The world felt quieter after that kiss. Camila and Scott had agreed to take things slow, but as she drove back to the Stilinski house that night, her emotions churned like a storm. Every moment with Scott brought her closer to clarity, but with it came a tidal wave of guilt and uncertainty.

By the time she pulled into the driveway, her hands were trembling. The porch light glowed warmly, and she could see Stiles through the window, pacing in the living room. He always seemed to know when she needed him.

Camila stepped inside, the familiar creak of the door grounding her. Stiles looked up immediately, his face breaking into a grin that quickly faltered when he saw the look on her face.

"Hey," he said softly, stepping toward her. "What's wrong?"

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, exhaling shakily. "I… I don't know where to start."

"Start anywhere," he said, his tone gentle but laced with concern. "I'm here."

Camila hesitated, her chest tightening. "I talked to Scott tonight."

Stiles froze, his brow furrowing. "And?"

Her voice trembled. "And we kissed."

For a moment, the room was silent. Stiles' expression didn't change immediately, but she could see the hurt flash in his eyes, brief but undeniable.

"Oh," he said finally, his voice quiet. "Okay."

"Stiles—" she began, stepping toward him.

"No, it's okay," he said quickly, raising a hand to stop her. "I mean, it's not, like, unexpected or anything. You and Scott… I could see it coming."

"That doesn't make it any easier," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know," he said, his voice steady despite the pain in his eyes. "But you can't help how you feel, right?"

Her chest tightened, and she reached for his hand, desperate to make him understand. "You mean so much to me, Stiles. You always will. But Scott and I… it's different. It's complicated."

Stiles nodded, his jaw tightening as he looked away. "Yeah. I get it. He's the hero, and I'm just the guy in the chair."

"Don't say that," she said sharply, her voice breaking. "You're so much more than that, Stiles. You're my anchor. My best friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Yeah," he said softly, his shoulders sagging. "But I'm not the one you love."

Camila couldn't hold back the tears any longer. "I'm so sorry, Stiles."

He gave her a small, sad smile, his hand brushing against hers briefly. "Don't be. You can't help your heart. And, Cami… for what it's worth, I just want you to be happy. Even if it's not with me."

Her heart shattered at his words, and she threw her arms around him, holding him tightly. He hesitated for a moment before hugging her back, his chin resting on her shoulder.

"I don't want to lose you," she whispered.

"You won't," he said, his voice trembling. "I promise."

The next morning, Camila woke up to the smell of coffee. She found Stiles in the kitchen, already dressed, his hair sticking up in every direction as he poured two mugs of coffee.

"Morning," he said, his tone light but careful.

"Morning," she replied, her voice soft.

He handed her a mug, his grin returning. "It's not the end of the world, you know. Just… the end of my ego."

She laughed despite herself, the sound breaking through the lingering tension. "I don't deserve you, Stiles."

"Damn right, you don't," he said, though his smile was teasing. "But you're stuck with me anyway."

Camila's chest felt lighter as she sipped her coffee, grateful for his resilience. She didn't deserve his forgiveness, but she would hold onto it as tightly as she could.

That evening, Camila met Scott at the animal clinic. The air between them was still heavy with unspoken emotions, but Scott's smile was warm and steady.

"How are you holding up?" he asked as she walked in.

"I talked to Stiles," she said, leaning against the counter. "He took it… well, better than I expected."

Scott nodded, his expression softening. "He's a good guy."

"He is," she agreed, her chest tightening. "I don't know how he does it."

"Because he cares about you," Scott said simply. "Just like I do."

Her breath hitched, and she looked at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "This feels… impossible sometimes."

"I know," Scott said, stepping closer. "But we'll figure it out. Together."

He reached out, taking her hand in his, and for the first time in weeks, Camila felt a sense of peace. The road ahead would be difficult, but with Scott by her side—and Stiles still in her life—she knew she could face it.

Whatever came next, she wasn't alone.