The Silver Wolf and the Gray Alpha

Almost

Chapter 21: Almost

Misty sat curled up on her bed, knees pulled to her chest, her friends surrounding her like a protective barrier. Ally sat on one side, brushing her hair back gently, while Tamara pressed a cup of tea into her hands. Jaz had found one of her old hoodies and helped her change into something warm and familiar.

They hadn’t said much.

Just stayed with her.

Listened when she finally sobbed the story into her pillow.

“He said I was his girl,” she choked out. “He promised me… and I… I believed him.”

“We know,” Ally whispered, squeezing her shoulder.

“I’m so stupid.”

“No,” Tamara said firmly. “You’re not. He is.”

Misty sniffled. “I was going to… I was going to give myself to him.”

Jaz looked furious. “He doesn’t deserve you. He never did.”

They stayed with her all afternoon. Long after the tears had dried. Long after the sun dipped beneath the trees. Long enough for Misty to begin thinking clearly again.

“I’m done,” she whispered finally. “I mean it. I’m not going back.”

“We believe you,” Ally said.

“I’m listening now,” Misty added. “To all of you. I should have sooner.”

After they left her dorm, promising to check in the next morning, Misty lay in bed for a long time staring at the ceiling. She was tired. Empty. But one thought kept playing in her mind.

Phillip.

She wanted to see him.

She had no plan. No speech. She just needed to see his face.

So she pulled on leggings and a hoodie, tied her hair back, and stepped out into the cool night.

The campus was quiet, shadows stretching beneath the streetlights. Her footsteps were slow, hesitant. She wasn’t sure what she’d say if he answered the door. Maybe she’d just look at him and cry again. Maybe that would be enough.

As she turned the corner toward his building, her breath caught.

There he was.

Sitting on the low steps of the porch.

And Maddy was next to him.

They were talking, faces close. Phillip laughed at something she said, and Maddy touched his arm.

Misty froze.

Maddy didn’t do anything wrong. Maddy had gone after her today. Had been kind. Supportive. Gentle.

And Phillip was smiling.

Happy.

She couldn’t ruin that.

She couldn’t ruin her.

Quietly, Misty turned and began walking away, heart cracking all over again.

She didn’t see Phillip glance up. Didn’t see how his gaze locked onto her retreating figure instantly.

“Misty?” he whispered under his breath.

His wolf surged within him, clawing toward the surface.

He stood halfway, torn.

Then Victor’s voice came back to him. You moved on.

He gritted his teeth.

He sat back down.

Maddy noticed. “Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

But it wasn’t.

And Misty didn’t look back.