Picking Up The Pieces

CHAPTER FOUR – Picking Up the Pieces

Jaxon's POV

I stood outside the guest room with my hand resting on the doorknob, but I could not bring myself to open it.

The maid had already told me she had not touched the dinner that was taken to her. She had thanked them politely, closed the door, and had not come out again.

At first, I thought she simply wanted to be alone.

Now, as I stood outside the room, I realized that was not the reason.

I could hear her crying.

The sound was soft, almost like she was trying to hide it, but i still heard it . Every broken breath, every shaky sob, every painful silence that followed felt heavier than the last.

My wolf became restless.

It wanted me to go to her, I remained where I was for another moment, I had never been good at comforting people. I knew how to lead my pack, how to make difficult decisions, and how to stand in front of my enemies without fear.

But this… This was different, I did not know how to mend a broken heart.

Still, walking away did not feel right.

I pushed the door open slowly. The room was quiet except for the sound of her crying.

She sat on the floor beside the bed with her back against it. Her knees were pulled close to her chest, and she was holding something tightly in her hands.

She did not notice me, her eyes were fixed on the floor as tears rolled down her cheeks one after another.

I stayed by the door without saying a word.

Then she spoke. "I really loved you."

Her voice was so quiet that it almost disappeared into the room. "I loved you so much."

She laughed weakly, but there was no happiness in it. "I was so stupid."

She lowered her head. "I thought if I stayed beside you... if I supported you... if I loved you enough..." She stopped speaking as another sob escaped her lips.."...you would love me too."

.

She slowly opened her hand, Inside was a small keychain with a hockey stick hanging from it.

She looked at it for a long time before shaking her head. "You said it was our lucky charm."

Another tear fell onto it. "I believed everything you said."

She closed her fingers around it again. "I even defended you when people told me you did not deserve me."

She smiled sadly.."They were right."

"No.".The word left my mouth before I realized I had spoken.

She gasped softly and lifted her head, our eyes met.

For a second, she looked frightened, then embarrassment quickly replaced it.

She hurriedly wiped her face with both hands.."I..."

She looked around the room as though searching for something to hide behind.."I'm sorry."

I frowned.."What are you apologizing for?"

She forced a small smile that disappeared almost as quickly as it came. "You brought me here..."

Her voice was still shaking. "...and now I'm crying in your house."

I looked at her quietly.."You don't have to apologize for crying."

She lowered her eyes.."I do."

The answer came so quickly that it sounded like a habit. "I always do."

I walked further into the room until I was standing a few steps away from her.

The tray of food on the table caught my attention.

Nothing had been touched, evenn the tea had gone cold.

I looked back at her. "The food is cold… you didn't touch it?”

She followed my gaze before looking away again. "I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten since morning."

She gave a small shrug. "I don't want to."

I remained silent for a moment. "Why?"

She laughed softly.

It was the kind of laugh people gave when they were trying not to cry again.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

I looked at her without understanding.

She swallowed before speaking again."If I stop eating...".Her voice became quieter. "...maybe I'll stop looking like this."

She looked down at herself. "Maybe then people won't laugh."

The room fell silent, she wrapped her arms around herself. "Maybe Chase would have loved me if I wasn't so fat."

Those words stayed in the air between us. For the first time that day, I understood just how deeply his cruelty had wounded her.

She was no longer blaming him, she was blaming herself.

I pulled a chair closer and sat down across from her."I want to ask you something."

She nodded faintly. "If you woke up tomorrow looking exactly the way you wanted..." She looked at me.."...and Chase was still the same man who laughed at you today..."

I paused.."Would you still want him?"

She stared at me without answering, her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

After a long silence, she slowly shook her head."No."

"Why?"

"Because...".Fresh tears filled her eyes. "...because he would still be the man who broke my heart."

I nodded once "Exactly."

She looked at me, confused.."The problem was never your weight."

She remained silent. "The problem was the kind of man he chose to be.”

She lowered her head again.

"I wish it were that easy."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

 "I keep telling myself that he was the problem, but every time I remember what happened today... I hear his words again."

She closed her eyes. "I hear everyone laughing, they were all looking at me, it felt like the whole world was laughing at me."

I watched her quietly. She was trying so hard not to cry again, but the tears refused to stop.

 "I don't even know why I'm crying this much," she said with a weak laugh. "Maybe he was right."

"He wasn't."

She looked at me. "You sound so sure."

"I am."

She shook her head.."You don't know me."

"I don't."

"Then how can you say that?"

I leaned back slightly. "Because I watched what happened today. I watched a man leave the woman who needed him the most."

She looked at the untouched food.

I looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "If one day you decide to lose weight..."

She lifted her eyes to mine. "...do it because it is your choice."

She listened without interrupting. "Do it because it makes you healthier, do it because it makes you happy but never do it because someone made you believe you are not enough."

She slowly reached for the glass of water on the tray. Her hands were still shaking, but she managed to take a small sip.

I said nothing.

A few moments later, she picked up the spoon. "I still don't feel hungry."

"You don't have to finish everything."

She looked at the bowl. "I'll try."

She ate one spoonful, then another 

It wasn't much, but it was enough.

My wolf was so happy.

When she finally put the spoon down, she looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry."

I raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For making you worry."

"You didn't."

"I did."

"You don't know that."n

A small smile appeared on my face before I could stop it. "I do."

She looked at me for a few seconds.

Then, for the first time since I met her….She smiled.

It was small and it was weak that it disappeared almost immediately.

Before either of us could speak again, a gentle knock came from the door. "Sir?"

I turned toward it. The maid stood outside with her hands folded respectfully.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"What is it?" I asked.

She lowered her head. "The elders are here, they asked to see you immediately."

The room became quiet, I looked back at Stella.

She had lowered her spoon again, watching me with confused eyes. "The elders?" she asked softly.

I gave a small nod. "They're here to discuss something important."

She looked as though she wanted to ask another question, but stopped herself.

I stood up. "You should get some rest."

She nodded.."I will."

I walked toward the door before pausing.

Without turning around, I spoke quietly. "And Stella..."

"Yes? You u never have to apologize for crying."

Silence filled the room.

When I finally looked back at her, tears filled her eyes once more.

But this time… She wasn't crying because someone had broken her.

She was crying because, for the first time in a very long time...someone had shown her kindness without asking for anything in return.

I stepped out of the room and closed the door gently behind me.

Then I followed the maid toward the waiting elders.