Talon sat at the kitchen table, textbooks sprawled out in front of him, but his focus was nowhere near the pages. He felt drained, and not just from the two exams he had already prepped and taken this week, but also because of Lillian. His mind kept drifting back to her, replaying every moment they'd spent together. Her laughter echoed in his ears, and he could almost feel her warmth beside him when he wasn’t sulking over being alone. Rorke and Oliver exchanged glances, sensing something off.

  "Alright, spill," Oliver said, leaning back in his chair with a knowing grin. "You're not even pretending to study."

  Talon sighed, pushing his textbooks away and staring at the ceiling. "It's Lillian," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I can't stop thinking about her. She was just... amazing."

  Rorke smirked, nudging Oliver. "Sounds like someone's smitten," he teased. "What was it about her?"

  Talon felt his cheeks heat up, a flustered smile tugging at his lips. "I don't know, man. Everything, I guess. She was just so... genuine. The way she laughed; the way she made me feel like I was the only one in the room. She had this spark, you know? She had a way of lighting up the whole world."

  Oliver chuckled, crossing his arms. "Sounds like you've got it bad, mate. What else did you guys do? Aside from the obvious, of course." He teased, smirking and waggling his eyebrows at him.

  “Oh, fuck off!” Talon laughed, a soft smile spreading across his face as he recalled all those little moments. "We cooked together. Well, she cooked, and I tried not to burn anything. She made this amazing stew, and we just talked... about everything and nothing at all. It was so easy with her."

  Rorke grinned, leaning forward. "And? Any Netflix and chill?"

  Oliver chuckled. “Hulu and do you?”

  Talon groaned, rolling his eyes. "We watched some terrible zombie show. She laughed at all the wrong parts, and I couldn't stop watching her. She was just... herself. She was so shy, but confident, if that makes any sense."

  Oliver elbowed Rorke, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Sounds like someone's head over heels. Think you'll see her again?"

  Talon's smile faltered, uncertainty clouding his expression. "I hope so. But when she left, it was like... I don't know. Maybe I was just a phase, something to get over her ex or something."

  Rorke shook his head, patting Talon's shoulder. "Hey, give her some time. If she felt even half of what you're feeling, she'll come around. You just gotta be patient."

  Talon sighed, trying to take comfort in his friends' words. But the ache in his chest remained, a constant reminder of what he was missing. He picked up his pen, attempting to focus on his notes, but his mind kept wandering back to Lillian. Talon's thoughts spiralled, the weight of what-ifs pressing down on him. He put down his pen, staring blankly at the notes in front of him. "I just—I'm worried I scared her off," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Rorke and Oliver exchanged glances, their teasing expressions softening into concern. "What do you mean?" Oliver asked, leaning forward.

  Talon sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I was so worried about being too rough with her. I mean, the last thing I wanted was to hurt her, but... there were moments when I felt like I lost control. I kept thinking, what if I went too far, you know?"

  Rorke nodded, understanding in his green eyes. "You said she seemed okay, though. Did she ever say anything about it?"

  "No," Talon admitted, shaking his head. "She seemed fine, but what if she was just putting on a brave face? I mean, she let me know her boundaries and I thought I respected them, but... I don't know. I feel like I fucked up somewhere, somehow."

  Oliver interjected, trying to reassure him. "Talon, if she was uncomfortable, she would've said something. From what you've said, she had enough trust in you to say at least that. "

  Talon nodded, but the doubt lingered. "There was also... another thing," he continued, hesitating. "I almost... I almost pair bonded with her."

  Rorke's eyes widened, and Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" Oliver asked, leaning back in his chair. "That's intense, dude. Did she know?"

  "She did, but didn’t say much about it," Talon replied, his voice shaking ever so slightly. "I mean, I felt it happening, and I stopped myself, but what if she was upset by it? What if that's why she left?"

  Rorke leaned over, giving Talon a reassuring pat on the back. "Look, if she felt that connection, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe it just caught her off guard. It’s a lot for any Omega to process."

  Talon thought for a moment – maybe she was just unsteady and still working through her emotions? But the uncertainty gnawed at him. "I keep replaying everything in my head, trying to figure out if I did something wrong. I just... I miss her." He shook his head, as if trying to find a clear thought. “I wish I could apologise, but I don’t know what I did. I’d take it all back if I could make it right.”

  Oliver offered a sympathetic smile, his tone gentle. "Give it some time, Talon. If she felt anything like what you're feeling, she'll come back around. Maybe she just needs a moment to sort through it all."

  Talon agreed, though his heart still ached. He picked up his pen again, trying to focus on his studies, but the pages in front of him seemed meaningless without Lillian. The thought of seeing her again was both hopeful and terrifying. He had seen her briefly around campus, but she kept her head down and wouldn’t look at him. Maybe this is for the best, he’ll learn from this and do better next time. The problem was, he didn’t want another Omega. He wanted Lillian.

  Lillian sat curled up on her couch, surrounded by a fortress of blankets and books that had become her refuge in the days since leaving Talon's apartment. Nesting always had a way of settling her inner Wolf when she felt distressed. Especially now as she went through what she felt was ‘withdrawal’.

  She'd tried to immerse herself in her studies, hoping a familiar schedule would drown out the chaotic emotions swirling within her. Yet, every time she turned a page, her mind drifted back to him - his laughter, the warmth of his embrace, and the way his eyes softened when he looked at her. The memories played on a loop, haunting her as she attempted to focus on anything but her aching heart.

  Her day-to-day life had taken on a monotonous pattern, each day blending into the next. She woke up each morning with the intention of being productive, but the weight of her thoughts made it difficult to concentrate. The zombie show she and Talon had started together played quietly in the background, a bittersweet reminder of him. She found herself unable to engage with the story, her mind instead replaying the whole weekend. She pulled a pillow to her chest.

  She knew her feelings for Talon were a complex, tangled web of emotions that ran deeper than mere infatuation – something that she hadn’t felt in a while. Some Alphas were gorgeous, and around her heat they all looked like lovely options, but it was never more than an appreciative passing glance. She was drawn to Talon in a way she couldn't explain, a gravitational pull that defied all her attempts at logic. It wasn't love – at least, she didn't think it was – but it was significant, and it scared her.

  She felt a deep connection to Talon, especially after sharing his rut, all the conversations they had gave her butterflies. That was until his rut had finished and it was like he wanted nothing to do with her. Was she being clingy or needy? Lillian hadn’t done this before, and had no idea how it was supposed to be after. She signed the contract in the beginning, it only lasted for the length of his rut, so what good was asking him to spend more time with her?

  Her friends had noticed her distractedness, their concerned questions met with forced smiles and vague reassurances. She hadn't confided in them about Talon, the experience too raw and personal to share. Lillian had always kept her personal life – especially any intimate parts of her life – private. She had tried to speak about it with a therapist once but got too shy and changed the topic. She keeps her feelings bottled up, wrestling with them in solitude as she tried to make sense of her emotions and reality.

  The container of soup sat untouched in her minifridge, a small reminder of Talon's thoughtfulness. Eating it felt like a finality she wasn't ready to face. Once it was gone, she'd have to wash the container and return it, meaning she’d have to face the Alpha again. The thought made her shake nervously. She wasn't ready to see him, not when the air between them was thick with her unspoken words and their unresolved tension. She felt out of place sometimes, feeling a bit too submissive and shy for her own good.

  Lillian had been an Omega from a very young age, her first heat popping up when she was only 11. She had always been comfortable with her identity, but her past experiences had left scars. The trauma from her previous relationship with her old Alpha still lingered, making her wary of giving herself fully to another. It was a subconscious fear that reared its ugly head, fuelling her anxiety about her future with Talon. Or rather, the future she wanted with him. She worried about overwhelming him, about being seen as clingy now that his rut was over. She wanted to believe that she could have a relationship with him, but his recent actions made her doubt whether he wanted the same.

  Lillian's independence was something she valued, something she'd fought hard to maintain after all the bullshit she had been put through because she was an Omega. She knew she could handle herself, that she didn't need an Alpha to define her worth. But the idea of having someone like Talon, someone who could understand and support her, was comforting. She wanted to be with someone who cherished her, who saw her worth beyond being an Omega. Even though she knew he was in his rut, she felt he could still see her for her.

  The confrontation with the other Alpha in the lobby had been a big turning point. It had made her realise how deeply she was falling for Talon, how much she valued the way he protected and stood up for her. It was a stark contrast to her past, where she'd been a fun plaything, never truly valued. Talon's actions had shown her how much she meant to him, but still, she hesitated. Sometimes she felt like he liked her too, and other times he was giving her so much space she might as well be on a different planet. It was so damn confusing!

  Fear of vulnerability kept her from reaching out. She worried about getting hurt, about opening her heart for once only to have it broken. So, she suppressed her feelings, burying them beneath layers of logic, caution, and her nest. She told herself that leaving was doing what Talon wanted, that she was making it easier for him to return to his life without her. She convinced herself that she was protecting them both. Who knows what he wanted; Lillian had barely had the discussion with herself on what she wanted.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  But as she sat in her quiet apartment, surrounded by the remnants of their time together, Lillian couldn't shake the feeling that she was running away from something she shouldn’t. She wanted to be brave, to confront her feelings head-on, but fear seemed to put her in a headlock. She didn't know if she was ready to face Talon again, to risk her heart in a way she hadn't before. So, for now, she buried herself in her books and the comfort of her couch, hoping that maybe time would bring her clarity and courage.

  Lillian had been walking around campus to clear her head. The last few days, her room was beginning to become suffocating, and she couldn’t handle having to watch another episode over again because she wasn’t paying enough attention. She had tried to use toys to give herself a sense of relief, but the moment she was done, the lingering melancholy came back. She was done running, done fighting, and needed to find anything else to distract her. Distractions like walking. Until she noticed Talon sitting on a bench, head in his hands. All at once, she felt herself snap. Somewhere in her heart she was concerned by how sad he looked, but her brain was sick of working overtime and had too much to say.

  Lillian stormed across the campus courtyard, her mind a muddled mess of thoughts and feelings. Every step seemed to echo her frustration and hurt, propelling her forward with a resolve she hadn’t felt in days. She’d been avoiding this confrontation, but the sight of Talon sitting on a bench, looking lost, was too much to ignore. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anxiety and frustration urging her on.

  Talon looked up as she approached, surprise flickering across his features, quickly replaced by a wary expression. He stood up, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow as he watched her plant herself in front of him. "Lillian –" he began, but she cut him off, her voice sharp, laced with the anger she’d been bottling up.

  "No, Talon, you cut me off last week, it’s my turn," she interjected, her words pouring out in a rush. "Why did you push me away? After everything we went through together, you just shut me out. I thought you wanted me, but now I don't know what you want." She spoke loudly, a few people nearby turning their heads – slightly amused by such a little thing speaking so bluntly to a mountain of an Alpha.

  Talon opened his mouth to respond, but she held up a hand, her anger bubbling to the surface. "Let me finish. You made me feel like I was nothing, like I was just there to help you through your rut and nothing more. That’s why I came there to begin with, but you seemed to act like it was more than that. Do you have any idea how that made me feel? Like I was disposable, like I was an idiot who gave you the time of day. And then you didn't even try to stop me when I left, you practically begged me to leave!"

  Talon’s shoulders sagged, the weight of her words hitting him like a punch to the gut. What the fuck had he done? "I was scared," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t want to hurt you, and I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go. You had a right to get back to your life, without me."

  "Better off without you?" she echoed, incredulous. Her eyes were bright with a mix of anger and gathering tears. "You didn’t even ask me what I wanted. You decided for me, that’s not fair, Talon. I’m not some fragile Omega that needs protecting from you. I chose to be with you, that was my decision to make!" She ranted, her hands moving erratically alongside her words.

  Talon stood there, his eyes locked on hers, feeling the raw emotion in her words. "I’m sorry," he said softly, taking a tentative step toward her. "I - I thought I was protecting you." He averted his gaze, feeling the weight of his own inadequacies.

  Lillian was about done with his bullshit excuses. “Protecting? I’ve been lost without you the past week, and you were protecting?” Lillian scoffed. “You talked a big game about watching me, about how I was 'special,' but you couldn’t be there after you were done using me? Was this all just a sick game to you?” Her voice was sharp, each word landing like a whip on his guilty conscience.

  Talon winced at her accusation, the hurt in her eyes cutting deeper than anything he’d ever felt. He wasn’t sure where to start. Should he defend himself? Beg for forgiveness? Did she just want to be angry and get this off her chest, then never talk to him again? "Lillian, you were never, ever a game to me," he said, his voice earnest, though tinged with desperation. "I’m sorry I made you feel that way. I wish –" He paused, searching for the words. "I wish I could take it back."

  "Words are much easier to take back than actions, Talon," Lillian replied, her voice laced with the remnants of her anger. "You say I’m special, yet your actions repeatedly told me otherwise. You let me walk away without a fight. You didn’t even try to understand what I wanted, what I was feeling."

  She crossed her arms, her eyes blazing with hurt. "You almost pair-bonded with me, Talon. You know how serious that is! That's supposed to be permanent. Yet, you just let me walk away like I was nothing. How could you do that? How could you pretend to care that much and then just throw me away?"

  Talon's heart sank. He hadn’t realized how deeply he had wounded her. She had every right to be as pissed as she was. "I didn’t mean to," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was scared, Lillian. I didn’t know how to handle it. The amount of feelings I have for you – it terrified me."

  "Scared?" Lillian asked, thinking of the soreness in her hips. "So, you thought it was okay to leave me with all these marks and just disappear?!" She pulled down the collar of her shirt aggressively, revealing the litter of bites and marks along her shoulders, neck, and collarbones. "These aren't just physical, Talon. They're reminders of how you left me feeling confused and hurt. I’ve had to stare at them every day since I left. Don’t even get me started on my hips that look like they’ve been tattooed to be a fucking galaxy." Her hips had started healing, but she was still sore. They were nearly black initially from how hard he had gripped them, but had since faded into various shades of blue, purple, and yellow.

  Lillian’s gaze softened slightly, letting out a breath and lowering her hands, but her frustration remained. "I don’t want you to protect me from yourself, Talon. I want us to be honest with each other. I can’t keep guessing what you’re thinking. We need to communicate. If we’re going to be together, we have to talk about what we want." She slipped, mentioning them being together.

  Talon caught it, staring at her with a blank expression. “After all this, you still want me?” His voice was tinged with disbelief, as if he couldn't quite process the idea that she might still want anything to do with him.

  Lillian sighed, a mixture of exasperation and affection in her voice. "Talon, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want you. Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I’m hurt. But I came here because I care about you. Because I thought we had something worth fighting for. Worth bitching at you about." Lillian chuckled softly.

  He looked at her, his heart pounding with uncertainty. "I thought I’d ruined any chance of that," he admitted, his voice soft and vulnerable. "I thought I’d lost you for good." There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes as he tried to find the right words. "You’re right. I messed up, and I’m sorry. I do want you, Lillian. I never stopped wanting you. I just didn’t know the right way to do this. Can we... can we start over somehow? Try to figure this out together?"

  She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding as she considered his words. The fire in her chest gave way to bloom of hope. "I’d like that," she replied, her voice softer now, though still tinged with the remnants of her frustration. "But you have to promise me, no more shutting me out."

  "I promise," Talon said, his voice soft. "No more running. We’ll figure this out together, I swear."

  They stood there for a moment, the tension between them slowly easing as they looked at each other. Lillian felt the knot of anxiety in her chest begin to loosen, replaced by a tentative sense of peace. They stood in front of each other, breathing heavily while Lillian’s tears dried and the flush in her cheeks dissipated.

  Talon reached out, taking her small hand in his. "I’ve missed you, Lillian," he confessed, his voice tinged with vulnerability and a longing that mirrored her own feelings. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since you left, either.”

  She squeezed his hand, a shy smile playing on her lips despite herself. "I’ve missed you too," she admitted, feeling the warmth of his touch seep into her, grounding her. She had been boiling, and hadn’t been that upset since she got grounded when she was seven. But now – oddly – his hand was warm and she could feel all the anger melting away. He did care.

  Talon nodded; his expression remorseful as he looked at her. "I know I’ve said it before, but I really am sorry. I was so caught up in my own fears and insecurities that I didn’t see what I was doing to you - to us. You deserve better than that." She did, and part of him wondered if she was making a mistake dating an idiot like himself.

  The sincerity in his voice tugged at her heart, and she nodded, her eyes bright and happy. "I just need to know that you’re in this with me," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion behind it. "I need to know that you’re willing to fight for us, even when things get tough." He guessed she did want this, and there was no harm in trying – trying was the least he could do after putting her through all this.

  "I am," he assured her, his grip on her hand tightening slightly as if to emphasize his commitment. "I’ve been wanting to tell you how I feel for so long, but I’ve always been too afraid. Afraid that I’d mess it up, afraid that you’d see all the parts of me I don’t like showing to anyone."

  Lillian took a deep breath, settling herself as she listened to his worries. "Talon, I’ve seen those parts of you, they don’t scare me. I want to see all of them. They make you who you are, and I wouldn’t change that. I just wish you’d trusted me enough to let me in sooner."

  He nodded, his expression one of understanding and regret. "I know, and I will. I promise I’ll do better. I don’t want to lose you, Lillian. You are special, I couldn’t ever lie about that."

  Her heart jumped, and she felt the last of her frustrations evaporate, leaving only a sense of relief. "Then let’s work on this together," she said softly, her voice filled with determination. "We’ll figure it out."

  Talon smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that made her heart flutter. "We’re in this together," he agreed, pulling her into a gentle embrace. Talon tucked her head against his chest, cradling the back of her head and wrapping an arm around her waist. Her hair was soft, smelled like her, it was intoxicating. All his. She melted against him, feeling the warmth and comfort she’d been missing since she left.

  As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Lillian felt a sense of calm settle over her. The uncertainty of the past week faded away, replaced by the comforting knowledge that they were finally on the same page.

  The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the campus, painting the landscape and buildings in hues of red and amber. Talon released Lillian from their embrace, but not without taking her hand in his, a gentle, reassuring touch that spoke volumes. As they began to walk together, side by side, an unspoken understanding settled between them, wrapping them in a cocoon of newfound hope and possibility.

  With each step, they stole glances at each other, their expressions softening as their earlier tension gave way to a giddy, almost childlike happiness. The weight of their conversation lingered, but in its place was a sense of relief and the excitement of a fresh start.

  Lillian caught Talon's eyes several times as he looked at her, his gaze filled with an intensity she had never seen before. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, and in that look, she felt the depth of his feelings. There was something unguarded and raw in his expression, a vulnerability that hinted at emotions he had yet to voice. Through his hand, she could feel how fast his heart was beating – she wondered if he could feel hers doing the same.

  ‘Is that love?’ she wondered, her heart skipping a beat. The thought made her cheeks flush, a warmth spreading through her chest. The idea that he might love her was both exhilarating and terrifying. She initially didn’t think her feelings were love, but maybe she had been wrong. How else would she describe the flutter in her chest?

  Talon squeezed her hand gently, as if sensing her thoughts, and gave her a shy, yet heartfelt smile. It was a dopey smile that reached his eyes, crinkling the corners and lighting up his entire face. In that moment, Lillian felt a surge of affection so strong it took her breath away.

  ‘I love you.’ The words were unspoken, yet they hung in the air between them, palpable and real. She realized then that she did feel that way, and perhaps, she had all along. It wasn’t just the connection they shared or the way he made her feel safe and cherished. It was the way he looked at her, the way he listened, the way he was willing to fight for them, and put up with her ripping into him.

  As they continued to walk, hand in hand, the setting sun casting long shadows behind them, Lillian felt a sense of peace settle over her. The path ahead was still uncertain, and there would be challenges to face, but with Talon by her side, she felt ready to embrace whatever came their way.

  They didn’t need words to express what they felt. The gentle squeeze of their intertwined fingers, the soft smiles exchanged, the sweet lingering of their mingling pheromones, and the warmth of their shared presence were more than enough. Together, they would find ways to communicate, and perhaps, in time, those unspoken words would find their voice. The truth was, she loved him. Two weeks ago, Talon was a mess of anxiety, but with Lillian, he’d never felt more confident. Love heals, and it had found its way to him.