Valencia!

Eight

There was a knock at the door, and Valencia’s heart began to race. Griffin stood and walked to answer it while she instinctively smoothed her light green and white floral sundress. The air shifted. The scent arrived before the man did, and her pulse thudded harder in her chest.

Then she saw him. “Valencia,” Maximus said, his voice full of longing. Every fiber of her being urged her to run into his arms, but she remained seated. It’s illogical to love a man I barely knew, she reminded herself. I’m not a wolf. This isn’t supposed to happen to me. She looked up and saw his face, heavy with remorse.

“Thank you for seeing me, Valen . . . I . . . this has been so difficult,” he said as he sat beside Griffin on the couch across from her. “Listen, I want to apologize. I need to explain-” Valencia raised her hand to stop him, unable to speak. Her chest was tight, her heart pounding so fiercely it was nearly deafening.

“Are you okay, Valen?” Griffin asked gently. She nodded quickly. “Yes, just . . . give me a minute.” She pressed her hand against her chest in a vain attempt to calm her spiraling emotions. “Alpha Maximus . . .” she began without looking at him. “No, please. Just Max,” he interrupted, his voice trembling.

She shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Alpha, but I can’t do this. I won’t come between you and your child.” “Valencia, please don’t do this,” he begged, his voice cracking. “Please . . . I’m begging you.” His words sliced through her like blades, and a sob escaped her throat before she could stop it.

She struggled to maintain composure, even as every part of her threatened to unravel. Griffin started to move toward her, but she signaled him to stay put. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice nearly gone. Maximus began to cry. “I won’t accept it, Valen. I won’t give up on you,” he said, his voice breaking.

Valencia drew in a shaky breath. It was time. “I, Valencia Isles . . .” “No,” Maximus whispered desperately. “No . . . please.” “. . . reject you, Maximus Calloway . . . ” “Stop, Valen, please!” he pleaded, tears falling freely. He tried to approach her, but Griffin placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down onto the couch.

“It’s gonna be alright, man,” Griffin said calmly, but Maximus shook his head in panic. “No . . . Valencia.” His voice was hollow. “I won’t accept it. I won’t lose you forever.” “ . . . as my mate,” she finished. The final words shattered something deep within her. A sob tore from her throat, and tears streamed down her face.

But the weight of the words brought a strange relief, too. An unbearable truth finally spoken aloud. Maximus stood, shaking his head. “No, I won’t,” he said in a broken voice. Griffin stood with him, a hand on his shoulder. “Max . . . my sister wants to move on. She’s leaving for school. Please don’t leave it like this.”

Maximus turned his wide, tormented eyes to Valen. “No,” he told Griffin. “No, I won’t accept it. I’ll give up everything to be with her.” Griffin tried to speak reason. “Max . . . I know this hurts, but I also know you won’t abandon your own pup.”

“This is all wrong, Griffin. I don’t even know how it happened. I wasn’t with Terra that long,” Maximus said, pain distorting his features. Griffin pulled him into a hug. “I know, man. I don’t understand it either. But she swears the pup is yours and the timing is right . . . I’m sorry. You can’t change what’s already happened.”

Maximus wiped his face, still crying. “I don’t expect Valen to be with me right now . . . but I won’t break the bond.” He turned back to her, voice hoarse. “I’m sorry, Valencia, but I love you. You’re my soul mate. I can’t let this go. Even if you don’t choose me now, maybe . . . maybe someday.”

Valencia’s voice trembled as she whispered, “Please don’t do this to me. It still hurts . . .” “I’m sorry,” Maximus said again. “But my answer is no.” He gave her one last look, full of pain, full of longing, and walked out the door.

The moment the front door clicked shut, Valencia collapsed to her knees and broke into sobs. Griffin rushed to her side, gathering her into his arms. “It’s okay, Valen. It’s gonna be okay, sweet girl. I promise,” he murmured over her sobs, holding her tightly as she wept.

Valencia clung to her brother, her body wracked with the kind of grief that words couldn’t contain. She wasn’t even sure what hurt more . . . rejecting Maximus, or the part of her that wished she hadn’t. Every breath felt like it might break her, every sob like it came from somewhere far deeper than her chest.

“He didn’t even fight it,” she choked out after a long moment. “Not really. He said he wouldn’t accept it, but he still walked away.” Griffin held her closer. “He walked away because you asked him to. That doesn’t mean he didn’t fight, Valen. He’s just . . . trying to respect what you need. Even if it kills him.”

“I didn’t want to reject him,” she admitted in a whisper. “But I had to. That baby deserves a whole father. Not one who’s running after someone else. And I deserve . . .” her voice cracked, “I deserve more than half of someone.”

“You do,” Griffin agreed. “And you made the right choice for you. Even if it hurts like hell right now.” She leaned into him, her sobs slowing, exhaustion beginning to settle in her bones. “Then why does it feel like I just ripped out my own heart?” Griffin kissed the top of her head, resting his chin there. “Because you did.”

They sat there for a while in silence, the only sounds of the soft ticking of the clock and the faint hum of life outside their door. After some time, Valencia sat back, wiping her tear-streaked face with trembling fingers. “I need to leave, Griff,” she said, her voice steadier now. “I need distance, school, something new. I can’t stay here and watch him try to love someone else when I know his heart is still mine.”

Griffin nodded. “I figured you’d say that. I already talked to Mom. Your transfer paperwork’s processed. You leave in 6 weeks.” She blinked. “You did that for me?” “Of course. I’ll always do whatever it takes to protect you, Valen. Even from your own mate bond.”

Valencia gave him a small, broken smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach her eyes but was still real. “Thank you.” Griffin stood and helped her to her feet. “C’mon. Let’s get you to bed. Tomorrow’s a new day. You don’t have to be okay yet, but you will be.” As they walked toward her room, Valencia cast one final glance toward the front door.