Chapter 137 The sound of goodbye
DAISY
Campus feels different without Iris.
The air smells like burnt coffee and anxiety, and for the hundredth time this week I catch myself looking over my shoulder, expecting her to be there, matching my pace, talking about how she “accidentally” stayed up until 3 a.m. again.
But she isn’t.
She’s hundreds of miles away in some mystical fortress full of Lycans and destiny and fated mates. And I’m here, slogging through another day of lectures, caffeine, and mild existential dread.
My boots scuff against the pavement as I head to class, backpack swinging. “You’d hate this,” I mutter to no one, picturing Iris’s unimpressed face. “Same professor, same boring theories, same guy who still thinks wearing slides with socks is a personality.”
I huff out a laugh. God, I miss her.
She’d always make this walk bearable. We’d talk about the weird dreams she used to have, about wolves and forests, back when did not know how real it all was. And now she’s living it. Living the fairytale with a very tall, very broody Lycan prince who can probably level a mountain with one hand.
Meanwhile, I’m here trying to survive Advanced Psychology.
I adjust my bag and turn the corner toward the arts building, already mentally preparing myself for another hour of pretending to take notes. And that’s when I hear my name.
“Daisy!”
The sound freezes me mid-step. My heart drops straight to my stomach.
No. Not that voice.
I keep walking, faster. Maybe if I pretend not to hear it.
“Daisy, wait!”
I grit my teeth. Oh, hell no.
I don’t have to turn around to know who it is. The voice alone is enough to make my blood boil. Zeus. Of all people.
“Daisy, please…just stop for a second!”
I ignore him and pick up my pace, weaving between students like my life depends on it. I can practically feel him closing in, the sound of his footsteps growing louder, faster.
And then he’s in front of me, cutting me off.
I stop short, nearly crashing into him. “Move,” I snap, glaring up at him.
He’s breathing hard, hair slightly messy, the same stupidly perfect face that once made my knees weak. Now it just makes me angry.
“Please,” he says again, voice low. “Just… give me a minute. That’s all I’m asking.”
I cross my arms. “You’ve already taken enough minutes from me, Zeus. Move.”
He runs a hand through his hair, frustration flickering in his blue eyes. “I just want to talk.”
“I don’t,” I shoot back, stepping to the side. He moves with me, blocking my path again.
“Daisy, come on…”
“Don’t ‘Daisy, come on’ me!” I hiss, keeping my voice low enough not to attract a crowd. “You had your chance to talk months ago. Twice. And both times you decided to play god with my feelings.”
He flinches, but I’m not done.
“You made me believe you cared,” I say, voice shaking now, “and then you turned around and said it was nothing. Do you have any idea what that did to me?”
He sighs, rubbing his face. “I was stupid, okay? I panicked. I didn’t know how to handle…”
“Me?” I cut in. “You didn’t know how to handle me? Or the idea of actually feeling something?”
His jaw tightens. “Both.”
“Unbelievable.” I shake my head. “You don’t get to say that to me now. You don’t get to act like the victim.”
“I’m not,” he says quietly. “I’m trying to fix it.”
“Fix it?” I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Zeus, you can’t fix something you shattered. Twice.”
“Please,” he says again, softer this time. “Just… give me five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
I stare at him for a long second. Part of me wants to walk away. The smarter part. But curiosity, stupid, stubborn curiosity wins out.
“Fine,” I mutter. “Five minutes. And we do it somewhere private, because I am not giving you the satisfaction of a public scene.”
He nods quickly, relief flooding his face. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” I say, brushing past him. “You might regret it.”
We end up in one of the smaller classrooms near the art wing. It’s empty, quiet, sunlight streaming in through tall windows. I drop my bag on a desk and turn to face him.
“You’ve got four minutes and fifty seconds left,” I say. “Start talking.”
He takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
I blink. “That’s it? That’s the grand speech?”
“I mean it, Daisy,” he says earnestly. “I was a coward. I hurt you because I was stupid and selfish. I told myself it didn’t mean anything because it was easier than admitting that it did.”
I cross my arms tighter, trying not to let my chest ache at the honesty in his voice.
“You were the first person who actually saw me,” he continues. “Not the Lycan prince. Not the warrior. Just me. And I didn’t know what to do with that.”
I let out a shaky breath. “So you crushed me instead.”
He closes his eyes for a moment. “I know. And I’ll hate myself for that for the rest of my life.”
“Good,” I snap, my anger flaring again. “Because you deserve it.”
He looks up at me, eyes pleading. “I want to make it right. I want you back.”
I stare at him, stunned. Then I laugh, the sound sharp and disbelieving.
“You want me back?” I repeat. “Are you joking?”
“Daisy, please.”
“You think you can waltz in here, say ‘sorry,’ and I’ll just fall back into your arms? After you told me you felt nothing for me?”
“I didn’t mean it,” he says desperately. “I was trying to protect you.”
“By destroying me?” I snap. “By making me feel like I was insane for thinking we had something real?”
His voice breaks. “It was real.”
“Then you should’ve fought for it,” I whisper, my throat tight. “You should’ve fought for me.”
He steps closer, eyes soft, hand lifting as if to touch my arm. “I’m fighting now.”
I jerk away. “Too late.”
“Daisy…”
“No.” I grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. “You don’t get to do this again. You don’t get to come back and make me doubt myself.”
I turn to leave, but his hand shoots out, catching mine. His grip is gentle, desperate.
“Please,” he says, eyes wide. “Just give me another chance.”
Something in me snaps.
I pull my hand free and slap him across the face. The sound echoes through the empty classroom like a thunderclap.
He doesn’t move. Just stands there, stunned, one hand to his cheek.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” I whisper, voice trembling with fury.
Then I walk out, head high, pulse racing. My hands are shaking, but I don’t stop. Not until I’m halfway down the hall.
And then I crash straight into a wall.
No, into someone.
Strong hands catch my arms before I can stumble. I look up and freeze.
“Daisy?”
Adrian.
Of course.
His brows knit together immediately. “Hey, hey. what happened? Why do you look like you just walked out of a crime scene?”
I shake my head, trying to steady my breathing. “It’s nothing. I just…”
“Daisy,” he says firmly, tilting his head to catch my eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”
I swallow hard. “It’s Zeus.”
His whole body goes rigid. “What about Zeus?”
“He was here,” I say, voice cracking slightly. “He stopped me outside, said he wanted to talk. I told him no, but he wouldn’t listen. Then he started apologizing and saying he wanted me back and…”
Adrian’s jaw tightens dangerously. “He what?”
“I told him off,” I add quickly. “Don’t worry. I handled it. I slapped him, actually.”
For a moment, Adrian just stares. Then slowly, he grins. “You slapped the Lycan prince?”
“Hard,” I say, breathing out shakily.
His grin fades as quickly as it came, replaced by something darker. “Still,” he mutters. “How dare he come near you after everything he did?”
“Adrian?”
“No,” he snaps, his voice low and dangerous now. “He doesn’t get to hurt you again. Not even a little. Not even with words.”
I blink up at him, caught off guard by the intensity in his eyes. “You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do,” he says firmly. “You’re my friend. And if he thinks he can just show up and talk bullshit after breaking you twice, he’s out of his damn mind.”
Something twists in my chest at the way he says friend, but I push it down.
“I’m fine,” I say, softer this time. “Really.”
He studies me for a long moment, then sighs and reaches up, brushing his thumb across my cheek in a gesture so gentle it makes my heart stutter. “You’re shaking.”
“Adrenaline,” I say quickly. “And maybe mild rage.”
That earns me a small smile. “That’s my girl,” he murmurs. “Come on. You’re skipping your next class.”
“What? No, I can’t.”
“You just assaulted royalty, Daisy,” he says dryly, steering me gently toward the exit. “You deserve a break.”
Despite everything, I laugh, a real one this time.
And as we walk side by side, the storm inside me finally begins to quiet.