The aftermath
Melissa's POV
As the doors slammed behind Susie, I stood there, trying to steady my breathing. The tension in the room was still thick, and I could feel the eyes of the pack members burning into my back, but I barely noticed.
My mind was full of chaotic thoughts, most of them centered on the realization that time hadn't made my sister any more mature or loving towards me.
She didn't regret what she did to me all those years ago. She didn't regret throwing me out of my home or ruining my life, even though she knew that I was back to save her son.
She didn't care. She still hated me, and I don't know why.
It was painfully clear to me now—Susie had always hated me, and she always would. No matter how much I tried to stay out of her way or build a life for myself away from this pack, or save her sons life, her butter resentment was a constant fact I would never escape.
And for what? For being the one who was quieter, nicer, who stayed out of trouble? Or was it for being the one who caught Knox's eye?
Because it was pretty clear to me that she knew about our past affair, she just chose to pretend not to.
So was that why she had me banished from my home? Because she was scared I would take a man I didn't even want?
I glanced at Knox. He was sitting a few feet away, looking as tense as a bowstring, with his jaw clenched tightly. But what caught my attention the most was the look of regret in his eyes. It was a look I hadn't seen in him before, at least not when it came to me.
I felt a pang of sympathy for him. I wasn't heartless. I could see he was telling the truth about his miserable marriage with Susie. Whatever Susie and I had between us, it was clear that Knox wasn't any happier being caught in the middle of it. He looked…trapped.
Most of the people awkwardly left the hall when he finally spoke to me, saying how sorry he was.
I accepted his apology, then after a moment, decided to give mine back.
"I'm sorry too," I said quietly, the words surprising even me.
Knox's eyes flicked to mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something soften in his gaze. But just as quickly, his expression turned cold and his eyes hardened as he looked away.
"What are you sorry for?" He gritted out.
I sighed. "I'm sorry your marriage turned out this way." I said sincerely.
"There's no need for your pity, Melissa," he replied, his voice had suddenly become flat and distant.
The iciness in his tone took me by surprise. Here I was, trying to show him a shred of empathy, and he responded with nothing but coldness. It made my blood boil, and it stirred up old memories of how he used to shut me out, and shove me away whenever things didn't go his way.
"You know," I began, my voice lined with irritation, "you were always this selfish. Even back then, you could never see past your own damn problems, like every one didn't have a fucking problem of their own."
Knox's head snapped towards me, but I wasn't finished. "I'm trying to be understanding here, Knox, but you make it really hard when you act like an ass. You know what? Forget it."
I turned on my heel, ready to storm away from him and the entire situation. I was done with the past, done with his moods and his inability to see anyone's pain but his own. I took a step, then another, but before I could get far, I felt his hand wrap around my wrist, pulling me back gently.
"Melissa, wait, wait," Knox said, his voice much softer now. "I'm sorry."
I stopped, turning to look at him with an arched brow. His eyes were still tense, but the coldness was gone, replaced by something that looked like genuine regret. I could tell he was struggling to find the right words.
"I didn't mean to be cold," he continued, letting go of my wrist. "It's just… I thought you'd be angry at me so I was on a defensive mode. I was the one who pushed you to come tonight, and then Susie humiliated you in front of everyone. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about that, but it was definitely my fault.
I sighed and crossed my arms. "Knox, I don't blame you for Susie's behavior. She's hated me for as long as I can remember. You can't protect me from her forever. It's just…who she is."
Knox looked down and nodded slowly. "I know, but it doesn't make it any easier. I should have—" He stopped, his jaw working as he struggled with whatever he was about to say. "I should have apologized a long time ago. Not just for tonight, but for what happened years ago. For banishing you."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Of all the things I expected to hear from him tonight, an apology for what happened back then wasn't one of them. It was the one thing I had wanted, had needed to hear for so long, and now that he was saying it, I didn't know how to react.
"Knox…" I whispered, searching his eyes for any sign that he was just saying what he thought I wanted to hear. But all I saw was sincerity, a deep regret that looked just like the ache I'd carried with me for years.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice breaking slightly. "I should never have let Susie convince me to send you away. It was wrong, and I have regretted it every day."
I didn't know what to say. I'd spent so long being angry at him, holding onto that bitterness because it was easier than admitting how much it hurt. And now, with just a few words, he was offering me the closure I thought I'd never get.
"I…I don't know if I can forgive you yet," I finally said, my voice trembling. "But this…this is a start."
He nodded, relief washing over his face. "A truce, then?"
I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. A truce."
For a moment, we just stood there, but there was an unspoken understanding passing between us. There was still so much unresolved between us, so much that couldn't be fixed with a simple apology.
But it was a definitely a beginning, a first step towards something that might one day begin to look like peace.
"Is there anything else you want as part of your truce?" Knox asked, almost cautiously, as if he wasn't sure what else to say.
I thought for a moment. There were so many things I wanted, but most of them were impossible. I couldn't change the past, couldn't undo the years of hurt and separation. But there was one thing I needed right now, something practical.
"I want you to come with me to the hospital tomorrow," I said, watching his reaction closely.
Knox looked surprised. "You want me to come with you?"
"Yes," I replied, my tone firm. "There are a lot of questions I have about your son's condition and a few other things, but only you can answer them. I need to know everything if I'm going to be if any help."
Knox seemed to mull it over for a moment, then nodded, with a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Sure, Of course. I'll be there."
At that very moment, something seemed to shift between us, and I suddenly noticed just how handsome he looked when he smiled, the way it softened the hard edges of his face.
This was still the same smile that had padlocked me to him all those years ago. But that was part of the past I never planned to revisit again.
I quickly pushed the thought aside and hastily reminded myself that I couldn't let old feelings cloud my judgment. Not now, not ever again.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," I said, my voice more curt than I intended.
But I turned and walked away before the warmth in his smile could break through the walls I'd built around myself.
As I left the hall, I felt a strange blend of relief and a little bit of worry. Tonight had been a mess for sure, but maybe…just maybe, it was the start of something new and hopefully better.
We had a truce, a new understanding. But I wasn't ready to let my guard down completely. Not yet.
Because if there was one thing I'd learned, it was that when it came to Knox, nothing was ever simple.