Too Good to Be True

Too Good to Be True
Darian grabbed my wrist. Gentle but firm. He looked at Celeste. "Leave. Now."
She didn't move. Just smiled like she'd won something.
"I said leave."
His voice was cold. Final. The kind of tone that made people obey without question.
Celeste's smile faded slightly. She looked between us. Then shrugged. "I'll be around."
She walked away. Slow. Deliberate. Like she had all the time in the world.
I watched her go. My wolf snarled inside me. Wanted to chase. Wanted to finish what we'd started.
Darian's hand was still on my wrist. I pulled free.
"Not here," he said quietly. "Please. Let me explain. Somewhere private."
I looked at him. At his gray eyes. At the desperation there.
Part of me wanted to walk away. Wanted to shift and run until I couldn't feel anything anymore.
But I'd asked for an explanation. I'd demanded it.
So I nodded.
We walked away from the settlement gates. Away from the curious eyes of pack members who'd witnessed the scene. Into the trees where no one would hear us.
The bond pulsed between us. Erratic. Confused. It didn't understand the threat. Didn't understand why I was pulling away from him.
My wolf didn't either. She wanted him close. Wanted to mark him again. Prove he was ours.
But I wasn't my wolf. I needed answers.
Darian stopped when we were deep enough into the forest. Turned to face me. Ran a hand through his hair. He looked tired. Worried.
"Celeste Landon," he started. "She's from my past."
"I gathered that."
"It's complicated."
"Explain it anyway."
He took a breath. "Our families had an arrangement. A marriage contract. It was made years ago. Before I was exiled. Before everything fell apart."
My stomach tightened. Marriage contract. The words felt heavy. Final.
"The arrangement was political," he continued. "A way to strengthen alliances between vampire houses. I never wanted it. Never agreed to it willingly. But my father signed it before he died. Before his choices destroyed our family name."
"So you were engaged."
"Technically. Yes."
The word hit hard. Engaged. To her. To that woman who'd kissed him like she owned him.
"But there's more," Darian said. "After my exile. After I lost everything. Celeste's family helped me. They paid debts I couldn't pay. Gave me resources when no one else would. There was an accident. Someone died because of choices my father made. Celeste's family covered it up. Protected me from consequences that would have destroyed any chance I had of rebuilding my reputation."
"So you owe them."
"Yes."
I looked at him. At the way he stood. Tense. Defensive. Like he expected me to attack.
"How much do you owe them?"
"I don't know. The debt was never quantified. Just understood. They helped me. I owe them loyalty. Respect. Consideration."
"And Celeste thinks that includes marrying her."
"She might. But I don't."
"When did you end it?"
"Months ago. Before I came to the settlement. Before the trade negotiations. I told her it was over. That I wouldn't honor the contract. That I needed to move forward with my own life."
"And she agreed?"
"No. She said I was making a mistake. That I'd regret it. That she'd wait for me to come to my senses."
I turned away. Looked at the trees. At the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
My chest felt tight. My hands shook slightly. I clenched them into fists.
"Were you in love with her?" I asked.
"No."
The answer came fast. Certain.
"Never?"
"Never."
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to trust that. But doubt crept in anyway.
"Did you have sex with her?"
Silence. Long enough that I knew the answer before he spoke.
"Yes," he said quietly. "We were engaged. It was expected. But it meant nothing. It was obligation. Not choice."
I closed my eyes. Tried to breathe through the rage building in my chest.
He'd been with her. Touched her. The same hands that had touched me had touched her first.
"Lyra," he said. "That was before you. Before us. Before I knew what it felt like to actually want someone."
"But the debt remains."
"Yes."
"So she still has a claim on you."
"No. The debt is to her family. Not to her personally. And it doesn't include marriage. Doesn't include my future."
I opened my eyes. Turned to look at him.
"Are you sure about that? Because she seems to think otherwise."
"She's wrong."
"Is she? Or are you the one who's wrong?"
His jaw tightened. "I ended it. Clearly. Months ago. What more do you want from me?"
"I want to know why she's here. Why she kissed you. Why she thinks she can just show up and claim you in front of me."
"I don't know why she's here. I didn't invite her. I don't want her here."
"But you can't send her away."
"It's complicated—"
"Stop saying that."
My voice came out harsher than I intended. Sharper.
Darian flinched slightly. "I'm trying to explain—"
"You're trying to justify. It's different."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it?"
We stared at each other. The bond pulled between us. Hurt and confusion bleeding through the connection.
"I love you," Darian said. "Only you. Celeste means nothing to me. The past means nothing. You're my mate. My choice. My future."
The words should have helped. Should have eased the pressure in my chest.
They didn't.
Because Celeste was still here. Still acting like she had rights. Still touching him. Kissing him. Claiming him.
And he hadn't stopped her fast enough. Hadn't shoved her away immediately.
He'd frozen. Even for just a second. He'd frozen.
"I need space," I said.
"What?"
"I need time to think. To process this."
"Lyra—"
"Please."
I started walking. Away from him. Back toward the settlement.
He followed. "Don't do this. Don't shut me out."
"I'm not shutting you out. I'm asking for space."
"It's the same thing."
"No. It's not."
I kept walking. Faster. He matched my pace.
"Talk to me," he said. "Tell me what you're thinking."
"I don't know what I'm thinking. That's the problem."
"Then let me help you figure it out."
"You can't."
"Why not?"
I stopped. Turned to face him. "Because you're the problem, Darian. You and your past and your debt and your ex-fiancée who just kissed you in front of me. I can't think clearly when you're standing here looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're afraid I'm going to leave."
His expression shifted. Vulnerable. Raw. "Are you?"
I didn't answer. Couldn't.
Because I didn't know. Didn't know what I was going to do. Didn't know if I could handle this.
"Don't jump to conclusions," he said. "Don't decide anything right now. Just give me a chance to fix this."
"How? How are you going to fix this when she's still here? When you still owe her family? When she still thinks she has a claim on you?"
"I'll figure it out."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have right now."
I shook my head. Stepped back. "I need to go."
"Lyra—"
"Stop. Just stop."
I turned and walked away. Didn't look back. Didn't let myself see his face.
The bond screamed at me. Told me to turn around. Told me I was making a mistake.
I ignored it. Focused on putting one foot in front of the other.
Behind me, I heard him call my name once more. Desperate. Broken.
I didn't stop.
Just kept walking. Away from him. Away from answers I didn't want. Away from complications I didn't know how to handle.
My chest ached. My wolf whined. Everything hurt.
But I didn't stop.
Couldn't stop.
I should’ve known it was too good to be true.