Camilla POV

I hadn’t felt this warm and secure in a long time. There was something about this place—so peaceful, so comforting. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I basked in the stillness of the moment. The morning sunlight kissed my skin, and the distant hum of nature filled my ears.

Were my mornings always this tranquil? Something felt different, yet so undeniably right.

I tilted my face toward the gentle rays, my eyes still shut, drawing in a deep breath. The air carried a rich cedarwood scent, filling my lungs in a way that made my body hum with familiarity and longing.

Wait.

Cedarwood?

My mind jolted awake. Why would I be enveloped in that scent so early in the morning? Malakai wasn’t here. He was the only one I associated with that deep, intoxicating aroma.

That’s when I felt it. The solid warmth pressed against me.

That’s strange. I was supposed to be alone in my bed. Then why did it feel like someone was lying beside me?

My drowsy eyes resisted opening, but my ears picked up something rhythmic. A heartbeat. Steady, strong, and close.

Too close.

Not mine.

My eyes snapped open. The moment realization hit, I tried to sit up, only to be pulled back by an arm wrapped securely around me. My body landed against a firm chest, definitely not my mattress.

I turned my head, my breath hitching as my gaze landed on a bare torso. My stomach flipped.

Gulp.

"Morning, princess," came a deep, husky voice, roughened by sleep. The sound sent shivers racing down my spine, but I didn’t need to see his face to know who it was. His scent had already given him away.

I struggled again, attempting to put space between us, but his grip remained firm. That’s when I noticed his hand had slipped beneath my shirt, resting against my bare skin.

A thousand sparks erupted where his fingers touched, sending heat spiraling through me. It was overwhelming, all-consuming.

"Hands off," I muttered, forcing my voice to sound firm.

He remained still, unfazed, as if I hadn’t spoken at all.

Of course. Typical Malakai.

I cleared my throat, trying again. "I said, let go. Now."

His grip tightened slightly. "That’s not fair."

I blinked in confusion. "What’s not fair?"

"You used me as your personal pillow all night," he murmured, his lips curving into a lazy smirk. "Snuggling, hugging, holding onto me like your life depended on it. And now you want to push me away? That’s just cruel."

"Liar," I scoffed, my cheeks heating. "I did no such thing."

Deep down, though, a flicker of doubt stirred. I had vague memories—whispers of warmth, of instinctively seeking comfort in the night. A past version of me had done this before. In another life, Malakai had accused me of the same thing, swearing that I clung to him in my sleep.

I swallowed, looking away, not wanting him to see my embarrassment.

How had I made the same mistake again?

"You won’t believe me no matter what I say, will you?" he mused.

"Exactly. So let me go before someone walks in and gets the wrong idea."

"I locked the door."

I stiffened. "What? Why?"

"Didn’t want anyone interrupting us."

Interrupting what, exactly? He made it sound as if—

I narrowed my eyes. "Did something happen last night?"

"A lot."

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean? Malakai, tell me nothing happened between us."

He sighed, exasperation lacing his voice. "You really think I’d take advantage of you like that?" His expression darkened, a flicker of hurt crossing his features.

I exhaled slowly, my body relaxing. "No," I admitted quietly. "I know you wouldn’t do that."

"Then why would you even ask?" he muttered, irritation in his tone. "Is that really how you see me?"

I shrugged. "We’re both half-dressed, and you were clearly in a mood last night. Can you blame me for questioning it?"

His jaw tensed. "I swore to protect you, and I meant it."

Something about the way he said it made my heart clench. In another life, I would have believed him without hesitation. I would have trusted him with my heart, my soul, my very being. But now, I knew better.

He had once been everything to me—my protector, my best friend, my mate. Until the moment he changed. Until he shattered my trust beyond repair.

Back then, he had believed a lie. He let his anger consume him instead of listening to me. Instead of standing by me. He had thrown away everything we were because of a single deception—a deception orchestrated by Hilda.

I knew the truth now. I knew how she had played us both. And this time, I wouldn’t be blindsided.

This time, Malakai would not be my mate.

"Speaking of promises," I said, masking the ache in my voice, "let’s get this rejection over with. That way, you won’t have to make promises you can’t keep."

His entire body went rigid. "Rejection? What are you talking about?"

I forced a smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "You know exactly what I mean, Malakai. It’s time to cut this bond loose. For good."

His expression was dark and serious as he looked at me with cold eyes. “You can tell me not to hug you if it makes you uncomfortable, and I’ll respect that. If you want me to leave your room, just wake me up, and I’ll go. But please don’t ask me to reject you because that will never happen. You are my mate, and no one else can take your place. There will be no rejection between us.”

His voice was strong and determined. He emphasized the last part to make it clear how serious he was, and I found myself swallowing hard, feeling the weight of his words.

He was still the same man I had known. I understood that he wouldn’t reject me, even if our happiness together was uncertain.

“I’m not giving you a choice, Malakai Keith. I want you to reject me,” I stated firmly.

“Nor am I offering you one, Camilla Hunter. I refuse to reject you. This bond we share as mates will last forever, and I’m not going to let you go,” he replied with conviction.

“Fine then, do what you want. Just don’t call me unfaithful when I start dating other guys,” I shot back.

“Go ahead and try it, and you’ll see how I react. Besides, I know you wouldn’t do anything so dishonorable as to cheat on me,” he challenged.

Damn it! He was absolutely right about that. I couldn’t even imagine being unfaithful.