesterday? She seemed okay going to bed, but Omegas are finicky like that. “Are you doing okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, though even she could hear the slight tremor in her own voice. “Just thinking about… everything.”

  He turned to face her fully, tilting his head as he handed her a glass of water. “What’s on your mind?”

  She took a small sip, “I just want to know how you’re feeling about your rut ending,” she felt guilt pang through her at the lie. “Is it getting easier?”

  Talon took a deep breath, thinking hard. “It’s definitely starting to wear off,” he said, his voice quiet. “I can feel it. But I’m still… I don’t know how to explain it. There’s still this intensity, a need that’s not quite gone.” He felt almost home free from his rut. The worst he had done was the bite, but she seemed to enjoy it with how often she was reaching up to touch it and whining happily against him when he brushed over it with his tongue.

  Lillian nodded, a small bit of excitement washing over her. “It must be hard to manage. I know my heats can get that way sometimes.”

  Talon couldn’t help but let his mind wander about her heats. They had brought it up the first day and talked briefly about it, but the thought of her in heat made his dick twitch. He thought back to the way she smelled when he was fingering her, the sweet vanilla and citrus wrapping around him and infiltrating his brain. That had to be a core memory, he felt her scent was nothing more than a drug created to destroy his senses. In heat, it would be much more potent. She’d be desperate and writhing, he was sure he could satisfy her needs.

  He could feel the fog start to cloud his brain. “It is,” Talon snapped back, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t want to scare you, and I don’t want to hurt you. I’ve been trying to keep it under control, but it’s difficult.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that, I trust you, Talon.” she reassured him, curious about the far-out look in his eyes. “You seem very worried about hurting me, but so far, you’ve been better than anyone I know. I know you told me a little about what happened before, but I really think you’re past that.”

  He met her gaze, sincerity in his eyes. “I just want to make sure you’re safe, especially with everything that’s going on.”

  As they continued talking, the tension between them shifted slightly. Lillian felt something deeper spark, but she knew she had to navigate this carefully. They didn’t have to rush anything; they could take their time, just as they had been doing.

  As the morning transitioned into afternoon, Talon had suggested they watch something to pass the time. They settled onto the couch, Lillian curling up tiny against Talon’s side. The film played softly in the background, but she found it difficult to focus on the screen. Instead, she was noting the way Talon’s body reacted to her presence—his warmth enveloping her, the slight tension still lingering in his muscles, the way his body just seemed to invite her closer.

  As the film continued, Lillian felt the stirrings of Talon’s rut begin to rise as small bursts of energy crackled between them. His scent started getting deeper, she couldn’t help but release her own to add to the mix. When he shifted slightly, she could feel the heat radiating off him, the way his exposed skin pricked against her own like static electricity.

  “Let’s heat up that soup,” Talon suggested after a while, breaking the building silence. “I could use something to eat.” She could feel his need, smell it too. Why wasn’t he taking her? What was going through his head?

  “Sure,” Lillian replied, dreading moving from the couch, from him. Maybe he wanted to bend her over the counter? They stood up together, and she felt the intensity of his gaze on her as they made their way to the kitchen.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  As they microwaved the soup, the atmosphere shifted again, and Lillian could sense that Talon was becoming more restless. She glanced at him, noting the way he rubbed the back of his neck, she had started picking up that he rubbed his neck when he was thinking about something. “You okay?” she asked, probing.

  “Yeah, just… trying to manage this,” he said, looking away from her. “It’s hard when I’m so close to you.” He decided not to tell her he was putting off the end of his rut so she didn’t have to go.

  Lillian wasn’t sure why he was holding back. “I get it,” she said softly. “But we can take things slow.”

  After they enjoyed the soup, they returned to the couch, the air thick with unspoken words and hesitation. Lillian leaned her head against Talon’s shoulder again, feeling the growing warmth of him next to her. He had been feeling the building all morning, and now into the afternoon. After everything that happened yesterday, he wanted to give her some time. Avoid hurting her, avoid overwhelming her.

  When this was over, he didn’t want her to run away from him. She seemed so comforted by him, but so delicate and nervous. He had to be doing something wrong to make her feel that way, or at least he figured. He never fully understood the inner workings of an Omega’s brain, and Rorke was far from the right one to ask.

  “We can just enjoy being here together.” she said, breaking the silence.

  Talon nodded, but she could see the struggle in his eyes. “It’s so hard to hold back,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can feel the need building inside me, and it’s… overwhelming.”

  Lillian’s breath caught in her throat, the weight of his words sinking in. She knew what this meant, and the realization sent a thrill through her. “What do you want?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  “I want to be close to you,” he whispered, bringing a hand up to play with her hair. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I need to feel you.”

  Lillian’s heart jumped as he played with her hair, melting under the gentle touch. “Then let’s not hold back,” she said softly, her voice filled with resolve as she pushed her head into his hand.

  Talon’s expression shifted, relief washing over him. He pulled her closer, their bodies meshing as he pressed his lips against hers. The kiss deepened, finally lighting the fire that had been accumulating gasoline between them as Talon’s hands found their way deeper into her hair and around her waist, pulling her closer.

  Lillian felt her heart thrumming quicker in her chest as she surrendered to him, finally getting what she had wanted all day. As the kiss deepened, she could feel the primal energy radiating from him, it sent shivers down her spine. She knew this may be the last go-around of his rut, but she could tell it was going to be good.

  As Talon’s hands explored and stripped her body, Lillian felt a rush of warmth enveloping her. It was nerve-wracking to be so bare under his gaze, but something was exciting about it too. Every touch ignited her senses, and she could feel the heat building between them. With how hot and heavy everything was now, before he had even been inside her, she knew this was going to be far beyond lovely – if not enough to break her.

  With an explosive urgency, Talon directed her back towards the bedroom, manhandling her into a position that would benefit his needs. “Are you sure?” he asked, his breath warm against her skin as he left little bites across her shoulders and pressed her hips against the edge of the bed.

  “Yes,” Lillian breathed, her heart racing. “Please.”

  With a deep growl, Talon leaned down to meet her shoulders, using a hand to brush her hair out of the way. Once he cleared the area, he bit down, capturing her shoulder with a harsh bite as he pushed his full length into her. Lillian arched towards him while he pressed his body against her, whining as her senses exploded under his teeth. She wasn’t sure what spot he was hitting, but it was maddening.

  As he slid into her, Lillian sucked in harsh breaths, the sensation sending ripples of pleasure coursing through her. The way he slammed into her with full force was everything she’d been needing; this dipshit Alpha just made her wait longer than she had wanted to. Talon’s grip on her waist tightened, and she could feel the urgency within his movements. With each thrust, the intensity grew, Lillian found herself surrendering completely to the moment, to him. Talon still had his teeth sunk down on her shoulder, next to several love bites and bruises. He kept a grip on her, growling into her skin has he aggressively met her hips with his own.

  Soon enough, Talon’s breathing became ragged, his eyes darkening as he finally released her from his teeth. The Wolf within him surged, driving him forward as he pushed deeper, their bodies sweaty and hot in the stuffy bedroom. Lillian gripped at the dishevelled bedsheets with all her strength, moving her hips to meet his as she yielded to the overwhelming sensations.

  As Talon continued to thrust into her, he could feel his knot ready to lock. She was going to look so pretty taking it all. Their scents building in the room were suffocating and practically toxic, and with each movement, she felt the tension build to a breaking point. She was ready to lose herself to him, every orgasm he had pushed her through had been body-breaking, and every thrust made her lose her breath a little more.

  “Fuck, Lillian,” Talon gasped, interrupting himself with a growl. “You feel so good. I—”

  Talon could feel the heat exploding in his groin, in his head, in his hands, everywhere, as he death-gripped her hips – he had no idea what to do with himself but continue driving forward into her. His hips stuttered, his hands seemed to spasm, his thighs shook, all at once he felt his entire body fail him for words or correct movements. In that moment, as he pushed deeper, his knot finally broke, locking them together. He fought himself to stay still; even as his knot swelled, his hips still wanted to continue thrusting into her, fucking his knot deeper into her as she writhed.

  Lillian cried, squeezing her eyes shut as the sensation of being filled overwhelmed her senses, and constrictions of pleasure consumed her. Talon’s groan echoed through the room, the intensity of his rut slowly draining as he pumped her full.

  In that moment of bliss, Lillian felt the weight of his rut lift, the aggressive energy dissipating as they caught their breath. She could feel the warmth of him enveloping her, enjoying him draping himself over her as they came down from the high. Lillian didn’t think she had felt that fuzzy in a while, it’s like her head was underwater in the loveliest way possible.

  As they breathed heavy together, Talon held her close. He buried his face in her neck, inhaling her lovely scent as he calmed and cleaning up the mess he’d made with his teeth earlier. “That was…” he started, trying to find the right words. “Amazing. You have no idea.”

  Lillian cracked a dopey smile, feeling similarly. “I think I do,” she replied, drooling slightly into the sheets.

  As they laid together, the aftermath of the sex left them both feeling spent. Lillian enjoyed as Talon licked over the marks he left and nuzzled her gently, waiting for the knot to go down. She could feel the tension in his body easing as the remnants of his rut trickled away, replaced by just him. She wondered if he would feel embarrassed when he was fully back in control.

  “You’re very soft,” Talon muttered, still nuzzling her scent glands. “And smell really good.”

  Lillian smiled, her chest tightening at the complement. “Thanks, you smell pretty good yourself.” She chuckled.

  Talon pulled her into bed, careful of his knot still locked in her as the feelings of his rut swirled down the drain and the fog cleared. She seemed very comfortable at the moment, but what would she do when they woke up? The entire reason they were here together was to help Talon with his rut. Now that it was over, she didn’t have a reason to be here. Talon felt a sense of dread building, knowing he’d have to let her go soon.

  As they settled into bed, Lillian felt relieved but also a bit nervous. They had finally finished his rut together, but she knew that the end of it came with a lot of new feelings and challenges. Who knows how he would feel when they woke up later this evening? She decided not to worry about it until later. Talon’s knot hadn’t deflated yet, and she was tired. The sheets were soft, Talon was warm, and for right now, she didn’t want anything else. She decided to savour the moment while it lasted.

  Lillian woke slowly, Talon’s body warming her skin. She shifted slightly, feeling the weight of Talon’s arm draped over her. His rut was over, and she had to start preparing herself to go. As she turned her head, she noticed that Talon was still asleep, his features relaxed and the tension of his rut finally gone.

  She breathed in deeply, becoming aware of the discomfort of her own state. His knot had slipped out hours ago - she wasn’t sure what time it was anymore. She was covered in sweat and other remnants from the sex, and the thought of leaving his apartment in that condition made her cringe.

  Carefully, she slinked from his embrace, deciding against waking him just yet. Talon stirred slightly but didn’t open his eyes, his expression still lost in sleep. Lillian smiled at the sight before slipping out of bed and heading toward the bathroom. She needed a shower - now. She wished Talon would join her, but at the moment he needed rest. He also likely didn’t want to do that now that his rut was over. Can’t hurt to leave the door open, just in case.

  Talon had been asleep, lost in a deep slumber, but the sound of the running water gradually pulled him from his dreams. As consciousness returned slowly, he blinked against the warm light seeping from the bathroom, groggy and disoriented. He shifted slightly and felt the cool air against his skin, he was still nude. Which would make sense, he guessed. A rush of warmth flooded his cheeks as he remembered the intensity of his rut, his mind flashing through images of her bare skin.

  He turned his head, catching a glimpse of Lillian’s towel draped on the top of the open bathroom door. The sound of water splashing filled his ears, and he felt heat creep into his cheeks. He couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind. Did she feel as awkward as he did now that his rut had ended? Why leave the door open?

  Talon rubbed the sleep from his eyes and pushed himself up, the sheets sliding off his body, leaving him feeling more exposed than he desired. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering haze of sleep as he wandered to his dresser to grab a pair of shorts. Popping his head just around the door, he saw Lillian’s blurry form through the foggy shower glass.

  Talon looked away quickly. “Lillian?” he called softly, unsure of whether she could hear him over the running water.

  “Yeah?” she replied from inside, her voice slightly muffled.

  “Are you okay?” He hesitated, unsure whether he should just walk in or give her privacy. The last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable. Why ask if she was okay? She was probably fine and just wanted him off her skin.

  “Just taking a shower,” she said, and he could hear the hint of amusement in her tone. “I’ll be out soon.”

  He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him, and took a step back to give her space. The thought of her in the shower with the water cascading over her skin made his heart pick up pace. He felt flustered and unsure of what to do with himself. It was strange to feel so vulnerable after everything.

  As Lillian showered, Talon decided to occupy his mind with something else. He moved to the bedroom and began tidying up, making the bed and trying to smooth the sheets that had rumpled over the last few days. He could still see evidence of their coupling, a few stains on the sheets and pillows.

  As he worked, he picked up Lillian’s clothes from the floor and folded them neatly, placing them on the bed. He noticed how small and delicate everything seemed as he handled her things. It felt surreal that she had been with him through all of this, maybe he wasn’t that bad.

  She was still showering, so he moved to the kitchen, grabbing a container to store what was left of the soup for her to take with her. He wanted to make sure she had something to eat later, it was the least he could do. The thought of her leaving made his heart ache, but he reminded himself that this was for the best. She had come to help him, and now that his rut was over, she would need to return to her own life.

  After a few minutes, he tuned into the sound of the shower running and his mind wandered to thoughts of her. He could hear her humming softly, and it made him smile. The urge to join her was strong, but he felt unsure. He didn’t want to assume she wanted him there. The last thing he wanted was to interrupt her personal time – especially if it’s because he was feeling clingy.

  Meanwhile, Lillian was in the shower, enjoying the feeling of the hot water mingling with the conditioner as she worked through the tangles in her hair. She thought about Talon—how gentle he had been this morning, how different he felt now that his rut was over. She was grateful for how he had treated her, but a part of her felt uneasy.

  What did this mean for them? She had come to help him, but now she wondered if he would still want her around. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he might see her as a burden once things returned to normal. She had helped him through his rut, a gesture she considered her way of repaying the debt she owed him for driving off the knotheads in the café. Now that his rut was behind him, she felt the weight of her obligation had lifted, which also meant it was time to let go of her foolish feelings and move forward.

  After rinsing out the conditioner, she turned off the water and stepped out, walking to the door to pull the towel from the edge where it hung. She took a moment to admire the marks he’d left, her hair still damp and curling slightly at the ends. When she returned to the bedroom, she was surprised to see Talon had been busy. The bed was made, her clothes folded neatly on top, and the man was nowhere to be found. She wasn’t sure why, but the way her clothes sat neatly on the bed made her heart sink.

  “Wow, you’ve been productive,” she waltzed into the kitchen, trying to fake an amused smile and keeping the towel held to her chest.

  Talon turned, flustered at having been caught in the middle of the chaos. “I just thought… you might want to take some soup with you,” he stammered, scratching the back of his neck. “I didn’t know how long you’d be in there, and I figured it might be nice for you to have something to take with you.” Talon rambled, following her back to the room and propping himself in the doorway.

  Lillian felt a warmth spread through her at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you, Talon. That’s really sweet of you.” She turned, dropping her towel. Talon whipped around quickly, scampering off, trying to give her privacy. Lillian smirked at the flustered Alpha as he quickly left to rearrange the fruit bowl again. Any distraction other than her was a good one. Lillian grabbed a set of clothes off the bed and began to get dressed, her heart heavy with the impending departure.

  As she changed into clean clothes, she noticed the way Talon was giving her space… too much space. His expression all morning was nearly unreadable, and he hardly made any eye contact – different from in his rut when she didn’t have a moment where his eyes weren’t on her. She felt a pang of uncertainty. Was he doing all this to politely push her away?

  When she finished dressing, she walked into the kitchen, and as she caught his eye, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was ready to say goodbye. “Talon,” she began, hesitating. “I -”

  “I know you’re probably ready to head out,” he interrupted, trying to keep his tone light despite the ache in his chest. “I mean, you’ve done what you came here to do, and I really don’t want to keep you if you need to go.”

  Lillian’s heart sank at his words. “No, I didn’t mean it that way…” she said slowly, but the words caught in her throat. The way he looked at her, his expression a mix of sadness and understanding, it made her feel like she was missing something important.

  “I just thought…” Talon started, his voice trailing off. He felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. Maybe she was spooked after everything, especially after he had almost paired bonded her. He didn’t want to push her, especially if she didn’t want to be here anymore. She’d been shut up in this apartment with her for a few days now, he was sure she wanted to get ack to her life. Without him in it.

  Lillian felt a knot form in her stomach. “Talon, wait -” she began, but he was already stepping back, giving her space as if she had already made her decision. Everything in her screamed to step forward and press a palm to his mouth, shut him up while she figured out how to say what she wanted to.

  “It’s okay,” he said softly, willing his voice to stay steady. “I’m sure you have things to do, I understand. You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

  The finality of his words cut through her, Lillian realized he was prepared to let her go. It felt like a door closing on what they had built together, and the thought made her heart ache. “I -”

  “No, really,” Talon insisted, his voice firm yet gentle. “You can go. I don’t want to keep you here if you’re uncomfortable.”

  ‘But I’m not uncomfortable!’ She wanted to assure, but it seemed his mind was already made up. She had to leave, it didn’t seem he was taking no for an answer. It was odd, his voice seemed off. Why was he so insistent that she had to leave right now?

  The weight of his words hung in the air, and Lillian felt like she was being dismissed. She grabbed the container of soup and her packed bag, biting her lip as she opened the door, the opening click of the deadbolt echoing in the quiet apartment.

  “Take care, Lillian,” Talon said quietly, his voice filled with unspoken emotions. He was too much of a coward to tell her to stay, and it would be selfish to ask that of her.

  She nodded, her heart heavy, and stepped outside, feeling the emptiness of the space surrounding her. The door quietly shut behind her, the sound echoed throughout Talon’s empty apartment and in the hallway. She hadn’t even looked back. He stood there for a moment, deflated, watching her leave and feeling loss wash over him.

  His brain spun, thinking about the last few days – well – what he could remember. Everything in him felt the loss, the pull, the deep-seated pain. His Wolf, his heart, his head, his dick, his hands – they all wanted her back. He had been wanting her for the last year, and now that he had her, he had to go fuck it up and drive her away. Story of his life.

  But what had gone wrong? Had he scared her off?

  With a heavy heart, Talon sank down onto the bed, the sheets slightly rumpled from Lillian getting dressed. He stared at Lillian’s towel, hanging on the edge of the bathroom door. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had let something that could have been perfect slip through his fingers. The emptiness in the room mirrored the hollowness in his chest.