Chapter 182: You’re screwed, you know that?

The beach had settled into a quiet hum of contentment. The golden light of the sun had faded, leaving only the deep blues of twilight stretching across the sky. The waves lapped gently at the shore, the once chaotic energy of the day now replaced by something softer, something heavier.

Damon and Seraphina sat together, their fingers loosely intertwined, their world shifting into something new and uncharted.

Zayn?

Zayn was still gripping the small black box in his pocket like it was a live grenade.

The problem wasn’t the ring.

The problem was what it meant.

He had never been the type to plan for the future. Never been the type to think about anything past the next mission, the next fight, the next adrenaline rush that kept him moving.

But now?

Now he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

And worse?

He couldn’t stop thinking about her.

**Tessa Quinn Had Never Been This Quiet.**

Zayn noticed it immediately.

She wasn’t sleeping—he knew her well enough to know when she was pretending.

She wasn’t brooding—that was his thing.

She was just… thinking.

Which, quite frankly, worried him.

He didn’t realize he was watching her until she suddenly turned her head, eyes locking onto his.

"What?" she asked, her voice calm, but curious.

Zayn narrowed his eyes. "You tell me, Quinn."

Tessa hummed, tracing a pattern in the sand with her fingers.

Then—"You ever think about what comes after all this?"

Zayn blinked.

He hadn’t been expecting that.

Because that?

That was exactly what had been eating away at him all night.

Still, he smirked, slipping back into his usual sarcastic armor.

"You planning on quitting?" he teased.

Tessa rolled her eyes. "I’m being serious, Zayn."

Zayn let out a slow breath, shifting slightly so he could see her better.

"I don’t know," he admitted. "Never thought I’d get the chance to figure it out."

Tessa nodded, silent for a beat.

Then—"I think I want to."

Zayn stilled.

Because, holy shit.

She was serious.

He had always assumed she’d be the last one to walk away from it all.

But now?

Now she was sitting there, calm, thoughtful, saying something he hadn’t been ready to hear.

"You want out," he murmured, testing the words, trying to see how they felt when they left his mouth.

Tessa exhaled. "Not today. Not tomorrow. But… eventually? Yeah. I think I do."

Zayn let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head.

"Well, shit," he muttered.

Tessa smirked, nudging him lightly.

"What about you, Rivera?" she asked, her voice just barely teasing. "You sticking around forever?"

Zayn didn’t answer immediately.

Because the truth?

The truth was sitting in his pocket, hidden in a velvet box.

And for the first time in his life—

He thought maybe he already knew the answer.

**Meanwhile, Near the Fire Pit…**

Damon and Liam sat near the fire pit, drinks in hand, watching the flames flicker.

Liam was grinning, still buzzing from the chaos of the day.

Damon, however?

Damon was watching Seraphina, who was sitting a few feet away, deep in conversation with Alexandra, smiling in that way that made his chest feel too tight.

Liam nudged him. "You’re staring, man."

Damon smirked. "And?"

Liam laughed, shaking his head. "You’re screwed, you know that?"

Damon exhaled. "Yeah."

Liam swirled his drink. "I get it, though."

Damon arched a brow. "Do you?"

Liam shrugged. "I used to think none of us could have this. A normal life. Something real."

Damon tilted his head. "And now?"

Liam’s gaze drifted to Alexandra, who was still laughing at something Seraphina had said.

And, softer—"Now I think I want it, too."

Damon smirked. "Looks like we’re all falling apart."

Liam chuckled. "Or maybe we’re finally getting it right."

Damon exhaled, staring at the fire.

Because maybe—**just maybe—**Liam was right.

Maybe this?

Maybe this was the way it was always meant to be.

Zayn and Tessa had been quiet for too long.

At least, too long for them.

Tessa finally sighed, pushing herself up. "I’m getting a drink."

Zayn nodded, watching as she walked away, his fingers curling around the small box in his pocket once more.

And this time?

This time, he didn’t let go.

Because for the first time—he wasn’t afraid of the answer.

He was just waiting for the right moment to say it out loud.