The gym was alive with the rhythmic pounding of fists against punching bags and the low hum of voices. Fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows over the steel equipment and rows of sweating bodies. I lingered by the door, watching Kael’s familiar figure move through the room with calculated ease. His presence was magnetic, commanding the space as though he were born to it.
My chest tightened. It wasn’t the first time I’d admired him from a distance, but this was the first time my admiration came with a bitter aftertaste. The memory of his laughter with James, the words he’d spoken about Selene, and the envelope I had dropped at the gathering hall felt like splinters in my mind.
Selene’s voice echoed in my thoughts, cold and cutting: Kael belongs with me. He always has.
I turned away, unwilling to let him see the turmoil in my eyes. My gaze fell on the polished mirror lining the far wall, reflecting rows of weights, treadmills, and determined faces. My own reflection stared back—tired, pale, and utterly lost.
Why did Selene’s words feel like truth? Why had Kael lied? And how did Adam fit into all of this? I hadn’t seen my brother in years, yet Kael had spoken about him like they were close. The questions circled like vultures, picking at my sanity.
“Lost in thought?”
The voice jolted me, and I turned to find Selene standing a few feet away. Her athletic frame was clad in sleek workout gear, her golden eyes practically glowing under the gym lights. She smirked, an expression that set my teeth on edge.
“Enjoying the show?” she asked, tilting her head toward Kael, who was now demonstrating a move to one of the younger men.
I forced my expression to remain neutral. “What do you want, Selene?”
She stepped closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. “I just thought you should know something. Kael may be good at playing the doting partner, but he’s not as loyal as you think.”
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “Is that supposed to scare me?”
Her smirk widened. “No, Talia. It’s supposed to prepare you. You’re out of your depth here. Kael and I… we have a history you’ll never understand.”
Her words stung, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. “Funny,” I said evenly. “You talk a lot about the past for someone who clearly doesn’t belong in his present.”
For a moment, her golden eyes narrowed, and I thought I’d struck a nerve. But then she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You should leave before you get hurt. Trust me, you don’t want to know what happens when people like you overstay their welcome.”
I stepped back, my heart pounding, but I kept my expression steady. “People like me?”
She straightened, her smirk returning. “Weak. Human.”
Her words lingered in the air like smoke as she turned and walked away. I stayed rooted to the spot, replaying the exchange in my mind. Selene’s smugness, her cryptic warnings—they only fueled my determination to get to the truth.
Later That Night
The faint sound of footsteps echoed outside my door, and my heart jumped. For a moment, I thought it might be Kael, but the steps passed by, fading into silence.
I decided to go for a walk in the park close to our place , but I ended up at Moonlit Falls River.
The cold night air brushed against my skin as I leaned over the edge of Moonlit Falls’ riverbank. My reflection wavered on the water's surface, the broken image mirroring the cracks spreading through my soul. Seven years of loyalty to Kael, gone in the blink of an eye.
I gripped the silver pendant around my neck, the one he'd given me the night we first met. It had once felt like an anchor, tethering me to something real, something worth fighting for. Now it felt like a noose, tightening with every breath.
The echoes of Selene’s venomous words from the night before replayed in my mind. Her taunts, her smug superiority, and the cruel glint in her golden eyes had been more than just words—they were weapons aimed at my heart.
I’d overheard them. Kael, laughing with his friends about how he’d “settled” for me. The sting of betrayal was worse than any wound I’d ever endured.
I staggered back toward the house, my legs heavy as though the weight of the truth had fused to my bones. Kael’s scent—smoky cedar and musk—lingered faintly in the air. It was a cruel reminder of how deeply ingrained he was in my life.
When I pushed open the door to my quarters, the familiar warmth of the room greeted me, but it no longer felt like home. The bed, the bookshelves, even the delicate moonflowers he'd once planted outside my window—it was all tainted.
I slumped onto the edge of the bed, gripping the sheets as if holding on to the last remnants of my sanity. My chest ached, but I refused to cry. I wouldn’t give them—Kael, Selene, or anyone else—the satisfaction of seeing me broken.
The full moon hung high in the sky, its silver light bathing the house in an ethereal glow. I sat alone in my room, staring at the pendant Kael had given me. Memories flooded my mind—his smile, his promises, the way he’d made me feel like I was his world. Lies.
I picked up my phone, my hands trembling as I scrolled through my contacts. The name "Adam" stared back at me, a reminder of the brother I hadn’t spoken to in years. He was my last hope. My only lifeline.
Taking a deep breath, I pressed the call button. It rang twice before his voice came through, sharp and clear.
“Talia?” His tone was cautious, as though he couldn’t believe it was me. “What’s going on? It’s been forever.”
The familiarity of his voice sent a wave of emotion crashing over me. “I need you, Adam,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I can’t do this alone anymore.”
There was a long pause before he replied, his tone softer. “Where are you? Tell me, and I’ll come.”
Tears blurred my vision as I gave him the address. For the first time in years, I felt a glimmer of hope—a lifeline in the darkness.
When I hung up, my resolve was simple , I would not be anyone's second choice.
