Alison’s POV
The clock on my nightstand ticked endlessly, each second dragging into an eternity. I tossed and turned, but sleep refused to come. My mind was a storm, and I was caught in its eye. Memories of Caitlyn’s smug words, Xander’s cold distance, and the hollow feeling that had settled in my chest churned relentlessly. The bed felt like quicksand, pulling me deeper into despair with every passing second.
I threw the blanket off with a frustrated sigh, the cool air prickling my skin. If I stayed here a moment longer, I’d lose my mind. Throwing on a hoodie and leggings, I slipped out of my room, my bare feet making almost no sound against the cold marble floor.
The castle was eerily silent at night, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the walls. My steps were aimless at first, but soon I found myself heading toward the rooftop. Something about the open air and the stars had always calmed me, back when this place felt like home.
As I pushed the door open and stepped onto the rooftop, the chilly night breeze hit me, carrying with it a flood of memories.
This was where it all started.
I could almost see it… the way Xander had brought me up here on that first night, the pack lights stretching out below us like a sea of stars. His voice, deep and filled with promises, echoed in my mind. “I’ll give you everything you deserve, Alison. You’ll never feel alone again.”
But now, all of it felt like a cruel joke. A shattered dream that I couldn’t piece back together.
I sank onto the bare floor, pulling my knees to my chest as I stared up at the moon. It looked so distant, so untouchable, like the life I once thought I’d have.
The creak of the rooftop door pulled me from my thoughts. My heart lurched as I turned to see Xander standing there. For a brief moment, I saw something soft in his eyes.. remorse, maybe even longing. But just as quickly, it was replaced with that same cold anger I’d come to dread.
“Sorry for interrupting,” he said curtly, his voice devoid of any real emotion. He turned to leave, but I couldn’t let him go. Not this time.
“Xander, wait.” My voice cracked, but I forced myself to stand. “Why don’t you just reject me and let me go? It would be better than being here in pains”
He stopped, his body going rigid, but he didn’t turn around.
“Xander, please look at me” I pressed, tears already streaming down my face. “You seem to have made your choice. Why not let me go? Please… just reject me.”
His jaw tightened, the muscles flexing as he clenched his fists at his sides. Still, he said nothing.
The silence was unbearable. It felt like he was crushing me under the weight of his indifference.
“Do you even care how much this distance between us is killing me?” I continued, my voice rising. “Do you even see what you’re doing to me? I gave you everything, Xander. Everything! I trusted you, left a place I should have been despite the treatment, I was used to it, you took me away with the hopes of a better place and now you… you just…” My voice broke, and I covered my face with my hands, unable to stop the sobs that wracked my body.
When I looked up, his expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and stormy. For a moment, I thought he might say something.. anything. But he just stood there, watching me fall apart.
“I love you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “But maybe that was my mistake all along, falling for a man who didn’t know me.”
Still, nothing.
Finally, he turned and walked back inside, the door closing behind him with a soft click. And just like that, he was gone.
I collapsed onto the floor, the cold seeping into my skin as I stared at the spot where he’d stood. A part of me had hoped and prayed that he would fight for me, that he would prove me wrong. But now, it was clear.
He wasn’t going to.
The rooftop was empty, but my mind wasn’t. The silence was deafening, filled with the echoes of Xander’s absence. I stayed there for what felt like hours, the night sky blurring through my tears.
When I finally pulled myself to my feet, a cold determination settled in my chest. If Xander wouldn’t fight for me, then I’d fight for myself. If he wouldn’t stand up for me, I’d stand for myself.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone. My fingers trembled as I typed a message to Kendrick.
“Meet me tomorrow. First light. What you say would determine my decision.”
The response came almost instantly.
“Good choice. I’ll be waiting.”
A shiver ran through me, but it wasn’t from the cold. I didn’t trust Kendrick, but he was my only lead. If there was even a chance he knew my family and could help me find them, my people, then I had to take it.
The castle was still cloaked in darkness as I packed a small bag, keeping my movements as quiet as possible. I didn’t know if Xander or Caitlyn would try to stop me, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
I paused at the door to my room, taking one last look around. This place had become my home once, a sanctuary. Now, it felt like a prison.
Slipping through the hallways, I avoided the creaky floorboards and dimly lit areas. The weight of what I was doing pressed down on me, but I pushed it aside. This wasn’t running away. This was survival.
As I reached the main doors, I hesitated. Part of me wanted to leave a note, something to explain why I was doing this. But what would I even say? That I was tired of fighting for a love that wasn’t there anymore? That I needed to find out who I was before I lost myself completely?
In the end, I left nothing.
The first rays of dawn were breaking over the horizon as I stepped out into the cool morning air, the world bathed in a soft golden light. My chest tightened, a mix of fear and hope surging through me.
I didn’t know what I would find out there, or if Kendrick’s promises would lead to anything real. But one thing was certain.
I couldn’t stay here any longer.
Without looking back, I disappeared into the early morning mist, ready to uncover the truth about my past, even if it meant leaving everything else behind.