Chapter 127
Sapphire BOV
The worn leather of the couch felt cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat bandeling in my chest. I couldn’t shake the feeling of une me that Jud sendeid in the pat of my stomach, a leaden weighe thua pressed down our with each possing moment. God hack to the park house wasn’t an option. The doosąght of returning in that place, in the scruiting of those eyes, filled ine within dread I readin’t gesome.
Thatred, God knows Had tried to fit in, to be a part of the park’s tight knit community. Hot air like no matter how hard I tried, how many pork doners I attended or how my stories I shared, I was always on the cutside looking by. Their whispers, and their sideways glances, Mere li constant remainder of my outsider Manus. I felt like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit, a melody that clashed with their furnway.
The memory oficir faces flashed through my mind, a kaleidoscope of expression that made my stomacharlem. The pick members, their gaze sharp and calesdating, always sizing oor op, never truly accepting me. Then Marcel. The jock ben, his eyes filled widia veded piry, as if he undersided my sinaggle Ini couldn’t offer any solare, And then there was Aragon, his face enched with a mixture of contenuand Franstrations, his love for me tangled with a drep sexed fear for ny safety.
I thought about tie pack louise, the towering stone structure that stond like a sentinel against the entrarling forest. Linugineil anyself inside, trapped within its walls, with nothing to do but wait for Araquin our and check on me. The thought of being dependent on him, on the park, for everything, filled me with a seme of claustrophoben. Had always been independent, a lone wolf navigating the tmacheren terrain of life on my term. I wasn’talinue to stan relying on others now, not when the stakes were so light.
“I picked up my phone, the cold incial of the devier a stark contrast to the warmth of my palen. My thanks hovered over Aragon’s name, the familiar
from a stark reminder of the bond we dured. I preweil the green call button, the familiar ring tone a comforting sound amidu the storm of emotion swirling within me.
sapphire, I’m glad you called, his voice boomed through the speaker, deep and smooth, a calming presence that always paged to soothe my aching heart
was just about to send someone to pick you up,” he said he was always ready to make sure i was comfortable.
Maybe I would just take his offer and let go of taking care of myself.
Liook a deep brentls, trying to calm my nerves. The air long heavy with the scent of plue and damp earth
“Don’t bother,” 1 said. “Ti pot mening back to the park hase.”
ΠΙΓ
There was a pose on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought he was going to argue with me. The silence stretched, a tanzible weight
pressing down on me.
But then he spoke.
“Sapphire, I thought we agreed that you would come back to the pack house,” he said.
That wasn’t true and I was going ra tell him that, we didn’t agree, I just didn’t say anything and he assumed.
“We didn’t agree on anything,” I said. “And besides, I need to figure out what Victor wanes from me.” “My hand tightened around the phone, a knot of anxiety aring in my stomach.
“Sapphire, no. You can’t just goralking to Victor. He’s not safe.”
I felt a surge of anger at lik words. Whoses he to tell me what to do? I was an adult, capable of making my own decision. My heart hammered in my chest, like a wild, frantic bird trapped in a cage.
“Il be fine,” I said, trying to reassure him. “I just need to understand what’s going on.
There was another pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought Aragon was going to try and convince in to come back to the pock house, Bat then be spoke, Elis voice softened, a flicker of cancer replacing the frasesion,
“Sapphire,” he said. “Please, just.come back. We can figure this out together.”
I swallowed hard, the lump in my that growing larger. I could hear the way in his voice, the genuine care that always made it hard to resist him, But I knew Hud to do this on my own, My late was in my own hands now.
“Fine,” he said “But be careful, Sapphire, Victor is not someone to be triisied”
The words hung, in the air between us, heavy with unspoken warnings. I could almost feel Aragon’s gaze on me, even though he was mules away. concern for ine was a confort, but his words, laced with a subtle ridge of possessiveness, stirred a rebellion within me. A pang of guils swisted in my chest, à reminder of the promises Bhad made, the life that chosen
“I will,” I said, forcing a smile. “And Aragond”
“Yes?” he said. The question hung in the air, a silent plea for reassurance,
“Take care of yourself,” I said, the words catching in my throat. The image of his face, his innocent eyes, flooded my minel. Leaving him, even for this shon while, felt like tearing a piece of ing lean away.
Til talk to youLE GOÛTL‘
“Okay,” Aragon said, a whisper that carried the weight of his love and his lears. He careful, Sapphire.”
The line went dead, leaving me alone in a silence that pulsed with unspoken emotions. I stared at the phone, my fingers tracing the smooth surface
Chapter 127
as if I could still feel the warmal of his presence. The weight of my decision pressed down on me, a crushing burden of responsibility, what was i geting myself into? Was I strong enough to face the dangers ahead? Or would I crumble under the pressure, leaving behind the life 1 had hunt, the love cherished!
