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“A little?” Wren snorts, covering her face when I glare at her. “I’m sorry. Please continue.”

Brushing away nonexistent lint, I continue, “He’s a little crazy, but he’s also fragile. I don’t want to think about how he’d react—what he’d do. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Wren sighs. “But it’s okay if you’re hurt?”

“Of course I don’t want to be hurt,” I practically yell, flushing when all eyes in the room turn to me. I offer a tight smile and lower my voice before continuing. “But I already am. Plus, I’m not crazy.”

“If you say so.” Wren tosses me a smile. “I think Brenden will be fine, even if he has a few screws loose. He knows what he’s up against with that man.”

I shrug, knowing she’s right, but it doesn’t make me any less upset about the idea of Brenden being hurt. “Alright, I should get back to those papers.”

“It’s all going to work out,” Wren assures me, giving my hand one last squeeze.

As much as I’d like to believe her words, I can’t. I don’t see how this can work out. Not unless Nex gets amnesia or something.

Settling at the desk once more, I bury my hands in my hair and massage my temples. There’s a tension headache building, and I’m so not here for it. I have plans I don’t plan on missing.

“The papers aren’t going to grade themselves,” Nex snarks, glaring down at me.

“I’m well aware. Thank you.” I return his glare, wondering why he suddenly feels the need to talk to me.

“Also, if you could please refrain from interrupting my class by yelling at your sister, that would be great.” He clenches his jaw. “In fact, maybe it’s best if you just don’t talk to her during class. If she needs help, I can help her since you can’t be trusted. I’m not even sure why you’re still helping in my classes. I have no need for you, and I don’t want you around.”

I jerk my head back as if he slapped me. Where the hell had that vehement tone come from? Who the hell does he think he is?

“Why don’t you go fuck yourself?” I push to my feet, not bothering to keep my voice down. “I don’t know what crawled up your ass, but if you think I’m going to allow you to speak to me like that, you’re sadly mistaken. Did you decide ignoring me wasn’t working, so you’d be cruel? Well, I have news for you, asshole—no matter how much you don’t want it to be true, you’re still my fated mate. Go ahead and keep fighting it. You’re the one who’s going to end up alone and with no one to blame but yourself.”

I’m practically panting with anger as I lean across the desk, hands planted on the papers I’ve been grading. “As far as helping in your classes, you’re right. You don’t need me, and I sure as fuck don’t need you. But if you hurt Brenden, I’m coming for you—mate or not. I guess it’s just time to accept that you’re not worth my time and that you really are an asshole.”

Nex’s jaw drops as he stares at me in shock. Anger rattles through me, and I know I should just walk away, but I can’t seem to make my feet move. Instead, I swipe my hand across the desk, pushing everything to the floor.

It doesn’t make me feel any better.

“You finally succeeded in your quest.” My voice has gone quiet as sorrow begins to overwhelm my anger. My voice shakes as tears fill my eyes. “I don’t think I want you to be my mate anymore.”

Head held high, I stalk out of the classroom before sliding through the shadows. As soon as I land in the bedroom, I collapse to my knees as sobs wrack my body.

Rage and dejection are at war inside of me as I slam my hands onto the floor and let out a heart-wrenching scream filled with fury and pain.

Footsteps thunder up the stairs, making me realize I’m not alone in the house.

Damn it. None of my mates need to see me like this.

The door swings open to reveal Donovan, whose eyes flash when they land on me. “What the hell happened?”

I shake my head, unable to speak. I’m not strong enough to tell him what just happened. I feel like I’m shattering from the inside out, and I don’t know if I can put my pieces back together.

Who knew that giving up on my mate would hurt so badly? I certainly wasn’t expecting it.

“Fuck.” Donovan races across the room and scoops me into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and cling to him.

I might not be able to put myself back together again, but maybe my mates can. Maybe they can hold me together while I splinter. Maybe they’re all I really need—just the three of them.

Because if I’m accepting that Nex will never be mine, then I have to accept that neither will Cassian.

My body shakes as my tears fall faster.

I don’t know if I’m ready to accept that just yet. I don’t think I can deal with the additional pain it will cause me.