Chapter 24: Forward, Not Back – 1

Thea’s POV

I still hadn’t recovered from Sebastian’s behavior a few days ago. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he trying to sabotage his relationship with Aurora? Or was he just intent on making my life more complicated?

Aurora always believed I was trying to steal her Alpha. What she failed to understand was that all I wanted now was a peaceful life. I didn’t want Sebastian. I’d already fallen down that path and learned my lesson the hard way.

“Really?” An unfamiliar female voice cut through. “You can’t deny you enjoyed that kiss. That’s exactly how you always imagined he would kiss you. Full of desire and passion.”

“Who’s there?” I jerked my head up, scanning around. But everyone remained focused on their own business, no one even glancing in my direction.

I shook my head. Maybe I was hearing things.

Regardless, I’d made up my mind to walk away from Sebastian and find my own life and love. Just because my body had betrayed me didn’t mean anything. My response had been purely physical, nothing more.

“Keep lying to yourself,” the voice suddenly chimed in again.

I stood up, scanning the room once more but finding nothing. What was happening? The voice sounded so close, almost as if it were inside my head.

But the voice remained silent after that. Maybe it was some lingering side effect of the wolfsbane?

I pushed all thoughts of Sebastian’s strange behavior and that unexpected kiss to the back of my mind, focusing instead on the restaurant’s door. It was five in the afternoon, and I’d just finished teaching. Iris and I had agreed to meet here for dinner before heading home.

As I sipped my coffee, Iris pushed through the door. She searched the crowd for a moment before spotting me and hurrying over with a smile.

“So, how was the date with Kane?” she asked eagerly as soon as she sat down.

“It went well,” I said shyly.

Her face lit up with a brilliant smile. “Tell me everything!”

“Nothing special, really. We went to this fancy restaurant for dinner, then he took me to this lookout point in the suburbs to relax and watch the moonlight. That was my favorite part.”

“Wow! That’s so romantic! Did you kiss?” she asked excitedly while browsing the menu.

I laughed. Apparently, she hadn’t heard anything else I’d said, only caring about what happened at the end of the date.

“No,” I replied. “I could tell he wanted to, but he didn’t. Honestly, I don’t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved.”

“Why?”

“Because part of me wants to know what it feels like to be kissed by someone who actually wants me, but another part is grateful he didn’t because I’m not sure I’m ready.”

She fell silent for a moment, studying me thoughtfully.

“Are you saying Sebastian never really kissed you properly?” she frowned.

“He kissed me, but never from his heart. I’ve seen how he kisses Aurora. Those kisses are full of passion, like he can never get enough of her taste, like he could kiss her forever.” I took a deep breath. “He never kissed me like that.”

I avoided her gaze, not wanting her to see my shame. This was the first time I’d confessed this to anyone. I’d kept the truth about my broken marriage to Sebastian buried deep inside for so long, not wanting anyone to know how his actions had destroyed me.

“But he did kiss you like that last Friday,” the strange voice suddenly piped up again, sounding almost exasperated.

I frowned slightly, making a mental note to schedule a hospital check-up over the weekend.

Friday was just a fluke. It couldn’t mean anything. Besides, one kiss couldn’t erase all those moments when I’d yearned for his kisses only to be rejected. Those times had hurt beyond belief – my husband finding me so repulsive he wouldn’t even kiss me. Even during our intimate moments, he would kiss every part of my body except my lips.

Okay, here's the cleaned-up version of the text:

“You deserve to be kissed like it’s the end of the world,” Iris squeezed my hand, offering support and comfort. I looked at her, relieved to see neither pity nor sympathy in her eyes – the last things I wanted to see.

“So, besides that, everything was perfect?” she asked.

“Yes, though I did see Sebastian and Aurora. Looks like they were on a date too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I took a sip of my drink, trying to forget how perfect they looked together. Aurora was right. She and Sebastian belonged together. Everyone had believed that back then, and now I was finally starting to understand why.

“Well, I hope he saw how beautiful you are, hope he realizes what he let go,” Iris said.

I smiled. Like I said, Iris was great for my self-esteem. Finally, someone who didn’t constantly talk about how beautiful Aurora was. Finally, someone who didn’t compare me to my sister or constantly praise her beauty in front of me.

“Is that all? Nothing else interesting happened?” she pressed.

“Nope.” I shook my head.

I’d thought about telling her about Sebastian’s visit, but I held back. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her, but sometimes people accidentally let things slip. The last thing I wanted was for Aurora to find out Sebastian had come to my house and kissed me.

As our food arrived, we continued chatting for a while, the atmosphere light, but I gradually noticed something seemed to be weighing on Iris’s mind.

“Okay, what is it?” I pushed aside my drink and plate.

“Nothing.” She avoided my gaze.

“Spill it, Iris.” I insisted.

I could see her internal struggle. That’s when I knew I definitely wouldn’t like what she was about to say.

“It’s about Roman… he’s really sorry.”

I sighed inwardly. I should have kept my mouth shut and minded my own business.

“We’re not discussing this.” I said through gritted teeth.

Iris sighed. “Please, Thea. Your refusal to see him is killing him. He couldn’t even visit you when you were hurt. He’s suffering.”

“He’s suffering? Do you know how many years I suffered? Do you know how many hurtful things he’s said and done? He wants my forgiveness, but he never forgave me for ‘hurting‘ his precious Aurora. He told me he only had one sister. Do you know how much it hurts to hear your brother say that? Or hear him mock that Sebastian would never love me because Aurora was his everything and I was nothing?”

They always wanted to pull me back into the past when all I wanted was to move forward. Once again, his pain was being prioritized over mine. No one cared how they’d hurt and trampled me, yet he expected me to forget my pain and forgive him. That wasn’t happening.

I stood up and grabbed my bag, my mood thoroughly ruined.

“If he could take back the pain he caused me, maybe I’d forgive him. Until then, we have nothing to discuss.”

I saw tears well up in her eyes, but I ignored them and turned to leave. She called my name, but I didn’t look back.

I flagged down a taxi just as Iris rushed out, but the car was already pulling away. I refused to look at her, fighting back tears that threatened to fall. I wouldn’t be weak anymore, wouldn’t feel sorry for myself. The old me was buried, and now I needed to focus on creating my new life.

Stepping out of the taxi, I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to be back in my safe haven. But just as I was about to unlock my door, a chill ran down my spine. I felt watched. I turned to scan the street, but everything appeared normal.

I quickly let myself in, but even inside, that unsettling sensation of being watched lingered. Even through the walls, I could still feel that dark, hostile gaze on my