Maria.

"Maria."

Daniel called my name slowly, his voice cutting gently through the heavy silence Galen had left behind. It wasn’t loud, nor demanding, it was more like being cautious .

I turned toward him.

He was already looking at me, his eyes moving rapidly, searching mine, his eyes held mine with an intensity I couldn’t quite decipher, but it didn’t reflect suspicion nor pity, but It was something deeper, something that made me feel exposed in a way that wasn’t uncomfortable, yet wasn’t entirely steady either. As though he were trying to read something hidden behind my gaze. As though he believed there was something inside me that even I hadn’t fully understood yet.

"If you ever need me," he said quietly, his voice soft but firm, "I am here for you."

The words settled around me like a protective shield.

His hands came up gently, resting on my shoulders. His touch wasn’t forceful. It was grounding. His thumbs brushed lightly against my arms as if reassuring himself that I was truly standing there in front of him. Then, with surprising tenderness, he patted my hair with his other hand.

The simple gesture, so innocent, so warm, made my chest tighten. For a moment, I couldn’t speak, I felt... small, but the weak kind of small, not the powerless one.

Just overwhelmed.

Dumbfounded.

I hadn’t expected that kind of softness today. Not after everything. Not after the accusations. Not after Darren’s unsettling promise. Not after the image of Adrien and Vanessa that still lingered painfully in the corners of my mind.

Daniel’s warmth felt different.

Steady.

Safe.

I found myself staring at him, my thoughts drifting away as I got lost in the comfort he radiated. The tension in my body slowly began to ease under his touch, my shoulders relaxing without my permission.

I wanted to forget everything.

Just for a moment.

I wanted to ignore the competition. Ignore Darren’s threat. Ignore Adrien’s betrayal. Ignore the constant weight of being surrounded by the Quadruplets and their overwhelming presence.

I wanted to step forward and wrap my arms around Daniel.To hold onto something that felt uncomplicated.To bury myself in warmth that didn’t demand anything in return.

But before I could even gather the courage to act on that impulse...He moved first. Daniel pulled me into his chest without hesitation.

His arms wrapped around me firmly, securely, as though he had made up his mind about something. My breath hitched slightly at the sudden closeness, but I didn’t resist.

The warmth from his body seeped into mine instantly.

Solid.

Real.

Comforting.

I could hear his heartbeat faintly beneath his chest, steady and strong. The contact made everything else fade for a split second.

"All you have to do is say the word, Maria," he murmured against my hair. "I am willing to do anything for you."

Anything.

The word echoed in my mind.

"I can take you away from the Quadruplets and their overwhelming authoritative vibe."

My body stiffened, just slightly, but enough. I practically froze in his arms.

Take me away.

The offer lingered heavily between us.

Daniel was kind.

He was protective.

He had stood up for me.

He was everything the Quadruplets were not, calm where they were intense, steady where they were dominating.

And yet...I barely knew him.

That realization struck me with sudden clarity.

Yes, I liked his warmth.

Yes, I felt safe in his presence.

Yes, there was a part of me that wanted to know him more.

To understand the softness behind his strength.

To see what his smile looked like when it wasn’t cautious.

But leaving with him?

Allowing him to take me away?

It felt too sudden, too fast, too much for me to handle.

My thoughts drifted elsewhere.

To Noah.

The mere thought of him made my chest tighten in a different way, restless, urgent. If anyone I wanted to go to right now, it was him.

Not because he promised escape.

But because I needed to see him.

To make sure he was safe.

To quiet the fear Darren’s words had stirred inside me.

Whether Anabel was there or not suddenly didn’t matter.

The unease inside me refused to settle.

I needed to see Noah.

I needed to know.

With that clarity settling into my mind, I slowly lifted my hands and pressed them gently against Daniel’s chest.

And then I pulled away.

The warmth of his embrace faded instantly, replaced by the cool air between us. I saw it the moment I stepped back. The change in his expression, It was subtle,but unmistakable.

The softness in his eyes flickered, replaced by confusion.

Concern.

A hint of hurt he tried to mask quickly.

"What’s wrong, Maria?" he asked, his voice careful again. Searching. "Did I say anything wrong?"

His hands hovered slightly in the air, as if unsure whether to reach for me again or let them fall.

Guilt pricked at me.

He hadn’t meant any harm.

He hadn’t pressured me.

He had only offered help.

But sometimes even kindness could feel overwhelming when your heart was already torn in too many directions.

I shook my head lightly, though my thoughts were anything but steady.

"It’s not that..." I wanted to say.

But the words tangled before they could form, because how could I explain that my heart was still racing for someone else?

That my mind was filled with fear for Noah?

That my emotions were too complicated to accept comfort so easily?

Oh goodness.

The realization hit me almost immediately.

He hadn’t said anything wrong.

Not a single thing.

Daniel’s words had been kind, protective and sincere.

I was the one unsettled.

I was the one torn between too many emotions, too many fears, too many unresolved feelings. My restlessness had nothing to do with him, and everything to do with the storm inside my own heart.

"Nothing, Daniel," I said quickly, forcing my voice to steady itself. "Thank you once again for everything."

Gratitude was the only thing I could offer him without hesitation. He had stood up for me. He had checked on me. He had offered me safety without conditions. That wasn’t something I could ignore.

"You’re welcome," he replied softly. Then his lips curved into a wider smile, one that carried a playful warmth. "But can you stop thanking me? It makes me feel awkward."

The way he said it,light, almost shy despite his Alpha presence, made something inside me relax.

I couldn’t help it.

I smiled too.

A genuine one this time.

"Alright! I will."

His eyes brightened slightly at that, as if my agreement pleased him more than it should have. For a brief moment, the tension that had been hovering around us faded completely.

We just stood there.

Looking at each other.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable.

It was soft.

Lingering.

As though neither of us was in a hurry to step away.

But my mind refused to stay in that moment for long.

Noah.

The name echoed again in my thoughts, persistent and urgent. Every time I tried to relax, the image of Darren’s cold determination resurfaced. And with it came the fear that something terrible might happen.

I couldn’t ignore it.

Not anymore.

I was the one who finally broke the silence.

"I need to go inside now," I said gently, though part of me hesitated as the words left my mouth.

"Oh, sure!" Daniel responded quickly, as though catching himself before he let the moment stretch too far. "Just don’t hesitate to come meet me when you need something."

His tone carried that same steady assurance again.

That promise of presence.

"Alright. I will."

I flashed him one last smile, holding his gaze for a heartbeat longer before turning toward the door. My fingers wrapped around the knob, the cool metal grounding me slightly as I twisted it.

All that was in my mind was Noah.

Was he safe?

Was he alone?

Was Anabel still with him?

The thoughts tangled together, refusing to quiet down.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the air of my room greeting me with a stillness that felt almost too sharp.

Without thinking, I shut the door behind me.

The sound echoed louder than I intended.

A firm slam.

The noise snapped through the quiet space like a warning.

And that was when I saw her.

Galen.

She was standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her posture rigid. Her gaze was sharp, cutting through me like a blade.

I stiffened instantly.

The softness from moments ago evaporated.

"You two seem to be getting pretty close, right?" Galen asked.

Her tone wasn’t loud.

But it was pointed.

There was something beneath it, something unreadable yet unmistakably intense.

My fingers tightened slightly at my sides.

Why did she care?

Why did it matter to her whether Daniel and I were talking?

Or smiling?

Or standing a little too close?

I swallowed quietly, trying to keep my expression neutral, though my heart had begun to race again.

What was she so busy with our relationship for?

The question flickered through my mind.

Was it concern?

Judgment?

Jealousy?

Or something else entirely?

Her eyes didn’t waver from mine.

They searched me in a way that felt different from Daniel’s earlier gaze. Daniel had looked at me as though he wanted to protect me. Galen looked at me as though she was trying to measure something.

"Is there something she isn’t telling me?

My chest tightened slightly.

Was there something about Daniel I didn’t know?

Or was this about the Quadruplets?

About territory?

About power?

All I had wanted was to check on Noah.

To quiet the restlessness inside me.

Instead, I found myself facing another tension, another silent battle I hadn’t prepared for.

And as Galen’s stare lingered, one thought remained steady in my mind...there was more going on here than I could see.