SILAS – POV
Oliver was alone behind the gym, leaned against the cold brick wall, sipping from his metal thermos like the world wasn't watching him.
Silas had been watching all day.
He waited until the hallway cleared and the bell rang before moving. Fast. Quiet.
Cornering a threat.
Oliver didn't flinch when he approached. He never did. That made Silas want to shake him.
"You think you're clever?" Silas said, voice low and sharp. "Hiding things for him?"
Oliver didn't respond. He didn't need to. The silence was answered enough.
Silas stepped closer, teeth bared. "Something's wrong with him. He's hiding something—big. And you're the only one he talks to."
Still, nothing.
"What are you, his keeper? His mate?"
At that, Oliver's eyes flicked to him. Calm. Unshaken. "No."
"Then why the hell are you always sniffing around like some protective lapdog?"
"Because someone has to be."
Silas froze.
The words weren't angry. They were tired. Like Oliver had carried too much, too long.
"You don't know him," Oliver added quietly. "Not really. Not anymore."
That cut deep. Deeper than Silas expected. He snarled, pressing a hand against the wall beside Oliver's head.
"Then tell me what he's hiding. If you care about him, tell me before it gets worse."
Oliver met his gaze. Calm. Steady. Dangerous in a different way than Silas was used to.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I did."
"Try me."
A tense beat passed. Oliver's hand dipped into his jacket, and for one wild second, Silas thought he might pull out evidence. Proof. A confession.
But all he did was pull out the thermos again. He took a sip.
"You think his biggest secret is whatever you're sniffing at?" he asked, voice low. "You haven't even scratched the surface."
Silas narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Oliver finally smiled—but it wasn't kind. "Ask yourself this, Silas—if Sam had a mate, do you really think he'd tell you?"
Silas went completely still.
Mate.
The word hit like a punch to the ribs.
He hadn't even considered that possibility.
And Oliver knew it.
Without another word, Oliver brushed past him and disappeared around the corner, leaving Silas in the shadow of something too dark to name.