Shattered & Yours

The week started like any other, but something felt off.

Mason and I had barely spent a moment apart since we got together. He was everywhere—in my bed, in my thoughts, under my skin. We spent every free moment tangled in each other, bodies and minds completely consumed. I had never felt so wanted, so his.

And Mason loved it. Loved that no one else had ever touched me. Loved the way my body responded to him, how he could ruin me with just a look, a whisper, a single touch. He left his marks on my skin—soft ones, rough ones, deep ones. He owned me, and I gave myself over to him completely.

For the first time in forever, I belonged somewhere.

Until he started pulling away.

⸻

At first, I thought I was imagining it.

Mason wasn't the kind of guy who talked about his feelings, so I didn't push him. But I noticed the shift—the way his hands didn't linger as long, the way his texts became shorter, how his smirk seemed forced, like he was holding something back.

And then one night, he didn't come to me.

That's when I knew something was wrong.

⸻

I found him sitting in his car after school, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His body was rigid, tension rolling off him in waves.

"Mason," I said softly, stepping up to the driver's side. "Talk to me."

He didn't look at me. "There's nothing to talk about."

I frowned. "Don't do that. Don't shut me out."

His jaw clenched, his fingers flexing. "Just drop it, Violet."

My chest tightened. "No. I'm not dropping it. You've been different. Distant. Cold."

His nostrils flared, his head tilting back against the seat. Still, he wouldn't look at me.

I swallowed hard. "I gave you everything, Mason. My heart. My body. And now, you're acting like none of it meant anything."

Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.

Then, finally, he turned to me. And when his eyes met mine, something inside me broke.

Because for the first time since I'd met Mason Montgomery, I saw defeat in his gaze.

His voice was low, hoarse. "Maybe it was a mistake."

I flinched like he had slapped me. My heart stopped.

"Mistake?" I whispered, my throat tightening. "Mason, don't do this."

His eyes shut for a moment, like he was in pain. When he opened them, the fire that had always burned there had dimmed. "You deserve better."

My breath hitched. "No, you deserve better. But I still chose you."

His face twisted, his hands flexing against the wheel again. "You shouldn't have."

Tears pricked my eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I break everything I touch, Violet," he snapped, his voice raw. "And I can't fucking break you."

I shook my head, my vision blurring. "It's too late for that, Mason."

Something flickered in his eyes, something deep, but he swallowed it down, locking it away. His voice was flat when he said, "Go inside."

My chest ached. I wanted to scream, fight, beg. But I had enough dignity to know when I wasn't wanted.

So I turned away, my heart shattering with every step.

⸻

I barely made it inside before I collapsed against Theo's chest.

He stiffened in surprise, then wrapped his arms around me. "What happened?"

I choked on a sob, gripping the front of his hoodie. "Mason. He—he said it was a mistake."

Theo's entire body locked up.

Then, very quietly, he said, "I'm going to fucking kill him."

I shook my head, sniffling. "Don't. Just—don't."

Theo's grip tightened. "Vi, listen to me. This isn't about you. It's him. He's a mess, but you don't deserve this."

I looked up, my vision blurry. "I love him, Theo."

Theo sighed, brushing a tear from my cheek. "I know. And that's why I'm going to kick his ass."

⸻

That night, I found out the truth.

Mason's mom had a new family.

Not just a boyfriend—an entire fucking family. A husband. A son. A perfect, put-together life that she had chosen over him and Theo.

She had erased them. Replaced them.

And Mason had broken all over again.

I wanted to go to him, but he didn't want me. He had made that painfully clear.

So I did the only thing I could think of.

I drank.

And I went to a party.

⸻

I had barely stepped onto the upstairs balcony for air when I heard the door creak behind me.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I turned—

And froze.

Alex.

I swallowed hard. "What do you want?"

His lips curled into something twisted. "You should've picked me, Violet."

My stomach churned. "Go away."

But he didn't.

He grabbed my wrist, hard, yanking me back inside.

I gasped, stumbling as he shoved me onto the bed, his weight pinning me down.

Panic seized my chest. I thrashed, screamed—

And then suddenly, Alex was gone.

Because Mason was there.

Ripping him off me.

Destroying him.

Fists slammed into flesh, bones cracking, rage pouring out of Mason like he wanted to tear Alex apart.

Theo and Sienna burst in, Theo yanking Mason back. "That's enough, Mason!"

Mason shook with fury, his bloodied fists clenched at his sides, his gaze locking onto me.

And then, just like that, his expression broke.

He was in front of me in an instant, hands shaking as they cupped my face. "I'm so fucking sorry."

Tears spilled down my cheeks. "Mason—"

"I love you," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should've never pushed you away."

My body trembled as he scooped me into his arms, carrying me out of the house, whispering promises against my hair.

The car ride was silent. But the moment we got home, the moment he pulled me into his chest, I broke.

I sobbed violently, gripping his shirt, shaking. "Don't push me away again."

Mason squeezed me tighter, his own voice shaking. "Never."

He kissed my forehead, holding me like he never planned to let go.