Chapter 45

The knock was measured, intentional. I knew who it was before I even opened the door. Word traveled fast around here, and it was only a matter of time before Gideon and Xavier came knocking, likely looking for answers. Or at least for me to confirm what they’d already heard.

I swung open the door, and there they were, standing side by side like some odd pair of investigators—Gideon looking tense, almost hurt, and Xavier guarded, his usual easygoing demeanor subdued.

“So, it’s true then,” Gideon said, his voice barely a murmur, his gaze darting between me and the room behind me. His tone was one I’d heard before but rarely directed at me—something between disappointment and disbelief. “You moved in with her. Bonded.”

I kept my expression carefully neutral, though I could feel the tension radiating from him. “Didn’t realize my living situation was front-page news.”

Beside him, Xavier raised an eyebrow, but there wasn’t the usual irritation I might have expected. Instead, he looked almost… reserved, like he was trying to figure out how to process all of this. “People talk, Silas,” he said, his voice calm but cautious. “Especially when it’s something like this.”

I leaned against the doorframe, folding my arms and blocking their view of the room. “And now you’re here. What exactly are you looking for?”

Gideon’s eyes flashed with a mix of frustration and something deeper, almost like hurt. “I thought maybe you’d tell us yourself, instead of us hearing it from everyone else.” His gaze softened slightly, but it didn’t lose its intensity. “You’re our best friend, Silas. You didn’t think this was worth mentioning?”

There it was—the disappointment, the sense of betrayal. And I got it, to an extent. But he hadn’t exactly made it easy for me to share much of anything these past months. He’d been wrapped up in his own world, and I’d… well, I’d moved on, in my own way.

The corner of my mouth tugged up in a faint smile. “Didn’t realize you both needed a status update on my personal life. And it’s not like you checked in either.”

The sting in my words was subtle, but it was there, and I saw the flash of guilt in his eyes. He glanced away, his jaw tightening, and I knew he was piecing together all the ways we’d let the distance grow between us. Beside him, Xavier shifted, his gaze steady as he watched me, his expression unreadable.

I felt a flicker of something close to guilt. But I pushed it aside. I wasn’t going to apologize for making choices that were mine to make, choices that felt right.

“Look,” I said, keeping my tone steady, “Mara and I… it’s real. And it’s private. I didn’t think I needed permission to live my life.”

Xavier looked between us, his gaze flickering with a mixture of emotions I couldn’t quite read. “It’s just… unexpected. You and Xiomara.” His voice was quiet, and I could tell he was grappling with the shift in our dynamic, just as much as Gideon was.

I could feel Gideon’s gaze linger on me, his expression softening as he searched for the right words. “Silas… I would’ve been there for you,” he murmured, almost apologetically. “If you’d told me.”

A part of me wanted to believe him, wanted to let that apology settle. But another part—one that had grown quietly frustrated with his absence—kept me guarded. “We all get busy, Gideon,” I said, shrugging. “And things change.”

The words hung heavy, and I saw the guilt flare in his eyes. He looked down, a flicker of sadness crossing his face, and I could see he understood just how much he’d missed. Xavier placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent reassurance, and for a moment, the three of us stood there, each lost in our own thoughts.

“So… you’re happy, then?” Xavier’s voice was calm, laced with something softer, more cautious. “With her?”

I nodded, my voice steady. “Yeah. I am.”

Gideon’s shoulders slumped slightly, as if accepting the reality of the situation. He took a deep breath, his gaze meeting mine with a tentative understanding. “Then… I’m glad,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The silence stretched between us, heavier than before. I let out a small sigh, casting a quick glance over my shoulder, instinctively checking on the bond. There was a soft, steady pulse from Mara—her energy calm, deep in sleep. She’d had enough upheaval, and I wasn’t about to let this conversation disturb her.

I looked back at Gideon and Xavier, who were watching me intently, a million unspoken questions in their eyes. Without a word, I stepped out into the hallway, closing the door carefully behind me. “Let’s talk somewhere else,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Mara’s asleep, and I’d rather not disturb her.”

They nodded, falling into step beside me as we made our way down the empty corridor. I led them to a small, quiet alcove at the end of the hall, far enough that we could talk without worry. Gideon looked around, almost like he was bracing himself for whatever this conversation would bring. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, his shoulders tense, and Xavier crossed his arms, his gaze darting between me and Gideon.

“So,” I said, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “What else is on your mind?”

Gideon let out a deep breath, his face a mix of guilt and confusion. “Silas… I don’t know how to say this without sounding like an ass, but—” He hesitated, looking away. “It’s just hard to wrap my head around this. You’ve always been so… private. And Xiomara… she’s—”

“Complicated,” I finished, my voice dry but understanding. “Yeah, I know. She’s more than complicated.”

“She’s your Omega,” Xavier interjected, his voice carrying a weight of cautious respect. “And I can see that it matters to you. But I’ve got to ask again, Silas… are you really okay with all of this?”

I met his gaze, holding it. “This isn’t something I’d do lightly, Xavier. She’s…” I paused, feeling the weight of my own words. “She’s everything I didn’t know I needed. Complicated, yes. But that doesn’t make her any less worth it.”

Gideon looked down, his jaw clenching slightly. “I just can’t help feeling… I don’t know… guilty.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear in every tense line of his body. “I should’ve been there. Should’ve been… part of this.”

“Part of what?” I raised an eyebrow, studying him. “The decision? Or part of my life?”

Gideon winced, and I could see the guilt deepen. “Both, maybe. But mostly, I feel like I just… missed out on something important. We’ve been best friends for years, Silas. And now, you’re bonded, living a life I had no idea about. That’s on me, I know it, but… it’s a lot to take in.”

Xavier, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “Silas, we’re not saying this to make you feel guilty or to pry,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “We just… you’re still one of us. You and Xiomara being bonded doesn’t change that.”

I studied them, letting their words sink in, feeling the tension ease, if only a little. “I get it,” I said finally, my voice softer. “But you’ve got to understand, this isn’t something I would’ve shared with the whole world, even if we’d been talking every day. Mara’s… she’s private. And so am I.”

Gideon nodded, his gaze softening. “I respect that. Really, I do. But it doesn’t make me any less… concerned. I’m your best friend, Silas. I want to know you’re happy. And I don’t want to lose you to this.” His voice caught, just for a second, and I could see the genuine fear behind his words.

I gave a small, wry smile. “Gideon, you’re not losing me to anything. Bond or not, I’m still here. And I’m still your friend. But things have changed, yes. And it’s going to take time to adjust.”

Xavier, who had been watching us, finally spoke up, his voice steady but serious. “So, you’re saying there’s no chance you’ll just… disappear on us, then?”

I met his gaze, unflinching. “Not a chance.”

The relief that flickered across his face was subtle, but it was there. Gideon let out a breath, finally relaxing, his shoulders easing as he looked between us.

The silence between us lingered, each of them processing everything I’d just confirmed. I could see Gideon struggling to fit together what he thought he knew about Mara with the reality I’d just laid out.

“So,” Gideon started, his tone laced with a hesitation I rarely heard from him. “She’s really… your Omega?”

I nodded, keeping my face impassive, my gaze steady. “Yeah, she is.” I knew he wanted more, a real explanation by the way he kept repeating the question, but there were parts of this bond that belonged to me and Mara alone. They didn’t need to know every piece.

Xavier, though, wasn’t as patient. He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “Silas, I mean… I get that you two connected somehow, but how? When? You two barely seemed to tolerate each other last year.”

I glanced away, choosing my words carefully. “Things changed,” I said simply. “Somewhere along the way, she went from someone I couldn’t get a read on to someone I… couldn’t ignore.” I kept my tone measured, not offering more than I had to, but just enough that they’d understand.

Gideon’s brow furrowed, clearly dissatisfied. “But what made her open up to you? Why now? Why with you?”

I shrugged, leaning back against the wall, keeping my face neutral. “Guess I was just willing to see her for who she was.”

The words were simple, but I saw the flicker of guilt cross both of their faces. They hadn’t seen her, not really, and I knew it was hitting them now. Xiomara had always been a mystery to them, a puzzle they never solved because they hadn’t tried to understand her beyond the surface. And the part of me that was fiercely protective of Mara found a certain satisfaction in their discomfort.

Gideon looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess… I always thought she was just closed off. Cold, even.”

I let out a soft, almost humorless chuckle. “Didn’t you ever wonder why? She’s had to be strong, maybe even harder than any of us. You two were… let’s just say, you didn’t make it easy on her.”

Xavier’s face softened, his expression turning thoughtful as he absorbed the truth of what I was saying. “I thought she was just tough or stuck up,” he murmured. “Never really thought… maybe it was more than that.”

“Yeah,” I replied, my tone calm but firm. “She is tough. And she can take a lot. But there’s more to her than that. There’s always been more.” I kept my gaze steady, making sure they understood that this wasn’t just about me staking my claim. It was about respect, about acknowledging that Mara wasn’t someone they could dismiss or underestimate anymore.

Gideon’s face twisted with something like regret, and he nodded slowly. “I get that,” he murmured. “I didn’t realize… how much we might’ve overlooked.”

Xavier, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up, his tone cautious. “So… what does this mean for us, then? I mean, with Xiomara?”

I held his gaze, my expression softening just a bit. “It means you’ll need to treat her with the respect she deserves,” I said evenly. “She’s my Omega, yes, but that doesn’t make her any less her own person. If you want any part in my life – or hers, you’ll need to see her for who she really is.”

They exchanged a look, the weight of my words settling between them, and I could see that they understood. For the first time, they were beginning to see Mara in a new light, recognizing the strength that went beyond her exterior.

“Alright, Silas,” Gideon said finally, his voice steady but thoughtful. “We can do that. We’ll… we’ll try.”

I nodded, feeling a faint sense of relief. “Good. Because if you want any part in this, that’s the bare minimum I’ll expect.”

The tension between us softened, each of us standing there in a fragile, tentative understanding that, for now, was enough.