Hugo’s POV
I walked back to my room completely alone. The emptiness followed down the hallway like a shadow. Maybe I needed soone there with , but that soone had already chosen her path long ago.
She had never really been mine to begin with.
I found myself pacing the third floor corridor, unable to shake the image of Bella with her husband. Sothing about that man bothered beyond simple jealousy. There was sothing familiar in his face that I couldn’t place.
My phone started buzzing. I already knew who was calling.
"She keeps trying to reach us," I muttered to my wolf, thinking of Camilla.
"Guilt does that to people," my wolf replied.
I wasn’t sure about that. Camilla had let down in ways I never expected. For so long, I thought I understood who she was. Then she went and destroyed my engagent dinner, ruining everything I had tried to build.
The person I trusted completely had shown poor judgnt when it mattered most.
I finally picked up the call and held the phone to my ear.
"You actually answered," she said. Her voice sounded raw and congested, like she had been crying for a long ti.
"You know I would take your call even during a battle. But what you did tonight, Camilla, you humiliated ," I said, drawing a slow breath.
For a brief mont earlier, I had almost been ready to throw everything away for Bella again. Then Vance appeared, and I rembered exactly how she had treated before.
How could I be so blind when it ca to her?
It wasn’t right.
Camilla was the only person who had stayed loyal to through everything, and here I was being harsh with her because of Bella.
She seed to read my thoughts because she started talking like she knew exactly what was going through my head.
"Yes, I was furious with her. After she left you broken, I just couldn’t control myself. I couldn’t think clearly. In my anger, I wanted to give her exactly what she gave you, to show her how it feels when soone attacks your past or makes fun of your struggles," she said, her voice cracking.
"Do you think I wanted to destroy my engagent dinner? No. I did it because I needed her to understand she was wrong. I’m truly sorry. If you want to, I’ll apologize to her directly."
When she started crying, I began to feel guilty for being so hard on her. She had a point about what Bella had done to .
Bella had hurt deeply, but Camilla still shouldn’t have caused such a scene.
"Listen, never do anything like that again. You don’t need to fight my battles or confront her for my sake, understand?" I told her firmly.
"I understand. But does this an you can forgive ?" she asked, hope creeping into her voice.
"I need ti to get comfortable with the idea of an engagent ceremony again," I answered.
Sothing inside whispered that I was making a mistake. But every ti I rembered my past with Bella, how she had betrayed , I pushed that feeling away.
If Bella could move forward without ever saying she was sorry, then I had every right to be with soone who would support no matter what.
I didn’t owe Bella anything after she shattered my trust.
"I won’t let you down again. You know I only care about you, Hugo," she said softly.
"Have you eaten anything tonight?" I asked, trying to sound caring.
I knew I was being unfair by leading her on, but after she started taking care of , we naturally grew closer.
Then at so point, she told she wanted to be with .
I was honest and told her I didn’t feel the sa way, but she said all she needed was a chance and she wouldn’t disappoint .
After that, we started dating, and everything beca routine.
It was a solid relationship. We barely argued.
Camilla was genuinely understanding and patient.
It was an adult relationship, mature and stable.
I found her attractive and I did care about her, truly.
But that intense fire I once felt for Bella wasn’t there.
Maybe that was just because we weren’t teenagers anymore.
We were adults now, behaving like adults.
"I ate earlier. I heard you’re staying at the guesthouse for a while. That ans I can see you," she said.
Her words made step into my room and shut the door behind .
We talked about various things, mainly the research project and the cure.
Then, as I moved to the window and looked outside, I spotted Bella walking down the road. My heart jumped imdiately.
"What’s wrong?" Camilla must have noticed my distraction.
"Nothing important," I replied.
"Are you staying at the guesthouse mansion?" she asked.
I nodded automatically, even though she couldn’t see .
"Bella’s mansion is right beside it, isn’t it? Everyone’s been talking about the researcher staying at the pack," she continued, which explained why she brought it up.
"That’s right," I said simply. Another long pause followed until she spoke again.
"What if I ca over there?"
As soon as she suggested that, my body tensed.
"What do you an?"
"Yes. You have your own floor, right? You must be feeling lonely. I could co stay there. We don’t need to share a room, I would just feel better knowing you’re close. And I’m sure you would enjoy having there too," she added.
As I stared down at Bella, rembering how gentle and affectionate she had been with Vance, rage flooded through , and I did what I always did when angry.
"Yes, absolutely. Co stay here. It would be perfect having you around," I said harshly, inviting her for all the wrong reasons.
The truth was, I wanted Bella to see with Camilla and experience the sa pain I felt watching her with Vance.
But deep down, I knew she wouldn’t care.
Maybe I was bringing Camilla closer just so I wouldn’t get lost in Bella’s eyes again.
It was more punishnt for myself than for Bella.
Bella didn’t want . She had made that perfectly clear multiple tis.
After we ended the call, I saw Parker running out onto the road.
I couldn’t help wondering what was going on.
Was he about to embarrass himself, or was he actually trying to win her heart?
Sothing was happening, and I needed to be there too.
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