Chapter 25 25

Chapter 25 25
Aria’s POV
My body felt heavy, my limbs weighted down by the emotional exhaustion that had taken hold of me. I did not know how long I had slept, but the softness of my bed now cradled me, offering a sense of safety. My eyes fluttered open, acclimating to the dim light in the room. At first, I had thought I was alone, but then the feel of a light touch on my arm brought me back to reality.
"Aria?" A soft voice pulled me from the fog of sleep.
My eyes slowly settled, and I was staring into the warm concern in Grace's eyes, my maid. Grace's hands grazed mine in soft touches, a contrast to the storm inside me. I blinked, feeling the traces of dried tears clinging to my eyelashes. I must have cried myself to sleep.
"Grace," I whispered in a hoarse voice from my sobbing earlier. I struggled to sit up, my body complained of exhaustion. Grace was ever the calming presence, easing my struggle as she propped a pillow behind my back. "What time is it?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"It's getting late," Grace said softly, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. "I thought you'd be hungry by now. You didn't eat earlier."
I shook my head weakly, feeling the weight of the day press against my chest. "I'm not hungry," I muttered, my eyes at a distance. Of all things, food was the last thing on my mind.
Grace gave me a soft smile. "I understand, but Alpha Kane has been downstairs waiting for you. He thought maybe you'd feel better with a warm meal."
I let out a deep sigh, my eyes closing for a moment. Alpha Kane. He had been so gentle, so steady through all this. A presence that was always comforting, but tonight, the thought of seeing anyone even him was too much. I wasn't ready to face the world again, not yet. The pain of my earlier breakdown still lingered, an open wound that hadn't had time to heal.
"I just." I caught a fistful of sheets as I fisted my hand. "I cannot, Grace. Not now. I want nobody to see. I don't even know how to act when everything is so wrong." My voice was barely audible.
"I know it feels like that, Lady Aria," Grace said softly as she lay a hand on my arm. "But shutting yourself away won't make it better. Alpha Kane is worried. He's been waiting for hours, hoping you'd come down.
I bit my lip as a pang of guilt hit me square in the chest at the mention of Alpha Kane. He didn't deserve this, shutting him out after everything he had done. Still, I wasn't sure I was ready to face him, either. My emotions were too raw, too tangled up in the mess.
I don't know that I can face him," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I am not ready to pretend everything's okay when it's not. I feel. I feel like I am falling apart.
Grace's eyes softened as she gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to be pretending with him, Lady Aria. Alpha Kane isn't expecting that from you. He's concerned because he does care. He knows you're hurting, and he wants to help. You don't have to mask how you feel.
My eyes fell into my lap where my fingers started to play with the hem of the blanket. I knew Grace was right, Alpha Kane wouldn't want me hiding from him, not after everything we’d been through. Still, the thought of him seeing me with all my feelings out in the open, of letting him see just how fragile I was at this moment, terrifies me.
I don't want him to see me like this," I admitted, my voice thick with emotion. "I don't want him to see how weak I am."
You're not weak, Grace said firmly. You're in just a really painful place, and it's okay to let the people who love you help. You don't have to carry this alone, Lady Aria. Grace turned and headed out the door.
I shook my head, my eyes welling up with tears once more.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the door Grace had just passed through. The soft creak of the wood beneath my feet was the only sound in the room.
As I started to head towards the door, Grace reappeared, clutching a small package wrapped in a soft, supple cloth. With a soft smile, she approached me.
"Before you go," Grace said, extending the package toward me, "this is from Alpha Kane."
I blinked in surprise, my hand hovering over the package for a second before I took it.
My heart squeezed with the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. Alpha Kane had always been kind and had always been there when I needed him since we met. He'd given me space when I asked, never pushing, never demanding more than what I was ready to give in return. But in the middle of my grief and confusion, I had pushed him away.
Guilt welled up inside me, and I felt my eyes prick with unshed tears. "I don't deserve this," I whispered, hugging the package tightly to my chest. "I've been so. So awful to him. All he's ever done is try to be there for me, and I just keep pushing him away.
"I need to apologize to him," I said, my voice firm, resolute. I clutched the package tighter, feeling the warmth of it seep into my palms. "I owe him that much."
Grace smiled warmly, giving me an encouraging nod. "Go ahead. He's still downstairs waiting for you. I think he'll be happy to hear from you."
I nodded, now sure of what was in my mind. Turning towards the door, my heart raced just a bit as, in my mind, I prepared for the conversation ahead of me.
With a deep breath, I stepped out of my room and made my way down the stairs. Each step felt heavy.