"It was all the explanation you deserved." Jessica's chin lifts. Her spine straightens.
That's my girl.
Something flickers in Callum's eyes. Anger. Quick and ugly before the charm smooths it away. "You're right. I know Imessed up, Jess. I know I wasn't always the partner you needed. But I've been doing a lot of thinking since you left, and I want to make things right."
The manipulative bastard.
I've seen this move before. The false apology. The "I'm sorry you feel that way" disguised as actual remorse. It's textbook emotional manipulation, and I want to break his perfect teeth for using it on her.
"There's nothing to make right. We're done."
"We're not done." He moves closer. She steps back. Her spine hits the dairy case. “Two years, Jessica. You don't just throw that away."
"I already did." Her hands are shaking on the cart handle. But her voice is steady. "The moment I ran from our wedding.”
His jaw tightens. "You're being dramatic."
There it is. The dismissal. The subtle put-down wrapped in concern.
My hand moves to my holster. Not drawing. Just touching. A reminder that I'm armed and authorized.
"I'm being honest," Jessica says. Her voice is rising. People are definitely staring now. "For the first time in two years. I should have left you a long time ago."
"Because of them?" His voice goes sharp. Cutting. "The Negrorio Pack? Is that what this is about?"
I go still.
"This is about me." The words tumble out of her now, two years of silence breaking open. "About you making me feel like I was too much. Too loud. Too obsessive. About you controlling everything from what I wore to who I talked to to how I organized my goddamn grocery lists."
Pride surges through me. Hot and fierce.
She's not backing down. Not shrinking. Not letting him twist her words or make her doubt herself.
"I was helping you." Callum steps into her space. His scent washes over her, and I see her recoil. See her omega physically pull back from him.
My alpha rises. Growls. Demands I move. Intervene. Protect.
Not yet. She's got this.
"And now you're living with four men?" Callum continues. His voice drips with contempt. "Making a fool of yourself? They're using you, baby. Can't you see that? Taking advantage of a confused omega."
"Don't call me baby." Her voice is flat. Dead. "And don't pretend you care about what's good for me. You only care that you lost control."
His hands clench into fists.
I tense. Ready to move if those fists go anywhere near her.
"You're making a mistake."
"The only mistake I made was staying as long as I did." She pushes her cart forward, forcing him to step aside or be hit. "We're done, Callum. Accept it."
She walks past him.
Three steps.
His hand shoots out and closes around her arm.
I move.
