Maria.
I slipped behind the pillar the very mont Sonia stepped out of the study, pressing my back flat against the cold surface as my breath hitched in my throat. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that I was certain she would hear it if she lingered for even a second longer. I held my breath, barely daring to move, barely daring to blink.
I couldn’t afford for her to see , not now, and definitely ot like this.
Her footsteps echoed faintly against the corridor floor, steady and unhurried, as though she had all the ti in the world. As though she had already won.
I stayed frozen, counting each second in silence until the sound of her heels finally faded into nothing.
Only then did I move.
The mont she was completely out of sight, I pushed myself off the pillar and ran. My steps were quick, uneven, almost desperate as I rushed down the hallway, my thoughts colliding violently in my head.
I didn’t stop until I reached my room.
I pushed the door open, slipped inside, and shut it behind with a soft but firm click.
And then....
My strength gave out.
I slid down against the door, my knees hitting the ground as I collapsed onto the floor, my hands trembling slightly at my sides.
Who would have thought...?
Who would have thought Noah’s marriage wasn’t just about love... but about peace between two packs?
The thought twisted painfully in my chest.
"Moon goddess..." I whispered, my voice barely audible as I slowly lifted my head to stare at the ceiling, my vision blurring slightly, my fingers curled into tight fists against the floor. "Are you toying with ?"
The question hung in the air, unanswered.
I let out a shaky breath, my chest rising and falling unevenly as the weight of everything pressed down on all at once.
What kind of fate was this?
I couldn’t understand it.
No matter how hard I tried, nothing made sense.
Minutes passed, long, dragging minutes where I remained on the floor, unmoving, lost in the storm of my own thoughts. The silence in the room felt suffocating, wrapping around like a cage I couldn’t escape from.
Until...a knock.
My body stiffened instantly.
"Maria." Noah’s voice ca from the other side of the door, soft but laced with urgency. "Why did you lock the door?" he asked, pausing briefly before his tone shifted, softer this ti... almost pleading. "Please... let in."
I closed my eyes tightly.
I really wanted to be alone.
I needed ti to think... to breathe... to understand what I had just heard.
But his voice...the way he said my na...It broke through every wall I was trying to build.
I pushed myself up slowly, my legs slightly unsteady as I stood in front of the door. My hand hovered over the handle for a brief mont before I finally turned it.
The door creaked open and before I could even step back...Noah rushed in.
His arms wrapped around instantly, pulling close, holding tightly, desperately, like I was the only thing anchoring him to the ground.
I froze for a second before my body slowly relaxed into the embrace.
He held like he was afraid I would disappear, like I was the only thing keeping him safe.
My hands hovered uncertainly before I finally let them rest lightly against him, my fingers gripping his shirt just a little.
I wanted to ask him.
I wanted to look him in the eyes and demand the truth.
Would he really marry Sonia?
But the words stayed stuck in my throat, because if I asked...he would know.
He would know I had been listening.
So I stayed silent.
"Maria..." he murmured, pulling back just enough to look at .
His hands rested on my arms, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten.
"No matter what happens... or what anyone tells you..." he paused, his voice steady but filled with sothing raw. "...I just want you to know I love you."
My breath caught.
"And it will never change. Okay?"
My heart lted instantly.
The warmth of his words spread through , softening sothing deep inside my chest despite everything I had just heard.
Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision as I fought to hold them back, blinking rapidly.
I couldn’t cry now, not in front of him.
I wasn’t supposed to look weak... not when I was still angry, angry at him, angry at the situation, angry at the cruel twist of fate that refused to let breathe.
So I swallowed it all down.
"Okay..." I managed to say, though my voice ca out softer than I intended, almost fragile.
The word lingered between us for a brief mont before I averted my gaze, unable to hold his eyes any longer. Sothing about the way he looked at , so intent, so searching, made it harder to keep my emotions in check.
I turned away quickly, my steps leading toward the bed, each movent deliberate as though I was trying to escape not just him, but everything building up inside .
But I didn’t get far.
Noah’s arms wrapped around from behind, firm and warm, pulling back into him. His hold was secure, grounding, his hands settling around my waist as if they belonged there.
"Maria..." he called softly, his breath brushing lightly against my ear. "Is there sothing bothering you?"
I stiffened slightly.
"You can always share your burden with ," he continued gently. "You know that, right? We’re getting married soon..."
His words only made my chest tighten further.
I didn’t know what to say.
I didn’t know how to say it.
So I stayed silent.
The quiet stretched between us, heavy and telling, and it didn’t take long for Noah to notice.
Without warning, he turned around to face him.
His hands ca to rest on my arms, his gaze locking onto mine imdiately. He searched my eyes with such intensity, as though he was trying to peel back every layer I had carefully put up.
And just like that...I broke.
The tears I had been holding back slipped free, rolling down my cheeks before I could stop them. My vision blurred instantly, and I felt a wave of embarrassnt crash over .
I hated crying in front of him.
"It’s okay, Maria..." Noah murmured softly.
Before I could react, he pulled closer, guiding my head to rest against his chest. His hand moved gently along my back, patting in a slow, soothing rhythm.
"I won’t pressure you," he added quietly. "You don’t have to tell now... we have plenty of ti together."
That did it.
The softness in his voice... the patience... the way he held like I was sothing fragile...It made everything spill over.
My tears ca harder this ti, soaking into his shirt as my body trembled against him. I choked on my sobs, trying to hold back but failing miserably. Each breath ca uneven, my shoulders shaking as I clung to him without even realizing it.
And through it all, he didn’t let go.
He just stayed there... holding ... letting fall apart.
After what felt like forever, my cries slowly subsided. My breathing steadied, though my chest still felt tight, heavy.
I pulled away slightly, breaking from his embrace, but I kept my head lowered, too embarrassed to et his eyes.
But Noah didn’t let hide for long, his fingers gently lifted my chin, forcing to look up at him.
And to my surprise...he was smiling, nt mockingly, just... softly, almost teasingly.
"You still look beautiful," he said, his voice warm, "even like this."
His hand moved to brush a loose strand of hair away from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear.
My cheeks flushed instantly, heat rushing to my face before I could stop it.
And before I could even gather myself...
He leaned in.
His lips t mine in a soft, lingering kiss. It wasn’t rushed, nor was it forceful, it was gentle, almost comforting, yet there was sothing teasing beneath it... sothing that made my heart skip.
I froze for a second before instinctively responding, my breath catching as the kiss deepened just slightly.
"I want you, Maria..." Noah murmured softly against my lips, his voice low, filled with emotion. "All of you..."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, leaving breathless, caught between the warmth of his embrace and the storm still lingering in my heart.
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