CHAPTER 21

The Storm Approaches

"Flora, we need to talk."

The words hung in the air like a warning. Flora didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. Adrian's voice was deep and steady, a blade cutting through tension in the room. She could feel the weight of his presence behind her-tall, solid, but miles away in the space between them.

She kept her gaze on the maps on the table, her mind wandering. She wasn't ready for this talk. Not today. Not when everything in her head felt like it was slowly crumbling apart.

"You have to be kidding me," she muttered under her breath, more for her ears than his. "You want to talk now?"

Adrian stepped closer; his boots silent on the cold concrete floor. "I know you're angry, Flora. But this—" He paused, his eyes softening slightly. "This can't wait anymore."

The last few weeks had been a blur of orders, tension, and quiet moments spent questioning everything she thought she knew about herself. She'd been through hell, and somehow, the worst part of it all was realizing how easily Adrian had slipped back into her life. And she couldn't even tell if that was a good thing or a terrible one.

Turning slowly, she crossed her arms, her eyes meeting his. “So, what now? You’re here to fix things? After everything you’ve done?” Her voice shook, though she fought to keep the anger from taking over. “You’re here to explain yourself?”

Adrian didn't bat an eyelid. "I'm here to make things right." His voice came out steady but with a certain underlining fragility. "Flora, I know I messed up. I know that. I cannot undo the past. But I want to fix it. I want to make up for what I did.

Flora's heart skipped a beat, but she pushed the feeling aside. She was tired of this back-and-forth, tired of being tangled in this web of confusion that Adrian had helped weave. The trust she had once placed in him felt fragile, like it could shatter with a word.

You can't just fix this with a few words, Adrian," she said, her tone low. "You don't get to walk in here and act like you've learned something. You don't get to tell me I should just forget everything.".

He took a deep breath, allowing the silence to stretch between them for a moment. "I'm not asking for you to forget, Flora. I'm asking for a chance to rebuild. A chance to show you that I can be better."

Words tangled in her throat, and Flora was at a loss as her mind fought a war with itself: Could she really trust him again, let him back into her life after everything?

I don't even know who I am anymore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I used to think I knew. I used to think I had it all figured out. But now. now it's like I don't even know what I'm fighting for." She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, locking her gaze on Adrian. "Did you change me, Adrian? Or was I always this. broken?

There was silence, the weight in the room settling. Adrian's face softened and he reached out, placing a hand on the table between them, his hand extended to bridge the gap.

I never wanted to change you," he said quietly. "I just wanted to be a part of your life. And I messed that up. I didn't think. I didn't act. I let things get out of hand.

The weight of his words hit her hard, but the fact remained that she was stuck in this circle of uncertainty and didn't know how to break free. She didn't have the answers she needed, and it seemed Adrian's promises couldn't calm the turmoil inside her.

Is that what you're doing now?" she asked, voice tinged with bitterness. "Trying to make things right? To fix your mistakes so you can keep your status in the pack?

Adrian's eyes went hard for a moment, before softening. "I am not doing it for the pack, Flora. I do it for you. Because I owe you that. Owed it to myself. And if it means losing everything-if that means stepping away from the pack, then I'll do just that.

At his words, Flora's chest constricted, but she did not show it. She needed to be strong; she needed to keep him at arm's length.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," she warned, pain dripping from her voice.

At that moment, the door burst open, and a soldier came in, breathless. "Ma'am, we've got a situation.

Flora turned away at once, her mind already racing. She had no time for this now. Larger things were in motion.

"What is it?" she snapped back into military mode.

He handed her a folder with a serious look. "Intel just came in. The enemy faction. they're closer than we thought. We've got a window of maybe twenty-four hours before they make their move.

Flora's heart fell. "Get everyone on high alert. I want full surveillance and two teams ready to go. We are not going to wait for them to hit first."

The soldier nodded and disappeared out of the room, but Flora was already lost in thought. The weight of the mission was overwhelming. This was bigger than any personal drama. Bigger than Adrian.

Adrian watched her closely, stepping forward again. "Flora, I know this isn't the right time for this, but-"

She cut him off, her voice firm. "There's no time for this, Adrian. We've got a crisis on our hands."

He didn't argue. He knew better.

"Just tell me what you need," he said, his voice steady.

She looked at him, her eyes hardening. "I need you to follow orders. No second-guessing. No distractions. Just focus.

Adrian nodded, but the tension between them hadn't eased. There was still so much left unsaid, and as much as she hated to admit it, part of her needed him in this fight. She couldn't afford to be distracted right now.

And as they reached the stage for planning, on the horizon appeared a storm gathering, and she knew for a fact that: things were bound to change now. Whatever transpired, none of this was ever going to be the same again.