Chapter 5
907 Words
The walk back to the mansion felt longer than usual.
Neither of them spoke.
Damien walked beside her.
Close enough that she could feel his presence.
Far enough that he couldn't reach her.
The irony wasn't lost on Camille.
That distance perfectly described their relationship.
The moon remained high above them.
Silver light spilled across the forest path.
Usually Damien would have wrapped an arm around her shoulders during late-night walks.
Usually she would have leaned against him.
Usually.
A word that seemed to belong to another lifetime.
When they reached the mansion, Damien opened the door for her.
Camille entered first.
The servants immediately lowered their heads.
The grand hallway was quiet now.
Most guests had already left.
The celebration was over.
Selena's birthday had been a success.
Camille doubted anyone had noticed the Luna's absence.
As she moved toward the stairs, Damien finally spoke.
"We need to talk."
Camille stopped.
Her hand rested against the staircase railing.
For several seconds she remained silent.
Then she turned.
"Now you want to talk?"
His jaw tightened.
The question clearly annoyed him.
Good.
She was tired of being the only one uncomfortable.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?"
Camille laughed.
A bitter sound.
"You ignored me all day."
"That's not true."
"No?"
She took a step closer.
"Then tell me what we discussed at breakfast."
Silence.
Damien's expression shifted.
Slightly.
Not enough.
But enough.
Because he couldn't answer.
Because he hadn't listened.
Because she was right.
Something inside Camille hurt.
Even now.
Even after everything.
It still hurt.
Damien exhaled slowly.
"You've been distant lately."
Camille stared at him.
Then laughed again.
This time louder.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
"Distant?"
The word felt absurd.
"Distant?"
She shook her head.
"That's actually funny."
His expression darkened.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
For the first time in months, Camille stopped holding back.
Every frustration.
Every disappointment.
Every lonely night.
The dam was finally breaking.
"Distant?"
Her eyes glistened.
"When was the last time we ate dinner together?"
Damien remained silent.
"When was the last time you asked how I was doing?"
Silence.
"When was the last time you spent an entire day with me?"
More silence.
Each unanswered question became another wound.
Another truth.
Another crack.
The Alpha looked away first.
A rare occurrence.
Camille noticed.
And somehow that hurt too.
Because if he knew he was wrong...
Why wasn't he fixing it?
"You don't understand."
His voice sounded tired.
The familiar excuse.
Camille immediately felt anger rising.
"No."
She shook her head.
"I understand perfectly."
His eyes narrowed.
"Then explain."
So she did.
"Your brother died."
The words landed heavily.
Pain flashed across Damien's face.
Camille continued anyway.
"Selena lost her husband."
Another painful truth.
"Ethan lost his father."
The Alpha remained silent.
"I understand all of that."
Her voice softened.
Because she genuinely did.
That was the worst part.
She understood.
She had always understood.
"I gave you time."
A tear escaped.
She ignored it.
"I gave her kindness."
Another tear followed.
Still she continued.
"I welcomed them into our home."
Damien's eyes fixed on her.
Finally listening.
Finally paying attention.
Three years too late.
"But somewhere along the way..."
Her voice broke.
"...you forgot about me."
The silence that followed felt enormous.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
The entire mansion seemed frozen.
Damien stared at her.
For once, he had no argument.
No excuse.
No defense.
Because deep down...
He knew.
Camille saw it in his eyes.
He knew.
A painful realization settled over his features.
Not complete understanding.
Not yet.
But enough to make him uncomfortable.
Enough to make him think.
Before either could speak again, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.
A servant appeared.
Breathless.
Panicked.
"Alpha!"
Damien immediately turned.
"What happened?"
The young woman swallowed hard.
"Lady Selena collapsed."
Everything changed instantly.
The atmosphere.
The conversation.
The moment.
Everything.
Camille watched it happen.
Watched Damien react.
Watched concern flood his face.
Watched instinct take over.
Selena.
Again.
Always Selena.
The servant continued.
"The healer is examining her now."
Damien was already moving.
Already turning away.
Already leaving.
The conversation.
His mate.
Everything.
For Selena.
Again.
Camille simply stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hoping.
One last time.
Damien paused halfway down the hallway.
For a brief moment he looked back.
Their eyes met.
A crossroads.
A choice.
Stay.
Go.
Mate.
Widow.
Wife.
Duty.
For one impossible second Camille wondered if things might finally change.
Then Damien spoke.
"I'll finish this conversation later."
And he left.
Just like that.
Camille watched him disappear around the corner.
The servant hurried after him.
The hallway fell silent.
Empty.
Cold.
The same way it always ended.
Camille remained standing there.
Completely still.
A strange calm settled over her.
Not sadness.
Not anger.
Something else.
Something dangerous.
Acceptance.
Because this time she hadn't imagined it.
This time she hadn't exaggerated.
This time she hadn't been jealous.
Damien had made a choice.
Again.
And this time she witnessed it clearly.
No excuses.
No misunderstandings.
No confusion.
Just a choice.
A mate who kept choosing someone else.
Slowly, Camille wiped away the last tear on her cheek.
Then she turned.
And walked toward her room.
Alone.
Behind her, somewhere inside the mansion, Damien rushed to Selena's side.
Ahead of her, a future she had never considered before was beginning to take shape.
A future without Damien Blackwood.
And for the first time...
The idea didn't terrify her.
It felt like freedom.
- Writer
