She Became the Storm

CHAPTER 3: THE BEGINNING OF WAR

“You shouldn’t have come back.”

Kael’s voice was calm—but his eyes?

Sharp. Dangerous.

Interested.

Elara let out a soft laugh.

“Afraid?” she asked.

The people around them held their breath.

No one talked to Kael Montenegro like that.

No one dared.

But she did

.

And she wasn’t even trying.

Kael stepped closer, his gaze darkening. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“No,” Elara replied smoothly. “I’m ending one.”

A murmur spread across the room.

Whispers. Shock. Curiosity.

Because the name Elara Vance—

It wasn’t supposed to exist anymore.

“And how exactly are you planning to do that?” Kael asked, lowering his voice.

Elara leaned slightly closer, her lips near his ear.

“By taking everything you have.” She pulled away just enough to meet his eyes.

“Just like you did to me.”

For a moment—

There was silence.

Then Kael smiled.

But this time?

It wasn’t mocking.

It was something worse.

“You’ve changed,” he said.

Elara’s expression didn’t move.

“I had to.”

“I made you.” Kael said.

“You forced me to.”

Because for Elara weak girls don’t survive.

Only storms do.