AIDAN

I clenched my teeth, shutting out his presence and Theo’s damn presence too. I don’t know how many hours I spent out there, almost naked under the storm… just thinking…

I needed to feel her warmth again, to remember our bond, to search for that blackberry scent her body used to have… and now only reeked of death.

I walked back through the halls like a ghost, like I had so many nights before.

Hiding my presence, I stood in front of her bedroom door—the one she hardly let me into anymore.

Ever since she woke up, I could feel her growing cold, detached… Isabella wouldn’t let me touch her. She was always finding excuses to avoid me.

It’s not like I wanted to do anything extreme—I knew she was weak—I just wanted to sleep beside her, holding hands like we used to… like a real couple.

“Mmmnn aayy…” I tensed at the low, painful moans.

I reached for the doorknob but froze when I heard the conversation happening inside Bella’s room.

“Sis, you can’t keep going like this, I