Aria stood on the balcony, the cool night air biting at her skin as she watched the moon. The camp behind her was quiet, save for the occasional growl of a wolf and the murmur of the warriors. But her mind was elsewhere, tangled in memories and new emotions.
Nigel had apologized. She had given him a chance, but the weight of that decision was heavier than she'd expected. She thought she could be strong, put the past behind her, but the old connection still lingered in the air around them.
She wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing.
Footsteps approached, and she didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Kael stood behind her, his presence looming like a storm on the horizon. "You're still up," he said softly.
Aria didn't answer right away, her fingers gripping the railing as she fought to organize her thoughts.
"Aria," Kael's voice was quieter now, his usual confidence replaced by something softer—something vulnerable. "I don't like seeing you give him another chance. He's hurt you more than once. You don't need to keep him around."
"I don't need you to protect me, Kael," she said, her voice sharp but weary. "I'm not asking you to approve of my decisions."
Kael stepped forward, his gaze intense. "It's not just about approval. I'm worried about you."
"I can handle it," Aria said, turning to face him. She wanted to believe it, needed to. But her chest ached, torn between the loyalty she once felt for Nigel and the trust she was starting to build with Kael.
Kael was silent for a moment, his jaw clenched as he processed her words. "I can't stand watching him get close to you again. You were hurt too much before. You're my responsibility now."
His words, filled with frustration and protectiveness, hit Aria harder than she expected. She looked at him, searching his eyes, feeling the weight of his emotions. She could see how much he cared—how much he wanted to shield her from the past.
"I don't belong to anyone, Kael," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "Not even you."
He inhaled sharply, stepping closer, his hand reaching out, but not touching. "I know you're not mine. But I—" He cut himself off, his eyes darkening with something unspoken. "I can't just watch you give him another chance to hurt you."
Aria took a deep breath, feeling the stirrings of something she hadn't expected: guilt. She understood his feelings, but she couldn't deny that her heart was still tangled with Nigel in ways she wasn't ready to face.
"You can't keep trying to control me," she said, her tone soft but firm. "I need to make my own choices. I need to figure out who I want in my life."
Kael's gaze softened, but only slightly. "I'm not trying to control you, Aria. I just want what's best for you."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was thick with unspoken words, and Aria could feel the tension between them, sharp and biting. She was starting to realize that the space she'd tried to keep between herself and both men was becoming unbearable.
"I can't be the person you want me to be," she whispered, almost to herself.
Kael stepped back, his expression hardening again. "I know."
---
Later that night, Aria returned to the camp where Nigel was recovering, his injuries still visible but healing. She found him sitting outside, leaning against a tree, his eyes trained on the stars above.
"I didn't mean to cause this much trouble," he said as she approached, his voice tinged with regret. "I should've stayed away."
Aria sat down beside him, keeping her distance but allowing a quiet understanding to settle between them.
"I don't know what you expect from me, Nigel," she said. "You've hurt me. But I can't just shut the door on you."
He turned his gaze to her, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't name. "I'm sorry, Aria. I was wrong. I've been wrong about so many things. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness."
She didn't answer immediately. There were too many feelings tangled in her chest. But after a long pause, she finally spoke.
"I forgive you," she whispered. "But not for us. Not for what we were. I forgive you because I need to move on."
He nodded slowly, his eyes softening. "I understand."
---
Back at the campfire, Kael was waiting.
He didn't say anything when Aria walked in. He didn't need to.
She could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his fists by his sides. He had been waiting for her—waiting to see where she stood.
"You were right," she said quietly. "I needed to make my own choice."
Kael's jaw tightened. "And?"
She walked over to him, stopping just a few feet away. "I gave him a chance. But only as a friend."
Kael's expression darkened. "And what about me?"
Aria took a breath, trying to find the right words. "I don't know. I care about you, Kael. But I need to figure out what that means."
Kael's eyes flashed with frustration. "I can't keep being your second choice, Aria."
She flinched, her heart aching at the rawness in his voice. "I'm not choosing between you and him," she said softly. "I'm choosing to heal."
---
End of Chapter 12