Thea’s POV

I couldn’t look away.

Sebastian held Aurora like she was made of glass, his fingers gentle as they wiped away her tears. Gone was the cold, commanding Alpha. In his place stood a man I’d never known – one who spoke in soft whispers and touched with tender care.

“I’ve missed you,” he murmured.

My chest felt like someone had ripped it open with bare hands. I couldn’t fucking breathe.

I’d known, of course. Known that even without finding his true mate, Sebastian had already chosen Aurora in his heart. She was his chosen mate, even if they weren’t officially bonded. But seeing it, watching him cradle her like she was precious while I stood forgotten in the shadows – it destroyed something inside me.

Aurora leaned into him, her beautiful eyes crinkling with sorrow. “I can’t believe Daddy’s gone.”

Sebastian cupped her face in his hands, pressing his forehead against hers in wordless comfort. I swear I could almost see his wolf preening with joy at having her so close. The same wolf that had never once shown an ounce of interest in me, its supposed Luna.

My legs moved before my brain caught up. I stumbled backward, nearly tripping over my own feet in my desperation to escape. The hospital walls felt suffocating, pressing in from all sides with their grief and pain and connection I could never share. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t stay here and watch the man I loved comfort the woman he’d always wanted.

The night air hit my face like a slap as I burst through the emergency exit. My legs gave out and I slid down the wall, tears finally breaking free. Seven years of pretending I was okay, of telling myself I could live with being second choice – it all came crashing down around me.

“Please Goddess,” I whispered, my hands clasped in desperate prayer. “Please make this pain stop.”

“Pathetic.”

I jerked my head up to find Roman standing over me, his lip curled in disgust.

“What do you want?” I tried to wipe away my tears, but they wouldn’t stop falling.

“To understand how you can be so selfish.” He shook his head. “Our father is dead, and here you are, crying over a man who was never yours to begin with.”

The words hit like physical blows. “Fuck you, Roman.”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” He crouched down, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Did you really think Sebastian would ever choose you? “A wolfless nobody who can’t even shift? He belongs with Aurora. Always has.”

“I know that!” The words tore from my throat. “You think I don’t know that? I’ve known it every day for seven years!”

“Then why are you out here throwing a pity party?” His voice dripped contempt. “This is what you deserve, Thea. For being selfish enough to come between them in the first place.”

I laughed, the sound bitter and broken. “Right. Because everything’s my fault. It always is with this family, isn’t it?”

“Seven years ago-”

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