"Why are you here?"
Elise's eyes stared at the man standing beside her mother, her entire frame trembling more the longer she looked at him.
Xavier. Elise's ex-boyfriend.
"Elise, honey, why are you talking to him like that? Is something wrong?" Niena asked, confused at her daughter's reaction.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am." Xavier flashed an apologetic smile to Niena before turning to Elise. "I just helped your sister change her punctured tire. I didn't even know she was a part of your family, Elise. All I wanted to do was help as it was pretty late. And, I was invited over for dinner. I didn't even ask to come here."
"She's not my sister. She's my mother, Xavier." Elise's breath hitched as she heard the words that left Xavier's mouth.
But, that sound also made her remember that sting of his betrayal, the echoes of his words were still fresh in her mind.
Seeing him here, in her safe space… in her own home, felt like an invasion.
"Let's end this. I can't do it anymore."
"I see," Elise spoke, her voice trembling with a lace of rage.
"Elise, dear, calm down," Niena said gently, her eyes darting between her trembling daughter and Xavier. "He's just being polite. I couldn't find a mechanic either. There was no signal either. I thought, with Dietrich staying over… He could use some male company."
"You thought—" Elise started, her voice breaking. She turned her glare to Xavier, who stood with an awkward expression, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "You really think I'd want to see you after what you did?"
"Elise, please, calm down," Xavier said, taking a cautious step forward, trying to calm her down. "I didn't know she was your mother. I had no intention to come and upset you. Not after what happened at prom."
Elise's chest heaved with each breath, her fists clenching at her sides as tears brimmed her eyes. "Upset me? Upset me? You broke up with me a day before prom to propose to her—my bully! And now you're acting like you're some sort of Good Samaritan? Just who do you think you are, Xavier?"
Xavier's face fell, and he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "Look, I know I messed up. I… I was confused, okay? I didn't know what I wanted, and I made the wrong choice. But seeing you tonight, Elise… I realized how badly I screwed up."
"Realized?" Elise laughed bitterly, her voice high-pitched and mocking. "You think seeing me looking different suddenly makes everything okay? That I'm just going to forgive you because you feel guilty?"
"Elise," Niena interrupted, her tone firm, "that's enough. Let's just all sit down and have a civilized dinner. We can talk about this later. He's my savior."
But Elise wasn't having it. "No, Mom. There's nothing to talk about. This—" she gestured toward Xavier— "was a mistake. A huge one. And I'm not going to pretend like it didn't happen just to keep things civil." Her normal brown eyes, glinting with a tinge of golden as a sharp pain hit her head.
She turned sharply on her heel as she gripped her head, heading toward the stairs, but Xavier's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Elise, wait."
She paused, half-turning, her eyes narrowing. "What?"
"Just… just hear me out," he pleaded. "I know I don't deserve it, but please. One more chance to make things right. I'm sorry I acted like a jacka**."
Elise stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest, her anger a hot, burning flame inside her. She wanted to scream at him, to make him feel the pain he'd caused her.
But, she was a useless werewolf.
"Enough," Dietrich's voice cut through the tension like a blade as he descended the stairs.
His glasses glinted under the dim hallway light, lending him a sharp, almost dangerous allure that was hard to ignore. He was still wearing his usual fitted black shirt, the top button undone just enough to hint at the muscle underneath, and dark jeans that hung low on his hips.
"Elise," he said, his tone low and commanding, "act civil. He helped our mother. You can go back to hating him afterward." Elise's breath hitched as she looked at him.
Xavier shifted nervously, clearly unsettled by Dietrich's presence. The tension in the room had thickened, the air almost crackling with it.
"And, Mr. Xavier," Dietrich continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm as he adjusted his glasses, "please don't bring up the past here. You're here as my mother's savior, not Elise's ex-boyfriend. Because if you were here as her ex, you'd be dead by now."
There was something chilling in his words, the way they rolled off his tongue with a casual, almost bored menace, as if he were stating a simple fact rather than a threat.
"Di…" Elise started, her voice softening slightly, but he cut her off.
"Let's have a peaceful dinner, Elise," Dietrich insisted, his gaze steady and unyielding behind those glasses.
Elise bit her lip, her eyes darting between Dietrich and Xavier. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but she knew that if she pushed any further, things could get even more complicated. She clenched her fists, fighting back the urge to storm upstairs and leave this awkward mess behind.
"Fine," she muttered, her voice dripping with resentment. "Let's have a 'peaceful' dinner."
Dietrich's eyes softened as he nodded, a silent thank-you passing between them. He knew she was holding back, and for that, he was grateful.
Xavier, on the other hand, looked like he had just narrowly escaped a death sentence.
The dining room was tense, a thick cloud of unresolved emotions hanging in the air. Elise sat beside Dietrich, across from Xavier and her mother. Niena, blissfully unaware of the turmoil within Elise, chatted away, trying to lighten the mood.
"So, Xavier, what do you do?" Niena asked, her tone friendly but curious.
Xavier cleared his throat, nervously glancing at Elise. "I, uh, recently got a position in marketing at Wolvine Relations as an intern."
"That's wonderful!" Niena beamed. "You must be very proud. Actually, it's a branch of Dietrich's business empire."
Elise's eyes snapped to Dietrich, who sat calmly beside her, his gaze fixed on his plate. His expression remained indifferent, but there was a flicker of something behind his glasses—something dark and knowing. Elise felt her stomach tighten.
Of course, Dietrich knew. He knew everything.
"Yeah," Xavier said cautiously, clearly uncomfortable under Dietrich's calm, unwavering stare. "It's… uh… it's a great opportunity."
Dietrich finally looked up, his eyes meeting Xavier's, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Wolvine Relations is a decent starting point," he said, his voice measured and cool. "You might even learn a thing or two there—if you keep your head down and stay out of trouble, Mr. Xavier. We absolutely don't tolerate out employees harassing anyone."
Xavier swallowed hard, his face paling a bit. "I… I plan to."
"Good," Dietrich responded, his voice like velvet over steel. He leaned back in his chair, adjusting his glasses, his movements slow and deliberate. "I'd hate to see someone squander an opportunity because they couldn't handle the weight of their own mistakes."
Elise could feel the tension radiating off Xavier as he struggled to maintain his composure. She almost felt a twinge of pity for him.
Almost.
Niena, blissfully unaware of the power play unfolding at the table, continued with a bright smile. "Oh, it's so nice to see young people making their way in the world. I remember when Dietrich started out a few years ago—"
"Mom," Elise cut in sharply, feeling suffocated. "Can we just eat?"
Niena blinked, clearly taken aback by Elise's tone, but she nodded. "Of course, dear."
For a few minutes, there was silence, broken only by the clinking of silverware and the occasional scrape of a chair.
Elise's mind was racing, her emotions a tangled mess of anger, betrayal, and a strange, reluctant gratitude toward Dietrich.
"So, Elise," Xavier finally spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable quiet. "How have you been? I mean… really?"
Elise's fork paused midway to her mouth. She didn't look up, her eyes focused on her plate as she spoke. "Good. I'm sorry for what happened on prom night. I was way too drunk."
Xavier exhaled slowly, clearly struggling to find the right words. "I know I can't take back what I did, but I've been thinking… maybe we could talk? Just the two of us. Clear the air?"
Elise's lips tightened, and she felt Dietrich's hand subtly brush against her leg under the table. She didn't need it, but it was there, grounding her, keeping her from breaking down.
"Clear the air?" she echoed, finally lifting her gaze to meet Xavier's. "What exactly do you think that would accomplish? You hurt me, Xavier. You broke my trust and then flaunted it in front of everyone. Do you really think a conversation is going to make it all better?"
Xavier's shoulders slumped, his face contorting with guilt. "No, I don't… but I'm willing to try."
"Trying isn't enough," Dietrich interjected, his voice low but firm. His eyes remained on Xavier, unblinking and intense. "And Elise isn't obligated to give you that chance. She doesn't owe you anything—not a conversation, not closure, nothing, Mr. Xavier. It's best if you stay away from her."
Elise turned to Dietrich, surprised by his bluntness, and found herself silently agreeing. She wasn't obligated to make Xavier feel better about his choices. She didn't need to be the bigger person just because he had regrets.
"Dietrich's right," she said, her voice steady and strong. "I don't owe you anything, Xavier. And honestly? I'm done letting you take up any more space in my life."
A heavy silence settled over the table, the weight of Elise's words hanging in the air. Xavier looked like he wanted to say more, but he wisely kept his mouth shut, his eyes downcast.
Niena, sensing the tension again, forced a smile. "Well, this has certainly been… enlightening," she said, trying to diffuse the situation. "Why don't we all have some dessert? I made an apple pie yesterday."
Dietrich's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Sounds perfect, Mom. I'm sure it's as delicious as always."
Elise took a deep breath, feeling a sense of finality wash over her.
Maybe this dinner wasn't the closure Xavier was looking for, but it was enough for her. She could feel the weight lifting, the clarity settling in.
As Niena got up to fetch the pie, Elise felt Dietrich's hand rest lightly on her knee beneath the table. She glanced up at him, and he gave her a small nod.
"So, you are Elise's brother, Mr. Dietrich?"