Maria.

After what Noah had done earlier, right before leaving my room, something inside me had shifted. The tight knot of anxiety that had been sitting heavily in my chest for hours seemed to loosen, even if just a little. I felt lighter... calmer.

There was nothing to be afraid of.

He loved me.

And not just in words—Noah had proven it over and over again. I could recall countless moments where I had pushed him away, rejected him, even ignored him completely... yet he never left. He stayed. Patient. Persistent. Certain.

Now, I finally understood what people meant when they said it was better to choose the one who loves you, rather than the one you love. Because the kind of warmth Noah gave me... it was steady. It didn’t waver. It didn’t hurt.

It healed.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I stood there, lost in those thoughts, before remembering his earlier words. He had asked me to freshen up....we were going to meet with some of the elders in the council.

My heart skipped nervously at that thought.

The elders.

This wasn’t just anything casual... this was serious. Important. It made everything feel more real than it already was.

Without wasting any more time, I rushed into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The cool tiles beneath my feet sent a slight shiver through my body as I turned on the water. Soon, the sound of it rushing filled the space, and I stepped under it, letting it cascade down my skin.

As I scrubbed gently, my thoughts betrayed me again.

As images of Noah came to my mind. The way his lips had felt against mine earlier...warm, firm and addictive.

A soft gasp escaped my lips as I paused mid-motion, my cheeks heating up instantly.

"Seriously, Maria..." I muttered under my breath, shaking my head at myself.

Yet, no matter how much I tried to push it away, the memory lingered. The way he had held me... the way his voice softened whenever he spoke to me...It made my heart race in a way I couldn’t quite control.

For a brief moment, I had wanted more. I was ready to give him all of me just as he asked.I had wanted him to stay... to continue... to...but he didn’t, as a sharp knock came.

One that caused us to still.

An omega’s voice followed shortly after, informing us that Noah’s presence was needed elsewhere.

And just like that, the moment had been interrupted.

"Great timing..." I muttered quietly.

I wanted the tights away.

I finished up quickly, stepping out of the bath and drying myself before slipping into my clothes. My movements were slower now, more deliberate, as if I was still trying to gather my scattered thoughts.

Once dressed, I moved over to the mirror, sitting down at the small table to fix my appearance. My fingers moved lightly over my face, adjusting small details, though my mind was clearly elsewhere.

I was just about to steady myself, about to fully prepare for what lay ahead, when suddenly...

The door burst open.

I flinched, my heart jumping violently in my chest as I turned sharply toward the source of the intrusion.

And then I saw her.

Sonia.

My brows furrowed instantly, confusion and unease settling in almost immediately.

What does she want?

The air in the room seemed to shift, growing heavier, more suffocating. My grip tightened slightly on the edge of the table as I stared at her, my mind already racing with questions I wasn’t sure I wanted answers to. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Whatever this was...It definitely wasn’t good, and deep down, I wasn’t ready to entertain it.

"Get out of my room, Sonia," I said immediately, my voice calm but firm, not even sparing her a glance as I continued what I was doing. "If you want us to have a conversation, then come in properly," I added, my tone carrying a quiet warning beneath it.

She scoffed, the sound sharp and mocking. "And what makes you think I will do that?" she asked, her voice laced with arrogance.

Surprisingly, I kept mute.

There was no point engaging her on that level. I wasn’t going to stoop or give her the satisfaction she clearly craved. She might want Noah, she might believe she had some claim or control over him, but that was her business. It did not, and would never, give her the right to walk into my space and treat me like I was beneath her.

"I’m talking to you, answer me!" she snapped, her voice rising in irritation.

Still, I ignored her.

I continued drying my hair slowly, deliberately, as though she wasn’t even there. Every movement I made was controlled, unhurried, calculated to show just how little her presence affected me. If anything, I wanted her to feel invisible, the same way she was trying to make me feel small.

After a moment, I stood up and walked past her without a word, my shoulder brushing lightly against the air between us as if she didn’t exist. I made my way to the edge of my bed and picked up the blue rose I had set aside earlier, intending to match it with my outfit.

Holding it gently between my fingers, I turned back toward the dressing table, lifting it to my hair as I tried to fix it in place.

Behind me, I could feel her eyes burning into my back.

The silence must have gotten to her.

Before I could react, Sonia suddenly stepped forward and grabbed a fistful of my hair.

A sharp pain shot through my scalp.

I winced instantly, my hand flying up on instinct, but I refused to let out more than that. I wasn’t going to give her the reaction she wanted. I wasn’t going to let her think she had the upper hand....not even for a second.

Gritting my teeth, I turned sharply, my fingers closing around her wrist as I tried to loosen her grip. The pain lingered, but I forced myself to stay steady, to remain in control.

And then, without hesitation, I grabbed her and shoved her away from me.

She stumbled and fell to the ground.

The room went still.

For a brief second, neither of us moved.

Then I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, my gaze locking onto hers, cold, unwavering, unflinching.

"I would advise you not to mess with me, Sonia," I said, my voice low but dangerously firm. I paused, letting my words sink in, making sure she understood every bit of it. "You wouldn’t like the outcome."

There was no fear in my eyes, no hesitation only certainty.

I held her gaze for a moment longer before turning away from her like she was no longer worth my attention. Walking back to the dressing table, I picked up the rose again and continued fixing it into my hair as if nothing had happened.

"Now get out of my room," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.