The second I walked into that cabin, I thought the professors were pulling some sick joke.

Two years. Two fucking years without him. Two years of sleepless nights, of waking up clawing at sheets that never smelled like him. Two years of trying to convince myself I didn't love him anymore—when all I ever did was compare every face, every body, every fleeting touch to his.

And there he was.

My omega. My biggest mistake. My everything.

He wouldn't even look at me when the professors handed us the keys. Just stood there, arms folded tight over his chest, as if even standing in the same space as me poisoned him. I couldn't blame him. I deserved worse.

But then the scent hit me. Sweet, thick, intoxicating—his heat. My knees almost buckled right there. My body reacted like an animal, blood rushing straight to my cock, the ache near unbearable. Gods, even after everything, my body knew him. Claimed him. Wanted him.

And then... I saw them.

Bruises. Faint, ugly purples scattered along his wrist where his sleeve had slipped. Another peeking from his collar when he bent down to put his bag away. My heart stopped, then it started hammering so violently I thought I'd vomit.

Another alpha had touched him. Not gently. Not the way he deserved.

I must've made a sound, because his shoulders stiffened. He still wouldn't look at me.

"...Who?" My voice cracked—pathetic, desperate. Not the confident alpha I used to be, just a wreck of a woman shaking in front of the only person I ever loved. "Tell me who did this to you."

Nothing. Silence.

I stepped closer before I could stop myself, guilt tearing through me with every inch. "I don't care if you hate me. I don't care if you never forgive me for... for what I did. Just—" My throat burned. I had to swallow hard before the words tumbled out, raw and broken. "Just don't shut me out when you're like this. Please."

The room was thick with his heat scent now. My hands itched to touch, to soothe, to claim, but I stayed frozen, trembling with restraint.

For the first time in years, I dropped my pride. My knees hit the wooden floor with a thud.

"If it takes me begging on the floor every day of this trip, I'll do it. Just... don't go back to them. Don't let them hurt you again. Let me—" I exhaled shakily, eyes locked on his bruises. "Let me take the pain instead."