Max
Darius comes in the room and sits next to Caleb.
"I'm going to get Seth," I say.
"Don't force him," Caleb says.
I search the burrows before finally finding him in a house made with earth magic.
"Get your ass to Caleb's bedside now," I say.
"No," he chokes out.
"Seth-"
"You don't get it Max."
"Then tell me," I say.
"We- We've been hooking up. And the night when Venus was- we had sex, twice. Our moms walked in the second time. I ruined everything," he says.
"I'm sure that's not-"
"I left him there, alone. And then he got hurt and I almost lost him without- telling him-" he chokes back a sob.
"I love him, Max. And I'm fucking screwed. Because I walked away."
"I'm sure he doesn't blame you. And he needs you, he wants you," I say.
"I can't Max."
He sits down, tears running down his face.
"I can't. Because I love him. And he's hurt and he needs people around him that can be strong for him and I can't be that for him, not right now," he rambles off.
"Seth, listen to me. He doesn't need you to be strong for him. He just needs you."
-With Caleb-
"Give me my Altas," I say.
Darius hands it over. I message Seth.
Cal: Seth please come.
Seth: Cal please. I can't, I'm sorry.
Cal: why?
Seth: Because I... I just can't, seeing you hurt like that, it fucking broke me and I cant be what you need right now, I can't.
C: Seth, please, I need you. i can't, I need to see you. I need you here, please. I need you to hug me and tell me it's going to be okay. I fucking need you.
Cal: Seth, it's Darius. he, he needs you. he's sobbing. I don't know what to do, he needs you. I've never seen him like this.
Max
Seth whines.
"It should've been me. It would've been better. Everyone would be better off," he says.
"Seth, don't say that."
"I'm the idiot who fell in love with his best friend. And I can't fucking pull myself together for him. He needs you and Darius, and Darcy and Tory, and Lance. Not me, the fucking mess of a person."
He shifts into his wolf form and sprints away. I head back to Caleb. He looks at me hopefully. I shake my head and his face falls.
"I tried. I'm sorry," I say.
"What happened?" Darius asks.
"He's blaming himself. He's falling apart and pulling away. I don't know what to fucking do," I say.
Darcy comes in. She looks at all of us.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
"Seth. It's bad. He's pulling away from us."
"Let me try," she says.
She types a message on her Altas. Minutes later, she shifts into her phoenix form.
Seth
My Atlas dings. I pull it out.
Darcy: where are you?
Seth: the lake
Ten minutes later, she lands next to me.
"Talk to me," she says.
"I screwed up. I had sex with Caleb and ran when our moms walked in," I say.
"So?"
"So I ruined everything," I say.
"Bullshit. Get off your ass, quit being stubborn, stop feeling fucking sorry for yourself and go to the man you love. Fix it," she says.
I've never heard her swear like this.
"Darcy, I can't."
"Don't you dare say you can't. Because you can and you will. Quit being a whiney bitch and a stubborn ass, and go to him."
"Harsh," I say.
"You know I'm right," she says.
"Fine, I'll go."
"Good because you both know you want to," she says.
"I hate when you're right," I say.
"No you don't. Not quit stalling and get your ass inside," she says.
I sigh and head inside. I make it to the infirmary and hover in the doorway. Darcy follows me.
"Oh for fuck's sake," she groans and pushes me inside.
"Seth-"
Cal reaches for me.
"Stubborn ass," Darcy mumbles. "Go idiot."
She nudges me towards him. I sit at his bedside and take his hand. He rests his head on my shoulder.
"I'm here," I say stupidly.
"I love you," he says.
"You- what?"
"I love you Seth."
"I love you too Cal."
I kiss his temple.
"Told you," Darcy says.
"Shut up," I mumble.
"You love me and you know it," she says.
"Darcy- thank you," I say.
"Of course dummy. Now kiss him already," she says, leaving the room.
I press a gentle kiss to his lips.
"I'm so glad you're okay," I say.
He rests his forehead against mine and kisses me.
He scoots over and pats the bed next to him. I lay down on the bed next to me and he snuggles into my chest, his eyes closing.
