There is no telling if the pain will ever completely go away. Pain was a constant companion, lurking in the dark and resurfacing unexpectedly. It had a way of slipping back into my life, even during beautiful moments like this.

My fingers danced across the piano keys, each stroke unleashing a flood of sound, a frantic surge I could no longer contain. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to know—not yet.

Each chord was a minor act of defiance against it, a fleeting victory that felt almost sweet. For a few precious seconds, the music was my escape, carrying me away to someplace else.

But then, I felt him. His presence filling the room, his gaze slicing through the melody like a blade.

All I yearned for was the sweet escape. To fade into a world where my emotions held no weight. Just for this moment...just long enough to erase everything.

My hands trembled. Still, I pressed on, letting the music rise, as though it might continue to silence the pain tearing at me from within.

How could I tell him we were never meant to be? That fate had brought us together for a moment we were never meant to share. Not when the weight of the world rested upon his shoulders.

I closed my eyes, hoping to will the pain away. But it coiled around me, a reminder that destiny was never kind. Not for those cursed with a bond as tangled as ours.

We were mates, our souls entwined from the start by forces that cared nothing for our desires.

His presence vibrated through the air. It was like a song only I could hear. He was a pull beneath my skin. An ache that refused to be ignored, even as it tore me apart.

The last note lingered in the air, echoing off the walls. I kept my gaze fixed on the piano keys, terrified that meeting his eyes would shatter me completely. We were supposed to have more time. A few more months to prepare, to keep everything hidden until the moment was right. But now, with him standing so close. I knew there was no pushing this aside any longer.

Fate had flung the door wide open, and everything we'd kept locked away was spilling out. There was no turning back now.

At last, I found the courage to rise, my back rigid, each movement felt as though I was wading through water. My gaze avoided him, skimming the room until it landed on Percival, who stood close by.

He'd been silent the entire time, but now he stepped forward, a small bouquet of Pentas cradled carefully in his hands. His smile was soft, a touch proud—the way it always was after he heard me play.

He held the flowers out to me, and I took them. The petals were full of life. They're fragrant light and perfumy. But even their beauty felt dimmed, stained by the darkness that poisoned my mind.

"Percival..." I whispered, my voice quivering as I clung to the bouquet. I didn't know what words might come. Perhaps I didn't need words at all. Maybe I just needed someone to share the silence with. To stand with me across this aching distance, between me and the truth, I hadn't yet found the courage to face.

He gave a gentle nod, his expression kind, as though he understood more than I'd ever said. "You played beautifully," he murmured, his voice soft but threaded with something much deeper. "But it seems there's more to this song than you let on."

The words hit me with force, grounding me even as my heart ached. Percival had always been there. Observing and understanding more than he ever revealed.

His eyes slid briefly to him, the one who held so much of my heart and so much of my hesitation. Then they returned to me, as if drawing me toward a truth I wasn't ready to accept.

"It's all right," Percival said softly. "You don't have to face this alone, but you can't avoid it."

I swallowed, the bouquet trembling slightly in my grip. Percival's words settled over me like a soft, insistent touch. They coaxed me to lift my gaze, to let the truth slip free. Taking a deep breath, I let myself glance at the man standing behind me.

All I could do was stare, my throat dry and my stomach a storm of twisting nerves. This wasn't supposed to feel like this. It should have been a simple exchange, a few heartfelt words. But here I stood, rooted to the spot. My heart pounding against my ribs, as if trying to break free.

Unable to withstand the weight of his gaze any longer, I let my eyes fall. They landed on the flowers in my hand.

The bouquet of Pentas felt delicate, almost as fragile as my heart. I turned the flowers over. My fingers tracing the soft blossoms, as if searching for something to hold on to.

I needed time—time to gather my thoughts, to find the right words, to say something without shattering myself completely.

He stepped toward me. My body froze and my mind urged me to run. I turned and stumbled away, the instinct to escape pulling at me like a force. My surroundings blurred, the voices, laughter, and music all distant, like I was stuck in a nightmare.

His eyes burned in my skull, a silent accusation I couldn't shake. My chest tightened with every frantic breath, the ache of it settling deep, a cruel memory of what I had lost before I'd even had the chance to claim it.

I burst into my room, slamming the door shut behind me, my lungs desperate for air, as though the very space outside had choked me.

I leaned against the door, gasping, my body shaking from the panic still buzzing beneath my skin. Slowly, I sank into the plush gray carpet, a deep sigh escaping me.

A soft melody drifted in from the other side of the door, its gentle strains floating through the room like a ghost, but it did nothing to calm the dull ache in my chest. The music only deepened the emptiness I couldn't escape.

The room felt like a prison, the walls closing in as I replayed the moment I had fled. His expression haunted me. I pressed my palms against my eyes, desperately wishing the image would vanish. But it lingered, searing itself into my brain like a brand. Each time I tried to push it away, it returned with a greater intensity.

Carlisle was outside, and I could feel him. The bond called to me through the closed door. He knocked softly, a hesitant sound. I remained frozen, unwilling to stand.

I could almost picture him pacing. Running a hand through his dark hair, his jaw set in determination as he wrestled with whatever thoughts burned fiercely within.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, the door creaked open; the sound sending a jolt of anticipation through me. I closed my eyes instantly, steeling myself against the fear that threatened to betray me. I would not cry. Not now. Not here.

Footsteps drew closer, each one tightening the knot of anxiety in my chest. My heart hammered, and I fought to keep my face calm. The silence seemed to press in on me, and I swore I could hear my pulse thrumming through the room.

I opened my eyes just a fraction, peering through my lashes to glimpse Carlisle standing there in all his breathtaking glory. Oh, damn... His dark hair framed his face perfectly, the light catching on the sharp angles of his jaw, making my heart stutter.

His stormy gray eyes held a fierce intensity, a tempest brewing just beneath the surface. A warmth crept over my cheeks, betraying my composure.

"Hello, Birdie." His voice was low.

Hearing that familiar nickname sent a jolt of excitement through me. I hadn't heard it in so long...I took a shaky breath, steadying myself.

"Hello," I squeaked back, afraid to ruin the moment.

Carlisle's lips curved into a small smile, though it faded before it reached his eyes. "It is a pleasure to see you again." he said, his tone solemn as he took a quiet step closer. He lowered himself beside me, the space between us shrinking, yet somehow feeling vast.

"I have missed you," I admitted, the words slipping free before I could stop them. My cheeks flushed as I realized I'd spoken them aloud.

"Birdie," he began, his voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of something heavier. "There is something we must discuss... something of great importance."

I swallowed, feigning surprise, though a sinking feeling told me exactly what was coming. I'd known for a while now. Even so, I played the part, hoping he wouldn't see the truth written all over me.

"What is it you wish to discuss?"

He took a breath, pausing as if he were searching for the right thing to say. "There is a matter between us that cannot be overlooked."

"What is it that you mean?" I asked, keeping my voice light, though the edge of caution was unmistakable. I already knew what he meant.

He sighed, a hand brushing through his hair as his gaze drifted away for a moment, as if the words were caught somewhere deep inside him.

"I did not know, not until today, when I laid eyes upon you. But..." His voice wavered, his usual steadiness replaced with something far darker. "We are mates."

I swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. "I...I know," I whispered sadly.

His eyes widened. "You knew?" he asked, his voice tight, as he sat up, the revelation settling between us.

"I've been aware for some time, I simply didn't know how to tell you... until now."

He searched my face, confusion clouding his features. "How?" he asked at last, his voice tinged with disbelief. "How could you have known before I did?"

"The council had knowledge of it," I admitted, my gaze falling. "They spoke of it in terms of the Gods."

Carlisle's expression stiffened, his jaw tightening. "They knew and kept this from me?"

I nodded slowly, sitting up beside him. "They thought it best for you not to know," I breathed, my voice tinged with reluctance.

He stood, turning away with a sharp motion. "They made the choice for me?" His voice dropped to a low growl, a simmering rage beneath every word. "Did they believe I wasn't strong enough to face the truth?"

I sprang to my feet, my heart pounding. I reached out, my fingers brushing his arm in an attempt to steady him. "It was never about your strength, Carlisle," I replied, stepping forward. "They feared you would be torn by the truth."

He glanced at my hand on his arm, the tension in his body easing slightly before his gaze lifted to meet mine. "But I am torn," he confessed softly, his voice breaking. "Now, more than ever before."

"All this time, I believed I would face this alone," he murmured, swallowing hard. "But you were there. You knew. And still... you remained silent."

"I wanted to, truly, but I—" My voice trembled, thick with emotion. "I couldn't bring myself to be the one who caused you to lose sight of your path."

He took a step closer, his face mere inches from mine. "But what of you? What about what this has done to you?"

I shook my head, a bitter smile slightly forming on my lips. "It was never meant to be about me."

"You're mistaken," he murmured, his voice gentler. "It has always been about you, too." His thumb traced my cheek, the tender motion sending a shiver through me, as though the very touch could shatter the distance between us.

I opened my eyes and met his steady gaze. For a moment, it felt as though he could see straight through me. Into places I had buried deep. A thought—sharp and bitter—slipped through my mind: Why was I created to hurt everyone I loved? It was an unshakable truth. A constant ache I had carried in silence for far too long.

My secrets clawed at me, rising like a tidal wave, while my heart twisted, desperate to keep hidden from what he had every right to know. "Carlisle, this is something we cannot allow," I said, turning away.

"Why not, if we are already here?" He stepped forward, blocking my escape.

"Because I cannot bear the thought of causing you pain!" I snapped, my voice trembling with frustration. "Do you not see? There are forces far greater than us at play, and you are bound to marry Lorelai."

"I care not for Lorelai," he declared, his voice firm and resolute. "It is you whom I desire to be with."

"If you truly hold any regard for me, then you would marry her," My voice shook, heavy with despair. I hated saying them, but I felt it was the only way to protect him.

He recoiled. How can you expect me to do that?"

"I... I cannot be with you. Forgive me."

"I won't accept that."

"Lorelai is tied to the world you're destined to lead. Marry her, and you'll fulfill the path set before you."

"And what of us?" he demanded, his voice rising in desperation.

"There cannot be an us." I stated firmly, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

His eyes blazed, but there was something deeper in them, an understanding. He took a deep breath, his jaw tightening as he grappled with his thoughts. "Very well, if you think it's the only choice, I'll marry Lorelai."

The words landed between us like a stone, and my heart twisted painfully in response. Then he continued, his voice low and resolute, "But this isn't over. I won't accept that fate for us. I will find a way to conquer the darkness, and then you'll be mine, no matter what."

Nodding, I surrendered to the truth. I knew Carlisle would never agree to simply marrying Lorelai; his stubbornness was as unyielding as the tide.

"Carlisle," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, "All I ask is that you promise me you'll be careful."

He stepped closer, pulling me into a hug, and I froze. My eyes widened in surprise, and instinctively, I tried to pull away. But his grip was firm, wrapping around me like a lifeline.

"Please," his voice muffled against my hair. "Just let me hold you for a moment."

The warmth of his body seeped through my gown, igniting a fire within me. Every part of me wanted to rise on my tiptoes and press my lips against his.

His eyes seemed to read my thoughts, and I could feel the tension crackling in the air.

"Carlisle..." I breathed sharply.

He lowered his head, his forehead resting gently against mine. My pulse quickened as our breaths mingled. I sensed the magnetic pull drawing us closer, urging me to surrender to my desires.

But just as he was about to lean in, a sharp pulse radiated through me, and the sound of music erupted louder in the room. I jolted back as the melody swirled around us, ruining the moment. I glanced at Carlisle, whose expression mirrored my surprise and confusion. The moment's warmth dissolving into the cool air, leaving us both breathless and disoriented.

"What just happened?" he asked, his brow furrowing as he looked around, searching for the source of the interruption.

"I truly don't know," I replied, struggling to shake off my confusion, the words tumbling out in a breathless rush. "But it would be best if you left."

"Leave? Why?" His voice was laced with concern, his eyes narrowing.

"Because this isn't safe," I insisted. "We must stay away from each other."

"But–"

"I said leave!" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended, a desperate plea wrapped in frustration.

Hurt flashed across his handsome face, but determination swiftly followed, setting his jaw as he straightened and turned to leave the room. I fought to maintain my composure; the ache growing heavier with each step he took away from me. When the door clicked shut behind him, the sound echoed in the silence.

I closed my eyes, struggling to gather my thoughts, but all I could see were the hurt expressions reflected in his stormy gray eyes. I had pushed him away, convinced that it was for the best, but deep down, the truth was: I had lost myself and him in the process.

I had managed to protect him for now, but at what cost? A lingering fear tightened in my chest, as if my desperate attempts to shield him might someday twist him into the very darkness he swore to fight. The irony cut deep, a haunting glimpse of how fragile our destinies could be.