Chapter 45 A soft knock interrupted my spiral of rage and confusion. "Relly?' Camila's voice carried through the bedroom door. Are you okay?" I shoved my phone into my pocket and ran both hands through my hair. The last thing I needed was for her to see me falling apart over Sable's disappearance. "I'm fine, I called back. The door opened anyway. Camila stepped inside, her eyes scanning my face with obvious concern. I forced a smile across my lips. You should be resting." I heard shouting." She moved closer, careful steps like she was afraid of startling me. "What happened?" The empty closet gaped open behind me like an accusation. I needed to spin this quickly, before she started asking questions I couldn't answer. "Actually…" I turned to face her fully, letting my expression soften. "I've been thinking. You should move in here. Permanently." Her face lit up. "Really?" "This room has been prepared for you." I gestured around the space that had been mine and Sable's for three years. "It's time we stopped pretending this is temporary." Camila launched herself into my arms with a squeal of delight. "Relly! Are you proposing?" My chest tightened. Marriage meant marking ceremonies, legal contracts, pack politics. Forever. But what choice did I have now? Sable was gone. Camila was here, warm and willing and everything I'd thought I wanted. "I might be," I hedged. "Though I haven't asked you to be my Luna yet." She pulled back to meet my eyes, her smile turning playful. "Well, I haven't said yes yet either. You'll have to prove you're worthy of me." "Fair enough." Relief flooded through me. More time to figure this out. "Take all the time you need to evaluate my qualifications." Her laugh tinkled like bells. "I love a challenge." Later, Camila arrived with three suitcases and a team of interior designers. "Surprise!" She gestured to the small army of professionals filing through our front door. 'I thought we could redecorate. Make this space truly ours." I watched from the living room as they dismantled three years of careful choices. The cream curtains Sable had spent weeks selecting. The antique coffee table shed found at a flea market. The throw pillows that perfectly matched the sofa's navy fabric. All of it disappearing into boxes and trash bags. "What do you think of emerald green for the bedroom? Camila appeared at my elbow, color swatches fanned in her hands. It would complement my eyes beautifully. I nodded without really looking. Whatever you want." 1/3 7:22 pm 0 Chapter 45 "You're not paying attention. She waved the samples in front of my face. "This is important, Relly. Our first major decision as a couple." Our first decision. The words felt wrong. Heavy. "Green sounds perfect, I managed. She beamed and kissed my cheek before flitting back to the designers. I sank onto the sofa - one of the few pieces still standing and tried to identify the hollow sensation spreading through my chest. This is what I wanted. Camila back where she belongs. But watching our old life get erased box by box felt like losing something I hadn't realized I valued. The next morning, I woke to the smell of burning toast. Camila stood at the stove, hair pulled back in a messy bun, wielding a spatula like a weapon. Smoke rose from the toaster while she cursed at the frying pan. "Morning, gorgeous." I settled at the breakfast table, trying to project enthusiasm I didn't feel. 'I made your favorites!" She spun around with a plate of charred bread and what looked like rubber eggs. "Just like you used to love." I took a tentative bite. The toast crumbled to ash in my mouth. The eggs tasted like they'd been seasoned with an entire salt shaker. When did Sable's cooking start tasting good to me? The thought appeared before I could stop it. I shoved it down and smiled at Camila. "It's great," I lied. "Really?" She watched me expectantly. I managed another bite, then set down my fork. 'I'm not that hungry this morning." Her face fell. "Oh. I thought… did I do something wrong?" "No, nothing's wrong." I stood and moved toward the coffee pot. Maybe caffeine would wash away the disappointment in her eyes. "Just not feeling like breakfast today." The coffee was bitter enough to strip paint. I grimaced and added more cream. I walked to my home office with the mug, needing to escape the mess. Camila followed me into the office. 'Let me help you with something else." She moved to my desk, hands hovering over the scattered papers. "Your workspace looks so disorganized." Don't touch those. But she was already gathering reports into neat stacks, completely destroying the system Sable had established. Client files mixed with territory reports. Urgent correspondence buried under routine memos. 'Camila, please." I set down my mug harder than necessary. 'I'll handle it myself." 'I'm just trying to help. Her voice carried a hurt edge. "You seem so distant this morning." 2/3 7:22 pm £ Chapter 45 I suddenly realized my weird attitude. She was trying so hard to make me happy. So why did everything feel wrong? I'm sorry." I rubbed my face with both hands. Work stress, I guess." She nodded, but uncertainty flickered in her eyes. "Maybe you should take a break. We could go shopping for the new bedroom furniture?" "Actually, I need to go out." I grabbed my keys from the counter. "Your head injury is healing well. You should rest at home today." "Where are you going?" "Meeting some friends. Pack stuff. I headed for the door before she could ask more questions. I needed space. And I needed a drink. Marcus, Tommy, and Jake had beaten me there, already deep in their second round. "Look what the cat dragged in!" Marcus slapped my shoulder as I collapsed into the leather booth. "You look like death, Alpha." "Rough day?" Tommy slid a whiskey across the table. I downed it in one swallow, relishing the burn. "Something like that." "Let me guess." Jake leaned forward with a knowing smirk. "You've been worn out juggling two women? Must be exhausting."?" "Sable's gone. The words came out flat. "Completely gone. Quit her job, cleared out her stuff. Vanished." The three of them exchanged glances. "Gone where?" Marcus frowned. "She doesn't have anywhere else to go." "That's what I thought." I signaled the waitress for another round. "But apparently I was wrong." Tommy laughed and raised his glass. "Good riddance! She was dead weight anyway." "Seriously," Jake chimed in. "A nobody orphan with delusions of grandeur. You're better off without her."