Across the walkway, I spot Leif glancing our way, his tall frame tensing as he registers the newcomer at our table. Quinn tugs at his sleeve,blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding as she points at colorful book covers.
“You should leave,” Grady says, the mild Beta displaying unexpected steel. “Emily’s enjoying her coffee.”
Auren’s attention swivels to Grady, taking in his simple sweater and worn jeans with a dismissive sweep. “And you are?”
“An actual friend,” Grady replies, not offering his name.
“How lovely. Emily always did collect strays.” Auren’s smile turns brittle as his gaze drops to Grady’s cane. “It’s her nature to fix broken things.”
The words strike at old bruises. I’d spent years believing I gravitated toward damaged people, convinced my worth lived in what I could offer. Auren fed that belief every day, taking and taking until nothing remained.
“Nobody here is broken,” I say, finding Jared’s hand under the table and squeezing it tight. “And I don’t fix people.”
“Of course not,” Auren soothes. He pulls out Leif’s chair at our table and sinks into it with liquid grace. “You appear to be doing well, Emily, enjoying a day of shopping. Construction must be booming.”
The casual way he inserts himself into our spacesends a shiver down my spine. This is how it always began, his soft invasion and refusal to acknowledge boundaries, all wrapped in politeness so exquisite that objecting made you seem to be the unreasonable one.
Jared turns his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together to offer me his strength.
“What do you want, Auren?” I ask again.
He leans forward, crossing his arms on the table. His wrists appear fragile, bone china delicate beneath his skin. “Can’t I miss you? We were together for years.”
“Until you kicked me out and stole my cat.” The accusation escapes before I can stop it, sharper than I intended.
A flash of annoyance flashes before melting into practiced remorse. “That was unfortunate. The pack voted, and I was outnumbered. You understand how democracy works.”
Democracy. As if our relationship had been a political system and not his careful manipulation. As if he hadn’t orchestrated every moment leading to my removal.
“Mixie is home now,” Jared cuts in. “Where she belongs.”
Auren’s gaze sharpens on Jared, recognition dawning. “Ah, the eager pup. Weren’t you in thatwhole water taxi incident on social media?” His lip curls. “Quite the scandal.”
A vendor calls out coffee orders nearby, the normalcy of the sound a surreal contrast to the tension at our table. A child laughs somewhere to my left.
“Not much of a scandal when you have the full story,” Grady comments, stirring his coffee.
“I’m sure.” Auren dismisses this with a flick of his fingers.
His attention swings back to me, his entire presence softening in the familiar, disarming way he used to weaponize. “Emily, I’ve been thinking about us since your last visit. About mistakes that were made.”
My stomach drops. This is new territory. Auren never admits when he’s wrong, only reframes situations to make others responsible.
“Mistakes…” I repeat, the word like ash in my mouth.
“Our bond was special,” he continues with a remorseful tilt of his head. “The pack hasn’t been the same without your… stability.”
The pause before “stability” speaks volumes. What he means is my labor, my sacrifice, and my willingness to put everyone else first.
Myusefulness.
Jared’s breathing changes beside me, a subtle shift toward protective anger sensed more than heard. Across the market, Leif has angled his body toward our table while maintaining a conversation with Quinn, his awareness of potential trouble evident in his posture.
“Your timing is interesting,” I say, forcing myself to remain calm. “You’ve been avoiding me for months. Now you show up right after I get my cat back.”
Auren’s eyes widen with practiced innocence. “I thought you were still mad at me, and I’m sorry about holding on to Mixie. I thought, if she stayed with me, that it meant we weren’t over. Not really.”
He reaches across the table as if to touch the hand near my coffee cup, but I pull back before he makes contact.