The next morning, I drag myself to the diner for my shift, same as always. This place is just a stone's throw from Natalie's university. Back when I picked this job, it was just so I could catch a few extra glimpses of her. She's got money now, and she's told me more than once to quit, to take it easy. I always said no. She's always buried in school stuff, and if I didn't have this job, I'd barely see her at all.

Today was supposed to be my last day-meant to turn in my notice. But the manager claps me on the shoulder, all earnest. "Sam, stick around a few more days, will ya? At least till we find someone new."

He's been good to me over the years, so I can't say no. I nod, sealing my fate for a little longer.

Not long after, a group of college pups rolls in for some club lunch. I hand out menus, and my eyes catch a photo on their table-Natalie and Brandon, side by side. She's in a white shirt, cool and composed as ever, but there's a slight curve to her lips, a rare softness I hardly ever see. Brandon's got his arm around her shoulder, his grin bright as the damn sun.

"They look good together, huh?" one of the she-pups says, catching my stare. Her voice is all bubbly. "They're, like, the campus power couple! Ice-queen professor and the hot younger wolf-everyone's obsessed!"

I pour lemonade into a glass, keeping my voice steady. "They. seem close?"

"Oh, totally!" The table erupts, the she-pups tripping over each other to spill the tea. "Natalie's super standoffish with most wolves, but she's so patient with Brandon!"

"Like, this one time, Brandon passed out in the lab, and Natalie draped her coat over him!"

"And that pen he gave her? She carries it everywhere!"

My fingers start to shake, nearly dropping the glass pitcher. All these little things-Natalie's never done them for me. Not once.

"They're perfect for each other," one she-pup sighs, then her tone shifts. "Only thing is, Natalie's got some baggage. Word is she's got this savior wolf she feels obligated to."

"You mean that guy?" another scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Heard he didn't even go to college. No real job, just scraping by with odd gigs. Total mismatch for Natalie."

"Yeah, total leech, clinging to her like that. No shame!"

"We even asked Natalie about it. Told her to just pay him off and move on. Don't let him drag down her happiness."

My heart feels like it's caught in a vice, the pain so sharp I can barely breathe.

"Your hand's shaking," one of the she-pups says, eyeing me. "You good?"

I force a grin. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just. think you're right."

After my shift, I bolt from the diner, but I freeze at the university gates. There they are-Natalie and Brandon, walking side by side. He's got a red scarf looped around his neck, and as they talk, he pulls it off and wraps it around her, gentle and deliberate. Natalie, who's got a thing about germs, doesn't even flinch.

"Last night's meteor shower was awesome," Brandon says, all smiles.

Natalie nods. "Yeah, we should do it again."

Students passing by steal glances, some whispering, "I'm so shipping them!"

They're chatting about experiments, research, academic conferences-stuff that goes right over my head. Standing in the shadows, it hits me hard: there's a chasm between me and Natalie now, too wide to cross.

Back at the condo, Natalie's in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. She opens the fridge, spots the leftover cake, and pauses. "Was yesterday your birthday?"

I nod, silent.

"I've been swamped. Slipped my mind," she says, rubbing her forehead. "I'll get you a gift in a couple days to make up for it."

"Don't worry about it," I say quietly. "You've got enough on your plate."

She looks at me for a moment, then lets it go. "What'd you wish for?"

I open my mouth, but her phone cuts me off. Brandon again.

"Natalie, I tweaked something playing ball," his voice whines through the speaker, all pouty.

She's on her feet in a flash. "Send me your location. I'm on my way."

She grabs her stuff and heads out, barely glancing back.

I sit at the table, alone, polishing off the rest of the cake. The frosting's gone cold, sweet but bitter as hell.

For days, Natalie doesn't come home. I'm scrolling through posts on my phone, and Brandon's updates keep popping up like a punch to the gut. Natalie helping him at the library. Natalie bringing him breakfast. Natalie bending down to tie his damn shoelaces. In every photo, her eyes are softer than they ever are with me.

I sit there, staring, and start packing my stuff. I don't have much-a few changes of clothes, a beat-up pair of sneakers, and a photo album stuffed with sneaky shots of her. Her profile while she's buried in a book, her back as she cooks, her brows slightly furrowed in sleep. That's all I've got left.

When Natalie walks in, I'm zipping up the last box. "What're you packing for?" she asks, her voice cool, distant.

"Just tossing out what I don't need," I mumble, keeping my head down so she doesn't see my eyes, red and raw.

She hums, pouring herself a glass of water. "Good call. You said this place feels off, right? I bought a villa. We can move in soon."

She pauses, then adds, "Wanna check it out today?"

My fingers falter, but I nod. One last look at her new life before I'm gone.

The villa's in a gated community, all shady trees and quiet, like it's cut off from the world. We're barely at the door when Brandon shows up, rocking a pale yellow tee, grinning like he owns the place. "Hey, you made it! Sam, my place is right next door. Neighbors, huh? Look out for each other!"

He drags us over to tour his villa, all eager. But when he swings the door open, I freeze. Beige sofa, wood dining table, even the plants on the balcony-identical to what I just saw in Natalie's place.

"Natalie and I picked out the furniture together," Brandon says, flashing that sunny grin. "Crazy how our tastes match, right? Looks like one big house."

He winks. "My buddies say if we knocked down the wall between 'em, it'd be seamless. One perfect den."

Natalie, standing off to the side, actually smiles. "He's got a design degree. Good eye."

My heart stings, sharp and relentless. Yeah, once I'm out of the picture, they'll make it official. Knock down that wall, make it one.

By noon, Brandon suggests we grab lunch. He picks a fancy steakhouse, the menu all in some foreign script-Favalon, I guess. He hands it to me first, and my hands shake as I take it. I can't read a single word.

Natalie notices me floundering and reaches over. "I'll order."

Brandon props his chin in his hand, smirking. "Natalie, don't just get my favorites. Pick something for Sam, too."

She looks at me. "What do you want?"

I drop my gaze. She knows Brandon's go-to order by heart, but after all these years of us leaning on each other, she doesn't even know what I like to eat.

"Whatever," I mutter.

When the food comes, I fumble with the knife and fork, clumsy as hell, and knock over my plate. Sauce splashes on the tablecloth, and I feel the side-eyes from nearby tables.

I stand, flustered, heading for the bathroom to clean up, but I catch the whispers behind me. "Where'd this hick come from? Never been to a nice place before?"

"Embarrassing. Standing next to those two, he looks like some caveman."

In the bathroom, I scrub the grease off my hands under the faucet, staring at the wolf in the mirror-pale, eyes bloodshot, a pathetic clown. Natalie and I? We're worlds apart now.

Then a scream cuts through the air. "Fire!"

My blood runs cold, and I bolt out, my only thought to find Natalie. But when I shove through the panicking crowd to our table, it's empty. She's already gone-with Brandon.

The mob pushes me around, and I hit the floor hard. Someone stomps on my hand, pain shooting through me like lightning. By the time I stumble outside, I see Natalie helping Brandon into a car, urgency in her voice. "To the healer's, now!"

Brandon leans on her shoulder, murmuring, "Sam's still in there."

Natalie glances back at the chaotic restaurant. "The bathroom's on the first floor. He's probably out already." She hesitates. "Your leg's the priority. Let's go."

The car door slams, and they're gone.

I stand there, my hand throbbing, but it's nothing compared to the ache in my chest. I drag myself to a healer, get my hand patched up, and book a ticket out of town.

That night, I crash hard and dream of the past. Sixteen-year-old Natalie at the river, asking why I saved her. Nineteen-year-old Natalie, stubbornly waiting up for me at our tiny table. Twenty-two-year-old Natalie, holding me tight, promising, "Sam, I'll make sure you live a good life." Twenty-four-year-old Natalie, with a new mate, no longer needing me.

In the dream, I'm smiling, but tears stream down my face.

When I wake, Natalie's standing by my bed, holding my phone. "You bought a ticket?" Her voice is ice-cold. "Where are you going?"

I blink, groggy. "It's my grandpa's memorial in a few days. Heading back home to pay respects."

She nods, not offering to come with. I get it. That small town's her personal hell-the place her mom took her own life, where Natalie tried to follow, where she clawed her way out. She'll probably never set foot there again.

Which means, once we're unbound, we're done for good.

Her eyes flick to the scrape on my arm, her brows knitting. "How'd that happen?"

I pause, then tell the truth. "When the fire broke out, I ran back to the second floor. Got knocked down in the chaos."

Her gaze darkens. "Why'd you go back up?"

"Thought you were in trouble."

She stares at me, silent for a long time before saying, "You're still the same as you were back then."

She means the river, when I dove in after her. I give a bitter smile. "Not really."

Back then, she had no one. Now, she's got Brandon. I'm just extra weight.

Over the next few days, Natalie starts moving her stuff to the new villa. I keep my bags separate, saying I'll sort through them before bringing them over. She doesn't question it, just keeps hauling her things out. Soon, the condo's empty, and I'm sitting in the living room, my breathing echoing in the hollow space. It feels like that rundown shack we used to share, just the two of us against the world.

I get up to toss some old junk, but when I step into the hallway, someone grabs me from behind, clamping a hand over my mouth. Everything goes black.

When I come to, I'm tied to a chair in a rotting warehouse, a rag stuffed in my mouth. A wolf looms over me, his face eerily like Natalie's but twisted with a cold, predatory glint. "So you're the one who saved that bastard pup Natalie?" he sneers. "Trying to help her steal my inheritance, huh?"

Aaron Brooks-her half-brother.

I glare, unable to speak. He rips the rag out, and I gasp, my voice hoarse. "Natalie's not a thing. She's got the same blood as you. You've got no right to call her that."

"She's never wanted your family's money!" I snap, my voice shaking but steady. "Your dad screwed over her mom. She wasn't a mistress, and Natalie's not a bastard!"

Aaron's face twists, and he lands a fist across my jaw. My vision swims, blood pooling in my mouth.

"Big talk," he growls, grabbing my chin and forcing my head up. "Call Natalie."

He wants to use me to hurt her. I clench my jaw, refusing.

He laughs coldly, snatches my phone, and dials her number. No answer.

He tries again. Still nothing.

"All those years you two leaned on each other, and this is it?" he taunts. "She doesn't give a damn if you live or die, and you're still defending her?"

My chest burns, but I rasp, "Natalie's not who you think she is."

That sets him off. He nods to a goon behind him, who slams a fist into my gut. I double over, cold sweat drenching me.

"Listen up," Aaron says, leaning close and patting my cheek. "Every time Natalie doesn't pick up, I take a tooth. Let's see how much she lets you suffer."

The first tooth comes out, and I black out from the pain, a choked groan escaping my throat. She doesn't answer.

Second tooth. Third.

Blood fills my mouth, my vision fading, but the phone stays silent.

By the last tooth, I'm barely conscious. Then, finally, the call connects.