29. The attack

**CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE**

Leaving always left a bitter taste in anyone’s mouth. No matter the reason or the promise of a fresh start, there was always something gut-wrenching about walking away, especially when tensions still lingered and love hung heavy in the air. Knowing that somewhere behind you, pieces of your heart still lived in other people… it was enough to drive anyone mad. It was worse when leaving was the only way to protect yourself and what you have. Because if being this close was destroying them instead of building them, then it was time they took a step back, reevaluate just how much they mean to each other and save whatever was growing between them before they ruined it.

Nadia sat on the edge of the bed, fingers curling around the edge of the blanket, her eyes tracing the familiar art and shadows along the walls she’d stared at for weeks. This was where she’d hidden from the world, where she’d grieved in silence; for the friend she couldn’t save, for the blood she couldn’t wash off her hands. For the lives she blamed herself for ending. Now, she was leaving. And the worst part? She was walking away after fighting with the man she would’ve dropped her entire world for.

A soft knock at the door broke through her thoughts. She froze, then hastily wiped the tears she hadn’t realized were slipping down her cheeks. Taking a shaky breath, she tried to steady her voice.

“Not now, Collins.”

“Please.” His voice was low; more like a quiet plea that made her heart twist painfully. Collins sounded raw, like he was holding himself together by a thread. He hated this. Hated knowing she was about to disappear beyond his reach. Letting Nadia walk away would break him more than the war ever did. Death would’ve been kinder; at least then, he wouldn’t have to live with the thought of her out there, alone, in danger. Even in the afterlife, he was sure the shards of his heart would still cut him.

“Collins, this is getting unhealthy,” Nadia said softly. “I don’t want us to turn into something toxic.” She inhaled, exhaled. “Maybe… maybe some time apart is what we need. Not a breakup, just some breathing space.”

“You can’t ask me for space when there are goddamn were-dragons coming after you,” he shot back, his voice rough with the perfect storm of fear and impatience.

Her jaw tightened. So that damn hybrid had told him. She barely remembered the attack; just flashes of smoke, scales, and the burn of silver fire that were slowly coming into her memory. The rest was a blur of pain and panic. The only person who could fill in the blanks was Sasha. Speaking of her, she’d be here within the hour to grab her things and drive them both to New York.

“If I leave this town, I won’t get hurt and no one else will either,” Nadia said, forcing calm into her tone. “Forget about our personal feelings for a moment. This is the most reasonable approach.”

“Reasonable?” His voice cracked, disbelief splintering through it. “There’s nothing reasonable about you running straight into danger. No one will be able to protect you in the city. I can’t take care of my pack and you at the same time if you’re halfway across the damn country.” He paused, and she could almost feel him pressing his forehead against the door, breathing hard. “Nadia,” he whispered, the sound of her name almost breaking her resolve. “Don’t make me lose you like this.”

Her lips trembled, but she didn’t answer. Because she already knew that she was losing him too. Whether it was forever or just for a while, she couldn’t tell. By the gods, she didn’t want it to be forever. It would ruin her.
She swallowed the ache in her throat and zipped her suitcase shut with finality. The sound sliced through the heavy silence like a blade. As she stepped into the hallway, her gaze caught Drake leaning casually against the kitchen counter, arms folded, expression unreadable. The hybrid always carried that air of careless defiance; the kind that could make saints swear and demons roll their eyes.
He looked bored, but Nadia knew better. Drake never missed a single detail. He was probably cataloguing every tremor in her voice, every twitch in Collins’ stance. The two men couldn’t stand each other, and Drake seemed to take a certain wicked pleasure in pushing Collins’ buttons. Still, she couldn’t deny the truth that she’d probably be dead if Drake hadn’t been at that club.
“You can’t leave,” Collins said suddenly, his voice a low growl as he brushed past her. He slammed the bedroom door shut behind him, the sound echoing like thunder.
His wolf was restless beneath his skin, clawing to the surface, protective and primal. This was his mate, his goddess-damned mate. Every instinct in him screamed to mark her, to bind her, to make her his Luna and keep her where she belonged; beside him and safe.
“Collins,” she said quietly, though her tone carried exhaustion more than defiance. “Don’t you see what’s happening to us? We’ve been fighting non-stop. I get angry over the smallest things, jealous over ghosts that don’t even matter. My emotions are all over the place and-”
He crossed the space between them in a heartbeat, cupping her face with both hands, his palms warm and calloused. His touch made her breath hitch.
“Do you trust me?” he asked, voice raw, eyes locked on hers like he could anchor her soul through sheer will.
“You know I do,” she whispered. “But this isn’t-”
“Good.” He exhaled sharply, his thumb brushing away the tear she didn’t realize had fallen. “Because we’ve been through hell and back. We survived a goddamn supernatural war. You really think we can’t survive us?”
“Collins-”
“No. Listen to me.” His tone softened, but the conviction in it was iron. “Forget Drake. Forget my ex-wife, Laila. Forget every bastard who’s tried to come between us. You and me, we’re in this for life. You don’t run from what’s yours.”
His forehead pressed against hers, his breath hot against her lips, and for a moment the air between them shimmered with something dangerous, something sacred. Nadia’s pulse hammered in her chest. Every instinct told her to melt into him, to let herself be claimed. But the fear , that creeping, gnawing dread ,  whispered louder.