Page 30 of Missing

Melody stepped inside, her blue eyes wide with worry. She closed the door behind her, and then immediately crouched down next to me. "Hey," she murmured, wrapping her arms around my shaking form. "It's okay."

"I don't...I don't understand," I stammered through my tears. "Why do I care so much? I barely know them!"

"Those girls are just jealous bitches," Melody said firmly, trying to reassure me. "They only did that because they could see how much attention the boys have been giving you. You don't deserve this, Harper."

I stared at her through my tear-blurred vision, wanting so badly to believe her words. But why would anyone be jealous of me? I was nothing special.

"All I've ever wanted was someone to love me," I confessed, my voice barely more than a whisper. "But all I've ever gotten is a drunk mother who told me daily that she hates me."

Melody's eyes filled with tears as she reached out and gently linked our pinkies together. "Love comes in lots of forms, Harper. Friendship is also love in another form, and you're my friend."

A sudden knock on the door startled me, and I instinctively whispered, "Don't answer that. It's the boys."

Melody looked at me, eyebrows raised in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"Um, I'm not actually sure," I confessed, my heart pounding in my chest. "I just know, like I can feel them standing there." The words sounded insane even to my own ears, but it was true. Somehow, I knew they were out there, waiting for me.

"Fuck off!" Melody yelled through the door, her voice fierce and protective. I admired her courage, but a part of me wished she hadn't said anything. Now they knew we were here, and I wasn't ready to face them yet.

"We need to talk," Griffin's voice came through the door, low and tense. My stomach tightened into knots, and I could feel my pulse quickening in response to his words.

"Shit, what do I do?" I asked Melody, my voice trembling with uncertainty. She hesitated, biting her lip as if weighing her options.

"Stalling won't make it any easier," she finally said, her voice gentle but firm.

"Should I let them in?" I asked Melody, my voice wavering. The thought of facing them made me feel nauseous, but I knew that ignoring the situation wouldn't make it go away.

Melody sighed, her expression sympathetic. "It's probably best if you do. It'll get this drama over with a lot quicker."

"Okay," I whispered, my chest constricting as I reluctantly agreed. Melody gave me an encouraging nod, then stood up and stepped forward to open the door for the boys.

Orlando walked in first, his green eyes filled with concern as they fell on my tear-streaked face. I shrank back from his gaze, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Griffin followed, appearing standoffish but also worried about me. And then there was Dante, tugging on a black T-shirt and wincing like a kicked puppy.

"Um, why did Dante change clothes?" Melody asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Griffin snorted, a bitter edge to his laugh. "This one wolfed out when Harper got upset. She rejected him as a mate, and he's not handling it well."

"Wait, what?!" Melody exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. "Rejected him as a mate? What the hell does that even mean?"

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, realising that this conversation was going to be anything but simple. I looked at the boys, hoping for some sort of explanation, but all I saw were their tense expressions and the weight of their unspoken emotions.

Chapter 27

Griffin Talesmen

It was like staring at a fragile butterfly, her wings broken from trying to escape the storm. The sight of Harper's tear-streaked face hit me in the gut, and I couldn't fathom why I felt so damn bad. A part of me wanted to reach out, wipe away those tears, and promise her everything would be alright. But could I even keep that promise?

"Little one," I said as I crouched down to her level, the carpet beneath my knees feeling fluffy and soft. "You're clearly Dante's mate, but I also think you're mine."

Her shocked green eyes, round as fucking saucers, stared back at me. "I don't understand," she choked out. "I don't understand this whole thing."

"I know," I sighed, lowering myself to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of her. "I know, little one. That's why we need to talk."

Harper's face was still a mess of tears and confusion, but she nodded hesitantly. It felt strange, sitting there with her, trying to make sense of this tangled web.

My gaze flicked to Orlando, who stood off to the side like some unreadable statue. He was the nerd of our group – always had the right words when the rest of us were tongue-tied. And damn, did I need his help now more than ever.

I could see the confusion etched across Harper's face, and my heart clenched in response. I glanced at Orlando, hoping he could provide some clarity for her.

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