We moved through the forest in silence, the shadows growing longer as dusk approached. Ethan walked beside me, in his usual somber silence. I could hear every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig beneath our feet, but none of it registered fully in my mind. My thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in a mess of uncertainty and heartache.

“Are you okay?” Ethan's voice was barely a whisper, just audible over the soft crunch of leaves beneath his boots. Was I okay? I didn’t know. My heart felt like it was being pulled in two directions, torn between the man I had trusted for years but rejected me and the man I had just learned had been hiding a secret so large it could’ve destroyed us all. Mascot had also lied to us about his motives. But at the end, he had been honest just as Jacob came back for me.

However, was that enough? Could I trust Jacob who claimed to have rejected me for my safety or Mascot knowing that he had once fought for the very enemy we were trying to defeat?

“I don’t know,” I finally admitted. It was the only honest answer I could give. Anything else would have been a lie. Ethan nodded, his gaze flicking to Mascot’s limp form in Seth’s arms.

“He's been a good friend to all of us, Tasha. But if he’s been lying about this... What else hasn't he told us?” I didn’t respond. I couldn't. Because that was the exact question I had been asking myself since his confession. Mascot had kept such a monumental secret, and now everything between us felt fragile just like it was earlier, as if one more lie could shatter everything completely.

But there was more to it than that. Mascot had left Eden’s army. He had chosen to fight by my side, to help me in this impossible battle. Could I really condemn him for his past when he had risked so much for me? As we continued our trek through the forest, the silence became stifling.

Clara, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at me, her eyes soft with understanding. “You're not alone in this, Tasha. We're all here for you.” I nodded, though her words brought little comfort. This was a decision I had to make alone. Mascot had lied to me, yes, but had he not proven his loyalty time and time again? Could I really walk away from him now, when I knew I loved him? Love. The word echoed in my mind, a painful reminder of how deeply I had fallen for Mascot.

I glanced back at Jacob, who trailed behind us, his expression unreadable. Jacob, who had always been there for me, who had never lied. The one who had warned me about Mascot from the start. But was it fair to abandon Mascot, to leave him behind after everything we had been through together? Especially when Jacob was not around to support me.

The pressure of my choice pressed down on me, heavier than ever. We reached the edge of the forest, the night sky stretching out before us, vast and endless. Stars twinkled overhead, distant and cold.

Seth gently set Mascot down on the soft grass, and I knelt beside him, my heart aching as I took in the sight of him—his pale face and his labored breathing.

“Mascot,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I don’t know if I can forgive you... But I’m not ready to lose you either.” Mascot’s eyes fluttered open, weak but full of emotion.

He reached up, his hand trembling as it brushed against my cheek. “I love you, Tasha,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “No matter what happens, remember that.”

Tears filled my eyes as I stared down at him, my heart breaking. “I love you too,” I admitted, my voice thick with emotion. The words felt both right and wrong, given everything that had happened.

How could I still love him after what I had learned? But I did. Despite everything, I loved him. The others stood a few feet away, giving us space, but I could feel their eyes on us. They didn’t trust him. And maybe they were right not to. But I couldn’t walk away from him.

“I've made so many mistakes,” Mascot continued, his voice shaking with the weight of his guilt. “But leaving Eden’s army—that was the one thing I did right. I did it for you, Tasha– though I didn't know it then. I couldn’t stand the thought of being part of his evil any longer.” I closed my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks. His words touched me but could I believe him? Could I really trust that he had left Eden for me? And even if I could, would it ever be enough? Enough to change the outcome of this battle.

“I don't know what to say ” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “But as much as I love you, I don't know if I can trust you.” Mascot’s eyes softened, and for the first time since his confession, I saw a glimmer of hope in them.

“I'll do whatever it takes to earn your trust again, Tasha. I swear.” I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The truth was, I didn’t know if I could ever fully trust him again. But I wasn’t ready to let him go. Not yet. Ethan, sensing the uneasiness in the air, approached.

“We should set up camp here for the night,” he said quietly, his eyes lingering on Mascot. “We're all exhausted.” I glanced at Mascot, still weak and pale, and nodded.

“We'll rest here.” The others began setting up camp, but I remained by Mascot's side, my thoughts swirling in a storm of confusion. Could I really forgive him? Could I ever move past the betrayal and mistrust? As the night deepened, the camp grew quiet. Everyone had retreated to their tents, leaving Mascot and me alone by the dying fire.

The crackling flames cast flickering shadows on his face, making him look both familiar and distant at the same time.

“Tasha,” he murmured, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to him, my heart aching at the sight of him so vulnerable, so fragile.

“Yes?”

“I don’t deserve you,” he said softly. “But I’m going to fight for you. For us.” His words, so sincere, pierced through the wall I had built around my heart. I reached for his hand, my fingers trembling as they laced with his.

“I don’t know how to move past this,” I admitted. “But I want to try.” Mascot’s eyes softened, his hand squeezing mine.

“That's all I can ask for.”

“Tasha?” I turned to find Jacob standing next to the tent made for me.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes! What the heck are you doing with him? You should be in your tent resting.” he replied.

“You mean resting with you?” If he was Surprised by my reply, he was good at hiding it.

“Does it matter?”

“Look, I'm not ready to turn in yet. So maybe you should go on without me. I've someone to take care of.” I said pointing at Mascot. He seemed to want to say something but he swallowed it. After glaring at Mascot, he stormed off.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the thought of everything we had been through hanging between us. The fire crackled softly, the night around us still and quiet. And then, without thinking, I leaned forward, pressing my lips to his.

The kiss was soft, tentative at first, but it quickly deepened as all the emotions we had been holding back surged to the surface. I could feel the desperation in the way his hands gripped me, pulling me closer, as if he was afraid that if he let go, I would slip away forever.

He pulled back for a moment, his breath shaky. “Are you sure?” he whispered, searching my eyes for any hesitation. My gaze met his, intense and full of longing.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” I replied, my voice low and filled with emotion.

With a nod, he closed the distance between us again, my lips finding his as I straddled him, my body pressing against his.

The world around us seemed to fade away as we became lost in each other, the thought of his past mistakes and betrayals melting into the background. His hands roamed over my body, gentle but firm, as if he was memorizing every inch of me.

I let out a soft moan as his lips trailed down my neck, his touch sending shivers down my spine. It had been so long since I had been this close to man, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the lies, not the betrayal, not even the looming threat of Eden. It was just us—two people trying to find solace in each other.

We made love under the stars, the firelight casting flickering shadows over our entwined bodies. It was slow, tender, and filled a quiet desperation, as if we were both afraid that this might be the last time we would ever have together.

When it was over, I lay in Mascot's arms, my head resting on his chest as his fingers gently stroked my hair.

I closed my eyes, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to just be. No more questions, no more doubts. Just this moment. Just him. But deep down, I knew that this peace wouldn't last. There were still choices to be made, battles to be fought, and trust to be rebuilt.

For now, though, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, we could find a way through this. Together.