FORBIDDEN

VELORA

I don’t stop running until I’m halfway down the hallway. My heart is slamming against my rib cage so hard it feels like it’s trying to escape my chest.

It's not just because of Ross. He'll probably blame everything on me later after embarrassing himself like that. He always does because I know him well enough. But that isn’t what has me panicking.

It's Eryx.

He may be my sister’s boyfriend, but he’s also been my biggest secret crush since I was ten years old. The ridiculous part? Until today, I was almost certain he didn’t even know I existed. And now… he saw me. Humiliated. Wet. Weak. Exactly the version of myself I never wanted him to see.

I finally reach my locker and fumble with the code combination until it eventually clicks open. My fingers search for my sports pants… and freeze. Something cold and sticky coats my hand.

No…” My stomach drops.

Please don't… I slowly pull the pants out and my heart sinks next. They’re soaked in some thick, sticky, jelly-like mess that has already started to dry into a crust. “What the hell…?” My voice catches. Of course. Because why would today stop at just one humiliation?

“Who did this?” I stare at the ruined pants in disbelief. Then, I look around. Students stream past, some, their eyes glued to their phones or already too busy recording some new drama. No one looks at me or pays any attention. No one ever does, unless they want to laugh. It could've been any one of them. But I don't bother asking. The last time I asked who ruined my things, it only gave them more material. I learned my lesson years ago to stay quiet, stay small, and survive.

The bell rings. I don’t waste another second. Clutching the ruined pants, I quickly head straight for the girls’ restroom. As I walk, one thought refuses to leave me alone, it keeps nagging at me. In two days, the entire school will be celebrating. Some will finally shift and meet their fated mates during the mating ceremony. Others will leave with the person they’ve loved for years. Either way, everyone will have something to celebrate.

Me? I’ll probably spend the day pretending it doesn’t rip me open. Pretending I’m fine being the fat, unwanted sister who will never be chosen or seen.

I stop in front of the restroom mirror and stare at my reflection for a long moment. Wet shirt clinging to every soft curve I hate, flushed cheeks, green eyes that look permanently tired. I look exactly like the girl everyone mocks. Exactly like the girl Aveline is ashamed to share blood with.

I sigh and start unbuttoning the soaked blouse. After changing into my sports uniform, I fold the wet shirt carefully and reach for the door.

The moment I pull it open, Aveline is standing right there. I barely have time to react before she shoves me hard back inside. The door slams shut behind her.

“What are you—”

Smack! Her palm cracks across my cheek so hard my head snaps to the side. Pain blooms instantly, sharp and hot.

“I told you to stay invisible at school, didn’t I?” she hisses, eyes blazing with pure disgust. “But no. You just had to make a scene. Again.”

My cheek burns harder. My fists clench at my sides, but I force myself to stay quiet. Fighting back only makes her worse. I can't afford to.

“Oh, Vel.” A cold, humorless smile spreads across her perfect face. “Look at you, you’re already pathetic as it is and you know, always embarrassing the family name every chance you get.” She steps closer, voice dripping with contempt. “So, say something before I lose my patience and maybe…” She scoffed, folding her arms “...Your worthless mother would’ve thanked me for finally putting you out of your misery. It’s not like she ever wanted you either.”

The words hit harder than the slap. I swallow the lump rising in my throat.

“My mother has nothing to do with this, Aveline.” I rub my burning cheek, trying to keep my voice steady even though everything inside me is shaking. “Tell me why you think you can just walk in here and slap me for no reason.”

“Don’t you dare play innocent, you little snake!” Her voice echoes loudly through the restroom, then she quickly lowers it again, glancing at the stalls to make sure we’re alone. She takes two slow, deliberate steps toward me until she’s close enough that I can smell her expensive perfume. “You always do this. You act all quiet and harmless, then you stab me in the back the second you get the chance. Do you enjoy it? Humiliating me?”

I look away. As much as I want to walk out from this conversation, I know I can’t. Running only makes her chase harder.

You think I didn’t hear about what happened in the library?” she continues, eyes still narrowing. “Everyone’s already whispering. Ross told half the school how you threw yourself at him, how desperate you looked. And then Eryx had to step in. Eryx?” She spits his name like it’s poison when it comes from my mouth. “Of all people.”

My eyes snap up to hers. Dammit.

“For the love of the Moon Goddess,” she says through gritted teeth, “you just couldn’t stay away from him, could you? You fat, jealous little bitch. You saw something that belongs to me and decided to ruin it.” She steps even closer, until her face is inches from mine. “Of all people, it had to be Eryx. He is the last person I want seeing your disgusting face around school. What if he starts looking at you and starts noticing something? What if he realizes we somehow look alike or worse what if he knows we're…”

She stops herself, biting down hard on her lip before she says too much.

Of course. She’d never admit it out loud. The last thing Aveline wants is for anyone, especially Eryx, to find out we’re sisters. Because if he knew the truth, if he ever saw the real bloodline we share… everything she’s built would collapse into pieces.

“You have nothing to worry about,” I say quietly, even though my chest now feels tight. “Eryx would never get to know we’re related, so—”

“Shut up.” The words come out sharp enough to make me flinch. “Don’t ever say that again.” Her eyes burn into mine with pure hatred. “That word is forbidden.” She points at me. “Not at school. Not anywhere. Especially not around Eryx. Say it again and I’ll make sure Father sends you somewhere you’ll never come back from. Are we clear?”

I force a nod, my throat burning hard. “Fine.” I swallow the ache. “I promise. It won’t happen again.”

“Good.” She lets out a slow breath, and for a second I think she’s finally done.

Then she smiles. Not the polite, pretty smile she shows everyone else. The one that never reaches her eyes. The one that always means she’s about to cut me open in a way that leaves no visible scars.

She carefully rests a hand on my shoulder. My whole body goes still. I hate how easily she can freeze me. Leaning in close, she whispers against my ear, voice almost gentle, almost kind, “Keep being a good little invisible girl, Velora… and maybe I’ll convince Father to start looking for your mother.”

My breath instantly catches. Wait… Mother?

My heart stops. Everything inside me goes cold. “What…?” I barely recognize my own shaky voice. “I thought… Father said she left. That she didn’t want me. That she…”

Aveline pulls back just enough to look me in the eye, and the cruelty in her smile deepens. “Did he?” she murmurs. “Or is that just what he wanted you to believe?”

She pats my cheek, the same one she slapped—almost affectionately. “Behave, little sister. Or the next time I see you near Eryx… I’ll make sure you never see her again.”

Then she turns and starts walking out, leaving the door swinging behind her. I stand there, staring at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. Cheek still red. Eyes now glassy. Heart shattered in a way I didn’t think was still possible.

My mother.

For years I’ve believed everything Father said. That she abandoned me. That I wasn’t enough for her to stay. And now Aveline is dangling the possibility that it was all a lie… just to keep me under her thumb.

I quickly press a hand over my mouth to stop the sound that wants to escape as tears streak down my cheek. In two days, the mating ceremony will begin. And for the first time in a long time, I’m not sure what I’m more afraid of… whether… being left alone forever… or finding out the truth.