Annalyn’s POVMy feet felt like they were being dragged through thick mud as Rissa gently led me down the stairs.I couldn’t breathe properly. My throat burned with swallowed sobs, and the ache in my chest only deepened with every step away from his door.Rissa said nothing as we entered the living room. She simply guided me to the couch, helped me sit, then disappeared briefly before returning with a box of tissues and glass of water. Kristoff was nowhere in sight, he had done his worst and disappeared like the devil he was.She handed the water to me first which I gulped down as my throat was already dry from all the crying… then came the box of tissue and she sat beside me.I took one and dabbed under my eyes, but the tears kept coming… hot, fast, uncontrollable.Then came the question I had been dreading.“What happened?” Her voice was soft but firm. “Why is he angry with you, Anna? Every was good, where did the sudden trigger come from”My lips trembled.I tried. I really tried
Alex’s POV“You know what? You’re right!”She snapped, her voice cutting through the air.“I did want to use Mr. Quinn to make you jealous. I did want to use Nolan too. I thought you’d finally see how much you’ve missed… But…”The door creaked as I had accidentally let go of it.Her voice stopped.Our eyes locked.And in that split second, everything changed.The boldness drained from her face.Shock hit first.Then horror.Then a glimpse of guilt shot through.Her lips parted. “Alex…”I didn’t wait.I turned and bolted.“Alex!”“Mr. Quinn!”Her voice chased me, but I shut it out.As I stormed through the hall, I barely registered my sister stepping out of the kitchen, a towel in her hand. She was mid-sentence. “Are they back?” she asked but I was already past her and sprinting up the stairs.My feet thundered like gunshots on the wood.I shoved my door open, slammed it behind me, and twisted the lock hard.Then I exploded.I stormed to the dresser and swiped everything off in one vio
Alex’s POVI took a step back from the Annalyn, rubbing my forehead and sighing out, “Rissa…”She moved in without warning and wrapped her arms around me.“Oh, Alex… I’m glad you’re on your feet again, i half thought I’d lost you” she said, her voice muffled against my chest.I hesitated for a moment, then leaned in, hugging her back. A small smile cracked through the expressionless look on my face.It felt good for a second, to not be carrying the weight of it all alone.Without warning Rissa pulled away, clapping her hands together with mock drama. “Enough of the emotions,” she said. “We should celebrate this… Anna and I need to get lunch ready. We need to eat well and celebrate togetherness.”Rissa turned, looking over her shoulder. “Babe,” she called to Kristoff, “could you head to the wine store by the shore? Pick out something special for tonight?”Before Kristoff could open his mouth, I stepped in. “I’ll go with him.”“What? No!” Annalyn’s voice broke through like a warning be
Alex’s POV “I’m fine.” Her voice was soft, but the lie wrapped around my throat like a vice. Her eyes didn’t match her words, the way they darted away from mine instantly, the small tremor in her lips. She wasn’t fine. Especially after what happened last night. Not after I kissed her… not after I almost lost her. Before I could say a word, Annalyn cleared her throat, her gaze flickering towards Nolan like a lifeline. “I should… I should check on something.” Her voice cracked slightly, and she didn’t wait for my response. She left. I wanted to stop her, that would mean forcing a conversation I wasn’t ready to have… but fear anchored me down. Not fear of her, fear of what I was becoming, Fear from what I felt when I was around her. Of these twisted, uncontrollable feelings that tangled themselves around my chest every time I looked at her. The door clicked shut behind her, and I was alone with Nolan, who had curled into my side, his small arms wrapping around my torso. He s
Alex’s POVSomething cold pressed against my forehead.I frowned, eyes still shut, body heavy… weak. My muscles refused to move, my throat as dry as the desert, yet my mind… my mind wasn’t quiet.Instead, it spiraled.Suddenly, I wasn’t in this bed. I was standing in that hut again, the storm roaring outside, but I couldn’t hear it over the sound of my heartbeat… over the sound of her breathing.Annalyn.Her lips were on mine. Her fingers buried in my hair. Her body pressed against me like we belonged there, like the world wasn’t falling apart beyond those fragile wooden walls.And as I kissed her, my hands sliding through her damp hair, down the curve of her back, one thought echoed through my skull… louder than the thunder outside.“I’d rather die than lose you.”My eyes flew open, chest heaving.The bright light stabbed at my pupils and I squeezed them shut again, wincing. My head throbbed. My entire body felt drained, as if I’d been through hell and back, which… wasn’t far from th
Alex’s POV Annalyn stormed off so fast, I barely had time to react. My fists were clenched so tight my knuckles ached, but I stood rooted to the floor, my jaw ticking with restrained fury. I wanted to follow her. Every cell in my body screamed at me to chase after her, hold her, protect her but I knew better. She needed air. Space. Time to cool off. Still, rage boiled in my veins as I turned to Kristoff, who was still wiping the blood from his face like some damn victim. I spat the words through clenched teeth. “The next time something like this happens… you won’t believe what I’m capable of doing to you.” His glare didn’t faze me. I spun on my heel and left, ignoring Clarissa’s voice yelling after me. The living room was empty. Quiet, except for the storm building inside me and the hurricane already raging in my chest. My eyes landed on a bottle of whiskey resting on the counter. Perfect!. I grabbed it, unscrewed the cap, and filled a glass to the brim, no measured pour, n