Aria stood at the edge of the forest, the wind brushing against her skin like ghostly fingers. Her mind was in turmoil, drowning in the memories she had spent years trying to forget. But now, they came rushing back like an unstoppable flood, forcing her to face the truth she had long buried.
She remembered the way her parents had looked at her—as if she was nothing, as if she was a mistake. She remembered the punishments, the isolation, the cold nights spent outside their home because she was not worthy enough to be part of their family.
"You were never meant to be born." The words of her father echoed in her mind, twisting like a dagger in her heart.
She had begged for their love, for their acceptance, but no matter how hard she tried, it was never enough.
Her mother had been worse. Cold, calculating. Whenever Aria had shown even a hint of strength, her mother had punished her severely. Not because she wanted to discipline Aria, but because she feared her.
"Your power is unnatural. You should not exist."
Her mother had always whispered those words under her breath, but Aria heard them. Every. Single. Time.
And then came her mate—the one who was supposed to be her destiny, the one who was supposed to love her unconditionally. But when he looked at her, there was only disgust in his eyes.
"You're weak. I reject you."
The moment played in her mind again, the raw pain of it resurfacing as if it had just happened yesterday.
She had been nothing to him. Nothing to her family. Nothing to the world.
But now… now she had power.
And that power terrified her.
Kael watched her carefully from a few steps away. He could see the storm raging inside her, the way her hands trembled, the way her breathing became uneven. He knew what it meant.
Her emotions were tied to her power. And if she lost control…
"Aria," Kael said softly, stepping closer. "You're shaking."
She flinched, her eyes snapping up to meet his. For a moment, Kael saw something in them—something dark, something broken. But just as quickly, she masked it, forcing her expression into something cold.
"I'm fine."
"You're not," Kael said, refusing to let it go. "Talk to me."
She turned away, her fingers clenching into fists. "There's nothing to talk about."
"You expect me to believe that after everything we've been through?" His voice was low, controlled, but there was an edge to it.
Aria's jaw tightened. "I don't need your pity, Kael."
"It's not pity." He stepped in front of her now, blocking her path. "You think I can't feel it? The way you're breaking inside?"
She let out a harsh laugh, one that held no real amusement. "Breaking? Kael, I've been broken my whole life."
Something in his chest tightened at her words.
"Then let me help put you back together," he murmured.
Aria inhaled sharply, taking a step back. "No one can help me, Kael. Not you, not anyone. I have to do this alone."
"Do what alone?" he demanded. "Push me away? Destroy yourself? Because that's what you're doing."
"You don't understand," she whispered. "No one does."
Kael clenched his jaw. He wanted to argue, to tell her that he did understand. That he had lived with pain, with loss, with guilt that clawed at his soul every single day.
But he also knew Aria. Knew that forcing her to talk would only make her retreat further.
So instead, he exhaled and took a step back.
"Fine," he said quietly. "But I'm not going anywhere. So whenever you decide to stop carrying all of this alone, I'll be right here."
Aria didn't respond. She simply turned and walked away, disappearing into the forest.
But Kael knew the truth.
She wasn't running away from him.
She was running from herself.
And soon, she would have no choice but to face what she truly was.