<b>Chapter </b><b>82</b>
The atmosphere between Axel and me is palpable, burdened by tension and burdened by the weight of unsaid words and ufortable truths. Her gaze lingers on me, her eyes prating deep into my soul, as if attempting to decode the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind. I can’t bring myself to meet her eyes<b>, </b>so I keep my gaze downcast, desperately trying to <b>find </b>the right words.
Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Axel speaks, her voice barely above a whisper<b>.</b>
“So, uh… about you and my brother…”
As she speaks, my heart lurches in my chest and a wave of embarrassment and shame washes over me, making my stomach churn. The heat rising to my cheeks turns them a deep shade of crimson, a physical manifestation of my struggle toprehend her words.
As I open my mouth to respond, I feel a wave of speechlessness wash over me. I feel paralyzed, my body stiffening like a deer caught in the headlights, as Ie to terms with what Axel has just revealed. How could she know about me and Axton? I pondered, trying to piece together the clues.
And, <b>most </b>importantly, why is she deciding to bring it up now?
Beside me, Axel squirms in difort, her anxious gaze flitting around the room, desperate for an exit.
“I mean, it’s not like Axton kept it a secret,” With each passing word, her voice bes more uncertain, trailing off into a barely audible mumble. “There were times when he, uh… he literally smelled like you.”
“oh.”
“Yeah…”
Summoning all my courage, I inhale deeply before locking eyes with Axel, preparing myself for any possible judgment or reproach. Much to my astonishment, there was ack of any emotion or expression in her eyes.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up,” she says softly, her voice tinged with regret. “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s none of my business.”
With a dismissive wave of my hand, I shake my head to brush off her apology.
“No, it’s okay,” I reply quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “You <b>had </b>every right to ask. And besides, it’s not like it’s <b>a </b>secret anymore<b>.</b><b>”</b>
With a nod of agreement, Axel’s lips curl into a subtle smile.
“Yeah, I <b>guess </b>you’re right.”
Axel’s voice quivers with hesitation, as if she’s tiptoeing around a delicate subject. I can feel the weight of her question, like a heavy burden, suffocating me with its <b>intensity</b>.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Do you… like my brother?”
In an attempt to steady my racing heart, I take a deep breath and carefully consider Axel’s question. Answering her question was no simple task, and a part of me regretted that she had even asked. Yet, I acknowledge that I cannot keep avoiding it forever, so I gather my courage and meet her gaze, my voice barely audible.
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Chapter 82
“Yes,“I admit quietly, my words hanging in the air like a confession. “I’ve… fallen for Axton.”
Axel’s face remains impassive, giving no hint to her thoughts as she absorbs my words, the silence between us dragging on indefinitely. Her gaze felt heavy on me, as if she was searching for something hidden deep within my eyes, something even I couldn’t fullyprehend.
Finally, she speaks, her voice a gentle whisper that seems to float through the air.
“And what do you n to do about it?”
Hesitation washed over me as I grappled with how to respond to her question. The truth is, I don’t have a n, don’t even know where to begin. How am I supposed to figure out my feelings for Axton when I can barely understand them myself?
“I don’t know,” Frustration and uncertainty colored my voice <b>as </b>I replied honestly. “I wish I can do something about it, but… it’s not like I can just confess my feelings to him. It was just… casual sex between us<b>, </b>after all.”
Axel murmurs, her words barely escaping her lips <b>in </b>a hushed whisper.
“What did you say?”
“I said…It’s probably for the best. Not confessing.”
Her wordsnded on me like a heavy blow, knocking me off bnce and stealing the air from my lungs as I grappled with the shock of what she had just said. For the best?
I want to ask her why, to demand an exnation for why she thinks it’s for the best, but the words catch in my throat, choked off by the overwhelming tide of emotion threatening to consume me. Instead, I remain motionless, overwhelmed by a deafening silence, my thoughts spinning with countless unanswered questions.
The silence between us hangs in the air, suffocating and dense, until Axel finally shatters it with a quiet exhale. As she averts her gaze, her fingers begin to fidget with her thumbs anxiously, revealing her uncertainty about what to do next. My heart pounds in my chest <b>as </b>I watch her, anxiously waiting for her to break the silence.
“Maya,” Hesitant, she starts speaking, her voice trembling as she struggles to find the perfect words. “My brother… Axton… he’s always been… traditional, despite what he says.”
The words crashed into me with the force of a freight train, causing a shiver to run down my back as Iprehended the gravity of her
message.
“He’s always been waiting for his mate,” With a guilty look, Axel continues speaking softly, asionally ncing in my direction, “And no matter how much he may try to deny it, deep down, I think he’s <b>always </b>known that.”
With <b>a </b>shake of her head <b>and </b>a click of her tongue, Axel angrily crunched her shirt with her hands.
“You’ve be one of my closest friends, Maya,” Axel says softly, her voice tinged with sadness. “I don’t care if you sleep with my brother, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Each word she uttered felt like a direct hit, prating deep within me and revealing all my deepest fears and insecurities. I want to protest, to argue that I can handle whateveres my way, but in my heart, I know she speaks the truth. Doubt lingers beneath my bravado. Love has proven to be a battlefield, leaving behind casualties that extend beyond the realm of emotional scars, a lesson I’ve learned through painful experiences.
“And Axton…” Her voice catches in her throat as Axel pauses<b>, </b>searching for the right words, her gaze briefly flickering towards <b>me</b>. “He’ll never
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Chapter 52
love you, Maya<b>. </b>Not in the way you want him to. Not in the way you deserve.”
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The words struck me with the force of a dagger, piercing my heart and seeping into the depths of my being. I want to deny it, to argue that Axel doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but deep down, I’ve always been aware <b>of </b>the truth.
There’s a part of me that has always been aware that Axton will never love me in the way I’ve fantasized about.
“After everything.” Axel continues, her gaze fixated on her hands as if searching for answers. “His mate will <b>always </be first. Wherever she may be ”
I’m at a loss for words, stunned into a profound silence.
“He’s just waiting for her,” Axel concludes softly, her voice filled with <b>a </b>sadness that echoes my own. “And no matter how much it may hurt to say this to you, Maya, you have to ept that.”
And as Axel wraps me in aforting hug, her words bear down on me, their weight overwhelming, leaving me stunned and unable to speak, tears escaping from my eyes.