CHAPTER 3

DIANA'S POV I left Alex's room and went back to my own. I closed the door behind me, resting against it as my breathing came in ragged gasps. The room was dark, lit only by the soft light of the bedside lamp. Pain wrapped tight in my chest—bitter, unyielding. And then, the cough. Violent. Abrupt. I barely had time to lift my hand before the metal taste exploded in my mouth. Warm, dark blood gathered in my hand, stark against the whiteness of my skin. I stared at it, my vision blurring. It was getting worse. I swallowed forcibly, forcing the panic welling up. But I had known—down deep, I had known for some time now. My body was failing me. The healer's words echoed in my mind. "You don't have much time left, Diana." Her voice was gentle, but her eyes had been tears. "Maybe a few months." A few months. That's all. And I don't even know if it's even as much as a month or not. My fingers trembled as I washed my hand, the cloth having no effect against the cold that seeped into my bones. I should have been frightened. But I wasn't. I was relieved. Three years of misery. Three years of living another's life. I had surrendered everything—love, freedom, happiness. But it would all soon be over. And I would finally be free. I fell onto the bed, watching the lamp sway, my thoughts returning to the time when things were not as they stand today. When love was important. --- Flashback – Three Years Ago Sunlight filtered through the trees, bathing the clearing in golden warmth. The breeze brought the scent of wildflowers and green grass. I laughed as Alex tugged me forward, his grip firm but playful. "Come on, Diana," he teased, grinning. "You're slower than a snail." I pursed my plump lips, pretending to be offended. "Not everyone has Alpha speed, you know." He grinned, turning his face away from me, his deep blue eyes glinting mischievously. "Then I suppose I'll just have to carry you." Before I could protest, he had swooped up, scooped, and enveloped me in one smooth, determined movement. I shrieked, wrapping arms around his neck. "Aaaaalex!" I gasped. "Put me down!" His laughter rattled the skin under me. "Never." I couldn't help smiling despite my outrage. His warmth, his skin—he made my pulse throb. Back then, he had been my whole world. We collapsed onto the grass, breathless from laughter. He propped himself up on one elbow, looking at me with a tenderness that made my chest ache. "You know you’re mine, right?" he murmured. I nodded. "And you’re mine." He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Always, Diana." Then his lips met mine—soft, full of promise. I had believed in that promise. I had believed in us. Then he stepped back, slapped my head and mocked me. "Look at how red your face is, what a poor kisser." I buried my head in my hands, blushing hard until my cheeks turned tomato red. "She's blushing," he guffawed and I got up faking anger and embarrassment and ran after him while we went round the whole compound. Effervescing in joyous laughter and smile. --- Present Day Shuddering breath escaped my lips, the past pressing down on me like a burden I could not escape. The promise had been broken. The smile had perished when he was poisoned and I was promised to Ryan. Alex had set me free. He had suspected the worst. He had gone away, leaving me to ache alone. And now, it was too late to make amends. I touched my aching chest. I would not tell him the truth. He had moved on—built a life with Lily, while I had retreated into nothing more than memory. I was a shadow of the past. I just had to wait a little longer. A few more months, and it would all be over. Then, I would be free. From him. From the pain. From everything. --- Later That Night A knock at the door startled me. I quickly shoved the bloody cloth under my pillow before unzipping it. Alex just stood there with his face expressionless. I straightened up. "What do you want?" His eyes raked over mine. "Are you okay?" I attempted to smile. "Why would I not be?" His jaw tightened. "Diana—" "I don't need your sympathy, Alex." My voice was silky in spite of the ache within my chest. "Go back to your life." His eyes darkened. "You are my life." A bitter laugh was torn from me. "No. I was your past." Silence. He just stared at me, as if he was waiting for me to take it back—to say something that would make it all go away. But I didn't. I gave him a reminder instead. A cruel one. "Do you remember?" My voice was soft, but sharp. "Do you remember when I cheated on you?" His entire body tensed. I saw it in his eyes—the anger, the betrayal, the raw wound which never healed. "Diana—" "I married someone else," I continued, my voice slicing through the air. "I chose him over you." His fists clenched at his sides. "Stop." "Why?" I tilted my head. "Does it still hurt?" His breath was caught, his body rigid with contained emotion. Good. If he was angry, he wouldn't see the truth. He wouldn't see how much I was hurting. How much I still loved him. He had trusted Lily. He had trusted the lies. And that had destroyed me more than anything else. I walked to the door, opening it wide. "Leave, Alex." He hesitated. But then, at last, he consented. He came in, and I closed the door on him. As soon as he was out of my sight, I exhaled, not knowing I'd been holding it. I pushed my hand on my chest, the weak, uneven throb of my heart. All this would be gone soon. Soon, I would be gone. And maybe, just maybe That was better.