Claimed By The Alpha King

CHAPTER 1 A Substitute

Scarlet’s POV

“So, Caspian, now that your Luna is back, what are you gonna do with the stepsister you’ve been fooling around with?” I froze before I could even knock at the door. His words felt like a bucket of ice poured on my soul. I knew that voice, it was one of Caspian’s friends…

It’s been five years since I became Caspian’s girlfriend—but only in secret.

‘In secret’, yet little did I know I was their topic of discussion when he was with his friend—speaking of me like I was a laughing stock, used to pleasure him.

I was a fool.

Alpha Caspian was my brother’s best friend and the Alpha of Hawthorn Pack, I met him at my brother’s graduation, and since then, I knew I was in love, and we’ve been planning to get married.

Or that’s what I thought…

I didn’t hear a reply from Caspian, yet the chuckles of his friends already gave me an idea of what he thought. But I was hoping, I wasn’t right.

“Well, Scarlet was just a substitute, her wolf was weak far different from her brother who possessed a raw power that despite not carrying their stepfather’s blood, was acknowledged to lead the pack. Scarlet was the runt of the litter. Unlike Sarah who is an Alpha bloodline.”

A third chimed in, sounding too pleased with himself, “But Sarah deserves a little payback, she left Caspian without a word, and for years. Using Scarlet would be fun to irritate her, don’t you think?”

The next day, Caspian met me at the pack’s welcome celebration for Sarah. Still, I believed the words he had spoken to me in the past years, and his promise that he would marry me.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he placed a kiss on my cheek as his hands slid around my waist, pulling me closer, feeling the warmth from his body.

As we watched the live band playing, his lips remained lingering at the side of my head as if nothing had ever changed. And for tonight, I let it, to be in his arms, to feel his affection.

Sarah entered the room with all the grace of a queen reclaiming her throne.

Caspian’s hold on me loosened almost instantly. His entire body went rigid, and I felt his attention snapping away from me like a broken thread.

Then as Sarah’s gaze fell on us, her tears began to fall, and she spun around, running out of the celebration. Without a word, Caspian let go of me, his hands slipping from my waist so suddenly.

“Sarah!” he called, and shoved past me, so forceful that I stumbled backward. I bumped into a passing waiter, sending a tray of hot soup and appetizers flying.

The searing heat of the spilled soup splashed across my arm and chest, burning through the thin fabric of my dress. I gasped, the pain slicing through me, and stumbled again, my vision blurring with tears.

Caspian did not even look back. He was gone, chasing after Sarah like she was his entire world.

I swallowed down the bitter taste of shame, ignoring the sting of burns and the ache in my chest. Somehow, I managed to gather myself, muttering apologies to the waiter, before slipping out of the celebration.

I returned to our apartment and changed my clothes until I found myself standing in front of his office. The one room he never let me enter. He always had an excuse. But tonight, I couldn’t stop myself. I pushed the door open and scanned his shelves, but what drew my attention was his laptop monitor, left on, showing his display picture.

It was a picture of Caspian and Sarah. They looked happy, young, and utterly perfect together. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and his smile was wide and genuine in a way I hadn’t seen in years.

The sight of it stole the breath from my lungs. My knees nearly buckled, and my heart felt as if it had turned to ash, crumbling under the weight of betrayal.

I backed out of the office, shutting the door behind me with a trembling hand. My vision blurred, but I managed to find my phone. Without thinking, I dialed the number I hadn’t used in ages.

“George,” I said. My brother, George, had been my protector when we were younger, the one constant in my life, sadly, he had been away for long, making alliances around the world.

“Scarlet? You called, is everything okay?”

I took a shaky breath, fighting to keep my composure. “I’ve made up my mind,” I whispered, “About the arranged mate bond. I agree. I’ll do it.”

“Why now? Did something happen?”

“I just… I realized there’s no point in waiting for something that was never meant to be. Set it up. The sooner we secure the alliance, the better.”

A long pause, then a resigned sigh. “All right,” he said softly. “I’ll make the arrangements. Do you wanna meet him first?”

“No, it’s fine, I trust you, and Mom’s judgment. Just… make it happen, please.”

“Okay. I’ll take care of everything… Anyway, I heard Sarah’s back already, Caspian must be thrilled. His Luna’s back,” George chuckled.

I see… George knew about them that’s why Caspian made me keep our relationship a secret. Was I the only one who never knew they had been together?

“Yeah, she’s back,” I replied.

“You should invite Caspian to attend with Sarah at your engagement party,” he suggested, and I frowned, the bitter thought clouding me.

“He doesn’t have to be there.”

I jolted in surprise, ending the call, when Caspian spoke, “Who are you talking to?”

“It was George,” I replied.

As he neared me, I could smell the scent of another shewolf clinging onto him, it was Sarah’s favorite perfume mixed with her natural scent.

How close they had to be for her scent to be rubbed on him, and the hickey just below his earlobe…

My eyes burned with tears at the betrayal that I hoped wasn’t true. But the evidence was all in front of me, how could I deny it?

Caspian’s expression darkened grabbing my hand gently as he scanned the burn. “What happened?” he demanded, his voice shaking with concern as he rolled up my sleeve. “How did you get burned? Why didn’t you say anything?”

His panic was convincing, but I’d heard too much. Seen too much. I stayed silent, unwilling to point out his empty concern, and watched the mask he wore so well start to slip.

CHAPTER 2 Girlfriend In Secret

Scarlet’s POV

“Hey, don’t cry now. I’ll get the first aid kit,” Caspian remarked and disappeared for a minute. But I was not crying because of the burn, but because of what he did. The pain here in my chest was far worse than this physical burn that could be tended immediately. But my heart… how could I heal this one?

When he returned, he was already carrying the kit and began applying cream on my arm. He was gentle, like he had always been. He was a prince charming of any woman.

Only if I hadn’t learned the truth.

“I was just away for a while and you already burned yourself. You should be careful next time, yeah? ‘I’ll be getting busy soon. So, I won’t always be around to watch out for you,” he reminded me, knowing that I’m clumsy and before, he had always been there to catch me whenever I fell, stumble, or broke something. I had relied on him so much that I didn’t even know how to care for my wound since he had always done it for me in the past years.

‘But I’m done. I’m not willing to play the princess in distress anymore, saved by a king who had been waiting for his queen.’

I won’t stay in this twisted version of love that clung to lies and halfhearted affections.

That night, I barely slept. Memories of Caspian running after Sarah kept playing on a repeated loop in my mind, like an echo and an old TV that kept on replaying. I woke up drenched in sweat, the dawn light filtering weakly through the curtains. My body ached, and I longed for rest, for the kind of peace I knew I’d never get.

Caspian, as if summoned by some invisible bond, pulled me closer to him, his hands wrapping around my waist, annoyingly gentle yet possessive as he teased, “Come on, lazy bunny,” he teased, his lips brushing against my cheek, a mockery of the warmth I once craved. “Up you go.”

“Leave me alone,” I grumbled, trying to wriggle free, but he only chuckled.

“It’s morning, Scarlet, wake up,” he insisted, pinching my cheek slightly

“It’s the weekend, Caspian. Can’t you let me sleep in?” I groaned, pushing him off on top of me. I would have loved this kind of morning, him— being cuddly and sweet, yet every time he came near me, I was reminded of Sarah’s scent on her, the way her perfume and natural scent clung onto his skin, it was frustrating.

“We need to get your burn treated at the hospital, it is better if a doctor could check it to make sure it will not leave a bad scar,” he uttered and got out of bed but I curled still under the sheets. I was not able to sleep properly last night, so perhaps once he left, I would be able to.

The door clicked shut, I drifted back to sleep.

But, Caspian was persistent in getting me out of bed.

The doctor handed me a new cream and the nurse cleaned my wound and wrapped it with a new bandage.

“Please wait here, miss. I’ll get the bill for you,” the nurse instructed so I waited outside the doctor’s office while Caspian was busy on his phone, typing an email to his Beta.

“Sarah,” Caspian uttered, his eyes filled with worry, his phone tucked away in his pocket now as he gave his full attention to the girl he had waited for. “Why are you here? Are you okay?” there was that familiar panic in his voice, showing how much he truly cared for her.

“Yeah, I stepped on a few tiny thorns last night… in the bush… you know,” she replied knowingly, her words implying something, and I saw it in Caspian’s eyes the recognition of what she meant. He was there, with her, wherever that stupid shrubs were. If I would guess it correctly, that was where they had clung onto each other, feeling each other’s bodies.

I shivered in disgust at the thought.

Sarah looked at him with a look of longing that swirled with desire that seemed to hypnotize Caspian, seducing him to a moment of pleasure, and he had already forgotten that I was here, behind him, seated on a chair the nurse instructed me to wait.

I felt like I was this invisible girl that did not exist.

It was only when the nurse had come to my aid to give the bill that their attention was pointed at me, and Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise, and despite the smile that painted her face, I could see the shift in his eyes, the evident annoyance to see me.

“Scarlet, li’l sis, I didn’t know you were here. Are you okay?” she asked, feigning concern.

“Uh, yes. I just had a burn,” I replied, lifting my arm a little to show her the bandaged area. It was not like she cared or anything. If it was George, I was sure he would be making a big fuss of it.

“Oh,” then her eyes went back to Caspian, then to me, and back to him again which made him utter the same defensive script I had heard so many times.

“I brought her in because she was being stubborn. I was only looking after her. You know, she’s your little sister, and especially George. You know him, he is very protective of Scarlet,” he replied.

Like always, I was his best friend’s little sister that he was ‘only’ looking after as if I was a 5yearold kid who would get lost without a nanny.

I was not. I was his girlfriend… in secret.

“Alright then, I should go to the doctor,” Sarah said and turned, limping on one foot, and Caspian quickly scooped her up.

“I’ll take you there, you’re hurt,” he said and Sarah smiled in delight, her eyebrows lifting as her eyes widened in gratitude.

Caspian turned to me, with a look of concern, but I knew it was not for me, but for the girl he was carrying in his arms. “Scarlet, you wait for me here, yeah?”

What else could I do but nod?

I watched them turn to another corridor and disappear from my sight. I needed to settle the bill. But the moment I stood from my chair, I felt the world spin and I stumbled back, closing my eyes, the nurse caught me just in time before I fell on the floor.

“Miss, are you okay? Please rest here for a while, I will page the doctor to check you.”

CHAPTER 3 They Were Never For Me

Scarlet’s POV

It was already dark outside and there was no single message or call from Caspian, and neither did he visit me in my room when I passed out due to fatigue and I woke up with an IV line connected to the back of my hand. The nurse carefully removed it after the IV bag was emptied and said I had to take the prescribed supplements and after settling the bill, I could go.

And since I had no one else with me, I requested the nurse to do it instead, handing her my credit card. As I fixed my hair, I dialed Caspian’s number and after a few rings, he eventually answered.

“Hey, you’re home yeah?” he greeted and I could hear in the background the polite voice that came in to interrupt him, “Here’s your coffee and chamomile tea, sir, ma’am. Enjoy the fireworks!”

Fireworks. The annual festival begins tonight and a fireworks display will commence the celebration. How fun. He was already out there, enjoying a coffee, and the tea must be for Sarah, it was her favorite flavor, and she never drank coffee, she said it was bad for her teeth.

“No, Caspian,” I replied, implying that he had made me wait yet did not return in the end. “I’m still here in the hospital.”

“Why? It’s been hours, Scarlet. You should have gone home without me,” he remarked, sounding surprised as if he never explicitly told me to wait for him. But no, that was not the reason. “Look, I’m sorry, but I can’t come to you right now. I thought you already went home so I thought I should drive Sarah home since the doctor said she should not be straining her foot. You can take a cab, yeah? I might get stuck in traffic if I return to the hospital.”

I sighed at his attempt to cover where they were, “Alright. I’ll take the cab.”

“Take care, Scar—”

I did not let him finish anymore and ended the call. I was fed up with his lies already. He had the audacity to spend time with her, and had fun, while I was passed out, lying on a hospital bed. How nice.

I spotted the cab and went home.

And that night, Caspian did not come home.

Soon, I’ll go.

I typed my resignation letter and the following morning, I went straight to the office and handed the resignation letter to the city archive’s administrator.

“Why so sudden, Scarlet?” she asked but there was worry in her face as she took in my stressed look. I was not particularly delighted about leaving the city archive, I built a circle here and I was not ready to suddenly leave them behind.

But I could not stay here any longer, once my brother completed the arrangements with my future fiancee, I would leave.

“It’s just something personal, Madame. I do not want to go but I have to. I am really sorry. It was sudden,” I replied and she nodded lightly as her hand brushed my upper arm, conveying understanding to this sudden resignation.

“It must be very important. But I understand. I know you love your job, and you are not the type of person to suddenly resign if it is not something important,” she said, smiling at me with a look of understanding even though I could not detail her the reason why I was quitting. “Don’t worry, I will process your resignation immediately.”

“Thank you, Madame, for everything,” I bade her my farewell and stepped out of her office. Once I was back in the main archive hall, I looked around.

The main archive hall stretched out before me, a quiet towering space filled with the smell of aged paper and polished wood. Rows of shelves stood like sentinels with their contents meticulously organized having each section brimming with the weight of the city's history.

This was where I felt purposeful. Every file I sorted, every record I preserved— it felt like a small act of immortality, safeguarding the past for the future.

It was hard to let it go.

But I had to.

After leaving the archive, I decided to stop by a pastry shop to buy a cake.

The Victoria’s Pastries was not just any shop— it was the one where Caspian always bought cakes for me. He always brought red velvet, the shop’s specialty, and pride. I did not mind it; I appreciated the thought and enjoyed the cakes with him, even though my favorite flavor had always been caramel.

The shop’s bell jingled as I stepped inside, and the rich aroma of baked goods wrapped around me like a warm blanket— comforting. And after everything that I found out and the decisions I made, I thought I needed something sweet to uplift myself.

The displays were neatly arranged, one side showing an assortment of cakes in various flavors— chocolate, fruit, vanilla. My gaze lingered on the caramel cake, feeling like its golden frosting was calling to me.

Across from it was another display dedicated entirely to red velvet cakes, which the shop was very well known of. The vibrant red color stood out, each cake was decorated with creamy white frosting in different designs. It was clear this was the shop’s pride and joy, and it was said that they have the best red velvet cakes in the State.

The attendant noticed me looking at the red velvet cakes and stepped forward with a smile. “Miss, are you interested in our red velvet collection?” She gestured toward the cabinet with a bright and cheerful expression. “It’s our specialty, you know. Best in the city! Would you like to try one?”

I hesitated, staring at the cakes that Caspian always brought to me. They were good, but I would always prefer a caramel cake.

“No,” I said finally, forcing a polite smile. “It’s not my favorite flavor,” I uttered honestly.

The attendant blinked, her cheer faltering slightly before she nodded. “Of course. What would you like instead?”

I pointed to the caramel cake in the display closest to me. “The sixinch caramel cake, please.”

Her smile returned as she noted my order. “Excellent choice! Please wait a moment while I box it up.”

I stepped aside, letting my eyes wander absently around the shop as I waited. When the bell above the door jingled again, I turned out of instinct, my heart sinking as Sarah walked in.

“Scarlet!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up in surprise. “You’re here! Are you getting a cake?”

“Yes,” I replied curtly, despite the unease churning inside me.

She moved toward the red velvet cabinet, her gaze softening as she admired the cakes. “This shop is my favorite,” she began, her tone laced with nostalgia. “They make the best red velvet cakes. Caspian and I used to come here all the time before I left. It was our little ritual to pick one out together.” She laughed lightly, the sound grating against my ears. “Now that I’m back, I couldn’t resist stopping by again. I miss it.”

I froze in realization as her words hit me like a punch in the gut. Caspian’s red velvet cakes— his gestures of affection, his supposed thoughtfulness— they were not for me. They had never been for me.

They were her favorite, her tradition, her memory. He had been thinking of her, always her.

Always Sarah.

I swallowed hard, forcing a neutral expression. “That’s nice,” I managed, my voice betraying none of the bitterness clawing at my chest.

The attendant returned with my boxed cake, and I accepted it with a nod, clutching the package tightly as I swiped my card for payment. My appetite was gone, but I was not about to let Sarah— or anyone— see just how much her words had shaken me.

CHAPTER 4 Believe Me!

Scarlet’s POV

The mere fact that we do look alike, felt like a slap across my face as the realization hit me that it was probably the reason why Caspian had pursued me. I was a reminder of Sarah who left without a word.

“We do look alike, little stepsis, Caspian would agree,” she said, her tone insinuating something. I heard it beneath that sweet angelic face, it sounded like she already learned what I was to Caspian yet she had decided to play ignorant about it while she waltzed in, back to his life— claiming what was originally hers.

My stomach churned as I processed the insult wrapped in her sweet tone with each syllable dripping with condescension. As if our resemblance somehow validated her superiority over me, as if I was only a temporary replacement, a substitute, that was discarded now that the original copy had returned.

I took a step back instinctively, getting out of her feigned soft grip on my shoulder, putting a space between us as the humiliation and insult twisted in my chest like a blade.

But my movement was too sudden and quick, and forceful.

Sarah wobbled, her hand shooting out to steady herself, but it was too late. She stumbled, her sprained ankle buckling beneath her weight.

Her sharp intake of breath was followed by a soft cry as she fell down to the floor, the thud seemed to have echoed in the shop.

“Sarah, I did not —”

But before I could finish, the bell above the shop door jingled again. I turned and froze as Caspian strode in, his expression instantly hardening when he saw Sarah on the floor. ‘But why is Caspian here?’

My eyes widened in surprise to see him, why was he here? Well, I could only hope that he did not spend the night with Sarah since he did not come home last night, but seeing him with Sarah as if he had driven for her and waited outside. My intuition must be right.

“Sarah!” he exclaimed sharply as he rushed to her aid, taking her arm to steady her and help her stand before his eyes locked onto me, clearly evident with cruel accusation.

“What the hell, Scarlet?” he snapped, his grip tightening protectively around Sarah’s arm. “What is wrong with you!? Why did you push her?”

My mouth opened, but the words tangled in my throat, unable to break free.

“No, I did not pu—”

He was not listening. “Don’t lie to me!” he snarled, his voice was like a growl, and I flinched, unable to reconcile this side of him with the man I thought I knew.

“I didn’t push her!” I insisted, my voice breaking with frustration. “She lost her balance. It was an accident—”

Caspian cut me off, his voice was cold and full of unyielding accusation. “I saw it, Scarlet. You moved too quickly, pushing her off of you, and now she’s hurt. Why would you even do something like this?”

“I did not mean for her to fall!” I snapped, desperation edging my voice. “Why would I push my own stepsister for no reason?”

“Caspian, please,” Sarah interrupted weakly, her voice trembling as she leaned heavily on him. “It’s okay. Don’t be mad. I’m fine… But Scarlet, maybe next time, just be a little more careful.”

Her words were gentle, almost innocent, but they burned with the implication that I had caused this. I stared at her, unable to believe the act she was putting on.

Caspian’s grip on her arm tightened protectively as he turned back to me, his fury bubbling over. “Careful? You knew she was injured, Scarlet! What were you thinking? Were you jealous because she is back, and she is getting all the attention you think you deserve?”

“What?” I gasped, shaking my head in disbelief. “That is not true! I am not jealous—”

But before I could finish, the sound of his palm connecting with my cheek silenced me. My head snapped to the side as the sting radiated across my skin, and my breath hitched in my throat.

“Caspian!” Sarah exclaimed, grabbing his arm as though she were horrified. “You shouldn’t have done that! What will George think? He will be furious if he finds out you hit her.”

Caspian’s nostrils flared as he exhaled sharply, his hand clenching into a fist at his side. “George will understand,” he said firmly. “Scarlet is his little sister, and sometimes, lessons need to be taught. If George were here, he would do the same thing to knock some sense into her.”

My chest constricted at his words, humiliation crashing over me in waves. Was that all I was to him— a little sister who needed to be disciplined? I AM HIS GIRLFRIEND! And yet he seemed to believe his own lies already, the lies that we tell to people about what we were.

I raised a hand to my cheek, the heat of the slap still lingering, and forced myself to speak, though my voice was shaking.

“I did not push her,” I said quietly, refusing to let the tears brimming in my eyes fall. “She lost her balance. Why would I hurt her?”

Caspian sneered, disbelief painted across his face. “You expect me to believe that? I’ve seen the way you have been acting since Sarah came back. You need to learn to control yourself, Scarlet, and apologize to her.”

“I am not apologizing for something I did not do,” I said firmly, my voice stronger now, though my heart was breaking. “I would never hurt her. Why can’t you see that?”

But he would never listen, he would never believe me. It was all Sarah that matters to him now.

“You need to think about your actions,” he snapped, dismissively. “You’ve already caused enough trouble. We’re leaving.”

Caspian turned, his arm steadying Sarah as she leaned against him, her lips curving into a small, triumphant smile before they walked out. The bell above the door jingled as they left, and I stood there, frozen, my hands trembling so I clenched them tightly.

My vision blurred as I stepped outside, fighting the tears threatening to spill. The sting on my cheek burned as a reminder of how little I mattered to him.

To Caspian, I wasn’t his partner, his equal, or even someone he cared about. Now that Sarah was back, I was just George’s little sister— a problem he needed to fix now.

CHAPTER 5 A Goodbye and The Arrival

Scarlet’s POV

For years, I had believed that Caspian’s love for me was real, that I wasn’t just a standin for someone— worse, it was even my stepsister. And now she was back, I had to disappear, like a discarded toy he no longer needed.

I straightened, pushing myself away from the counter where the caramel cake settled untouched. I’ve already made my decision…

This wasn’t love. This wasn’t the life I wanted. And if Caspian couldn’t see my worth, then it was time for me to leave. I wouldn’t stay here being a martyr for a love that was never mine.

~

The morning light filtered through the curtains, as I began packing my belongings. The apartment felt colder than usual, its oncecozy corners were now shadowed by memories I wanted to forget. This place that I had considered my home now turned to be a place I wanted to escape from.

I folded my clothes like a mechanical robot that was set to do what I had programmed, blocking the emotions and thoughts that were threatening to spill, preventing myself from going back from decisions, and shattering my resolve. My favorite sweater, tees, and boots, even the small trinkets I had collected over the years— all of them went into the suitcase without hesitation. I was set on leaving this place polished, without leaving any trace, like I never existed.

The walls seemed to watch as I moved through the apartment, clearing shelves and emptying drawers, taking my personals, and I left behind anything that belonged to Caspian, refusing to carry even a sliver of his presence with me.

When the packing was done, I cleaned. The floors, the counters, the bathroom— every inch of the space, every corner of the apartment. I scrubbed away the traces of myself, returning the apartment to the state it had been in before I moved in. It was strangely cathartic, like erasing a chapter of my life.

By the time night fell, the apartment was spotless. My suitcase stood by the door, packed and ready, while my heart felt heavy and uncertain. I wanted to be sure of my decision, to leave without regret, my heart still screaming for a chance, but my mind was already set on moving on.

I sank onto the couch, my phone clutched tightly in my hand. Maybe I owed it to myself to try one last time. To see if there was anything left to salvage.

My fingers hovered over Caspian’s contact before I pressed the call button.

It rang once. Twice. Three times. No answer.

I tried again. And again.

Finally, the call connected, only to end abruptly. He had declined it.

The truth settled over me like a shroud, heavy, yet clear of the message. He was not busy. He was not asleep. He was refusing to talk to me. He had chosen, decided not to talk to me.

I stared at the phone, the final thread of hope snapping under the weight of his rejection. That was it. The last sign I needed, and the push I needed to move forward without him in my life.

It’s time to go.

~

It was still dark outside when I wheeled my suitcase out of the apartment. The cool morning air nipped at my skin as I locked the door behind me, the click echoing in the silence.

The cab I booked arrived promptly with its headlights cutting through the predawn gloom. The driver greeted me with a polite smile as he loaded my luggage into the trunk.

“Heading to the airport?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied, steadying myself despite the storm raging inside me. I was getting an urge to look back at the apartment building for the last time but I chose not to. There was no point looking back now that I was choosing to move forward.

I entered the cab and shut the door as the driver drove through the quiet road, the city still asleep as we passed through its empty streets. I leaned my head against the window, watching the familiar landmarks fade into the distance. With every mile, I felt a mix of relief and sadness, leaving the place I had called home.

When we arrived at the airport, the driver helped me load my luggage to a cart and I paid him additional tips to thank him. As I pushed inside, travelers moved briskly through the space, searching, transacting, and some crying while leaving their loved ones.

I took my passport out and headed to check in with my hands trembling slightly as I handed over my documents, realizing how big this decision I was making. The attendant smiled at me as she checked my details in the system.

“Enjoy your flight,” she said, handing back my passport and my boarding pass.

I nodded, returning a polite smile, as I clutched my documents tightly as I moved toward security. The line was short, and soon I found myself standing barefoot as my belongings went through the scanner.

When I reached the gate, the announcement for boarding echoed through the terminal.

I stepped onto the plane with a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest as I found my seat by the window.

Finally.

The engines roared to life, and the plane began its ascent. I watched the city shrink below me, its lights twinkling like distant stars, and I felt my chest contract, sending a wave of discomfort as I fought myself from crying.

As the clouds swallowed the city from view, I realized I wasn’t just leaving behind a place— I was leaving behind a version of myself. The one who stayed. The one who endured. The one who loved without reservations.

For the first time, I felt free.

And now, there was no turning back.