Chapter 68

Chapter 68
Violet's POV:

I walked out of Wildfire Industrial's main office building just as my father and Beck emerged. Beck smiled when he saw me, warm and genuine. My father clapped him on the shoulder.

"Vi, why don't you give Beck a ride back? You should stay at Sienna's place for a few days too. No point sitting around alone."

I froze. "I thought I was going to Aunt Sophia's with you and Mom?"

"You'll have plenty time with your aunt after you get to Silver Ridge," Marcus said. "Your mother and I can handle this visit. Besides, Sienna's been asking about you."

I swallowed my objections and nodded.

My mother appeared with an insulated bag. "I packed some pastries for the drive. You girls should catch up."

She turned to Beck with a warm smile. "Beck, Vi can be stubborn sometimes. Please be patient with her."

"Eleanor, you don't need to worry," Beck said gently.

My parents got in their car and drove off quickly. Too quickly. Beck and I stood in the parking lot, the silence awkward between us.

Beck glanced at my motorcycle. "I drove here. If you'd rather not give me a ride, I understand. You can go wherever you need to go."

Before I could answer, tires screeched. I turned as Daemon's black Range Rover came tearing around the corner, skidding to a stop ten meters away.

My heart slammed against my ribs. Ember growled a warning inside me. I stepped forward without thinking, putting myself between Beck and the SUV.

Daemon's door flew open. He got out looking furious. His eyes were more blood red than I'd ever seen. His Alpha pheromones hit us like a physical force.

Behind me, Beck took a step back. His wolf responded to the challenge. A low growl escaped his throat.

I forced myself to breathe steadily. "Daemon. What are you doing here?"

His eyes locked on mine. "Get away from him."

"Violet has the right to make her own choices," Beck said, his voice rough with effort.

"Choices?" Daemon laughed harshly. "Is that what we're calling this?"

He stepped forward. Beck moved to match him. They were both seconds from fighting.

"Stop." I raised my voice. "Both of you, stop this right now."

Daemon's attention swung to me. The fury in his face made my stomach drop. "You think you can parade around with him? Make me look like a fool?"

"I'm not doing anything to you," I shot back. "This isn't about you, Daemon."

"Everything you do is about me. You're my Luna. Have you forgotten that?"

Beck moved forward. I threw my arm out to stop him. "Don't. This isn't worth it."

"Listen to her," Daemon said quietly. "At least she has some sense left."

"What gives you any right to tell me what to do?" My voice rose. "You gave up that right when you chose Celeste."

Daemon closed the distance in three strides. I held my ground even though Ember was screaming at me.

"You want to question my rights?" he said low. "Let me remind you what connects us."

He reached for me. I tried to twist away but his hand caught my wrist. He pulled hard. I lost my balance on the uneven pavement. My ankle rolled as I fell.

Pain shot through my right ankle when I hit the ground. I couldn't breathe for a second. Beck shouted something. Daemon was already there, scooping me up roughly.

"Don't touch her," Daemon told Beck. "Don't even think about it."

He adjusted his grip. I tried to push away but my ankle throbbed with every movement.

"Put me down," I said. My voice shook. "Daemon, let me go."

He ignored me completely. His eyes stayed on Beck. "The Mate bond between us still exists. She's still my Luna. Stay away from her."

Beck's expression went through shock, anger, and something like pity. "If that's what Violet wants, she can tell me herself."

"What I want," I said through my teeth, "is for both of you to stop acting like I'm a prize."

Daemon finally looked down at me. Something flickered across his face before the anger came back. He turned and carried me to his Range Rover.

He put me in the passenger seat. My jacket was soaked from the puddle I'd fallen in. I was shivering in the heated car.

Daemon took off his coat. He was left in just his black shirt and vest. He draped the coat over my shoulders before I could protest.

"Keep it on," he said. "Your health isn't something to gamble with."

The concern in his voice threw me off. I wanted to reject it but my teeth were chattering. The coat was still warm from his body. I pulled it tighter and said nothing.

Daemon got in the driver's seat and started the engine. His hands gripped the wheel until his knuckles turned white.

We drove to Blackwood Manor in silence. My ankle pulsed with steady pain. Each turn made me bite my cheek to keep quiet.

When we arrived, I reached for the door. Daemon was faster. He lifted me out before I could protest.

"I can walk," I said, but pain shot through my ankle when I tried.

"Clearly."

He carried me into the manor and up to our bedroom. He set me on the edge of the bed gently. I tried to scoot back but he caught my uninjured ankle.

"Let me see it."

"No." I tried to pull free. "I don't need your help."

"You can barely move. Let me check if it's broken."

"I said no, Daemon." I met his eyes. "You don't get to act concerned now after everything."

His jaw clenched. "I've seen every inch of you. Touched every part of you. There's nothing modest about checking an injury."

"That's not the point."

"Then what is the point?" He let go but didn't move away. "Because you're going out of your way to punish yourself just to spite me."

"I don't need you to take care of me." Each word was hard to say. "I don't need you to be good to me like this. It's too late for that."

Something shifted in his expression. He stood and got the first aid kit from the bathroom. He set it on the bed and stepped back.

"Fine. Do it yourself then."

I reached for the kit with shaking hands. My fingers felt thick as I tried to unlace my boot. Each movement sent pain through my leg.

Daemon watched for thirty seconds. Then he made a disgusted sound and dropped to one knee. His hands brushed mine aside. He unlaced my boot carefully.

"This doesn't mean anything," I said.

"I know." He eased the boot off. "Believe me, I know every kindness from me is wasted on you now."

He examined my ankle carefully. "Not broken. But you've got a bad sprain. Keep weight off it for at least a week."

"Thank you for the diagnosis, Dr. Blackwood." The sarcasm felt necessary. "Now if you're done, I'd like to be alone."

He sat back and looked at me. "Where were you actually going with him?"

"None of your business."

"You're my Luna. Everything about you is my business."

The claim felt hollow. "I stopped being your Luna when you decided Celeste was more important."

"This again." He stood. "I told you I would handle the Celeste situation."

"Handle it how?" I leaned forward despite the pain. "Find her an apartment close enough to visit? Keep your Luna at home while your real choice waits nearby?"

His silence was answer enough.

I reached for the bandage. My hands were steadier now. I wrapped my ankle with careful precision.

"I need you to take me to Sienna's house," I said. "That's where I was supposed to go before you made a scene."

He turned to face me. "You want me to drive you there? Deliver you to Beck's doorstep?"

"Beck is Sienna's cousin. This is normal socialization."

"He used to have feelings for you." It was a statement, not a question.

"That was years ago." I met his eyes. "People move on. Not everyone holds onto the past like a life raft."

"Is that what you think I'm doing? Holding onto the past?"

"I think you're so tangled up in what you've lost and what you want that you can't see what's in front of you." I pulled out my phone. "And I'm done being collateral damage."

I called Sienna. She picked up immediately. "Vi? I thought you were—"

"Can you come pick me up at the manor? I need to get out of here."

A pause. "Of course. Twenty minutes."

"Thank you." I ended the call and looked at Daemon. "You should go. I'm sure Celeste is waiting to hear from you."

His face went through several expressions before settling on cold. "This isn't over, Violet."

"You're right," I agreed quietly. "It won't be over until one of us finally has the courage to end it properly."

He stared at me for a long moment. Then he turned and walked out. The door closed with a soft click that felt more final than any slam.

I sat in the silence, listening to his footsteps fade. Then his car engine. Only when he drove away did I slump back against the pillows.

Ember whined in my mind, confused and hurt. I didn't have comfort to offer her. We were both trapped in a situation that had stopped making sense.

My phone buzzed with a text from Sienna. On my way. Bringing ice cream and extremely explicit opinions about your husband.

Despite everything, I smiled a little.

Twenty minutes later, I heard aggressive honking from the driveway. I grabbed my bag and hobbled to the stairs. Each step hurt but I made it down.

Sienna was already at the door. "That absolute bastard," she announced. "I hope he dies alone and miserable."

"Get in line," I muttered. She slipped under my arm and took most of my weight. "The list is getting pretty long."

We made it to her SUV. Once we were driving away from the manor, I finally relaxed slightly.

"So," Sienna said. "Want to talk about it or should we find something to vandalize with Daemon's name on it?"

"How about we start with that ice cream and work our way up?"

She grinned. "I like the way you think."

---

The Walsh family home was smaller than Blackwood Manor but warmer. Actually lived in rather than maintained as a showpiece. Sienna's parents were out at a Pack Council dinner. Just us and Beck, who appeared from the kitchen when we came in.

He looked concerned when he saw me limping. "Violet, your ankle—is it serious?"

"Just a sprain." Sienna guided me to the couch. "I'll survive."

Beck's expression turned guilty. "I feel like I should apologize. If I hadn't been there, Daemon wouldn't have—"

"Stop." I cut him off before he could finish. "What Daemon does isn't your responsibility. It's his, and maybe mine for not drawing harder lines earlier. But not yours."

He looked like he wanted to argue, but Sienna jumped in. "Vi's right. Daemon's been looking for excuses to act like a jealous asshole for months. If it wasn't you, it would've been someone else."

Beck nodded slowly, though the guilt didn't entirely leave his face. "I was about to start lunch. It's past two and none of us have eaten, right?"

My stomach reminded me I'd skipped breakfast. "Lunch would be amazing."

"Done." Beck smiled. "Any requests?"

Sienna jumped in before I could answer. "Oh, I know what Vi likes. Remember that Thai place near campus? She always got—"

"The green curry with extra basil and those spring rolls with peanut sauce," Beck said quietly, not looking up from where he was gathering ingredients. "And she'd always ask for the spice level at a six, not the full ten."

There was a beat of silence. Sienna's grin turned absolutely wicked. "See? My brother remembers everything."

I felt heat creep up my neck. Beck's face had gone slightly red too. He shot his sister a look that clearly said not now, but he didn't deny it. He just gave me a rueful expression that confirmed everything.

---

Beck called from the kitchen that lunch was almost ready. Sienna went to help. I stayed on the couch with my ankle propped up.

When we sat down to eat, the normalcy almost made me want to cry. Instead I focused on the food and easy conversation. The dishes Beck had made weren't Thai, but they were good and warm and exactly what I needed.

Sienna took a bite and hummed appreciatively. "Okay, I know I tease you about remembering Vi's college orders, but seriously, when are you going to stop being so obvious?"

"Sienna," I said, reaching over to cover her mouth with my hand. "Stop talking."

She dodged, laughing. "What? I'm just pointing out facts! Are you going to try to murder your future sister-in-law?"

"Future—" I yanked my hand back. "You're impossible."

"I'm helpful," she corrected cheerfully. "There's a difference."