This was supposed to be a reset. A clean slate.
Instead, it’s a fucking catastrophe.
Halley deflates like the air’s been knocked out of her. She sinks back into her chair, spine curved inward, folding in on herself.
“I’m never going to be good enough for you, am I?” she says softly.
I hate seeing her in pain. Every word she spoke tonight cut deep. Not because it was cruel, but because it was true. And somehow, I hadn’t seen it. I thought I had. I’m the one who’s supposed to see patterns and fix problems before they implode. But I missed it. I missed her.
She was so innocent and naive when we met. Wide eyed and eager to please. We watched her fight for our approval every damn day. She trained harder than anyone should’ve expected. She bent over backwards trying to meet every standard we set. And still, Knox told her she’d never be our equal.
I scrub a hand over my face and sigh. "Rutting-fuck, I swear our Pack has the worst communication skills."
Knox grunts and doesn’t disagree.
Okay. Okay. I can fix this.
Ihaveto fix this.
“All right,” I say, trying to sound steady even as my voice threatens to crack. “We’re a mess. Tempers are running hot and nobody’s thinking straight. Let’s just take a breath.”
Rutting-fuck. How are we screwing this up already?
“I’m tired. I want to be alone.” Halley’s face is blank, her voice even flatter.
She stands to leave, but Viper catches her wrist and tugs her gently back into her seat. She doesn’t fight him, doesn’t even look angry. She just lets it happen.
That’s worse.
She’s not resisting. She’s mentally retreating.
Then Knox says something unexpected. “You’re right. I was wrong.”
I blink, not sure I heard him correctly.
Halley’s lips press into a hard, thin line. She’s wary, but she’s listening.
"And I'm sorry," Knox finally says.
Her expression doesn’t change. “Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”
Knox leans forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, his hands open and spread like he’s laying out weapons in surrender.
“I shouldn’t have put it all on you,” he says, voice low but clear. “I have been clouded by my pain and it let me forget yours. That was wrong. I see that now.”
She softens. Not much, but a crack in her armor. It’s enough, and Knox latches onto it.
“You’re not our equal because—"
"I heard you the first time."
‘For fucks sake, Knox! That’s not an apology.’
She tugs at Viper's hold on her wrist to escape, done listening to Knox’s poor apology and explanation.
“No, wait. Just— just listen,” Knox blurts, voice sharper with panic now. His hands curl into fists as his expression tightens, the scar over the bridge of his nose creasing. “Look... I’m shit at this, all right?”
Halley stills, and Viper loosens his grip. She doesn’t pull away.
