Priya sighed, watching him sleep peacefully. She didn’t understand why she felt compelled to comfort him and talk with him like this, especially when he had been inches away from forcing her into a situation she would never want.
Somehow, she felt guilty because he was here because of her. Maybe he wanted to be here, but that didn’t mean she could simply push things aside. He wouldn’t have to be here if it weren’t for her; he was away from his mother and everyone else, all because of her. So, she couldn’t bring herself to deny him some peace.
It wasn’t that she was particularly good at providing comfort, but she thought he needed someone to rely on. At the dining table, he had looked pale when talking about the building that no one else had seen. She was shocked when he showed the key, knowing that Priyank wasn’t a paranoid person who would joke about such things.
It might have been believable if it were about a place she had never seen, but she had trained on that ground for a whole week and hadn’t once spotted a building. The land was empty, meant for training, so believing there was some hidden structure was quite concerning.
Still, anything was possible, right? If she could accept that werewolves existed and that she was one of them-a royal blood with a curse, no less-than nothing was impossible. After 18 years of believing she was someone else, maybe she could trust Priyank’s words.
But who knew for sure? Certainly not her. Her head began to throb with pain from thinking so much. He might be sleeping peacefully, but sleep eluded her. It wasn’t because they shared a bed; they had shared this room since arriving, so it was nothing new. She didn’t even feel uncomfortable anymore, as he never touched her, except for what happened today.
She softly and slowly pulled her hand away from Priyank’s and stood up, walking out of the room.
“What are you doing, Priya?”
Priya halted as she heard a voice. She looked in the direction of the person who had called her so late at night when everyone should have been long asleep.
“Maya,” she breathed, a small smile spreading on her lips.
“Yes, it’s me. But what are you doing up so late?” Maya asked, concern evident in her voice.
“I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d get some water,” Priya answered. “What about you? Why are you still awake?”
“Nothing much. My head is filled with everything that’s happened, so I couldn’t sleep either,” Maya admitted truthfully, walking closer to Priya.
“Want me to make you some warm tea or anything?” Priya offered.
“I don’t think so. Maybe we should talk a bit. How about we walk in the garden? I know it’s dark, but the fresh air will really help.”
Priya nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. The idea of a quiet walk under the stars with Maya sounded perfect. She needed to clear her mind, and Maya’s company always brought a sense of calm.
They slipped out into the garden, their footsteps soft on the dewy grass. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over them. Priya took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrant night air laced with the scent of roses and the earthy smell of wet soil.
“So,” Maya began, her voice barely above a whisper, “what’s on your mind? Is it about Priyank?”
Priya let out a shaky breath. “Yeah. It’s just… everything’s so complicated. This whole thing with the building no one can see. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
Maya reached out, her hand finding Priya’s in the darkness. The touch was warm, grounding. “It’s a lot to take in. But you’re not alone in this, you know that, right?”
“I know,” Priya murmured. They walked in silence for a moment, their steps in sync. “It’s just… I feel like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions. There’s the pack, the curse, Priyank, and now this mystery building. Sometimes I wish I could just be normal again.”
Maya squeezed her hand. “Normal’s overrated. Besides, you’re handling all this better than anyone could expect. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Priya.”
They reached a small bench nestled under an old oak tree. Priya sank onto it, and Maya followed suit. The leaves rustled overhead, a soothing lullaby in the quiet night.
“I almost forgot,” Priya said, breaking the silence. “Why were you up? You said there was a lot on your mind too.”
Maya leaned back, her gaze fixed on the stars peeking through the canopy. “I was thinking about everything too, and this building stuff for sure is sketchy too.”
Priya turned to face Maya. In the moonlight, Maya’s features looked ethereal, but there was a weight to her expression that tugged at Priya’s heart. “That’s true.”
They sat in companionable silence, the night sounds washing over them.
“You know,” Priya said after a while, “no matter how crazy things get, I’m glad I have you. You keep me sane.”
Maya chuckled softly. “Right back at you. We’ll figure this out, all of it. The pack, the curse, the mysterious building. You are my niece, I can ride and die for you.”
“Don’t say that,” Priya whispered, her voice trembling. “I never want you to die. You’re the only family I have left. Of course, Levi and Rish are your children, but you’re my mother’s sister. I can’t lose you, not like this.”
Maya’s eyes softened, a mix of love and sorrow swirling in their depths. She gently cupped Priya’s face, her thumb brushing away a stray tear. “Listen to me, Priya. You have to understand something. Humans, they often shy away from sacrifice. But we werewolves, we’re different. Our existence is woven with threads of sacrifice because we have so much to hide, so much to protect. And sometimes, there’s no way around it.”
Priya shook her head fiercely, pulling away from Maya’s touch. “No, I won’t accept that.”
Maya sighed, her shoulders sagging. The weight of her words seemed to press down on her, ageing her in the moonlight. “I wish it were that simple. But our world, it’s not black and white. It’s shades of grey, and sometimes the choices we have to make… they’re not easy.”
“But it’s not fair!” Priya burst out, her fists clenched. “Haven’t you given enough? Haven’t I suffered enough? I’ve lost my parents, my childhood, my normal life. And now you’re telling me I might lose you too?”