The air in the bar had become thick with unspoken words. It hung between them, a palpable tension that was hard to ignore. Austin had barely acknowledged her presence when he arrived, his focus almost entirely on the juveniles, who were nervously shifting their weight from foot to foot, clearly waiting for their Alpha’s orders.
Seline had watched him closely, almost desperate for some sign that the Austin she had once known was still there. Maybe, just maybe, he would step in, offer some kind of intervention, show a hint of the concern he’d shown her when they first met. But instead, he had walked straight past her without a glance, his expression cold and unreadable.
His packmates, the ones who had followed him in, didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps they were just used to Austin’s aloofness. They were more concerned with the group of young wolves huddled together at the far end of the room, whispering among themselves.
But Seline had noticed. She had felt the sting of his rejection like a slap to her soul. It hurt more than she cared to admit, even to herself.
She’d hoped, deep down, that there was something left between them, that the bond they shared—no matter how complicated it was—would make a difference. But no, Austin wasn’t interested in the connection. He’d made that perfectly clear.
The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. The man she had once thought might be her mate—her destined partner—now viewed her as nothing more than a nuisance, an inconvenience.
And yet, her heart couldn’t quite let go. There was a stubborn part of her that refused to believe it was all over. The hope that he would come around still lingered, even if it seemed increasingly unlikely with every passing moment.
Austin, after all, hadn’t even given her the chance to explain herself. He hadn’t asked why she had reacted the way she had, why she had said the things she had. He had simply turned away, casting her aside as though she was nothing.
It wasn’t just the rejection that stung, though. It was the way he looked at her—like she was something beneath him, something not worth his time or attention. That was what hurt the most.
Seline’s gaze flickered to the young wolves, their faces a mix of anxiety and fear. They were a few years younger than she was, just coming of age, barely old enough to be part of Austin’s pack. Their shoulders were tense, their eyes darting between Austin and the door, like they were waiting for something to happen.
One of them, a slim wolf with dark brown hair, was wringing his hands nervously, while another, a muscular male with striking blue eyes, was staring at the floor, his lips set in a tight line. Seline could see the fear in their eyes—fear of what would happen to them if Austin decided to show them no mercy.
She sighed, her gaze softening. Despite her feelings toward Austin, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the young wolves.
Austin, however, wasn’t showing any sign of offering them a second chance. He was still standing with his packmates, his gaze narrowed as he observed them, but there was no warmth in his expression. He wasn’t going to help them.
Seline bit her lip, torn between her anger and her empathy. It wasn’t fair to punish them just for being young and foolish, for letting their tempers get the best of them. They didn’t deserve to be locked up or cast aside.
So, despite herself, she stepped forward.
“I’ll take care of it,” she said, her voice firm, though there was an edge of hesitation in it.
Austin’s eyes snapped to hers, his amber gaze hardening. “What do you mean, you’ll take care of it?”
“I’ll make a deal with you,” Seline said, her voice calm and controlled, even as her heart raced. She wasn’t entirely sure where this idea had come from, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
Austin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also skeptical. “And what kind of deal would that be?”
“I’ll tell the owner not to press charges, but in return, I want them to help out around here. In the kitchen, with some remodeling work, whatever it takes.”
Austin stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. She could see the wheels turning in his head as he considered her offer.
“I don’t think they deserve special treatment,” he finally said, his voice low.
Seline’s eyes narrowed. “And I don’t think they deserve to be thrown into a jail cell for being kids who made a mistake. Everyone deserves a chance to make things right, don’t they?”
Austin hesitated, the conflict clear on his face. He glanced at the young wolves, who were now watching him anxiously, waiting for his response.
A heavy silence hung between them.
“Why are you doing this?” Austin asked, his tone skeptical. “You’re not doing this for them. So what’s your angle?”
Seline shrugged, the cool indifference in her voice hiding the pain she was feeling. “I’m not doing it for you. And I’m certainly not doing it for them. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do.”
Austin’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as if he were about to say something else. But instead, he just sighed and turned toward the young wolves.
“Fine,” he muttered, though the word sounded more like a begrudging acceptance than anything else. “You get one chance. Don’t waste it.”
“Thank you,” one of the wolves said, his voice quiet but full of relief. He looked up at Seline with a grateful expression, though his eyes still held traces of fear.
Austin didn’t seem pleased with the outcome, but he didn’t argue. He turned away from Seline, his shoulders stiff, as if the whole situation was beneath him. But before he could leave, Loyd spoke up from the other side of the room.
“I’ll volunteer too,” Loyd said with a grin, stepping forward with an easy confidence that put everyone at ease. He shot Seline a playful wink. “I’m happy to help out, especially if it means I get to spend more time with this beautiful lady.”
Seline’s cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t help but smile, despite herself. She hadn’t expected him to offer, but his easy charm and laid-back demeanor had an undeniable effect on her.
Austin’s expression darkened instantly, and his gaze flickered toward Loyd with a look that was unmistakably irritated. Seline felt a pang of satisfaction at the sight, though she tried not to let it show.
Loyd, however, didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He was still grinning, his attention fully on Seline as he continued. “What do you say, Seline? Need a little extra muscle around here?”
Seline fought to keep her voice cool as she responded, though the warmth spreading through her at the attention was hard to ignore. “I’ll take all the help I can get.”
Loyd’s grin widened, and he stepped closer to the bar, leaning casually against it. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m here, then.”
Before Seline could respond, she caught sight of Austin out of the corner of her eye. He was standing near the door, his back turned to her, clearly ready to leave. His presence was almost a physical weight in the room, but this time, Seline didn’t feel the familiar pull in her chest.
Instead, she crossed her arms and let her voice drip with just a touch of spite as she called after Loyd. “You forgot to take my number.”
The words were out before she could stop herself, a small but deliberate jab at Austin.
She didn’t expect him to respond, but when she looked up, she caught the unmistakable flash of annoyance in Austin’s amber eyes. He shot her a baleful look, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t say anything.
Seline, for once, didn’t care. She turned her back on him, refusing to let him see just how much his rejection still hurt her.
“Let’s get started, then,” she said coolly to Loyd, ignoring Austin entirely.
With a final glance at Austin, who was now glaring at her as if she were the one who had wronged him, she turned back to Loyd and smiled.
It wasn’t the smile she’d given Austin. But it was a start.
As Austin and his packmates finally left, Seline’s heart was still heavy with the weight of his rejection. But for the first time in a long while, she felt a small flicker of hope. Not for Austin—but for herself.