It had been exactly three hours, forty?four minutes, and one second since Noah claimed Micah meant nothing to him.

  And counting.

  The silence in the house was suffocating.

  Not peaceful.

  Not calm.

  Just… empty.

  A hollow, aching quiet that pressed on everyone’s chest like a weight.

  Micah replayed Noah’s words over and over, trying—desperately—to convince himself they weren’t true.

  That Noah didn’t mean it.

  That Noah was just scared.

  That Noah was protecting them.

  But the words sank in anyway, no matter how hard he tried to push them away.

  Micah and Noah didn’t speak.

  Didn’t look at each other.

  Didn’t breathe in the same direction unless absolutely necessary.

  Everyone felt it.

  Nico hated seeing his big brother so quiet, so still, so… dimmed.

  The Chief hated the lack of warmth in the house, the absence of Micah’s usual spark.

  Kael hated the heavy, depressing atmosphere that made even he want to curl up and cry.

  But the one suffering the most was Noah.

  He’d turned his phone back on, and the news only made everything worse.

  Daniel kept texting—long messages, short messages, frantic messages—but Noah ignored them all. He didn’t have the energy to deal with Daniel’s panic or questions.

  He told himself he’d get over Micah once Micah left.

  Told himself what they had was fleeting.

  Told himself it shouldn’t matter because they weren’t even officially together.

  But that didn’t stop Noah’s heart from racing every time Micah walked past him to grab something.

  Didn’t stop the ache in his chest when Micah avoided his eyes.

  Didn’t stop the guilt that gnawed at him every time Micah’s shoulders slumped just a little more.

  Noah told himself he’d be okay.

  By tomorrow, Micah would be gone—safe, home, alive.

  Nothing to worry about.

  Micah could find someone better.

  Someone stronger.

  Someone prettier.

  Someone who wasn’t… him.

  Right?

  Micah could be happy without him.

  …Right?

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Micah’s POV

  Micah wasn’t sure how much longer he could take this.

  No matter how many times he told himself Noah didn’t mean it, the way Noah barely looked at him now… it said everything.

  Leaving would keep them safe.

  Safe and sound.

  Protected.

  But what was the point of being safe if Noah wasn’t by his side?

  Without Noah, there was a hollow space in his chest—an empty, aching place that refused to be ignored.

  He stepped outside into the cool spring air, letting the breeze brush against his skin.

  He’d had a wonderful time here.

  More wonderful than he’d ever expected.

  He was going to miss it.

  Miss the house.

  Miss the town.

  Miss the human who made him feel like he belonged.

  The door burst open behind him.

  Micah blinked. “Nico—?”

  “Are you okay?!” Nico demanded, tail puffed, ears pinned back.

  Micah forced a smile. “Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

  “You’re outside,” Nico said accusingly. “Staring at the sky. You NEVER stare at the sky. You hate the sky. You said stars look like ‘judgmental sparkles.’”

  Micah winced. “I swear, I’m fine.”

  “You’re lying!” Nico stomped his foot. “You’re doing the sad-wolf stare! The one you did when you thought Dad was dead that one time but he was actually just napping!”

  Micah groaned. “Nico—”

  “And you’re doing the tail thing!”

  Micah looked behind him.

  His tail was curled around his leg like a frightened puppy.

  He quickly straightened it. “It’s windy.”

  “It’s NOT windy!” Nico yelled. “You’re HEARTBROKEN!”

  Micah flinched.

  Nico marched right up to him, tiny hands balled into fists. “This is about Noah, isn’t it?!”

  Micah’s throat tightened. “Nico—”

  “DON’T ‘NICO’ ME!” Nico shouted. “I’m tired of watching you two be miserable! You’re both walking around like someone stole your favorite chew toy!”

  Micah rubbed his face. “It’s complicated.”

  “No, it’s NOT!” Nico yelled. “You love him!”

  Micah froze.

  Nico jabbed a finger into his chest. “And he loves you!”

  Micah’s voice cracked. “He said he didn’t.”

  “HE LIED!” Nico threw his hands up. “Humans lie when they’re sad! Or scared! Or stupid!”

  Micah let out a shaky breath. “Nico… I can’t just go to him. He doesn’t want me.”

  “YES HE DOES!” Nico yelled. “He looks at you like you hung the moon! He looks at you like you’re his favorite thing in the world. He looks at you like—like—like Kael looks at raw meat!”

  Micah choked. “That’s not helping.”

  Nico grabbed Micah’s shirt and shook him with surprising strength. “THEN GO MAKE OUT WITH HIM!”

  Micah nearly fell over. “WHAT?!”

  “YES!” Nico insisted. “KISS HIM! BITE HIM! DO THE LEG THING! I DON’T CARE! JUST FIX IT!”

  Micah’s face turned crimson. “Nico, I can’t—”

  “WHY NOT?!”

  “Because…” Micah swallowed hard. “Because he told me he doesn’t love me.”

  Nico’s expression softened for the first time.

  Micah’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And I believe him.”

  Nico stared at him for a long moment.

  Then he shook his head fiercely. “No. No, big brother. You don’t get to just… walk away like that.”

  Micah blinked. “Nico—”

  “If you’re not going to fight for him,” Nico said, voice trembling, “then you at least have to say goodbye.”

  Micah’s breath hitched.

  Nico’s eyes shone with tears. “You can’t leave without saying goodbye. That’s worse than anything. That’s worse than lying. That’s worse than… than your cooking!”

  Micah let out a broken laugh.

  Nico grabbed his hand. “Please. For me. For you. For Noah. Say goodbye.”

  Micah looked back at the house.

  At the window where Noah sat, pretending not to look out.

  At the boy he loved.

  At the boy he was losing.

  Micah’s voice cracked. “Okay.”

  Nico squeezed his hand. “Good. Now go before I drag you in there myself.”

  Micah took a shaky breath.

  And turned toward the door.