Lyra's POVI held my breath as I approached the massive oak door, my heart racing with a mix of fear and hope. I had no idea how Kurtis’s father would react to my presence, or if he’d even want to see me after everything that had happened. But I was desperate. Desperate enough to swallow my pride, to risk the embarrassment, and to face whatever consequences came from what I’d done.The knock on the door echoed louder than I’d expected, reverberating in the stillness of the early morning. I almost turned to leave right then, the fear gripping me, but before I could move, the door swung open.Kurtis’s father stood before me, his eyes narrowing the moment he saw my face. “Lyra,” he said, his voice low, stern. “What are you doing here?”I swallowed, feeling a sharp pang in my chest. His expression was unreadable, his gaze piercing. I’d always known Mr. Everett as a warm and kind man, but right now, his look was distant, almost guarded, and I couldn’t help but feel I’d lost his respect too
Kurtis’s POVI clenched my jaw, feeling the sharp edge of anger pressing against my heart as I stared at her, standing there in my father’s house as if she hadn’t already shattered everything we had. I took a slow, deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady, but the hurt, the bitterness, it was all right there, boiling over.“Lyra, why are you here?” I asked, the words almost a growl. “I told you not to come to my house. Why, of all things, would you come crawling to my father?” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. The wounds she’d left were still raw, and seeing her now, in the last place I’d ever expected, only brought them closer to the surface.She flinched, her eyes wide, startled by my tone. But she didn’t back down. That was one thing about Lyra, she always stood her ground, even when she knew she’d messed up.“Kurtis, I’m here because I don’t know what else to do,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I thought… I thought maybe if I spoke to your dad, I cou
"Come here, baby girl," he murmured, his voice soft yet full of warmth as he took a step toward me, arms open.Kurtis’s arms around me felt like home.”His hand brushed my cheek, his thumb gently wiping away the last traces of tears. I leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth, the familiar comfort. I’d missed this, missed him, more than I ever realized.“You don’t know how much I missed you, Lyra,” he murmured, his voice husky and filled with emotion. “Every single part of you, your smile, your laugh, even the trouble you bring with you. I missed all of it.”My heart flipped at his words, and a nervous laugh escaped my lips. “The trouble, huh?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. “What kind of trouble are you talking about?”His eyes sparkled with a glimmer of his old self. “Oh, you know exactly what kind of trouble. The kind that kept me up at night, wondering what you’d get yourself into next. The kind that made my heart race, just thinking about all the chaos you bring into my
Angela's POVThe bright screen of my phone lit up in the dim room as I lazily scrolled through my feed, barely paying attention to the endless stream of photos and captions. It was just another evening, or so I thought. Then I saw it. One of Lyra’s friends, Jenna, had posted a picture of Lyra and Kurtis, locked in an embrace, smiling at each other like they had the world figured out. My chest tightened as I read the caption."I love this reunion. #Lyra #Kurtis"The words hit me like a punch. My mind raced, a storm of thoughts swirling so fast I could barely keep up. Lyra and Kurtis were together… again? After everything? The months she’d spent crying to me, doubting herself, wondering if she was good enough for him while I reassured her. And now she’s back in his arms, smiling like she never doubted a thing? My grip tightened around my phone, the edges pressing into my skin as my nails dug in. I couldn’t believe this.Before I could process, footsteps sounded down the hall, heavy and
Angela POVThe door clicked shut behind James, and the room felt even emptier and colder. His threats echoed in my mind like a taunting whisper, refusing to die down. "I’ll spill everything… every dirty little secret." The words replayed in my head, hitting like a sledgehammer. It wasn’t the first time he’d dangled my secrets over my head. But something about today felt different, darker. I paced the floor, trying to ignore the pit forming in my stomach. But my thoughts kept circling back to that one piece of truth I’d buried long ago. The truth I never wanted Lyra to know. My hand drifted to my abdomen, and I froze. An image from years ago flashed before me, sitting alone in a sterile room, the walls a sickening shade of white. The chill of the cold metal table beneath me as I lay there, my heart pounding in my chest. I’d done it to protect myself, to protect my future. But now, all that sacrifice felt useless. James, of all people, was ready to use it against me.A wave of anger w
Lyra POVI took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Alice's house. Every step I’d taken here was fueled by confusion and disbelief. Alice, James’s sister, had called me out of nowhere with a message that “urgency” didn’t even begin to describe.The door swung open almost immediately, and Alice stood there, looking like a cat who’d just caught the canary.“Come in, Lyra,” she said, motioning me inside with that ever-present smirk.I followed her, my stomach churning as we stepped into the dimly lit living room. I took a seat on the couch, nerves stretching thin. The room felt cold and ominous, as though every piece of furniture had been placed deliberately to unsettle me.“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Alice began, her voice smooth as silk. “I thought it was best you heard this from me directly.”“Hear what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. I wasn’t in the mood for games, not after everything I’d been through with Angela, Kurtis, and now, James.Alice didn’t answe
Lyra's POVI left Angela in that stairwell, my heart twisting with anger, hurt, and betrayal. I wanted to scream, to run, to make sense of everything, but the only place that felt safe right now was with Kurtis. I needed him. I needed to feel his arms around me, his steady strength, his unwavering love. Without thinking, I found myself outside his house, breathless, pounding on his door.The door opened, and there he was. Those familiar dark eyes softened the moment he saw me, but they were quickly replaced with concern. “Baby girl? What’s going on?” His voice was a low murmur, soothing and steady, exactly what I needed but couldn’t admit.I didn’t answer him. Words felt too heavy, too painful. Instead, I grabbed his collar, pulling him close. I crushed my mouth to him, pouring everything I couldn’t say into that kiss. The hurt, the betrayal, the frustration, I wanted to lose myself in him, to feel nothing but this moment.Kurtis’s arms wrapped around me instinctively, pulling me aga
Lyra's POVI wouldn’t hold myself anymore. I ran out to the house, my heart pounding, feet barely touching the ground as I raced toward the church. It was late, so late that the moon was high and cold, casting pale light across the empty streets. But I didn’t care. I just needed to get to the only place that felt like I could fall apart without the eyes of everyone watching, without the crushing weight of their expectations on my shoulders.As soon as I stepped through the grand doors, a deep, breathless calm swept over me. The world outside was loud, relentless, suffocating. But here, in this dim, quiet sanctuary, I could finally breathe, or at least try to. The flickering candles painted gentle, golden light across the stone walls, the quiet only broken by the sound of my footsteps echoing against the tiles.My knees hit the cold, hard ground beneath the altar, my hands clasping tightly together, fingers digging into each other until my knuckles went white. My breaths were shaky, ra