LUCAS’S POV
The word “leave” hung in the air like a death sentence.
My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t pull in a full breath. Everything slowed—the ticking of the clock on her wall, even my own heartbeat. All of it dragged, like the world was giving me one last chance to fix this before it ended.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t accept it.
Panic clawed up my throat, hot and ugly. Before I could stop myself, my hands shot out and wrapped around her arms in desperation. Like if I held on tight enough, I could keep her from slipping away.
“Avela, please,” I rasped, voice cracking wide open. “I can’t… I can’t leave. Not like this. I swear, I swear I didn’t mean to keep it from you this long. I was going to tell you everything tonight. Please.”
Her eyes flashed with fury and hurt. “Get your h
