Renzo’s POV
Back at the dining hall this mornimg, I hadn’t been looking.
When the bowl fell.
When the soup spilled.
When Jade scread.
I hadn’t been looking.
I’d been staring at the table, at the grain of the polished wood, at the reflection of the chandelier above, anywhere except her.
Because if I looked at Jade, I knew I might break.
I sat there stiffly, saying nothing, doing nothing, and letting silence beco my shield. Not because I didn’t care. But because I cared too much and didn’t know what to do with it.
I was still furious with my father.
Still burning with anger so hot it made my chest ache.
We had planned it. Ryder, Ronan, and I. We were going to reject the bond. We were going to reject her to set her free. Let her live her life without being dragged into this ss of power, manipulation, and bloodline expectations.
Jade shouldn’t be here.
She should’ve been free.
And my father ruined it.
Forced us into a marriage none of us were ready for, especially her.
That was why I couldn’t look at her that morning. Not when she walked in quietly. Not when she sat down opposite my brothers.
Because every ti I even thought about Jade, guilt clawed through .
She didn’t choose this.
She has suffered, because of us.
And now she was trapped, also because of us.
I didn’t know exactly what was happening between her and Linda. I didn’t know who tipped what or why Jade was suddenly shouting. I just knew Linda was crying and my father was already siding with her.
And Linda.... I honestly cared about her. I really did. She’d been there for us. She was warm, familiar, safe.
But Jade....
Jade was sothing else entirely.
With her, the feeling was sharp and heavy all at once. Guilt tangled with sothing darker. Sothing hotter. Sothing that made my pulse race even when I tried to ignore it.
It wasn’t just lust, like I once thought it was.
It was that unbearable pull. That ache in my chest. That sense that sothing precious was being crushed right in front of and I was doing nothing to stop it.
And I hated myself for that.
When Jade refused to ride with us and walked out, my chest tightened painfully.
Linda ca with us instead.
She slid into the car easily, like she belonged there. And she always had.
Ryder and Ronan followed.
But I stopped.
“I’ll walk,” I said suddenly.
They both turned to .
“What?” Ronan asked. “Renzo....”
“I don’t feel like using the car today,” I cut in. “I need so air.”
Ryder frowned. “We can talk....”
But I was already walking away.
I just needed so ti away from everyone, even it was just a few minutes.
The road stretched ahead of , quiet except for the distant hum of traffic. I shoved my hands into my pockets and let my thoughts spiral freely for the first ti that morning.
Jade’s bowed head.
Her shaking voice.
The way she walked out alone.
You’re a coward, my wolf snarled.
I clenched my jaw.
Then....
I heard a loud honk.
I snapped my head up.
And what I saw made my blood turned to ice.
Jade was standing in the middle of the road.
A truck was barreling straight toward her.
Too fast.
Too close.
“No!...”
I didn’t think.
I ran.
Everything slowed down. The roar of the engine. The scream of tires. The look on her face when she finally saw it, eyes wide, tears still clinging to her lashes.
She closed her eyes. Like she had accepted her fate.
That nearly killed .
I slamd into her, wrapping my arms around her and shoving us both sideways with every ounce of strength I had. We hit the ground hard, pain exploding through my shoulder as the truck sped past where she’d been standing just seconds ago.
I was breathing like I’d been punched in the chest.
I looked down at her.
She was shaking.
“You...” My voice ca out hoarse. “What the hell were you thinking?!”
The light turned red above us.
Cars stopped.
People stared.
And all the fear I’d swallowed ca roaring out as anger.
“You could’ve been killed!” I snapped, pushing myself to my feet and pulling her up with . “Do you have any idea, any idea. what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been here?!”
She stared at , stunned.
“Were you trying to die?” I demanded. “Was that it?”
Her lips trembled.
“If you had died,” I continued, words spilling out uncontrollably, “I wouldn’t have known how to live with myself. I would never, never, have forgiven myself, Jade. Never.”
Her face crumpled.
And then she broke.
She burst into tears so suddenly it stunned into silence.
Not quiet crying.
Not controlled tears.
She sobbed like everything she’d been holding inside finally shattered.
My anger vanished instantly.
“Hey... wait...” I said, confused, panic creeping in. “Jade....”
She couldn’t even speak.
I gently lifted her, guiding her away from the road and over to a bench on the sidewalk. I stood in front of her instinctively, blocking her from the street, from the stares, from everything.
She sat there, crying into her hands.
I had no idea what to do.
My hand lifted automatically, wanting to rub her back, to comfort her, but I stopped myself.
She hated us.
And she had every right to.
I didn’t think she’d want touching her.
So I waited.
And waited.
Finally, her sobs softened into quiet, broken breaths.
I sat down beside her and pulled my handkerchief from my pocket, holding it out awkwardly.
“Here,” I said softly.
She took it, wiping her face.
“You alright?” I asked, calr now.
She nodded.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, standing up. “I didn’t an to.... cry like that. Thank you for saving . You can go on your way now.”
She turned to leave.
Sothing inside snapped.
My wolf surged forward, sharp and insistent.
Don’t let her go.
Before I could stop myself, I grabbed her hand.
She turned back, confused.
My mind scrambled.
Say sothing. Anything.
“It’s... um,” I cleared my throat. “It’s already kinda late for school. The gates would probably be closed by now.”
She blinked.
“So,” I continued, heart pounding, “how about we ditch school today and you spend the rest of today doing sothing fun with ?”
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