For Me,There Is Only You |18+|

51. The Invisible Wall

His question caught me off guard, leaving a quiet vulnerability in its wake.

I glanced down at the amulet in my hands, letting its intricate beauty anchor my wandering thoughts. The flicker of silvery-blue light seemed to dance with my own emotions.

Gently, I closed the lid of the box before meeting his gaze again.

"I used to," I admitted, my voice surprisingly steady. "But with everyone making an effort to include me, I'm learning to blend in... slowly."

Ansel's expression tightened, a flicker of regret crossing his face as he stepped closer. "I'm sorry you ever felt that way," he said earnestly. "As your mate, I should've made sure you never felt like an outsider."

I shook my head slowly, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to apologize. There wasn't anything you could've done differently in this matter."

"I could have," he pressed, taking another step toward me, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Even though I told everyone to treat you well, I should've insisted they make you feel truly included."

A soft laugh escaped me, and I shook my head again, glancing up at him. "You see, Ansel," I began, but my voice faltered when I noticed the way his gaze darkened at the sound of his name on my lips, his eyes heating with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

Clearing my throat, I quickly refocused.

"You could've pushed them, sure. You could've ordered them to make me feel comfortable or included, but that would've been a surface-level connection. I'd just be your mate to them—someone they accepted because they had to, not because they wanted to. That kind of connection would've been hollow, forced. It wouldn't mean anything."

I hesitated, searching for the right words as I saw the weight of my truth settle over him.

"At first, I think that's how they all saw me—just your mate. Nothing more. But over time, as we've spent more time together, they've started to see me differently. They're beginning to see me as Neev, not just someone tied to you. And that... that makes me happy."

Ansel's gaze softened, but the intensity in his expression didn't fade entirely.

"I'm glad you didn't interfere," I continued, my voice growing firmer with the conviction of my feelings. "The connections I have with them now feel real. They're mine—built from shared experiences, not something imposed by you. I can laugh with them, empathize with their pain, and celebrate their joys, especially with Kyler, Phoebe, Noel, and Ezra."

I paused, feeling a twinge of uncertainty. "Nathan is still someone I barely know. Karson... well, I don't understand him." I paused, choosing my last words carefully. "And Genesis....... I'm not sure where we stand yet."

For a moment, silence stretched between us, the air humming with unspoken understanding.

Then, Ansel closed the small gap between us, his hand reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear. The tenderness of his touch sent a faint tingling through me.

"You know, amina..." he began, his voice soft yet deliberate. "I always wanted you to meet them—to feel the same bond and connection with them that I have." His fingers grazed my cheek, his touch feather-light. "Maybe because they were the closest thing to a family I ever knew."

His words hung in the air, laced with vulnerability, before he continued, his tone quieter, more reverent. "So, I'm proud of you, amina. Proud of how you've carved out your place here. How you've made them see you for who you truly are. For proving that you're more than just my mate. That you're Neev."