The days passed slowly as Bella continued her training with Avalon, each session forcing her to confront more of the pain and fear buried deep inside her. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally, but there was a part of her that knew she had no choice but to push through it. Her memories were slowly returning, each one like a small piece of the puzzle falling into place. But with every new revelation, Bella felt a growing sense of confusion. The bond she once shared with Kael seemed just out of reach, a phantom connection that taunted her with its proximity.
Avalon had been a constant presence during these sessions, pushing Bella to unlock her hidden potential while simultaneously offering a stern but nurturing hand when the pain became too much. But as much as Bella had come to rely on Avalon’s guidance, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the woman unsettled her. It wasn’t just Avalon’s unyielding strength and confidence—it was the way she seemed to understand Kael’s pain in ways that Bella couldn’t.
It was during one of these moments of observation that Kael found himself standing outside the training room, watching Avalon and Bella from a distance. He had seen Bella struggle, but there was something about Avalon’s presence that seemed to provide a sense of calm that Kael couldn’t offer her. He hated the thought, but he couldn’t deny it.
Avalon had been particularly focused today, her expression soft but serious as she guided Bella through an exercise meant to open up her hybrid energy. Kael had been there earlier, watching from the sidelines, but the moment Avalon spoke, Bella’s whole demeanor seemed to shift. Kael had never seen her so still, so focused on another person in such a way. It was as if Avalon had become the key to unlocking something deep within Bella that Kael hadn’t been able to reach.
Kael stepped back from the doorway, his heart heavy with frustration. What was it about Avalon that made Bella respond in ways that she never had with him?
Later that evening, Kael found himself alone with Avalon. She had been there for Bella in ways Kael hadn’t expected, offering support without ever pushing too hard, without ever asking for anything in return. And as much as he tried to push the feeling away, he couldn’t shake the admiration he felt for her.
Avalon was standing by the fireplace, her back to him as she stared into the flames. Kael stood just inside the doorway, unsure of how to approach her. The vulnerability he had been hiding from Bella now felt like a gaping wound that needed tending.
“Do you ever feel like you’re fighting for something that’s slipping through your fingers?” Kael asked, his voice rough with the weight of his emotions.
Avalon turned to face him, her gaze steady. “All the time,” she replied quietly. “But you keep fighting anyway. It’s the only choice you have.”
Kael exhaled sharply, his eyes locking with hers. “I don’t know how to keep fighting. I feel like I’m losing her. Every day, it’s like I’m further away from the person I used to be to her.”
Avalon took a step closer, her presence calming in a way Kael hadn’t anticipated. “You’ve already done the hardest part, Kael. You’ve never given up on her, even when it would have been easier to. That’s not something many people can say.”
Kael looked down, his jaw clenched. “But it’s not enough, is it? I need more. I need her to remember. I need her to understand that everything I’ve done has been for her. For us.”
Avalon reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder in a rare moment of comfort. “You’ve done more than enough. She sees that. She just doesn’t know how to accept it yet.”
Kael nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly at Avalon’s words. She was right, of course. But there was still so much uncertainty, so many pieces of the puzzle that didn’t seem to fit together.
Just then, Bella entered the room. She had been quietly watching them from the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. She had seen the way Kael and Avalon had been talking—how their words had been more intimate than she had ever seen between them. She couldn’t explain the tight knot that formed in her stomach, nor could she understand why it made her feel like something was being taken from her.
Bella stood frozen for a moment, her eyes darting between the two of them. Kael’s posture was relaxed now, his earlier tension gone. Avalon stood close to him, her expression unreadable but soft. Bella wasn’t sure what it was, but something in the way they were standing together made her feel like an outsider in her own life.
Before she could stop herself, Bella turned and stormed off, her emotions spiraling out of control. She heard Kael call her name, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.
As she ran through the halls of the packhouse, her mind raced. She hated the way her heart ached with jealousy—jealousy that didn’t even make sense. Why did it matter that Kael was talking to Avalon? Why did it matter that she saw them together?
Bella pressed her hand to her chest, trying to calm the erratic beat of her heart. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. It had to be the memories messing with her head, the flood of emotions that she couldn’t control.
“Why do I care what they’re doing?” she muttered aloud, her voice trembling with frustration. She had no right to feel this way. None at all.