Chapter 240

Words : 856 Updated : Jun 26th, 2025

"I didn't tell anyone," he replied with a shrug. "I was ashamed. But eventually, I realized I couldn't fight him forever. So, I stopped trying to control him, and I just... accepted him. I accepted that Knox was a part of me. I embraced the power of an Alpha, and I allowed myself to merge with my wolf. And once I did, the rest followed." I sat with that, the weight of his words pressing intolike a puzzle piece sliding into place. "Maybe that's it," he said after a moment. "Maybe you're still fighting it. Still afraid of what this new version of you means. You are still afraid of letting go and embracing this power because it causes a surprise for you. No one prepared you for it. You didn't expect it, and because of that, you didn't get a chance to accept this new version of you... But you have to, Sadie. If you want to gain control over it, you first have to accept that it's a part of you." His words rang painfully true. "I don't want to be afraid of it anymore. I don't want to keep failing," I murmured. "Then stop fighting it. Stop fighting something that's part of you," he said softly. "You're still you, Sadie. Just... more." I inhaled deeply. "Okay. I'll give it another try." He stood and reached out a hand to help him up. I took it, grounding myself in his touch. His skin was warm, calloused from training, but gentle. I closed my eyes, breathed in slowly, and let go. No fear. No resistance. I opened myself to the powerful spirit inside and accepted her. Wings unfurled from my back-pure white and radiant. My skin shimmered, and I felt the change ripple through me. The gown, the light, the power-it all cin a rush that felt like air filling my lungs after being underwater too long. When I opened my eyes again, Alec was staring with something close to awe. "You did it." I laughed, a giddy sound I hadn't heard from myself in a long time. "I did it!" I threw my arms around him before I even realized what I was doing, shouting thank you into his shoulder. He caught me, held his arms strong and warm around my waist. For a moment, I let myself just feel it. The joy. The release. Him. But then it hitI was hugging Alec. I froze. I pulled back quickly, taking a step away from him and smoothing down my dress. I adjusted the wings that still fluttered faintly behind me, suddenly too aware of every breath and heartbeat. What the hell just happened? How could I forget, in the moment, who I was hugging? I'd been so excited about finally getting it that I didn't even think. It doesn't matter that I loved it. It doesn't matter that for that split second, it felt right being in his arms. What matters is that it shouldn't have happened. We stared at each other in the silence that followed, the weight of the moment still heavy between us. His eyes... goddess, his eyes burned with something I couldn't name. Something I was terrified of acknowledging. Heat, desire...and affection? That last one couldn't be right. The last emotion is what I was afraid of acknowledging. I cleared my throat. "So, um... why were you out here in the first place?" He smirked, the tension easing just a little. "Can't just see you?" I laughed nervously. "You could, but I doubt that's the only reason." This felt so unreal. Alec's teasing was new for me. Honestly, I don't think we've ever had this kind of moment where we were just free. For a moment, I even forgot that I am not supposed to be indulging this closeness. He smiled, then grew serious. "I was wondering if... maybe I could take you and Aspen on a little outing tomorrow. Just... spend time with her. And you." My heart twisted in my chest. Spend time with him? Like a family? My first instinct was to say go to protect myself, to keep the lines clear, but the look on his face stopped me. Could I do it? Could I spend the whole day with him and be detached? I couldn't find an answer, so I stopped trying. He just wanted to be with Aspen, I reasoned with myself. He wantsthere to monitor his twith her, I gaslight myself into believing that bullshit. I hesitated, then nodded slowly, before I could chicken out. "Yeah... okay." His smile was soft. Grateful. "Thank you." As he walked away, I stood there in the wind, my wings folding behind like a shield. My heart was still racing-not from power, but from the ache growing stronger with every minute I spent near him. And despite all my best intentions, I knew- My defenses were failing. I knew the walls around my heart were starting to crumble.

Chapter 240

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