Chapter 2
1131 Words
Aria's Betrayal
The old vendor didn't smile back. Instead his eyes remained fixed on me, strangely solemn. Funny," he murmured, almost to himself.
"Love has a way of choosing the worst day to surprise us."
A shiver raced down my spine.
Maybe I was overthinking it.” I tightened my grip on the velvet pouch. Hugging the necklace to my chest, "
The velvet pouch rested safely in my hand as I made my way through the bustling market. Merchants called out their latest bargains, children darted between the stalls with carefree laughter, and the rich aroma of roasted corn mingled with the scent of fresh bread drifting from a nearby bakery. The smell of roasted corn made my stomach grumble, but I smiled to myself. Every cent I had was gone, and I didn't regret it.
Everything felt... lighter.
Kieran would love it. I was sure of it. My fingers brushed over the necklace hidden inside the pouch, and I imagined fastening it around his neck myself. The thought warmed my cheeks.
"Someone's in love," an elderly woman selling flowers teased as I passed.
I laughed, unable to hide my happiness.
"Is it that obvious?" The woman nodded with a knowing smile and handed me a single white wildflower.
"For good luck."
"Thank you."
I tucked the flower beside the necklace and continued walking.
As I left the market behind, the streets grew quieter. The cheerful chatter faded until only the rustling leaves and my footsteps remained. A cool breeze swept through the road, carrying with it an odd chill that prickled the back of my neck.
I slowed.
For a brief moment, it felt as though someone was watching me. I glanced over my shoulder,
No one.
Just an empty road stretching behind me.
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head.
"You're imagining things, Aria." Hugging the gift close to my chest, I continued toward home, unaware that every step was carrying me closer to the moment that would shatter my heart forever. The closer I got to our house, the lighter my steps became. The little velvet box rested safely inside my pocket, and every now and then my fingers brushed against it just to make sure it was still there.
I couldn't stop smiling.
Kieran was going to love it.
It was quite expensive. In fact, it had taken almost everything I had, leaving me without enough money to even buy the roasted corn I'd been craving since I entered the market. But that didn't matter.
Seeing his smile would be worth every coin. The evening breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers. Somewhere nearby, children laughed as they chased one another through the narrow streets. A woman called out to her son from a doorway while pots clanged in distant kitchens as families prepared dinner.
Home.
I was only a few minutes away.
At that exact moment. The familiar wooden gate creaked as I pushed it open. A smile lingered on my lips as I slipped into the house, my fingers instinctively brushing against the little velvet box hidden inside my pocket.
"I'm home!" I called, my voice bright with excitement.
Silence.
"Lyra?" I laughed softly. "Kieran?"
Still nothing. Maybe they were asleep.
I walked farther into the house, my footsteps echoing against the worn wooden floor. Just as I reached the hallway, I heard it. A muffled laugh. It came from Lyra's room.
A grin spread across my face. Those two must be planning another surprise for me.
Without a second thought, I reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open.
The smile vanished.
Time….stopped
I saw Kieran, on Lyra's bed with Lyra beneath him.
My mind refused to understand what my eyes were seeing.
No.
No…
This had to be a joke, a nightmare.
Anything but reality. The little velvet box slipped from my trembling fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud. Both of them turned at the sound. Kieran's face was drained of color. Lyra's eyes widened in horror.
"Aria..." she whispered, scrambling away from him. "Please... it's not—"
Her words never reached me.
My ears rang so loudly that everything else disappeared.
I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't think.
My heart felt as though someone had ripped it from my chest and crushed it beneath their feet. The room blurred through the tears gathering in my eyes.
My best friend. The man I loved. Together.
In my home.
"Aria, wait!" Lyra cried, stumbling toward
I couldn't move. For one endless second,I stood frozen, staring at the two people I trusted most. The word seemed to end, but it didn't. Then something inside me shattered. I turned and ran. I didn't know where I was going. I only knew I had to get away.
Away from that room.
Away from them.
Away from the life I had believed was real.
I ran.
The house disappeared behind me, but I didn't stop.
I ran towards the forest. Branches clawed at my arms, tearing through my sleeves as I stumbled deeper into the forest. Dry leaves crunched beneath my feet while roots reached out like hands, threatening to throw me to the ground. I didn't care.
My lungs burned. My legs screamed.
Still, I ran. The deeper I went, the darker the forest became. Sunlight struggled to slip through the thick canopy, leaving shifting patches of shadow across the ground. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled, but it sounded faint compared to the storm raging inside my chest.
Every time I blinked, the same image flashed before my eyes.
Kieran.
Lyra.
Together.
"No..." I whispered, shaking my head as though I could erase the memory. "No... no..."
A low branch caught my shoulder, spinning me sideways. I crashed onto the damp forest floor, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. For a long moment, I remained there, palms pressed into the cold earth, my breathing ragged.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet. Only the wind stirred the towering trees, carrying the soft rustle of leaves above my head. At last, I pushed myself upright and stumbled toward the base of the mooncrest pack. My knees gave way before I reached it, and I sank against the rough bark.
The little velvet box was still in my pocket.
My trembling fingers pulled the necklace from the velvet pouch.
The silver shimmered in the fading light.
It was meant to be a symbol of love.
Now it was nothing more than proof of how completely my heart had been broken.
And that was how I found myself at the border of Mooncrest Pack—broken, alone, and with nothing left except the necklace meant for the man who had shattered my heart.
- Writer
