Chapter Twelve
Aria’s POV
My wolf growled low in my chest, a warning to both him and me. I snatched the album from his hands before he could react. Without a second thought, I hurled it into the lake nearby.
The splash echoed in the silence.
For a moment, Nicho just stared at the rippling water, disbelief etched into his face. Then, with a strangled sound, he shifted halfway, claws sprouting from his hands as he leaped into the lake.
I watched, expressionless, as he dove again and again, searching for the album. But the lake had already claimed it, the same way time had claimed whatever bond we might have shared.
When he finally emerged, drenched and shivering, he looked pitiful–like a wolf cast out of the pack. His glowing eyes met
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mine, full of anger, sorrow, and
desperation.
“It’s gone, Nicho,” I said softly. “Just like us. There’s nothing left to salvage.”
He took a step forward, but I held up a
hand.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice firm. “This is goodbye. A proper one, since we never really had one before. Stop chasing me. Stop holding onto something that no longer exists. If you don‘ t let go, Nicho, you’ll only ruin what little good memories I have of you. And I don‘ t want to hate
you.
His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, his wolf struggling to break free. But he didn’t fight me. He just stood there, his hands clenched at his sides, water dripping from his hair and clothes.
“Goodbye, Nicho,” I said, my tone final.
I turned and walked away, my wedding dress trailing behind me like a ghost of the
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past. Taylor was waiting by the car. As I slid
into the seat beside him, I felt Nicho’s gaze burning into my back.
Taylor didn’t say anything as we pulled away, leaving Nicho behind in the moonlight.
Goodbye, my ten years…
Goodbye, my first love…
As the car sped through the forest, the bond I once shared with Nicho frayed and snapped completely. My wolf sighed in relief, curling into the warmth of Taylor‘ s
presence.
