You hadn’t seen him in days. Not really.

Paul was there, of course, at bonfires, patrol meetings, lounging around Emily’s kitchen like always. But he never looked at you. Never spoke. It was like you’d turned invisible the day he imprinted.

Before that, he cared. He cared so much it burned. You saw it in the way he’d always keep you close during patrols, in the way he remembered what days you hated, how he’d show up at your door when you didn’t want to be alone. His love was wild and loud, but real.

Now?

Now he barely acknowledged your existence.

You were standing outside Emily’s house, arms folded against the wind, waiting for the boys to come back from patrol. When the door flew open, Paul came barreling through, too focused on something behind him to see you standing there.

His shoulder hit yours hard.

You stumbled back, your breath catching. “Ow—”

He turned for half a second.

Blank eyes. No apology.

Just, “Watch it.”

Then he walked on, laughing at something Jared said behind him.

You stood frozen. The sting on your shoulder was nothing compared to the ache blooming in your chest. He hadn’t even recognized your voice. Or maybe he had...and just didn’t care.

You swallowed hard and looked down, trying to keep your breathing steady. But the truth was suffocating

He used to love you like the world was ending. Now he looked at you like a stranger in the way.