Chapter 10: The Apology I Never Needed

A week after the council meeting, Gavin stopped trying to find excuses to see me.

He still worked in Highmoor, but he kept his distance.

I thought that would make things easier.

Instead, it made me notice him more.

Not because I missed him.

Because I had spent six years measuring my days by his presence, and suddenly there was nothing left to measure.

One afternoon, I was carrying several old records toward the archive when I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned.

Gavin stood several steps away.

“I won’t keep you long,” he said.

I waited.

He took a slow breath.

“I spoke to my mother.”

My expression didn’t change.

“About what?”

“About you.”

I almost laughed.

“You should have done that six years ago.”

He lowered his eyes.

“I know.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Gavin said, “Patricia told me something I didn’t want to hear.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“She said that if I had truly loved you, I would have protected you from my family instead of asking you to endure them.”

My fingers tightened around the records.

Those were words I had wanted to hear from him for years.

But now they sounded strangely empty.

“She’s right,” I said.

Gavin nodded.

“I know.”

He looked at me, and there was no defensiveness in his expression anymore.

“I’m sorry, Celia.”

The words were simple.

No excuses.

No mention of Evelyn’s health.

No explanation about his career.

Just an apology.

For a second, I felt the old ache return.

Then it passed.

“Thank you,” I said.

Gavin seemed surprised.

“That’s all?”

I looked at him calmly.

“What else do you want me to say?”

He opened his mouth but couldn’t answer.

I continued, “I waited for an apology for years. Now that I finally have one, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it.”

His face tightened with pain.

“You could give me another chance.”

I shook my head.

“That isn’t what an apology buys.”

He looked away.

“Is there really nothing I can do?”

I thought about the girl I had been at sixteen.

She would have answered immediately.

She would have told him she still loved him.

She would have promised to wait.

But I wasn’t sixteen anymore.

“You can become a better man,” I said. “Just don’t do it for me.”

Gavin’s eyes reddened.

“And if I still want you?”

I gave him a tired smile.

“Then you’ll have to learn how to live with wanting something you can’t have.”

I walked away.

This time, he didn’t follow.

That evening, Princess Helena announced that our first major peace assignment would begin the following month.

The Sanctuary had received requests from three Packs whose border disputes had been growing increasingly hostile.

We would travel with the royal delegation and help establish a temporary mediation center.

I volunteered immediately.

For the first time, I was looking forward to the future without wondering whether Gavin would be part of it.

Later that night, I stood alone on the Sanctuary balcony.

The mountains were covered in silver moonlight.

My wolf stirred quietly inside me.

She no longer felt restless.

She felt free.

Behind me, I heard footsteps stop at a respectful distance.

I didn’t turn around.

Gavin said softly, “Goodnight, Celia.”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

“Goodnight, Gavin.”

He left.

And for the first time, saying his name felt like saying goodbye.