---- Chapter 8 No.8 Elara POV: From the shadows outside the great hall, | could hear the toasts and speeches. Pack members lauded Kaelen and Seraphina, calling them a perfect match. They recounted tales of Kaelen's bravery, stories where he had protected "Seraphina" from rogue attacks, or shared his kill with "Seraphina" after a difficult hunt. A dry, mirthless laugh escaped my lips. | leaned against the cold stone wall, the sound of their praise a distant, meaningless buzz. Every single story they told was a lie. The girl Kaelen had shielded from rogue claws was me. The one he had shared his first successful hunt with was me. Seraphina had simply been there, in the background, and had later claimed my experiences as her own. It was in that moment, listening to my life being rewritten and handed to another, that | finally accepted the truth. The protective, kind boy | had loved was gone. He had died seven years ago, the day he chose to believe a lie over his own mate. The Alpha standing in that hall, dancing with my tormentor, was a stranger. Later that night, he found me by the lake. He had conjured shimmering water sprites that danced on the surface, their ---- light casting a magical glow. He stood beside me, his voice low and earnest. "After the ceremony tomorrow, this will all be over. | promise. Then, it will be just you and me. We can finally be together properly." | opened my mouth to speak the words that were screaming inside me: 'I will not be waiting for you.' But before | could, Lyra appeared. "Kaelen! The elders need you for the final preparations!" He gave me an apologetic look. "| have to go." As he turned to leave, he squeezed my hand. "Tomorrow, Elara. After the ceremony, everything ends." He was right. Everything would end. Just not in the way he imagined. | didn't watch him go. | walked back to my shack, the sounds of the pack's revelry fading behind me. Inside, | performed my own quiet ceremony. | filled the small basin with snow | had gathered from outside, letting it melt into icy water. | washed my body, scrubbing away the grime of the kitchens, the lingering scent of his touch, the last seven years of despair. | put on the cleanest, simplest tunic | owned. | was preparing for a rebirth. My possessions were few. A worn blanket, a small carving of a wolf | had made, and a single, faded drawing. It was a picture of my family, drawn when | was a cub, before Seraphina. A happy, smiling family that no longer existed. | looked at it one last time, then slowly, deliberately, tore it into ---- pieces. Finally, | took out my journal. | had written in it every day in the dungeon, using ink made from soot and water. | flipped through the pages, a chronicle of my descent from hope to utter hopelessness. On the final, blank page, | wrote my farewells in the Old Tongue, the language they thought | never knew. A farewell to my parents, who chose a lie over their own blood. A farewell to my sister, who chose a rival over her own kin. And a farewell to Kaelen, who chose a debt of honor over his own soul. | placed the detailed healer's report on top of the open journal. The report that clearly stated one of my kidneys was failing due to silver poisoning. Let them see the price | had paid for his life. The pack clock tower began to chime nine. It was time. Without a backward glance, | walked out of the shack, out of the village, and into the deep woods that bordered our territory. A simple, unmarked "horse-drawn carriage" was waiting for me, just as the healer's message had promised. | climbed inside, pulling the curtain shut. As the "carriage" lurch"ed" forward, carrying me into the darkness, | did not look back. | was disappearing into the night, leaving behind a life that was never truly mine. 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.