Chapter 184: Rare exception

The last morning at the beach arrived quieter than expected.

No grand chaos, no unnecessary wars waged over jetskis or surfing. Just the steady crash of waves, the golden glow of the rising sun stretching over the horizon, and the reluctant realization that their brief escape was coming to an end.

Seraphina woke up before Damon.

That wasn’t unusual.

What was unusual was how at peace she felt.

She shifted slightly in bed, her gaze drifting to him—to the man who, four years ago, had completely upended her life in ways she hadn’t seen coming.

Damon Hale, who had built a world around her without even realizing it.

Her husband.

The father of her child.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, something she rarely let herself indulge in.

Then—Damon’s voice, rough with sleep.

"You’re staring, Hale."

Seraphina smirked. "And?"

Damon cracked one eye open, that cocky smirk forming before he even fully woke up. "And I like it."

Seraphina sighed, rolling onto her side, her fingers tracing lazy patterns against his chest.

"We leave today," she murmured.

Damon made a sound somewhere between a groan and a sigh.

"I refuse," he muttered. "We live here now."

Seraphina chuckled. "Pretty sure James would fight you for that."

Damon exhaled dramatically. "Fine. But next time, we’re staying longer."

Seraphina arched a brow. "Next time?"

Damon’s smirk softened. "Yeah. Next time."

She didn’t argue.

Because for once, she wanted that too.

It was no surprise that packing up was an absolute disaster.

Zayn couldn’t find his shirt.

Liam, for some godforsaken reason, had decided that NOW was the time to try surfing one last time.

(Which, unsurprisingly, ended in failure.)

James was already in the car, waiting, refusing to help.

Tessa was pretending to be unbothered, though Zayn noticed she had been uncharacteristically quiet all morning.

And Seraphina?

Seraphina was watching all of it with mild amusement.

"You’re enjoying this too much," Damon muttered, standing beside her with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

Seraphina smirked. "It’s fun watching them suffer."

Damon chuckled, kissing the top of her head before heading to the car.

Seraphina let out a slow breath, glancing at the waves one last time.

This trip had been… unexpectedly good.

But now?

Now, it was time to go home.

The seating arrangements were just as much of a disaster as before.

Liam refused to be in a car without Alexandra.

Tessa refused to be in a car with Zayn.

James, once again, claimed the quietest car for himself.

Seraphina and Damon ended up together (which, honestly, had been the only pairing that made sense).

And Zayn?

Zayn got stuck with Tessa anyway.

"You have GOT to be kidding me," Tessa muttered as she slammed the car door shut.

Zayn, exhaling dramatically, leaned his head back against the seat. "Just don’t talk to me, Quinn."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Like that was ever an issue."

From the front seat, Orion smirked, not even pretending to hide his amusement.

"This is going to be a fun ride," Orion muttered.

Zayn and Tessa simultaneously glared at him.

Orion just chuckled and started the car.

**Damon and Seraphina**

The drive had been peaceful.

For once.

Damon had one hand on the wheel, the other resting against Seraphina’s thigh, absentmindedly tracing patterns with his thumb.

She let him.

She liked the way it felt.

Like a promise of something steady.

"You ready to go back?" Damon asked, glancing at her briefly.

Seraphina exhaled.

"I don’t know," she admitted.

Damon smirked. "At least you’re honest."

She leaned back against the seat, her hand covering his.

"You meant it, didn’t you?" she murmured. "About stepping away."

Damon nodded. "I did."

Seraphina was silent for a moment.

Then—"Okay."

Damon arched a brow. "Just like that?"

Seraphina smirked. "I already told you, Hale. Rare exception."

Damon chuckled, squeezing her hand.

"Then it’s settled," he muttered.

Seraphina tilted her head. "Just like that?"

Damon smirked. "Rare exception."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."

Damon chuckled, bringing her hand to his lips.

"Love you too, wife."

Seraphina sighed.

But she didn’t correct him.

Because, yeah.

This?

This was exactly where she was meant to be.

**Zayn and Tessa**

The car ride had been silent for too long.

Which, for Zayn and Tessa, was dangerous.

It meant one of them was thinking.

And Zayn had been thinking too much lately.

So, finally, he sighed, breaking the silence.

"You never answered my question," he muttered.

Tessa glanced at him, frowning. "What question?"

Zayn exhaled.

"About what’s next," he said. "For you."

Tessa looked away, her fingers tapping against the window.

For a long moment, she didn’t say anything.

Then, finally—

"I don’t know yet," she admitted.

Zayn studied her, the weight of the ring box in his pocket suddenly unbearable.

"Yeah," he murmured. "Me neither."

Tessa glanced at him, her lips pressing together like she wanted to say something.

But she didn’t.

And neither did he.

Because some things?

Some things had to wait.

For now.