Talia's POV



'So what you are saying in essence is that you believe one could always go against their destiny?" I asked Kael point blank. I was already too comfortable leaning against his broad upper body, drawing senseless patterns on his chest.

'I'm saying, there is an extent to which one conforms to norms." Making air quotes with his one free arm at the mention of ‘norms'

'You're saying we can do whatever we like." I briefly summarised everything he's been saying.


'I'm saying, contrary to what we have been molded to believe, your future really is in your hands." He replied, very diplomatically.

'You know, there really is some life beyond these walls and woods you bury yourself in." I said to him. Starting out as carefully and effectively as I could.


'Oh really?" He asked, sounding very sarcastic.

'Yeah, really." I replied immediately. 'I remember life to be more fun, more colorful, definitely more interesting than this too. It was never hiding away from the rest of the world." I continued, determined to let him know that he really was doing something wrong.

'Is that why?" He asked. I'm lost. I don't even know what he's talking about. Why what?

'I don't get you." I say to him softly, to abate any growing tension.

'I mean is that why you are in so much of a hurry to get away from me and back to your perfect little life, or even something better? " He said.

I want to force myself to think the question was rhetorical, but I know damn well it isn't.

'I'm not in a hurry, it's just necessary." I gave the same answer as always, but I didn't stop there. 'You know how it is, you do." I still do not stop at there. 'You also know that I don't want to leave you."

I weigh the chances that he was already feeling irritated with what I said and they were quite substantial, so I decided it was time to lean on the wall.

But he holds me tightly, closer. I loved it. For the first time, maybe not the first, I feel butterflies in my belly. The most beautiful sensation I've ever had. I snuggled closer by instinct.

'I don't want to lose you." It's the first time he's getting this bare with me. As bare as his silky smooth skin, save for a little hair in the middle of his chest that runs down his stomach. 'I was already getting used to us." He continued. I'm wondering why I never got to see this side of him.

'Why did I never get to see this side of you?" I asked him.

It took almost a minute before he answered. I busied myself with listening to his breath rise and fall, his heart pump, making a 'dum dum" sound.

The air was still and motionless. The pains had significantly reduced, or maybe I was just high on hormones from the Greek god I was resting on. If I didn't feel the moisture of his breath fall on my hair and the warmth from his skin I was resting on, I would have pinched myself conscious.

'I don't like to show it." As succinct as that was, I got every other thing he didn't say. I won't claim to know so much about him, but I know enough to understand certain things he does.

'You should." I replied.

'It never does me good." He replied. 'It did not change what happened, it's not going to change what would happen. It won't make you stay." I felt hurt, too hurt to be the one hurting him. It's been such a short and dramatic time we've had, but there's still that crazy attachment that we both have, no matter how little I admit it.

'Funny shit, is how I still am more expressive than you are. I'm the stupid one still fighting for us, or what could be us…" He continued and stopped talking abruptly. I felt his muscle contract in the arm he placed around me. Trying to stay as still as I could and not make things weird -it would be a crying shame if he had to ask me to get up from him-, I took in all he said.

'I'm scared." I replied to him. The tears almost dropped when he held me closer still.

'Of what?" He asked. 'Me?" He said, I sensed the humor in his voice and I laughed. It was very much needed.

'Nice try." I said laughing. 'You're actually not so wrong." I confessed. He stiffened when I said that. 'I mean, I've been nothing but a burden on you. I'm scared you'll someday realize you've been wasting your time and energy on me and just throw me out." I heaved a very deep breath when I said that.

'Scared I'll hurt you?" He asked me again.

'Yes." I replied. 'I think…from what I saw today, I actually had a great life. How did it end? I was Luna. My Alpha husband and I looked happy. We had great sex, we were happy, what happened?" The tears had started streaming down uncontrollably.

'I'm sorry for making it about me." He apologized. His big hand ruffled my already tousled hair. 'Do you still want to talk about it?" Kael asked.

'I don't know. I don't know what I want, I don't know what to do." I replied very sincerely. I really didn't know what was going on.

'Take your time and process." He said. 'But that would be after you've recovered." He concluded.

'Is it always going to be this painful?" I'm lost, between Kael, my former life, my missing memories, and the physical pain wrecking my body, I really don't know what pain I was even referring to.

'No. You'll get better, you'll live a nicer life than this, explore the world, fall in love with someone who isn't broken, maybe some other Alpha of his own pack." He said like he was some fortune teller.

'Don't try to make me feel better." I said, sounding smiley.

'Is it working?" He asked.

'Yes!" I replied.