THE DAYS AFTER
986 Words
The next morning, Liyana woke before sunrise.
For a moment…
Everything felt normal.
Then it came rushing back.
The rejection.
The pain.
The bond breaking.
She closed her eyes as tears gathered again.
Quickly, she wiped them away.
Inside her mind, Nova was already awake.
Curled into a corner.
She didn’t look at Liyana.
She didn’t say good morning.
She simply stared ahead.
Liyana swallowed.
“Good morning.”
Silence.
She waited.
Nothing.
Liyana forced a small smile.
“I know you don’t want to talk.”
“…I don’t really want to either.”
Still nothing.
“I just…”
She looked down.
“I miss hearing your voice.”
Nova didn’t answer.
That silence hurt almost as much as the rejection itself.
After breakfast, Maren watched Liyana tie her hair back.
“Where are you going?”
“To work.”
Maren frowned.
“Liyana…”
“You should rest another day.”
Liyana shook her head.
“If I stay here…”
She looked around the cottage.
“…I’ll think.”
“And if I think…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Maren walked over to her.
“You don’t have to prove how strong you are.”
“I’m not.”
Liyana managed a small smile.
“I’m trying to stay busy.”
Maren searched her face for a moment.
Then she sighed.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I won’t.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Maren hugged her before she left.
“Come home if it becomes too much.”
Liyana nodded.
“I will.”
Liyana spent the day working.
She helped prepare meals.
She washed bowls.
She carried supplies from one building to another.
She folded blankets.
She cleaned after everyone had finished eating.
Everything she had always done.
Only…
She smiled less.
Talked less.
Laughed less.
One omega watched her for a while before walking over.
“Liyana?”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“How are you feeling?”
Liyana smiled politely.
“I’m alright.”
The omega didn’t look convinced.
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I know.”
A small silence followed.
“I’m sorry,” the omega whispered.
Liyana nodded.
“Thank you.”
Another omega joined them.
“We made too much soup.”
“Can you help us carry it?”
Liyana welcomed the distraction.
“Of course.”
As they walked away, the first omega quietly said,
“We’re here if you need us.”
Liyana smiled.
“I know.”
Across the village, Kael stood in the training grounds.
“Again.”
The warriors attacked.
Wooden swords clashed.
Kael defeated one.
Then another.
Then another.
“Again.”
One of the warriors lowered his sword.
“Alpha…”
Kael looked at him.
“You’ve been training since sunrise.”
“I’m fine.”
“You haven’t stopped.”
“I said I’m fine.”
The warrior exchanged a glance with the others.
“We’re just worried.”
Kael turned away.
“I’m not.”
He picked up another practice sword.
“Again.”
The warriors hesitated.
Then they obeyed.
Inside his mind…
There was only silence.
Kael closed his eyes.
“Onyx?”
Nothing.
“I’m sorry.”
Silence.
“I know you’re there.”
No answer.
For the first time in his life…
His own wolf refused to speak to him.
Later that afternoon, Liyana carried folded blankets toward one of the elders’ cottages.
At the same time, Kael left a meeting at the Alpha House.
Neither of them expected to see the other.
They turned the corner.
Stopped.
Their eyes met.
Everything around them seemed to disappear.
Liyana looked away first.
She tightened her grip on the blankets.
“…Excuse me.”
Her voice was quiet.
Kael stepped aside immediately.
“Of course.”
She walked past him.
Kael turned slightly.
“Liyana…”
The word left his mouth before he could stop it.
She paused.
But she didn’t turn around.
After a long moment, she continued walking.
Kael watched her until she disappeared from sight.
The apology stayed trapped in his throat.
Everywhere Liyana went…
She heard whispers.
“I still can’t believe he rejected her.”
“She didn’t deserve that.”
“He’s thinking about the future.”
“An Alpha needs a strong Luna.”
“She would’ve made a wonderful Luna.”
“She’s only an omega.”
Liyana kept walking.
One of the younger omegas hurried to catch up with her.
“Don’t listen to them.”
Liyana smiled faintly.
“I’m trying not to.”
“They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Liyana looked at her.
“Maybe.”
The younger omega frowned.
“No.”
“They’re wrong.”
Liyana didn’t answer.
She simply continued walking.
That evening, Liyana sat outside the cottage watching the sunset.
Maren quietly joined her.
Neither of them spoke for a long time.
The sky slowly turned orange.
Then pink.
Then purple.
Finally, Maren broke the silence.
“You don’t have to pretend to be strong all the time.”
Liyana smiled sadly.
“If I stop pretending…”
She took a shaky breath.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop crying.”
Maren reached over and took her hand.
“You don’t have to carry this by yourself.”
“I know.”
“You still have me.”
Liyana leaned her head against Maren’s shoulder.
“I know.”
They stayed there together until the sun disappeared.
That night, Liyana lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
The room was quiet.
After a long time, she whispered,
“Goodnight, Nova.”
Silence.
Liyana closed her eyes.
Then…
Very softly…
Nova answered.
‘Goodnight.’
Just one word.
But it was the first time she’d spoken properly since the rejection.
Fresh tears slipped down Liyana’s cheeks as she closed her eyes.
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