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chapter sixteen

Author: Toak
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-06 21:33:55
Astrid

The walk back is quiet.

Aiden doesn't speak, and I don't try to fill in the silence. It's better this way.

The night air is cool against my skin, wrapping around me like the fog still clinging to my thoughts. Moonlight spills across the academic grounds, painting the gray walls in silver, the grass gray beneath our feet, the scent of pine lingering from the trees around us.

Every one of Aiden's steps matches mine—not rushed, just steady. Cautious, but steady.

Present is what I would call it. He walks close, like he’s making sure I make it all the way, even though I’m fine now. Even though I was pretending to be okay.

When we reach the girls' dormitory, I expect him to turn left and head to his dormitory. He doesn’t.

“Really, Aiden?” I say through an exasperated huff. A small smirk tilts his lips, and he shrugs, moving past me as he makes his way through the silent hallway like he owns it. It makes me wonder how many times he’s done this.

“So now we’re speaking si
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  • Bound by secrets, Broken by love   chapter twenty-nine

    AstridI drop to my knees, scrubbing my arms, legs—everything—against the damp spot before it dries up.I snatch a pair of leggings off the floor and scrub harder but it's useless.“Come on, come on,” I hiss.It feels like I’m caught in a spiral. One moment I’m celebrating a hard-won victory, and the next, I’m on all fours, scrubbing my rug like a freaking maid. Imagine hopping out of one problem just to land face-first in another—all in one day.Classic Astrid.I glance at the time. It’s 5:30 a.m.Just great.I can’t even take a shower. If I do ,whatever faint trace of false scent still clings to me will be gone, and I need it to hold out through the day. I mean, I have a freaking test to write. So yeah, I’ll just skip showering for one day. Just one sweaty, paranoia-filled, stress-soaked day.I grab my phone and dial my mom.One ring. Two rings. It goes straight to voicemail.Of course, she’s in a meeting. Or sleeping. Or just ignoring my call, which honestly, I wouldn’t blame her f

  • Bound by secrets, Broken by love   twenty-eight

    AstridThe arena is almost empty now, just the quiet buzz of distant conversations and the occasional echo of footsteps bouncing off the high walls. The tension of the fight has long since passed, but my pulse still thrums like I’m stuck in that moment, like my body hasn’t realized it’s over.I should feel proud. I won. I won. But instead, there’s a tight knot in my chest that just won’t go away.The sound of boots crunching toward me makes me turn.Coach.His lips are set in something between a half smile and a frown. He’s never liked me, not really. Always finding a reason to frown at my form, sigh at my hesitation, complain about my lack of instinct.I brace myself for whatever criticism he’s about to throw at me this time.“You did well today new girl,” he says.My brows shoot up and I sit up. The switch-up is just… wow.“Sorry, I didn’t quite hear you,” I say just for the fun of watching his lips twitch.“You heard me,” he mutters.I bite my lip, suppressing a smirk. “All credit

  • Bound by secrets, Broken by love   twenty-seven

    AstridMy eyes meet with Greystone's, and it's safe to say she's not backing down soon. Her brown eyes look almost fiery as she glares. Her jaw clenches. With a low grunt, she rises slowly from the ground, chest puffed while her nose flares.Her steps are wobbly, but then, it'll take more than a few punches for someone like her to back down from me.She circles me, her eyes sweeping over my frame like a hunter marking its prey. I mirror her movements, moving into a half-circle of my own."Do your thing, Kayleigh," I breathe out.It happens immediately. My mind fades into the background. I feel more like a passenger—my vision tunneling, focusing only on our target: Greystone.We lunge at each other simultaneously, fists bared, fingers clawed, teeth gritted.I feel everything—every single movement, every hit—but I'm not the one guiding the attacks. Everything moves in slow motion, and I can already tell what tactic she wants to use. It's like everyone has held their breath. It's even mo

  • Bound by secrets, Broken by love   twenty-six

    AstridI should be stretching, practicing last-minute moves—I mean, anything but staring and nibbling on my fingers like it's supposed to change my fate.I'm alone in a locker room that smells like sweat and feels stuffy, my thoughts my only companion. From where I'm seated, the noise from the crowd is somewhat muffled, but it does nothing to ease my anxiety.My phone pings. It’s a message from Mom: “Good luck, Ashley. Make sure you win.” I read the message twice before tucking it into my locker.So much for rooting for me... not like I expected more."You're up, new girl," Coach's head pops beside my locker. He’s still refused to call me by my real name.I nod, wipe my sweaty palms on my leggings, and follow him.“This should be an interesting fight,” he chuckles. I don't miss the amusement in his words—or should I say, diss?Please be merciful, Moon Goddess. I've already accepted my failure, but that doesn't mean I don't dread the physical damage someone like Greystone leaves in her

  • Bound by secrets, Broken by love   chapter twenty-five

    AidenMy shoes click against the floor, cutting through the sterile silence as I move through the hallway. I’ve got better shit to do than sit in this hellhole.My supposed flu was just a ploy to sneak out without raising suspicion. The new lead was too good to ignore. The footage from the night of my mother’s death was wiped, but there’s a copy that still exists. A flash drive in my uncle’s possession.I spent almost three fucking days searching everywhere in his office—drawers, briefcases, even cloud backups—but all I found was irrelevant pack junk, business files. Nothing really useful.My last resort was to check his safes. Three of which I have no access to. Three—that I know of, at least. There might be more, judging by the level of secrecy.Lucas clocked on when I dropped the sick act. My bad for getting sloppy. He’s likely suspected I was up to no good—probably thought I was trying to skip school. Hovered like a hawk. Voice calm, questions casual and minimal. But I knew where

  • Bound by secrets, Broken by love   chapter twenty-four

    AstridI've always held back my tears, but today, it feels good letting them out.They spill down my cheeks, hot and fast, but the release they bring is quiet. I didn’t even realize I was this overwhelmed—not until the move I’d practiced for weeks went wrong. I’d done it a hundred times. But then I missed the timing and stumbled into Harry’s soft punch, and that’s when something inside me just broke.It’s not just the mistake—it’s what the mistake signifies.It feels like I’m not enough. Not for the training. Not for the fight tomorrow. Not for myself. Not for my mother.Not even for Aiden—the mate who doesn’t want me.And worst of all, not for my wolf, who’s abandoned me to fight in silence.Harry still says nothing. He just strokes my head gently, his hand warm, steady, and comforting. I stay buried in his chest, silently crying, quietly breaking.His scent lingers around my nose—cedarwood and mint.My mind drifts to Aiden’s. Pine and sandalwood. Earthy. Deep. A little darker.My br

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