---- Chapter 25 No.25 Nyx POV: Awild, primal scream tore from my throat. | launched myself at him, my movements fueled by years of repressed rage and pain. | was no longer a woman; | was a wounded animal. My teeth sank into the flesh of his shoulder, and | bit down, hard, tasting the coppery tang of his blood. He didn't fight back. He just stood there, taking it, his arms wrapping around me again, holding me tight as | sobbed and raged against his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered over and over, his own tears falling into my hair. "I'm so sorry, Elara." His submission only fueled my fury. | pulled back and slapped him across the face, the sound echoing in the silent room. He just turned his head back to face me, his eyes filled with a bottomless well of self-loathing. In the midst of my violent, emotional storm, a memory surfaced. Kaelen, seventeen years old, finding me crying after being bullied by the other pack children. He had wiped away my tears and said, with all the fierce sincerity of youth, "| don't care if every other wolf in this pack hates you, Elara. | will always like you. Always." The memory was a sharp, agonizing stab to my heart. The dam inside me broke completely. ---- "Why?" | screamed, my fists beating uselessly against his chest. "Why did you do it? After everything we were to each other... why did you throw me away?" The question | had held in my heart for almost a decade, the question that had haunted my every waking moment in that dungeon, was finally free. The weight of it, the years of pain and confusion and betrayal, was too much to bear. My legs gave out, and | would have collapsed if he wasn't holding me. | buried my face in his torn, bloody tunic and wept. | cried for the girl | was, for the love | had lost, and for the unbearable cruelty of it all. He held me, his own body shaking with sobs, his heart breaking along with mine. When the storm finally passed, all that was left was a hollow, aching exhaustion. | pulled away from him, wiping my tear- streaked face with the back of my hand. "| can't do this anymore," | whispered, my voice raw. "Being near you, it... it makes me feel disgusting. It makes me remember everything | want to forget." | looked up at him, my eyes empty. "Please. Don't ever come near me again." The word "disgusting" hit him harder than the silver candlestick had. The last bit of color drained from his face. "Is there... is there no hope for us, Elara? Not ever?" "There was," | said, my voice flat and dead. "I held onto hope for a long time. Every day in that dungeon, | hoped you would ---- come for me. But you never did. You let me down, again and again and again." | took a deep breath, the finality of my words settling like a shroud over us. "Please, Kaelen. Just let me go." He looked at me for a long moment, his soul bare and broken in his eyes. Then, with a tear tracking a path through the blood on his cheek, he gave a slow, agonizing nod. He would grant my request. He would release me from his presence, the only mercy he had left to give. In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.