A Moment of Truth

Lily took a deep, shaky breath, wiping away the last traces of her tears as Alex’s concerned gaze remained on her. 

He was patient, not pressing her, just waiting for her to speak when she was ready. 

His gentle presence was grounding, allowing her to ease into the silence between them before she finally found the words.

"Whenever you feel like it, just feel free to tell me what's wrong and I won't hesitate to listen to you" Alex said as he held Lily tighter.

“It’s my mom,” she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “She… she has a way of making me feel like everything I have, I owe to her. Like I don’t deserve anything on my own.”

Alex’s expression softened, a sympathetic understanding flickering in his eyes. 

“I get it,” he said, his tone gentle. “My mom’s… similar in some ways. She’s always reminded me of the sacrifices she made for me. It’s like there’s this silent expectation that I have to live a certain way to honor that.”

Lily looked at him in surprise, not having expected him to relate so deeply. 

“Really? I thought… I mean, you seem so strong and confident.”

Alex chuckled, but it wasn’t a joyful sound. 

“Confidence doesn’t make it easier. Sometimes, it feels like a mask I have to wear, just so I don’t let her down.”

She nodded, comforted by his honesty. 

“I just wish I could live without feeling guilty all the time, like I’m constantly falling short. My mom has always had this… idea of who I’m supposed to be. And when I don’t fit that, she reminds me of everything she’s sacrificed.”

Alex’s gaze held hers, steady and understanding. 

“You’re not alone, Lily. You have the right to be who you are, no matter what anyone expects of you. You’re strong enough to live life on your terms.”

The warmth in his words seeped into her, easing some of the pain that had clung to her heart. 

It was nothing like she has experienced in a long time, especially after enduring being hated and treated like trash by everyone in the pack.

In that moment, surrounded by Alex’s understanding and encouragement, she felt a flicker of freedom, a sense that maybe she could break free from the chains of others’ expectations.

As their conversation gradually came into silence, she became aware of how close they were standing. 

Alex’s hand was still on her shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. 

His face was only inches from hers, and she could feel his breath as it mingled with hers in the stillness of the gym.

Her heart beat faster, and she found herself drawn to him, the pain of the day momentarily forgotten in the steady gaze of his eyes. 

She couldn’t help but lean closer, her own hand coming to rest on his arm. 

The connection between them grew, filling the space around them with a gentle electricity that neither seemed to want to break.

Alex’s eyes flickered down to her lips, and Lily’s heart stilled in her chest. 

She felt a surge of warmth, her own gaze drifting to his mouth as the world around them seemed to fade away.

Then, just as their faces were inches apart, the moment shattered.

A sharp, pointed cough echoed through the gym, and Lily’s head snapped up, her heart sinking as she saw Lucas and Liam standing just a few feet away. 

Their expressions were unreadable, but their eyes burned with an intensity that made Lily feel as if she’d been caught doing something forbidden.

Liam’s jaw was clenched, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her heart hammer. 

Lucas, standing beside him, had his arms crossed, his gaze shifting from her to Alex with a mixture of suspicion and anger.

A cold shiver ran down Lily’s spine as she quickly pulled back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and guilt. 

She couldn’t tell if they had actually seen the near-kiss, but their expressions spoke volumes. 

The disappointment, the accusation, it was all there, unspoken yet heavy in the air.

“Lily,” Liam said, his voice low and controlled, though there was an edge to it that made her tense. “Care to explain what’s going on here?”

Lily opened her mouth, searching for the words to defend herself, but nothing came. 

Her mind was blank, panic clouding her thoughts. 

She glanced at Alex, who had straightened, his face a mask of calm but with a subtle defiance in his eyes as he looked back at the twins.

“Is there a problem?” Alex asked, his tone steady and calm, though his gaze held an unspoken challenge.

Lucas and Liam shared a glance, their expressions darkening. 

Lucas’s lips pressed into a thin line as he looked between Lily and Alex, a flash of something unreadable flickering in his gaze.

“Actually, yes,” Lucas replied, his voice dangerously calm. “We’d like to know why you were alone with our… friend here, so close.” There was a possessiveness in his tone that stung, as if Lily were a piece of property he had to protect.

Lily swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper as she answered, “I… I was just talking to Alex.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching as if he were holding back words he wanted to throw at her. 

“Talking,” he echoed, his voice laced with skepticism. He shifted his attention to Alex, his gaze sharp and assessing. “We’d appreciate it if you stayed away from her.”

Alex’s face didn’t falter, though Lily saw his fists clench at his sides. 

“Why?” he challenged, meeting their gaze directly. 

His calmness held a quiet strength that made him seem even more formidable.

Lucas and Liam both looked taken aback by his boldness, as if they weren’t used to anyone defying them. 

They exchanged a glance, an unspoken message passing between them before Liam finally spoke, his voice a low growl. 

“Because we said so.”

Alex returned his gave with something just as intense and in thatmoment, Lily knew that things were going to escalate to a point where she wouldn't have any control.