We arrive at the pack house. Alex grabs Mila’s bags from the trunk, and we make our way inside. The air is thick with a sense of anticipation, and I can’t shake the feeling that something big is about to happen.
We start climbing the stairs to Mila’s old room, our footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. And then, as if the universe itself is orchestrating the moment for maximum drama, Cameron’s door swings open, and he steps out.
I freeze, my eyes darting between the two of them, watching as they stare at each other in stunned silence. Cameron’s face is etched with a deep frown, his brows knitted together in anger, but the moment he lays eyes on Mila, his expression morphs into one of pure shock.
Mila, for her part, seems eerily calm, her face a blank mask that betrays none of the thoughts swirling behind her eyes. For a long, tense moment, they simply stand there, locked in a silent battle of wills.
Then, Cameron seems to shake himself out of his stupor, squaring his shoulders and striding purposefully towards the landing of stairs where we stand. With each step he takes, I find myself holding my breath, wondering how this reunion will play out. Will he ignore her completely, pretending she doesn’t exist? Or will he acknowledge her presence, even if only to be polite?
To my surprise, he opts for the latter, offering a curt nod in Mila’s direction as he approaches. Instead of reciprocating the cordial gesture or offering a friendly greeting, Mila’s hand whips out with startling quickness. Her palm connects with his cheek in a deafening crack, the resounding slap echoing like a gunshot through the hallway.
I stand there, my mouth agape, my eyes wide with shock. Of all the scenarios I had imagined, this was definitely not one of them.
“I forgot to do that before I left,” Mila says, her voice dripping with false sweetness, a big smile plastered across her face as if she hadn’t just assaulted her ex-boyfriend. “It’s nice to see you, Cameron.”
I stare at her, equal parts astonished and thrilled by the unexpected turn of events. Here I was, thinking my own drama was the height of excitement, but Mila had just proven me wrong in the most spectacular fashion.
Cameron’s jaw clenches tight, a muscle twitching in his cheek, but to his credit, he doesn’t react. Instead, he forces a smile onto his face, his eyes cold and hard as he grits out, “You too, Mila.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, he turns to Alex, his voice strained but polite. “Can we talk?”
Alex, who looks just as stunned as I feel, nods slowly. “Yeah, let me just help Mila with her bags. Wait for me in my office.”
“Thank you,” Cameron says, his tone clipped before turning on his heel and stalking away.
As he disappears down the hallway, I can’t help but notice the troubled expression on his face, the way his shoulders seem to slump under the weight of some unseen burden. I wonder if it has anything to do with Alice, if their relationship is still on the rocks after last time.
But before I can dwell on it too much, Mila’s voice cuts through my thoughts, bright and cheery, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.
“Right this way, Hannah,” she says, grabbing my arm and tugging me towards her room.
I follow Mila to her room, listening as she regales me with stories of her time in London, her eyes bright with excitement as she describes the sights and sounds of the city. But even as I nod and smile in all the right places, my mind is elsewhere, fixated on the troubled expression I saw on Cameron’s face.
I can’t shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong, that the weight of whatever is bothering him goes far beyond a simple lovers’ quarrel. And so, as soon as I say my goodbyes to Mila and make my way back to my own room, I find myself seeking out Alex, determined to get to the bottom of it.
“Is everything okay with Cameron?” I ask, my brow furrowed with concern as I study Alex’s face for any hint of what might be going on.
Alex sighs heavily, his shoulders slumping as he runs a hand through his hair. It’s all the confirmation I need that something is indeed very wrong.
“Did he fight with Alice?” I press. “And how is she, by the way? I would have called to check on her myself, but I doubt she’d take my call.”
“Yes, they did fight,” Alex admits, his voice tired. “And as for Alice, well, if she weren’t fine, she wouldn’t have the energy to make my brother’s life miserable.”
I frown, taking a seat on the edge of the bed as I try to process this new information. “What did she do?”
“Actually, she didn’t do anything,” Alex says, shaking his head. “But because of her, Cameron and Lorenzo had a big fight.”
My eyes widen, my curiosity piqued. “Oh? What happened?”
Alex takes a deep breath, then launches into the story of the conversation that took place the day they found Alice, the one that led to the current rift between the brothers. As he speaks, I find myself growing more and more surprised by the revelations.
“Wow, Cameron really said all those things to Alice?” I ask, my voice tinged with disbelief.
“Yes, and Lorenzo is absolutely furious with him over it. He claims there’s definitely something off about Cameron’s behavior lately. That’s precisely why Cameron came to speak with me privately. He’s actually considering whether something might be wrong with him.”
I shake my head, my heart going out to Cameron. “No, he shouldn’t think that. The questions Cameron asked are valid, and he shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for expressing his concerns.”
“That’s exactly what I told Cameron,” Alex agrees, rubbing his temple as if to ward off a headache. “But he feels bad about fighting with Alice, even though her obsession with me doesn’t sit well with him. He didn’t want to make things worse, so he sent her an apology text.”
I sigh, my shoulders slumping in sympathy. “Poor guy. Cameron is such a good mate. Alice should realize what a gem she has before she pushes him away.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he says, his voice heavy with remorse. “It’s sad that she doesn’t see it because if she did, she wouldn’t be wasting her time obsessing over me.” I nod, agreeing with him.
“Before I forget, the Alpha King has invited us to another party he’s hosting tomorrow,” Alex says, his tone a mix of resignation and curiosity.
I turn to face him, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Really? Why?” We had resolved the issue the last time, or so I thought. So why was he extending this invitation again?
Alex shrugs, his expression thoughtful. “I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out when we get there tomorrow.”
“Alright,” I say, nodding slowly as I try to process this new development. It’s just one more thing to add to the ever-growing list of complications and mysteries that seem to be piling up around us.
Alex excuses himself to take a shower before dinner, and I find myself lost in thought, my mind swirling with the implications of everything I’ve just learned. I’ve never had particularly strong feelings about Cameron one way or the other, but now, I can’t help but feel a surge of sympathy for him.
He doesn’t deserve to be stuck with someone like Alice, someone who can’t see past her own selfish desires to appreciate the loyal, loving mate she has. It’s a shame that he’s willing to put up with her troubles, to stick by her side even when she’s at her worst.
But then again, who am I to judge? Alex is far from perfect, and yet, even when a charming Alpha came along and pursued me with an aggressive sort of intensity, I never once considered leaving. I suppose we’re all the same in that way, clinging to the ones we mated to even when it hurts.
Still, there comes a point when enough is enough, when the pain of staying outweighs the fear of leaving. And as I make my way downstairs to the dining room, my heart heavy with the weight of these revelations, I can’t help but fear that my sister is rapidly approaching that point. I can only hope that she realizes it before it’s too late before she loses the one person who truly loves her, flaws and all.