The silence in the room felt suffocating.
No one spoke. No one moved.
But I could feel it—stronger now.
The bond.
My chest rose and fell as I tried to steady my breathing. This wasn't normal. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Not with them.
"This is a mistake."
Leo's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
My eyes snapped to his. "A mistake?"
His expression didn't change. Cold. Distant. Like I was nothing.
"Whatever you think you're feeling," he said flatly, "it's not real."
My fingers curled into fists. "I didn't imagine it."
Before he could respond, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.
I gasped.
Kai.
His grip was firm, almost rough, as his eyes locked onto mine—sharp, searching.
"Then explain it," he said, his voice low. "Because I felt it too."
The words hit harder than I expected.
So it wasn't just me.
My heart pounded. "I don't know what it is."
His grip tightened slightly, like he didn't believe me. Or maybe like he didn't want to.
"Let go of her."
Leo's tone was calm… but dangerous.
Kai didn't move at first.
For a second, it felt like the two of them were silently challenging each other.
Then, with a quiet scoff, Kai released me.
I pulled my hand back quickly, my skin still tingling where he touched me.
"We're not doing this," Leo continued, his gaze flicking between us. "Whatever this is—it ends here."
Ends?
My chest tightened. "You can't just decide that."
"Watch me."
His voice dropped, final.
Something in me snapped.
"You think I want this?" I shot back. "You think I'd choose—" I stopped myself, my voice catching.
Choose them.
The room fell silent again.
And then…
A quiet voice broke through.
"Enough."
Evan.
I hadn't even realized when he moved, but now he stood closer—too close.
His eyes were on me, calm… but far too observant.
"Arguing won't change anything," he said softly.
My breath hitched.
There was something different about him.
He wasn't denying it.
He wasn't angry.
If anything… he was curious.
And that somehow felt more dangerous.
"Stay away from us," Leo said suddenly.
I looked at him, stunned. "What?"
"Until we figure this out," he added, his tone colder now. "You keep your distance."
My chest tightened again, but this time… it wasn't from the bond.
It was anger.
"Gladly," I said, lifting my chin.
If they thought I was going to chase after them, they were wrong.
I turned before they could see anything else on my face and walked away, each step steady—even though my heart was anything but.
But the moment I reached the door…
I felt it again.
That pull.
Stronger.
Like something inside me was refusing to let go.
I paused for just a second.
Then kept walking.
Because one thing was already clear—
This wasn't over.