Mira’s POV

I sat alone, clutching my burning mark. The bond trembled like a broken string. I tried to silence Karl’s memory. I failed every time he surfaced again. His voice haunted my sleepless hours. He had lied, and I left.

He begged, and I turned away. A sound made me spin around. Lia stood there, calm and whole. I blinked twice to be sure.

She smiled like nothing had happened. "You always run when you're afraid." I rose slowly, confused and defensive. "You’re dead," I said, almost whispering. "I was. Death showed me everything."

"Then you know what he did."

"I know what you didn’t see." I took a step, fists clenched. "Why are you here, Lia?"

"Because you broke more than bonds."

"Good. Let them stay broken forever."

Lia shook her head, soft but firm.

"That’s not who you are, Mira."

"You don’t get to say that."

"I knew you before you broke."

"I’m not that girl anymore."

She didn’t argue. She simply watched. Then she said the thing that pierced. "He still loves you. I saw it." My breath hitched, heart caving inward.

"He lied, Lia. He chose power."

"He chose to protect you first." I shook my head and stepped back.

"You weren’t there. You didn’t hear."

"I didn’t have to. I felt." I laughed bitterly. "Felt what exactly?"

"That you’re still in love, Mira." My chest tightened. "You don’t know me."

"I know the version before fear."

"I know the girl who fought fate."

"She wouldn’t run from Karl, ever."

"You think I’m the coward here?"

"I think you’re scared of pain."

"And he’s what? The innocent hero?"

"No. He’s a man breaking slowly."

"And that’s supposed to move me?"

"It’s supposed to remind you, he tried."

I turned away. My mark throbbed.

"You should go. You’re not welcome."

"I came back to help you."

"You came back to guilt me."

She stepped closer. The air pulsed.

"You never let him explain anything."

"Because explanations don’t change betrayal, Lia."

"No, but they reveal hidden sacrifice."

"What sacrifice?" I asked, suddenly raw.

"He gave up the throne, Mira."

"He lost it. That’s not sacrifice."

"He offered it in your name."

"He never told me that once."

"Because you never let him speak."

I trembled. The truth scraped bone.

Lia spoke gently. "He waited anyway."

My voice cracked. "He still hurt me."

"And now you hurt him back."

"Good. Let him feel it too."

Lia flinched. "That’s not who you are."

I turned sharply. "Stop saying that."

"He still wears your bond inside."

"I severed it with my will."

"Your body did. Not your soul."

"You think I should just forgive?"

"I think you should remember everything."

"Everything?" I asked, nearly shouting.

"The first night. The first vow."

"The way he held you was shaking."

"The night he fought beside you."

"Memories aren’t enough, Lia."

"No, but truth begins with them."

"Truth hurts more than any lie."

"Then you know it’s real love." My mark burned under my skin. Lia knelt beside me and whispered, "He’s unraveling without you, Mira."

"Then let him. He earned it."

"But you didn’t. You’ll lose yourself."

The bond surged like a wave.

I gasped as Karl’s voice returned.

"Don’t forget me." It faded again.

I looked at Lia. "What now?"

"You face the pain, not him."

"And if I fail?"

"You already did once. Try again."

She stood slowly, eyes locked in.

"You’re the tether. He is an anchor."

"Without connection, the world collapses inward."

"You’re the end and the beginning."

I shook my head. "Not possible."

"You feel it, don't you, Mira?"

My voice wavered. "I feel everything now."

Lia stepped away but kept watching.

"The First Alpha watches your choices."

"Even rebirth doesn’t free you here."

"Your love was never just yours."

My breath hitched. "What does he want?"

"To see if you’ll rebuild destruction."

"To see if love can defy legacy."

I rose slowly. "I’m not ready."

"You never were. But you’re needed."

The silence cracked with my heartbeat.

Lia turned, her voice a whisper.

"He’s dying. And so are you."

The moment she left, I crumbled.

The pain rolled in like thunder.

I clutched my mark and sobbed.

Memories of Karl rushed like a flood.

His hands, his voice, the goodbye.

His lies, his silence, the sacrifice.

The bond sparked, then dimmed again.

Still alive. Still there. Still fragile.

My hand shook. I reached inward.

All I could do was whisper:

"I’m not done with you, Karl."

That night, my dream changed again.

Not Rowan. Not Karl. Not chains.

The First Alpha stood before me.

His voice echoed with impossible weight.

"You’ve felt death. Now feel destiny."

Then everything shattered into darkness.

“You don’t have to forgive him now. But you need to understand him.” Lia said to me.

. “I don’t want to understand him. I want to forget.” I replied and shook my head

“You don’t,” Lia said gently. “You remember everything. That’s why you’re breaking.”

“No, I’m breaking because he broke me first.”

Lia stepped closer, unflinching. “He gave up power, Mira. Not just for you, but because of you.”

I clenched my fists. “Then why didn’t he tell me?”

“Because you were already walking away,” Lia said. “You were running too fast to hear him.”

I swallowed hard. “And now you want me to run back?”

“No,” Lia whispered. “I want you to stop running at all. “That man would burn the Moon to find you. I almost laughed. “And what if it burns me too?” Lia didn’t flinch. “Then burn together. But choose it this time.” I looked her in the eyes. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I remember who you were,” she said. “And I believe in who you can be.” I hesitated. “What happens if I fail again?” Lia smiled, quiet but sure. “Then you get up. And I’ll be right here, reminding you again.”