At night
1317 Words
(Isla)
"Isla? Please. We need to talk."
The voice was low, familiar and worn thin at the edges.
Mira was already moving. She had the kitchen knife in her hand before I even registered the knock.
“Stay behind me," she whispered, eyes on the door.
My heart was hammering. Day 1 and already the pack was at my door again.
Mira cracked the door open. Just enough to see who it was.
Caleb.
Zayden’s cousin and his Beta. The man who had taught us both how to throw a punch when we were kids and thought bruises were badges of honor.
He looked terrible with his hair sticking up like he had been running his hands through it all night. Eyes red-rimmed and his shirt wrinkled. He smelled like cold air and regret.
"Mira," he breathed. Then his eyes found me over her shoulder and his whole face crumpled.
"Did he send you?" Mira asked. Her grip on the knife didn’t loosen.
"No," Caleb said quickly. He held up both hands, palms out. "No. I came alone. I swear. I heard about... about Rowan. About the square. About the ultimatum."
He stepped forward and Mira blocked him with her body.
"Let him in," I said quietly.
Mira looked back at me. I nodded once and then she stepped aside.
Caleb came in and closed the door behind him. The cottage suddenly felt smaller. His presence filled it, heavy and guilty.
For a long time no one said anything.
Finally, Caleb broke. "I’m sorry," he said and he wasn’t looking at Mira. He was looking at me. "Isla. I’m so sorry."
The words landed like a stone in water.
"For what?" I asked. My voice was flat. I crossed my arms over my chest. "For not stopping him? For standing there while he humiliated me? For letting Rowan come here today?"
"For all of it," Caleb said. He dragged a hand through his hair and it stood up worse. "For being a coward. For following orders when I should’ve followed what was right. For not saying anything in the square. For not stopping Rowan at the door."
Mira scoffed from the corner. "You’re Beta. You don’t get to show up after and say sorry. You get to stop it before it happens."
"I know," Caleb said. He didn’t argue. He didn’t defend himself. He just looked exhausted. "I know that, Mira. And I hate myself for it. Every second of today I’ve hated myself."
He turned back to me. "What Zayden did was wrong. What Rowan said to you was wrong. You’re not... you’re not what they said you are."
"What did they say I am?" I asked. The words came out sharper than I meant.
Caleb flinched. "Rowan told me what he said. About your... about your body. About you being a vessel. It was disgusting, Isla. You’re not a problem. You’re not soft. You’re not plump. You’re Isla. You’ve been part of this pack since you were born. You lost your parents and still showed up to every pack run. You still helped in the kitchens when no one asked. You deserve better than this."
No one had said that to me. Not "you deserve better." Zayden said "duty." Rowan said "vessel." Serena said "stay quiet."
The bond in my chest twisted hard and I knew Zayden felt this. He knew Caleb was here.
"Why are you here, Caleb?" I asked.
"Because someone should tell you the truth," he said. "Zayden is falling apart. The bond is tearing him up. He thinks he’s making the right choice for the pack. He’s not. I told him that. To his face."
"And?" Mira asked.
"And he didn’t listen," Caleb admitted. Shame flickered across his face. "He said the pack needs strong heirs. That Serena is Luna material. That this is the only way." He continued.
He looked at me again. "But it’s not the only way and you don’t have to accept it."
I stared at him. "That’s it? That’s why you came? To tell me that?"
"That’s why I came," he said. "To apologize. To tell you that not everyone in the pack thinks you’re disposable. To tell you... if he hurts you. If he tries to snap the bond. Come to me. I’ll help you. In any way I can."
He meant it and I could see it in his eyes but it wasn’t enough.
An apology didn’t undo the square.
An apology didn’t make Rowan’s words go away.
An apology didn’t stop the three-day countdown on my wall.
"Okay," I said.
Caleb nodded like he had expected that. "I should go."
He moved toward the door, then stopped. "Isla. I’m really sorry."
Then he was gone.
The door closed and the cottage was quiet again.
Mira let out a breath. "Well. That was useless."
"Was it?" I walked to the window and pulled the curtain back a little. Outside it was getting dark. Gray sky. Cold.
"Yeah," Mira said. "What good is sorry now?"
"Maybe none," I said. "But he’s the first person who said it wasn’t my fault."
Mira came to stand beside me. "You okay?"
"No," I said honestly. "Rowan’s words are still in my head. Soft. Plump. A problem. That body of yours. Like I’m a broken tool he’s trying to figure out what to do with."
"Don’t," Mira said fiercely. She bumped her shoulder into mine. "You’re not a tool. You’re my best friend. You’re the girl who gave me half her dinner for a year so I wouldn’t go hungry. You’re strong, Isla. Stronger than all of them."
I smiled. It was small. "Thanks."
We stood there in silence for a while, watching the light fade.
Day 1 was almost over.
The bond pulled but not as sharp as before, but steady. A reminder that Zayden was out there too and counting down too.
"Mi," I said softly.
"Hmm?"
"I’m leaving," I said.
Mira went still. "What?"
"I’m leaving," I repeated. "Not tonight. But soon. Before the three days are up. And I’m not telling anyone where I’m going. Not Zayden. Not the pack. Not even you. Not at first."
Mira turned to face me fully. "Isla. You can’t just—"
"I can," I cut her off. "If I tell you, they’ll get it out of you. If I tell Caleb, he’ll tell Zayden. The only way to be safe is for no one to know. For me to just... disappear."
"Where will you go?" Her voice was shaking.
"I don’t know yet," I said. "Somewhere far. Somewhere the bond can’t reach me. Somewhere I’m not someone’s duty."
Mira’s eyes filled. "You’re really doing this."
"I have to," I said. "I’m not going to be his breeder and I’m not going to stand in that square and let him break me in front of everyone. Those are the only two options he gave me. So I’m making a third."
Mira was quiet for a long time. Then she reached out and took my hand and squeezed it hard.
"Okay," she whispered. "Okay. But you better send me a letter. Or I swear to the Goddess I will tear this pack apart looking for you."
I laughed. It was shaky and wet but it was real. "Deal."
She pulled me into a hug. It was tight like she was trying to memorize me.
"I’m proud of you," she murmured into my hair. "For choosing you."
We stayed like that until the room was almost dark.
When we finally pulled apart, I went to the wall. To the one s***h of charcoal.
Day 1.
I picked up the charcoal again and underneath it, I wrote two words.
My choice.
Day 1.
Two days left and for the first time since the square, I felt like I had some control.
I was going to disappear and no one would know where.
- Writer
