Bitter present

Bitter present


Flora's POV

I blinked.

“So what?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.”

I couldn't help but smile.

“You left me alone with him.”

“Exactly.”

She walked toward me.

“What did he say?”

I hesitated.

“He asked if I thought he would kill my unborn child.”

Lucy's smile disappeared.

“And what did you say?”

“I told him I knew he would never hurt me.”

Lucy sighed in relief.

“I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

She gave me a knowing look.

“That Alpha Malcolm loves you.”

My eyes widened.

“Lucy.”

“What?”

“He doesn't.”

She laughed.

“Flora, please.”

“I'm serious.”

“So am I.”

She stepped closer and lowered her voice.

“The way that man looks at you? That's not how an Alpha looks at someone he simply wants to protect.”

I shook my head.

“You're imagining things.”

“He kissed your forehead, didn't he?”

I froze.

“How did you know?”

Lucy grinned.

“Because I've seen him do it before.”

My cheeks warmed.

“Lucy…”

“He loves you so much.”

I looked toward the door again.

“He has a meeting with the elders.”

“I know.”

“He said it's about me.”

Her smile vanished.

“What?”

I nodded.

“He said he'll do everything within his power to make me stay in the pack.”

Lucy stared at me.

For the first time, she looked genuinely worried.

“Then we should be prepared for whatever comes next.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“What do you mean?”

Lucy looked toward the closed door.

“I don't know.”

She paused.

“But if the elders are involved, this isn't over.”

I swallowed.

“I don't know if I should stay,” I finally said.

Lucy turned toward me. “Stay where?”

“Here.” I swallowed hard. “In the pack.”

She frowned. “Why?”

I gave a bitter laugh.

“Because they might not accept me, Lucy.”

The words sounded worse after I said them aloud.

I had tried to pretend that I didn't care about what people thought of me. I had told myself that I was stronger now, that I had survived things that should have destroyed me. But the truth was that every whisper still hurt.

“I can already imagine what they're saying,” I continued. “They'll look at me and remember everything. They'll remember the war. They'll remember what happened. Some of them will blame me for things I didn't even do.”

Lucy stared at me for a moment before shaking her head.

“Flora, do you honestly think this is new?”

I looked at her.

“What?”

She sighed and folded her arms.

“Think about it. Before the war, did everyone in this pack love you?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Lucy raised an eyebrow.

“Exactly.”

I looked away.

She wasn't wrong.

Even before the war, there had always been people who disliked me. Some had judged me because of my family. Others had believed every rumor they heard. There were people who had smiled in my face and insulted me the moment I turned my back.

Lucy stepped closer.

“Before the war, they hated you. After the war, some of them still hate you. So what exactly has changed?”

I frowned.

“Everything.”

“No.” She shook her head. “You have changed.”

Her words caught me off guard.

“You survived,” she continued. “You became stronger. You stopped allowing people to decide your worth for you.”

I lowered my gaze.

“I don't feel strong.”

“That doesn't mean you aren't.”

I looked at her again.

Lucy reached for my hands.

“You're standing here after everything you've been through. Do you know how many people wouldn't have survived what you did?”

My eyes burned.

“I just don't want to keep fighting.”

“You don't have to fight everyone.”

She squeezed my hands.

“You only have to stop fighting yourself.”

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

Her words settled heavily inside me.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe I had spent so much time worrying about whether the pack would accept me that I had forgotten to ask myself whether I still accepted who I had become.

I took a shaky breath.

“But what if they never forgive me?”

“Then let them refuse to forgive you.”

I stared at her.

Lucy shrugged.

“You can't control people's hearts, Flora. You can't force them to love you. But you can decide whether their hatred controls your life.”

I felt tears gather in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away.

“You make it sound easy.”

“I never said it was easy.”

She smiled faintly.

“I said you're strong enough.”

I smiled despite myself.

For the first time since returning, the weight on my chest seemed slightly lighter.

Then another thought entered my mind.

My smile disappeared.

“Lucy.”

Her expression changed when she heard my tone.

“What?”

“I need to ask you something.”

She nodded.

“Where can I find Lyra?”

The warmth disappeared from her face.

“Why?”

“I need to speak with her.”

“Flora…”

“I need answers.”

Lucy immediately shook her head.

“No.”

I frowned.

“No?”

“You shouldn't confront her.”

I stepped back.

“Why?”

“Because it's not necessary.”

My heart began racing.

“Not necessary?” I repeated. “Lucy, you know what happened between us.”

“I know.”

“Then you know why I need to talk to her.”

Lucy looked toward the door as though she was worried someone might be listening.

“Flora, please.”

Something about her reaction unsettled me.

“What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing.”

“You're lying.”

Her eyes widened.

“I’m not.”

I studied her face carefully.

Lucy had always been terrible at hiding things from me. Whenever she lied, she avoided eye contact.

And now she was doing exactly that.

“Where is she?” I demanded.

Lucy remained silent.

I moved closer.

“Lucy.”

“She left.”

My heart skipped.

“Left where?”

“I don't know.”

“You don't know?”

She shook her head.

“I only know she isn't here.”

I stared at her.

A strange feeling crawled over my skin.

“Why did
she leave?”

Lucy hesitated.

“I don't know.”

“You're lying again.”

“Flora…”

“Tell me!”

My voice echoed through the room. Lucy flinched.
I immediately regretted shouting, but the anger inside me had already taken control.

“I need to know what happened,” I said more quietly. “There are too many things I don't understand.”