Malakai POV

A dull ache settled in my chest, and it felt as if all color had drained from the world. Everything around me seemed lifeless, dull, and gray. No, I wasn’t physically sick, but my heart was suffering—suffocating under the weight of longing.

I missed Camilla so much it was unbearable. Nearly twenty-four hours had passed since I last saw her, and she had completely shut me out—ignoring my calls, leaving my messages unanswered. I had no idea what I had done to deserve this, but I was determined to break through to her.

That was why I decided to tag along with Lazarus to her territory for the training session. Not because I had any interest in training the warriors—no, that was my Gamma’s responsibility—but because I needed to see her, to hear her voice, to make her acknowledge me.

My anticipation quickly turned to disappointment when I arrived and learned that Camilla was nowhere to be found. She had left—vanished into the city without telling anyone in advance. The only explanation she left behind was a hastily scribbled note stuck to the fridge.

She was avoiding me. Running. And it hurt.

“Don’t stress over it. She knows the rules. She’ll be back before dinner,” Damian said, noticing the shift in my mood.

I remembered her mentioning once that she had a curfew. No matter where she went, she was expected back by eight o’clock.

I nodded, but it didn’t bring me any comfort. Eight o’clock still felt like an eternity away.

“Relax, Alpha. You’ll forget all about her once you have dinner,” Lazarus snickered, clearly enjoying my misery.

I shot him a glare, but he just laughed harder. He had no idea what I was feeling, and even if he did, he was too entertained by my suffering to care.

“I might just extend your duties here by a month, Lazarus.”

The smirk vanished from his face instantly. “Wait, what?”

“Make it two months.”

“You can’t be serious,” he protested, suddenly desperate. “The pack needs me.”

“It’s not like I’m sending you to another planet. Our pack is just a short distance away.” I smirked, knowing exactly what was bothering him. He didn’t want to be away from his mate.

Before I could tease him about it, Damian spoke up. “My men learn quickly. A few weeks should be enough for training.”

“See? A few weeks will do just fine,” Lazarus quickly added. “His warriors are already strong; they just need to refine their techniques and improve their defense strategies.”

“I appreciate your assistance. It means a lot to my pack.”

“You’re right—a strong defense is crucial.”

“I may not have the largest pack, but I want my people to be safe.”

“That’s why I think we should extend the training to two months,” I declared, meeting Lazarus’s frustrated stare. “We’ll make it thorough and intensive. My men can return home at night if they don’t want to stay over.”

Damian’s Gamma entered the room then, his expression unreadable. “She’s here. My men at the border just saw Camilla enter the territory.”

I shot to my feet so fast that my chair scraped loudly against the floor. Everyone turned to look at me, but I didn’t care. “I’ll wait for her outside.” Without waiting for a response, I strode out the door.

Behind me, I could hear Lazarus’s mocking laughter. “Someone’s eager.” The others chuckled in amusement.

“Three months, Lazarus. And you’re only allowed back on weekends.”

That shut him up.

But I wasn’t focused on him anymore. All my attention was on Camilla. I tried to sense her, to reach out for her presence, but I couldn’t feel her yet. Was she still far?

He was right—I missed her more than I could put into words. Even my wolf, Sabre, stirred at the mere mention of her name.

Mate.

She would be home soon. I just had to wait.

Ten minutes passed, but still no sign of her. My patience wore thin. Was she taking a different route? Why was she keeping me waiting? I had already paced back and forth on the steps a hundred times.

Okay, ten more minutes. That was all I would wait.

Two minutes later, I abandoned that plan. I had no patience left. I was about to go looking for her when I finally heard the low hum of an engine in the distance. Then, her black SUV came into view.

My heart pounded at the sight of her behind the wheel. She was back. Finally.

I clenched my fists, resisting the overwhelming urge to run to her and pull her into my arms. But I needed to gauge her reaction first—to see if she had softened at all… or if she still hated me.

She stepped out of the car, her expression unreadable—until she turned towards the house.

A scowl.

Of course. What else did I expect?

She locked her car and started walking toward the house without even sparing me a glance, doing her best to pretend I wasn’t there.

But I wasn’t going to let her shut me out. I would make her acknowledge me. I would make her mine again.

As she got closer, her scent wrapped around me—roses and berries… and something else. Something foreign.

A sharp, unfamiliar scent clung to her. A man’s scent. Faint, but distinct. It smelled human. From the city.

Jealousy and anger surged within me, and I fought to keep it under control.

I followed behind her. “Where have you been?”

She ignored me, her pace steady, her posture rigid.

“Camilla, where are you coming from?” I asked again, quickening my steps to match hers. She didn’t even slow down.

“I’m asking you a question.” My voice carried an edge now, my frustration slipping through.

“Leave me alone, Malakai. Stop following me.”

“You haven’t answered me.”

“It’s none of your business.”

I lost the last shred of my restraint. I grabbed her wrist, turning her toward me. “Tell me where you were.”

She stared at me, eyes blazing. “The city.”

“With who?”

Her lips pressed together, but her silence told me enough. My grip tightened. “Who were you with, Camilla?”

She yanked her arm back. “I was just having fun.”

“With him?” I growled. " You're out there seducing men now?"

Her eyes widened briefly before she scowled again. “I didn’t seduce Henry.”

“So that’s his name, huh?” I stepped closer, my grip shifting to her waist, pulling her against me. “What exactly were you two doing that his scent is all over you?”

She struggled against me, but I didn’t let go. I leaned in, inhaling deeply against her neck despite the lingering scent of another man. Her scent, beneath it all, still drove me insane.

“What are you doing?!” she hissed, trying to push me away.

My fangs lengthened. I wanted to mark her. To remind her that she was mine.

She must have sensed it, because she fought harder.

A loud crash echoed from the direction of her room.

“What the hell were you doing in my room?!” she suddenly screamed, her anger cutting through everything else.

Her voice snapped me out of my trance. I turned, eyes narrowing. Who the hell had dared go through her things?

Hilda stood in the doorway.

Camilla was furious.