Chapter 59
Violet's POV:
I stared directly into Daemon's blood-red eyes, my voice steady despite the chaos churning inside me. "Are you actually developing feelings for me?"
The question hung in the air like a knife poised to fall. For several seconds, the only sound was the crackling fireplace and our shallow breathing.
Daemon's expression shifted too quickly for me to track. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cigar, lighting it with deliberate slowness. Thick smoke began to curl between us, creating a physical barrier that matched the emotional one I'd spent five years trying to breach. He turned his back to me, shoulders rigid. "Is this self-delusion something you'll ever outgrow?"
The words hit like a physical blow. In my consciousness, Ember let out a wounded keen that made my eyes burn. This was it—the final confirmation that everything I'd hoped for was nothing more than wishful thinking. I'd spent ten years in my previous life trying to earn his love and failed. A few months in this timeline was never going to create a miracle.
I drew in a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I thought your delay in processing the ceremony paperwork meant you were starting to like me. Clearly, I was mistaken." I stood, preparing to leave with what remained of my dignity intact. But before I could take two steps, a violent coughing fit seized me as the acrid smoke invaded my lungs.
Daemon went rigid. He stared at the cigar in his hand for a moment, then walked toward the front courtyard, taking his smoke with him and leaving me alone to recover. I watched through the glass doors as his phone rang. He answered it, his posture changing, then turned back just long enough to call out, "Emergency at the company," before striding to his car without even grabbing his coat. Then he was gone.
I sank back onto the sofa, letting my head fall back against the cushions. My phone buzzed—Sienna's face filling the screen in a video call.
"Violet!" Her voice was bright and conspiratorial, music thumping behind her. "You need to come out tonight. Right now. There's someone here who specifically asked about you, and trust me, you'll want to meet him."
"Sienna, I'm not in the mood—"
"Don't even start," she cut me off. "Come on, aren't you even curious who's asking about you?" She paused dramatically. "Just get dressed, look hot, and get your ass to Alpine Stone Grill. We're all here—Jade, Lily, me—and mystery man is waiting. Trust me, okay?"
Part of me wanted to crawl into bed and hide. But another part—the part desperately tired of being sad, of waiting, of hoping for something that would never come—wanted to take her up on it. Daemon had just made it crystal clear that he felt nothing for me. Why should I sit here drowning in misery?
"Fine. I'll be there in thirty minutes."
After she hung up, I forced myself upstairs to shower and change. I pulled on a wine-red knit dress.
When I pushed open the door to the private room at Alpine Stone Grill, I was greeted by warm laughter and conversation. Then I looked around and stopped dead. "Beck?"
He stood immediately, his face lighting up. "Violet. It's been too long. Five years, actually." He was taller than I remembered, his features more mature, his presence more commanding in a perfectly tailored blue-gray coat. "You're even more beautiful than I remembered, if that's possible."
"Surprise!" Sienna sang out. "Beck just got back from his grand tour of the pack territories."
Beck chuckled. "To be honest, I was supposed to let Sienna treat everyone, but I've been gone so long that it didn't feel right. This one's on me." His eyes never left my face.
I remembered Beck Walsh—Sienna's cousin, the persistent werewolf who'd pursued me relentlessly during university despite knowing I loved Daemon. After my mating ceremony with Daemon, Beck had sent an expensive bonding gift and then left to travel. Now he was back, and I had no idea how to feel about it.
My phone buzzed with messages from Sienna. "Beck heard you might be going through with the rejection ceremony and literally cut his trip short! He's been carrying a torch for FIVE YEARS! He hasn't seriously dated anyone because he was waiting for you!"
I typed back quickly. "I'm still marked, Sienna. I haven't even gone through the ceremony yet. And even after I do, why would you try to set him up with a rejected woman? That's not fair to him."
Her response was fierce. "So what? You're PERFECT for him! Beck is turning thirty-three—if he doesn't settle down soon, he'll be a lonely old bachelor, and I refuse to let that happen when the woman he's loved for a decade is finally going to be available."
The dinner passed in a blur of conversation. Beck's attention never wavered, asking about my work, my training, my life with genuine interest that felt foreign after years of Daemon's indifference.
When Beck returned from settling the bill, Sienna, Jade, and Lily immediately swarmed me. "Violet, seriously, you need to consider Beck," Sienna said urgently.
"At least try being with someone who actually loves you," Jade added.
Beck approached with an insulated bag. "I remember you used to love this restaurant's roasted lamb chops and truffle mushroom soup. I had the kitchen pack some for you." His gaze traveled over my shoulders appreciatively. "You've been training seriously. Your muscle definition is impressive. I spent time with warriors at Northern Pines and learned combat techniques at Coastal Ridge. If you're interested, we could train together sometime?"
I caught Sienna making exaggerated faces at me from across the table, wiggling her eyebrows and nodding encouragingly like an overeager matchmaker. I gave her a helpless look and nodded slightly at Beck. "Sure, that could be interesting."
---
We made our way to the elevator, still laughing. I pressed the button, and the doors slid open to reveal Daemon, Evan, Lucian, Felix, and Celeste. Daemon and Celeste stood in the center, so close their arms were almost touching.
Celeste saw me first. "Violet..."
Beck leaned down. "Who's that?"
"A student from Lupine Sovereign University," I replied shortly. I shifted the bag and addressed the group casually. "We were actually just planning to head to Frozen Moon ice skating rink. Would you all like to join us?"
Sienna let out a cold laugh. "Oh, I'm sure some people are far too busy being seduced by innocent little flowers to spend time with their actual partners."
Daemon's face darkened. Then he wrapped his arm around Celeste's shoulders, pulling her against his side protectively, possessively. His blood-red eyes swept over Beck and me with an expression that could have frozen fire.
Beck frowned, opening his mouth, but I cut him off, threading my arm through his and raising my voice. "Beck, that coat looks amazing on you. You've really grown into yourself these past five years—much more mature, much more confident."
Lily started jabbing the door-close button. The last thing I saw before the doors closed was Daemon's face, so dark and furious, his eyes locked on where my arm was linked with Beck's.
As soon as the doors closed, I immediately let go of Beck's arm. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have used you like that—"
"Oh please," Sienna interrupted. "Beck is thrilled."
Beck looked at me gently. "If being 'used' like that is what you need, then consider me at your service anytime. I'm here if you need me, for whatever reason."
---
At Frozen Moon, I changed into skates quickly and took off across the ice, pushing myself faster and harder until my lungs burned. Beck pulled up beside me, matching my speed easily, and extended his hand. "Want to try pairs skating?"
I hesitated, then took Beck's hand.
We started simple—synchronized turns, crossovers—but our movements flowed together with surprising ease. Other skaters moved to watch. Beck attempted a lift, raising me up and spinning us in a smooth circle before setting me back down perfectly. The rink erupted in applause.
Suspended in the air with lights swirling around me and Beck's hands steady and sure, I felt something I hadn't felt in years—freedom. When my skates touched ice again, I was smiling.
In the VIP lounge, someone had ordered mulled wine and hot chocolate. Sienna leaned forward. "You two were absolutely incredible! The chemistry was insane!"
Beck's gaze was soft. "Every time I visited a new pack over these past five years, I'd find the local skating rink and go there, just thinking about the day when maybe I'd get to skate with you."
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed. Sienna glanced at it. "It's Daemon!" Before I could stop her, she'd answered. "Hello? Oh, Violet's busy right now—Beck just did this amazing lift with her, the whole crowd went crazy. You should come watch!"
I could hear Daemon's voice through the phone, a low, dangerous rumble laced with Onyx's growl. Sienna made an exaggerated "oops" face and hung up.
Two minutes later, my phone vibrated again. I stared at it, then calmly rejected the call, powered it off completely, and dropped it in my purse.
Beck quietly handed me fresh mulled wine without comment.
We stayed until nearly midnight. When I drove back to Blackwood Estate alone, the moment I stepped inside I was hit with such overwhelming cigar smoke that I started coughing violently.
Daemon sat on the sofa with his back to me, a cigar burning between his fingers. He didn't turn even when he heard me. I managed between gasps, "This is a shared space. Could you please not smoke in here?"
He slowly turned, his expression carefully blank. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself tonight. Staying out so late."
I didn't respond, just headed upstairs. After a long shower, I emerged to find Daemon sitting on my bed.
"Get out," I said flatly.
His voice came out low and dangerous. "Why didn't Beck drive you home?"
I closed my eyes. "Why didn't you stay the night at Celeste's place?"
The silence was suffocating. Several seconds ticked by. Then Daemon's voice came quieter, rougher, like the words were being dragged out against his will. "I haven't slept at her place."