Akira had always seen a broken heart as distant, something that happened to wolves in sad stories or to careless pack members who thought desire was love. She never thought it would be her waking up every morning with puffy eyes, a throbbing head, and the lasting taste of nasty herbs meant to "calm her spirit." For weeks, her room smelled like spilled medicine and damp blankets. She hardly left her bed except to find something strong enough to quiet her thoughts. Her pride stopped her from completely falling apart, but even pride has its limits, and hers was wearing thin day by day.
Ares tried everything, jokes, telling her off, hugs, even taking her outside to get some fresh air. Nothing helped. Akira would curl back into herself as soon as Ares let go, hiding her face in her knees. The betrayal played over and over in her mind like a horrible loop: Kaden's hands on someone else, her own cousin's mean smirk, the shock, the shame. She had loved him so openly, so confidently. How silly she felt now. And how embarrassed.
One evening, Ares sat next to her with a bowl of warm soup she knew Akira wouldn't drink. "You have to stop doing this to yourself," she said quietly, pushing a strand of hair from Akira's face. "He's not worth even one tear."
Akira didn't respond. Her voice had become weak. Her spirit felt faint.
Then Frost rushed into the room like a sudden, misplaced winter wind. "I'll fight him," he announced, slamming the door behind him. "Alpha Kaden. I'll challenge him in front of everyone. I should've done it the second he hurt you."
Ares rolled her eyes, but Akira, surprisingly, made a small, dry sound that could have been a laugh. It was the first change in weeks. Frost smiled a little, happy that he had made her feel better even for a moment.
"I mean it," he insisted. "I'll cut that big ego off his face."
Ares nudged him. "You'll get thrown into a tree, Frost."
He shrugged. "For Akira, it would be worth it."
Akira stared at the floor as warmth welled up behind her eyes. "I wish I never knew," she whispered. "Maybe not knowing wouldn't hurt this much."
Ares quickly sat up straight. "Akira, no. Absolutely not. You needed to know. You deserved to know the truth."
Frost nodded quickly. "You deserved better from the very beginning."
But Akira's jaw tightened. The pity in their voices scraped something sensitive inside her. She didn't want to be the weak girl who was comforted by everyone. She didn't want Frost's sad, longing look or Ares' constant worry. She didn't want to be treated like she was damaged beyond repair. The more they tried to comfort her, the more trapped she felt.
Frost stepped closer, his face softening. "I'm here, Akira. I've always been here. I just don't get why you chose someone like him when, "
"When what?" Akira asked sharply, raising her head after days. "When you were around? Frost, not everything is about what you think of me."
He stopped moving, surprised by her words.
Ares tried to make things less tense. "She didn't mean it the way it sounds,"
"Yes, I did," Akira replied quickly. "I'm just so tired. Tired of being felt sorry for. Tired of everyone telling me how to feel or who to love. I don't owe anyone anything at all."
Frost took a breath but kept looking at her. "I wasn't feeling sorry for you."
"Then what were you doing?" she questioned him. "Because it seems like you think Kaden hurting me gives you an opening."
Quiet filled the room like ice forming on glass.
Ares gently put her hand on Akira's arm to comfort her. "Akira… just breathe slowly."
But Akira was losing control, feeling angry, confused, hurt, and overwhelmed. The room felt too small around her. Ares' comforting touch felt too much. Frost's serious eyes felt too accusing, too hopeful. Everything was weighing down on her, her ruined wedding, her father's sadness, her cousin's betrayal, the whispers from their group, the shame of trusting someone so much.
"I can't be here," she whispered, more to herself than to anyone.
Ares blinked her eyes. "What did you say?"
"I need to get away," Akira said, standing unsteadily. "I have to leave this place before it destroys me."
Frost reached out his hand. "Akira, please don't go,"
She pulled away quickly. "I can't breathe here, Frost. Everywhere I look, I think of him. Of what happened to me. Of what I allowed myself to believe."
Ares stood up also, trying to help her stay balanced. "Leaving won't change what happened, you know."
"No," Akira said sadly, "but staying here is killing me slowly."
Ares looked at Frost with worry. "Where would you even go alone?"
"I don't even know," Akira whispered softly. "Any place that isn't right here. Any place where I don't see that tent. That path we walked. Those eyes of his."
Frost moved closer again, speaking softly. "You don't have to run away. We can help you feel better."
She shook her head back and forth. "You can't actually help me. I have to get away before I can deal with it."
Ares started to argue, but she saw Akira's shaking hands and stopped. Akira wasn't just being overly emotional. She was truly struggling.
Ares sighed deeply. "If you really need to leave… I won't try to stop you. But don't just vanish on us. And please don't do anything too risky."
"I can't promise that," Akira said quietly, sounding worn out rather than playful.
Frost squeezed his hands into fists. "I still don't think leaving alone is a good idea."
Akira gave him a sad, weak smile. "I'm a Beta, Frost. I'll be okay."
But Frost wasn't smiling back. "I worry about you because I care," he said softly to her.
Akira's eyes softened a bit, but just for a short time. "I know that. And I appreciate it so much. But right now, I just need quiet. Somewhere far away from here."
She grabbed her cloak, barely able to stand still. Ares took a step closer to her. "Let me at least pack some things for your trip."
But Akira shook her head back and forth. "No, don't. If I stay even a minute longer, I'll lose all my courage."
Ares' face showed disappointment, but she agreed. Frost seemed like he wanted to keep talking, but he stopped himself.
Akira walked by them, stopping briefly at the entrance. "I appreciate… both of you. But I have to leave before I fall apart."
And then, she went away, having no idea what to do or where to go, just really hoping that somewhere outside of the Night Walker area, she could maybe find a spot where her heart didn't hurt as much.