Arya.
"Tyler!" I yelled as I barged into Tyler's office. He looked so good in his suit, I almost forgot about my anger. As soon as I remembered the fact that Lauren was with Tyler while I was away, the anger came back in waves.
He raised his head from his work, smiling as soon as he saw me, then he frowned as soon as he noticed my facial expression.
"Little One…" he began.
"Don't 'Little One' me!" I yelled, anger evident in my voice. "How could you? After everything we went through with Lauren? How could you let her live in the house after everything?"
"Hey," Tyler started, amused by my anger.
"Do you find this amusing?" I snapped. "Do you think I'm some sort of joke to you?"
"Hey, hey," Tyler said as he grabbed my arm and held me in place. "I don't think it's amusing, Arya. Can you let me explain? Please?"
I could feel his touch, his warmth seeping into my skin, but my mind was consumed with frustration. How could he expect me to just listen calmly after what I discovered?
I took a deep breath, trying to control my anger, and reluctantly nodded.
"Fine," I spat out, pushing his hand away. "Explain."
Tyler took a step back, giving me some space, and then he began, his voice soft yet firm.
"Lauren was injured," he said. "She said she was scared, Arya. Scared of getting attacked again."
Lauren, injured? Scared? It was hard to reconcile the image of the confident, manipulative woman I knew with someone who could be vulnerable.
"Tyler," I said, my eyebrows raised, "you knew her. You knew her better than I did."
Tyler's expression softened, his eyes filled with regret. "I didn't think she was capable of arranging her own attack," he confessed.
My heart clenched at his words. Didn't he see through Lauren's charming facade?
"Are you being serious?" I asked, annoyed. "Someone who instigated a pack attack on me, and almost killed me. Because of her, we were attacked and we were not even prepared for it because of the discord she created between us. And you fell for an excuse like that?"
"Come on, Arya," Tyler sighed in frustration running his hands through his hair. "She managed to convince you to go on a picnic, and you agreed because you wanted to give her another chance." he reasoned as if that justified everything.
"And you think that excuses her actions?" I shot back, my gaze piercing his.
He had a point though, but it didn't mean she could throw a pity party and he could welcome her into our house with open arms.
"What did she tell you when she recovered from her attack, huh?" I asked, my eyebrows raised. Even though he had a point, I wasn't about to let him know that. "That I was captured and taken to Crest pack and she was spared?"
He sighed, then slowly nodded. "That's what she said," he admitted. "She claimed to have nightmares, to be haunted by the memories of what happened. And honestly, I didn't know what to believe."
I couldn't help but feel a surge of bitterness welling up inside me, a bitter resentment at the fact that he had let Lauren stay in the house. Alone with her. Especially since she had proven herself unworthy of trust time and time again. But beneath the anger and hurt, there was a glimmer of understanding, a begrudging acceptance of Tyler's explanation.
"She had friends," I said. "She could have slept anywhere, but our house." The words hung in the air between us, heavy with accusation.
Tyler stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup my face. His touch was tender, warm against my skin, but it did little to ease the anger raging inside me. I wanted to push him away, to scream at him for his betrayal, but a part of me longed for his comfort, his reassurance.
"Nothing happened when she was at the house," he continued, his voice steady now, his eyes locking with mine in silent plea. "I didn't want to risk another attack. She was the only one who knew where you were, Arya. And I couldn't banish her without proof of what she did."
"And why," I demanded, my voice rising again, "did I have to hear this from Natalie? Why didn't you tell me yourself?"
Tyler looked down, shame flickering across his features. "I didn't want to ruin your happiness," he admitted. "Or your health. You've been through so much, Arya. I didn't want to add to your burden."
Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of anger, understanding, hurt, and frustration. "You should have told me," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Tyler reached out to me, his hand hovering in the air as if unsure whether to touch me. "You're right, Little One," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I should have told you."
Despite my misgivings, despite my wounded pride, I couldn't deny the logic of his reasoning. He had acted out of fear, a desperate desire to find me.
His confession hung in the air between us, a silent admission of his own vulnerability, his own shortcomings. And in that moment, as tears welled up in my eyes, as the walls around my heart began to crumble, I knew that despite everything, despite the pain and the betrayal, I still loved him.
"Don't cry, Arya," he murmured, his fingers gentle as they brushed away the tears that stained my cheeks. "I love you. And I would never do anything to hurt you, to betray your trust. Never."
I wanted to keep yelling at him. Stay angry at him.
Instead, I collapsed into his arms, the tears streaming down my face as I buried my head in his chest. "Don't keep things from me, Tyler. Never again." I whispered, my voice choking with tears.
Tyler held me close, his arms wrapped around me protectively. "I won't, Arya," he said softly, and leaned in to kiss me. "Never again."
"I love you too," I whispered against his lips.
"I'm so sorry I hurt you," he murmured against my hair. "And I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, I promise."
"You better," I smiled slightly, rolling my eyes.
"By the way," he said, smirking as he pulled me close, running his knuckles gently down my face. "You look like a fucking goddess in all your anger."
"Oh, really?" I laughed at his playful demeanor.
Tyler's chuckle reverberated through his chest, warming me from the inside out. "Absolutely," he affirmed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Even when you're ready to tear someone apart, you still manage to take my breath away."
I grinned at his words, feeling a flutter of relief in my chest. Despite everything, Tyler had a way of making me feel seen, understood, and loved. "Well, I guess I'll have to forgive you then," I teased, playfully pushing him away.
He leaned in, his lips grazing my ear as he whispered, "Good, because I don't think I could bear it if you were mad at me for too long."
The warmth of his breath sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't resist the pull any longer. Closing the gap between us, I captured his lips in a tender kiss, letting all the hurt and uncertainty melt away in the sweetness of the moment.
As we pulled apart, I rested my forehead against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Tyler," I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey," he said gently, lifting my chin with a finger so our eyes met. "You'll never have to find out. I'm right here, always."