I waited.
I gave him one more chance.
I turned back after a few steps, tears stinging my eyes, and I asked again—quiet, fragile.
"Was it more than once?"
Darius looked at me.
And said nothing.
No words. No lies. No apologies.
Just silence.
A silence that screamed louder than any howl, louder than any fight we'd ever had.
I broke.
Something inside me shattered.
A sharp breath escaped my lips as I stepped back from him. My arms wrapped around myself, as if I could hold the pieces together. But I was already falling apart.
"Okay," I whispered.
His brows furrowed. "Luciana—"
"No," I said, voice shaking. "You had your chance to fight for us. To deny it. To reach for me. But you didn't."
He reached out, a slight movement. "Please—"
I turned and ran.
Fast.
Faster than I ever had.
I ran from the warrior grounds, from the lights, from the people who would ask too many questions. I ran from his scent. From his silence. From the part of me that still loved him.
