Chapter Eight

The nigt was calm. I sat on my bed and wrote on my diary.

Dear Diary,

I don’t even know why I’m writing this. Maybe because if I don’t, I’ll break apart.

Every time I close my eyes, I see them. Mum’s smile, Dad’s laugh… and then—blood. So much blood. I hear their screams, and I can’t do anything. I wasn’t there to save them. I should have been. Maybe if I had been home earlier… maybe if I had been stronger…

But no amount of “maybe” will bring them back.

I miss Kayla a lot— My sweet Kayla.

I still hear her voice, you know? Calling me to braid her hair, begging me to share my snacks, laughing that silly laugh that always made me smile no matter how angry I was. Now there’s only silence.

The house is quiet. Too quiet.

Sometimes I wake up thinking I hear her footsteps in the hall… but when I run to look, there’s nothing. Just the empty walls and my own shadow.

The Alpha took everything from me. My family. My home. My safety. He left me with nothing but this hole in my chest where my heart used to be.

I hate him. I hate him so much it burns in my bones. And yet, sometimes, late at night, I feel… afraid. Afraid that I will never be strong enough to face him. Afraid that this disguise, this lie I wear every day, will fall apart before I can finish what I started.

But I made a promise.

On their graves, with my tears, I swore: I will make him pay.

Even if it kills me.

Even if it means losing what’s left of myself.

I don’t know if that makes me brave… or just broken.

But what else is there for me now?

Good night diary— Heira.

I made my bed, I wasn’t feeling sleepy. I leaned on the window and stared up at the glowing stars. The stars were sharp and bright, scattered like pieces of glass across black velvet.

Kayla had loved nights like this. used to grab my hand and drag me outside, barefoot, giggling, whispering secrets to the stars as if they were listening.

“Look, Heira,” Kayla would say, pointing with her tiny finger, “those ones are ours. They’ll always watch over us.”

The memory hit so hard it stole my breath.

Hot tears welled in my eyes, slipping silently down my cheeks. I bit my lips, trying to stop the sob clawing its way up my throat, but the pain wouldn’t let me.

I walked with Jason to watch the students play basketball. It was a nice view. I sat with thousands of students and watched the students.

Hands stretching for the ball.

Defense! Defense! The chat boomed but the tension was electric.

The gym was alive with energy.

Just as I turned to leave a girl dumped roughly into me. The reddish juice she held spilled on me. It ruined my entire clothes, my clothes were badly stained. My entire face was messed up with the liquid. The students were turning to stare. I walked to the restroom to clean up the mess. 

I stood under the shower and let the water drip down my body.  I saw the doorknob twist. This is the male restroom room. My breathing ceased roughly. My heart sank down into the pit of my stomach. I was breathing hard. I turned off the shower. Instantly the door creaked open. My heart completely disappeared. Mi..Miguel. He was dampening his sweat with a yellow sport  towel. His eyes met mine and a spark of shock showed in his eyes. For a moment everything stopped except the constant slamming of my heart against  my chest. He trailed his eyes over me. I… I couldn’t even release my breath. I stood there frozen under his gaze. His eyes trailed to the breast wrap on the floor, a white napkin. He settled his eyes into mine again, still shocked. 

He blinked as though trying to tell himself what he was seeing wasn’t real. 

“ You…” his voice cracked yet so sharp that it pierced the silence between us. “You are… a girl” 

I gulped down. I could hear the loud sound of my heart. It beat louder than I could imagine. I wanted to speak to explain, but the words wouldn’t come out. I stood there bare, vulnerable, naked. I gathered all the nerves in me and shields my exposed body and nipples.The birth mark above my breast showed. A feather-like mark  that looked like a tattoo. I lowered my gaze to the white tiled floor. Miguel took some steps back and shot the door. His face still looked shocked. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My chest is still beating roughly.