Gemini of the Shifter Realm

Chapter 17 Classical or Operant Conditioning?

Zoe Lawson P.O.V

Am I overthinking? God, I hope I am not. But every time I try to convince myself, something deep inside me says I'm not. Should I pretend everything's okay? Am I giving too much, or is this what love is supposed to look like?

These past few months with Theodore have been so confusing. Is this how relationships are supposed to be?

He keeps me out of his stories, says he's protecting me from things that might upset me, that his posts are for his friends, not me.

Is it normal for your partner to put their friends above you? To get irritated over the smallest things, to give you the silent treatment for days just because you tried to talk about your feelings?

Is it okay that he never makes an effort to take me out or plan something special? He always says he doesn't have the money, but then he's the first to jump at any chance to party, drink, and travel with his friends.

He told me he loves me once, in the dead of night, like it was some secret that could only be whispered in the dark. But in the light of day, those words are nowhere to be found. We don't even have a single photo together; he always has an excuse—it doesn't feel right, he's not in the mood. Yet his social media is filled with pictures of him with his friends, his ex still lingering there too.

He expects me to be there whenever he needs something—to clean up his messes, to massage his back when he comes home from sports. And I haven't even met his friends. Is he ashamed of me?

I send him reels all the time, trying to share little pieces of myself, of my day, but he never watches them. But if his friends send him something, he's all over it. Is it normal for someone to dream about a celebrity being his girlfriend and then say he's satisfied with that? Isn't that a kind of betrayal? He told me not to dwell on it, but then he goes on about seeing the most beautiful person he's ever seen on the court. It's like a punch to the gut every time.

He's never bought me flowers, never written me a letter, not even a simple text to say he appreciates me. It's like he looks down on me, treats me like I'm less than him. He never responds to my stories or likes my posts. I feel invisible.

Am I wrong to stay out of loyalty and love?

I think about the few times he's brought me warm food, those quiet moments when he whispers that he cares. He's cooked a meal or two, tidied up the room before I arrive. I do appreciate those moments, but isn't that just the bare minimum? Or am I asking for too much?

I don't even know if he loves me or if he just loves what I do for him. Is this what love is supposed to feel like—this constant doubt, this endless ache? Will he ever truly show me that he cares? I'm here now, when he has nothing. Would he still want me if he had everything, or would he leave the moment he doesn't need me anymore?

What is he conditioning me for?

Is our bond real, or am I just fooling myself? Is it strong enough to survive this, or am I just too afraid to let go?

Devon Pendragon P.O.V

"They know where the others are."

My mother's voice cut through the silence, a tremor beneath her usually calm exterior. Her words hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy with unspoken fears. I watched as my father, Arthur, descended the staircase, his steps faltering at the bottom as he processed what she had said.

I had just finished my college assignment, the cursor blinking one last time before I hit submit. The laptop screen went dark as I shut it, but the unease in the room was still very much alive.