KEISHA’S POV
I didn’t get any sleep.
As soon as I got back to my rundown apartment at the end of the pack, I collapsed face first into my bed, sobbing quietly into the sheets.
How could Riven do this to me?
My wolf, Diane, let out a small pained howl. "Keisha..."
Something chipped at my heart a little again and I burrowed deeper into the sheets.
None of it made any sense.
Just last week, he had held me in the orchard, told me that he couldn’t wait for us to be together. Was it all a lie? Was he already seeing Mara then? And Nadia... the mere idea that she knew about it only added to the hurt brewing in me.
I just wanted to leave the pack. Never show my face here again.
Maybe he left because I was cursed ㅡ Everyone I ever cared about left me.
My mum. My dad. My guardian. And now...Riven.
A tiny hiccup escaped me and I covered my face with the pillow, trying to stifle my sobs as I lay there in the dead of the night.
Please let everything be a dream when I wake up in the morning.
****************
Newsflash: It wasn’t.
I woke up with a splitting headache and to the sound of my front door creaking open.
For once in my life, I didn’t feel panic as I dragged myself off my bed, clutching my aching head filled with the memories of last night.
Riven’s refusal to meet my face. Mara’s name leaving his lips instead of mine. The look on Nadia’s face. Everything came rushing back, leaving me with a sinking feeling.
"Keisha?" A familiar voice called from the other room as footsteps thudded through the house, getting louder as the person approached my door.
What was she doing here now?
I didn’t move from where I sat at the edge of my bed, my eyes swollen and blank as the doorknob turned and Nadia stepped inside.
Her hair was tied into a messy bun and she looked like she had rushed all the way here. She took one look at me and her eyes widened, concern and guilt swirling in her eyes.
I wanted to feel betrayal. Maybe even anger. But instead, I felt resigned and hurt.
Her lips parted. "Keishaㅡ"
"Why didn’t you tell me?" I cut her off, my voice cracking slightly on the last syllable.
She looked down at the floor, biting down hard on her lower lip. "I’m so sorry..."
I let out a bitter laugh that echoed through the room. "Sorry? I’m not asking for you to be sorry. I need..." I let out a huge breath, trying not to burst into tears. "I need to know why my best friend decided to keep me in the dark."
Nadia took one step closer, her feet moving slowly against the wooden floorboard. "I swear I didn’t know this was going to happen. Just give me five minutes to explain to you. Please. No interruptions."
I ached to know the truth. To believe that she hadn’t betrayed me like that. So I nodded stiffly.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she kept her distance, careful not to startle me. "Two weeks ago, when I visited this pack... I heard Riven talking to Mara in the gardens. I didn’t know what exactly they were saying but I suspected something was going on between them. I swear, I wanted to let you know. But I didn’t want you to think I was being paranoid or somethingㅡ I wasn’t sure, Keisha. You loved him so much."
I remained silent. I just sat there stiff and waiting for her to finish what she was saying.
"ㅡ I thought that if there was anything wrong, it was best you found out yourself instead of coming to you with suspicions I couldn’t back up. I thought everything was going fine when he wanted to go through with the wedding. I swear, I would have told you if I was sure. But I wasn’t. I would never willingly do that to you." She finally finished, her breathing ragged as she waited for my reply.
After what felt like an eternity, I blinked. "Ohㅡ"
It didn’t erase the pain and hurt that lingered from last night but it certainly eased it.
I wrapped my hand around myself, trying to get ahold of my emotions. "I understand...I mean, I think I do." I looked up at her, tears now brimming in my eyes. "But why would he do that? He said he loved me andㅡ" I let out a hiccup again.
Nadia wasted no time before she was standing right in front of me, her arms wrapping around me as she pulled me into her chest. "Forget him. I’m so sorry, Keisha. You deserve way better than a lying cheat."
I didn’t bother to fight the tears this time, I let them flow freely as I clutched her shirt tightly. "I loved himㅡ I can’tㅡ" I let out a choked sob. "I can’t stay here and watch him with her, Nadia. I can’tㅡ"
Her fingers traced soothing circles on my back as she whispered soft words into my ear. "You don’t have to."
At that, I paused, pulling away and looking at her with red rimmed eyes. "What do you mean?"
Her smile faltered for a second as though she was contemplating what she was about to say. "This isn’t the ideal environment for you to be in right now, Keisha. It’ll make you overthink. Why don’t you come back with me for a bit?"
I froze instantly. Leave Coldridge pack? The place where I grew up? Nadia wasn’t from around here. We were vastly different even. While I was a nobody here, she was the daughter of the Alpha of Ashveil pack.
"Like...come to Ashveil?" I asked.
"You don’t have to stay there if you don’t want to. But just for a bit. I asked my Dad if I could use the family cabin and he gave me permission. It’s really cozy and perfect for a getaway. You could go there and crash for a few weeks or as long as you want. I swear, it’ll be perfect. Better than staying here."
My thoughts were running wild as I thought about her offer.
I hadn’t left this pack before. Never had the reason to. The thought of it was scary.
But thenㅡ Riven’s face flashed into my mind and I heard his voice in my head again, haunting me. "I love you...", "Mara Winston."
Two vastly different statements that now haunted me like a ghost lingering from my past.
My mind was made up almost instantly as I wiped my tears with a shaky hand.
"When do we leave?"
Nadia broke into a huge smile and pulled me into another hug. "What about today?"
I forced myself to smile.
"Perfect."