Chapter 2: One last time

Elysia

I stood outside the door of Derek’s study long after it was closed. I was unable to move, still in shock. No, this wasn’t happening. What the hell just happened?

It was all so fast. I told myself it wasn’t real. I was just so confused. Why… why would he do this to me? My heart felt like it was on fire. I placed my hand on my chest, trying to breathe. It was just so hard.

All the tears I’d been holding back started rolling down my cheeks, blurring my vision. Slowly, I walked through the halls. Maids stopped to stare at me with pity while others laughed.

I didn’t care if they saw me broken. All I cared about was Derek, and now he was gone. Slowly, I made my way back to my room, a place I’d left totally excited not so long ago.

I slowly walked to the bed and sat down. I placed my hand over my mouth, trying to muffle my screams as my heart broke over and over again.

I’d heard of how heartbreak felt, but I never imagined it would hurt this much. I had no words to describe the feeling.

In a couple of months, I was supposed to be his wife. I stared at the ceiling, my eyes filled with tears. “Why me?” I whispered. “What did I do that was so wrong that the Moon Goddess chose to punish me like this?”

I sat there for hours, just staring at the ceiling. I wasn’t crying anymore. My throat was dry, and I didn’t just feel hollow inside—I felt empty and numb.

After a while, I moved mechanically, gathering my things. I folded my dresses without a single care in the world. I just kept shoving them into a travel case. I stared at my father’s pocket watch that was now cracked. After staring at it for what seemed like forever, I swallowed hard and tucked it away.

There was nothing left for me here.

By the time morning came around, I was already gone, headed straight to the only place I’d ever known as home—Elyndor.

I never thought a day like this was going to come, but it did, and I left without any goodbye.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to break the news to my mother because I knew this would break her heart, but she was the only person I had right now.

The house was quiet when I arrived, way too quiet.

I paused at the doorway, my hand still on the handle, listening for movement, my mother’s familiar hum—but there was no sound. It was obvious she wasn’t home.

Maybe it was for the best. I didn’t want her to see me like this. I closed the door behind me as I stepped in.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the creak of our small house. The silence was heavy and suffocating. I took in a deep breath, dragging myself up the stairs, my body moving but my mind lagging behind.

When I got to my room, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it. The strength finally left my legs. I slid down until I was sitting on the floor.

Then I broke.

The sobs came out hard. I screamed like I had been holding the pain back for years instead of hours. I cried until my throat burned, my chest ached so hard, but the tears wouldn’t stop rushing.

I cried until my eyes became swollen. I cried for what I lost, or at least for something I thought was mine.

At some point, the tears dried up, leaving me empty and completely exhausted. I wiped my face with the sleeve of my dress and stared at the wall ahead of me.

I couldn’t do this. I wasn’t going to. I was done spending my days crying over someone who didn’t choose me, someone who treated me like I was nothing just because I didn’t have a wolf.

I pressed my hands to my chest, trying to breathe. I wanted to hate him for hurting me, but I couldn’t, because some part of me still loved the monster.

I lay on my bed, eyes closed, and the image of Derek and Cathy together kept haunting me.

It hurts, Goddess. It hurts so much.

I squeezed my eyes shut, but it didn’t help. That was when another thought slid into my mind.

Sylvie.

If there was anyone who would get my mind off all of this, it would be my best friend Sylvie, and thankfully, I knew exactly where she would be at this hour.

I got dressed in a simple black dress and stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t recognize who was looking back at me.

It was like I was lost within myself, trapped and unable to break free.

I headed straight for the local pub, the only place Sylvie liked to spend time. She only went there for the music. She loved it so much, even though I didn’t get why.

I couldn’t help but imagine her reaction when she saw me. Goddess, I just hoped she didn’t dive and push us both to the ground, because she was that dramatic.

When I got there, I could already hear the music from inside. I walked in slowly. There were so many different people drinking, talking, and laughing.

I looked around, standing awkwardly, searching for Sylvie, but she was nowhere in sight.

My heart started racing. I felt totally out of place. Without thinking, I walked to the counter and took a seat. I wasn’t one to drink, but I didn’t care right now. I just needed anything that would make me forget.

“What would you like to have?” the bar attendant asked.

“Anything strong,” I replied with a forced smile.

He pushed a drink toward me, and without hesitation, I chugged it down. It was harsh, and it burned through my throat.

“Another,” I said, pushing the glass toward the bar attendant, and he kept it coming—and I kept chugging it down.

I didn’t care what happened tomorrow, but as of now, I needed an escape, and I found it