Pandora’s POV
The last light of day clung stubbornly to the skies. I watched from my room, my fingers brushing lightly against the cool glass of the window.
Below, in the palace garden, Ashley was curled up on the stone bench, her shoulders shaking with sobs that seemed to echo in the stillness of the twilight.
My heart ached for her. The sight of her, so broken and alone, stirred something deep within me. I knew all too well the pain of betrayal, the sharp, biting cold of being cast out by those you loved.
Ashley had made her choices, true, but watching her now, I couldn’t help but see a girl who had been led astray, manipulated by forces beyond her control.
“She brought this on herself, you know.”
Wilson’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He stood in the doorway of my room, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.
As Ashley’s elder brother, he had always been protective of her, but his patience had worn thin after everything that had happened.
“I know,” I replied softly, turning away from the window to face him. “But that doesn’t mean she deserves to suffer like this.”
Wilson shook his head, his jaw tightening. “You’re too soft, Pandora. She betrayed everyone who cared about her. Sometimes people have to face the consequences of their actions.”
“Maybe,” I conceded, though my heart wasn’t in it. “But I can’t just sit here and watch her fall apart. She’s still your sister, Wilson.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly torn between his anger and his love for her. “Pandora, you don’t always have to fix everything. Sometimes… people need to learn on their own.”
I knew he was right, in a way. But as I looked back out the window at Ashley, her form small and fragile against the backdrop of the sprawling garden, I couldn’t stop myself.
“I have to try,” I whispered.
Before Wilson could protest, I slipped past him, hurrying down the hall and out into the cool evening air. The garden was quiet, the only sound was the soft rustling of leaves as a gentle breeze swept through the trees.
As I approached Ashley, I could hear her crying, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as if each sob was being torn from her chest. This was the pain of losing one’s mate and I recognized it.
“Ashley,” I called softly, not wanting to startle her. She didn’t respond, lost in her own world of pain. I moved closer, kneeling beside her on the bench. “Ashley, it’s me, Pandora.”
Slowly, she lifted her head, her tear-streaked face turning towards me. Her eyes were red and swollen, her usually vibrant features dulled by the weight of her grief.
“Pandora,” she croaked, her voice hoarse. “I… I don’t know what to do. Caleb… he…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence, another sob choking her words. I reached out, gently pulling her into an embrace. She resisted at first, her body stiff and unyielding, but then she collapsed against me, her tears soaking into my shoulder.
“It’s okay,” I murmured, stroking her hair. “Let it out.”
For a long time, she cried, her sobs wracking her body as she clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her from being swallowed by the darkness.
I held her, feeling her pain as if it were my own, wishing I could take it all away, but knowing that some wounds couldn’t be healed so easily.
“Caleb rejected me,” she finally managed to say, her voice trembling. “He said… he said he couldn’t forgive me for what I did. That he didn’t want me as his mate.”
I closed my eyes, feeling a pang of sorrow for her. Caleb would have been everything to Ashley. The bond between mates was supposed to be unbreakable, a connection that was greater than everything else.
But she had broken that trust, and now she was paying the price. He could have died. That would have been irreversible.
“Ashley,” I said softly, pulling back to look at her. “Caleb’s hurting right now. He’s angry, and his anger is clouding his judgment. He might have rejected you in the heat of the moment, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end.”
She looked at me with such desperation, as if clinging to any hope I could give her. “Do you really think so? That he might… change his mind?”
“I do,” I said firmly. “But you have to give him time. Time to heal, to work through his anger. And in the meantime, you need to focus on yourself. On making things right with the people you’ve hurt.”
She nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t know where to start,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I’ve messed up so badly, Pandora.”
I squeezed her hand. “We’ll take it one step at a time. You’re not alone in this.”
Together, we stood, and I led her back toward the palace. It was already dark by the time we headed back, the stars beginning to twinkle in the dark sky above us.
As we approached the entrance, I saw Kiara standing by the door, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She had been waiting, hoping, for Ashley to return. I guess we were attached to her in a way that we both couldn’t explain.
“Ashley…” Kiara whispered as we reached her, her voice thick with emotion.
Ashley hesitated, guilt flashing across her face, but then she rushed forward, wrapping Kiara in a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry for everything.”
Kiara held her, her own tears finally spilling over as she clung to her sister. “We’ll get through this,” Kiara said, her voice soft but steady. “Together.”
I watched them, my heart swelling with both sadness and hope. There was so much pain, so much that needed to be mended, but this was a start. Healing wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t be quick, but as long as they had each other, there was a chance.
And I would be there every step of the way, to help her find the light again, just like she had helped me find mine.