The Little Canary of the Alpha のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Brielle POV.At the sound of my voice, Elion freezes. It's like a switch flipped. His pupils, just moments ago huge with raw need, shrink fast. His intense gaze falters, replaced by sudden, deep confusion. He pulls back abruptly, his hands falling away from me like they're on fire. The intense heat radiating from him seems to fade, replaced by a chilling awareness."E-Elion..." I whisper, my voice trembling."Brielle... I-I'm sorry..." he murmurs, his voice now laced with a dawning dread. He looks at his own hands, then at me, his face full of disbelief and regret.I can see he's still breathing heavily, the aftermath of whatever had taken over him. I stand and approach him, but he steps back as if he hates being near me. My heart sinks, but I push the hurt aside. I don't care about his rejection right now.All I care about is him. I can see the pain etched on his face, the war raging within him. I reach out and take his hand. "It's okay..." I try to soothe him. He flinches, pulling

Brielle POV.Finally… it’s all out. The words I’ve held inside for so long, tumbling out in a rush of tears and raw emotion.I look at Elion, really look at him. His eyes are wide, his face a mask of shock, maybe even fear. ‘Why? my mind screams. Is it really that hard to believe I’d fall for him? Did he really think I was immune to his charm? Did he think I was just some kid who couldn’t feel things the way he does?’After what feels like an eternity, he finally speaks, his voice strained. "Brielle… you don’t know what you’re saying," he says, his gaze fixed on me, but not quite meeting mine. "What you feel for me… it’s not what you think it is…"My hands clench into fists at my sides. ‘Here we go again.’ The familiar script, the same line he always feeds me. ‘I’m just a kid.’ It’s the excuse he always uses, the wall he hides behind.I’m so tired of this. So utterly fed up with this dismissive line. It’s like he refuses to see me, refuses to acknowledge that I’m not the same little g

Brielle POV.The cold water had done little to numb the ache in my chest. If anything, it had only made it sharper, more real. Elion’s words echoed in the bathroom, each syllable a tiny shard of ice embedding itself deeper into my heart. Guardian. Father’s best friend. That’s all I am. The finality of it all was crushing.I pulled myself out of the tub, the wet fabric of my dress clinging uncomfortably to my skin. Shivering, I reached for the plush bathrobe hanging on the back of the door. It was soft, warm, a stark contrast to the icy reality I was facing. Slipping it on, I tied the belt, the fabric a flimsy barrier against the storm raging inside me.My reflection stared back from the fogged-up mirror – a pale, tear-streaked face, eyes wide with a confusion that was slowly hardening into a dull ache. What now? The question hung in the air, unanswered. He’d left. He’d rejected me. And the pain was so sharp, so overwhelming, it was hard to think, hard to breathe.But… a small, persist

Brielle POV.The moment the door clicked shut, the bravado drained out of me, leaving me trembling. Jaxon’s hand was still warm in mine. He looked at me, his brow furrowed with concern, his eyes searching mine with a depth of worry that twisted my gut. "Brielle? Are you okay?" His voice was a soft rumble, laced with a tenderness that made my heart ache.I tried to nod, but my head felt heavy, disconnected. "Yeah," I managed, the word a weak breath, barely audible. "I'm okay." The lie tasted like poison.He gently guided me to sit on the edge of the nearby sofa, his touch careful, almost hesitant, as if afraid of breaking me. He stayed kneeling in front of me, his gaze steady, unwavering, a beacon in the storm raging inside me. "Did… did you and Elion get into a fight?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.I took a deep, shuddering breath, the air catching in my throat like shards of glass. A fight? I didn't know if what had happened between Elion and me could even be ca

Brielle POV."You look like you've been through the wringer. Did he finally reject you? Or worse, did he actually hurt you?"I looked up at her, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. Her perceptive gaze made me feel incredibly transparent. ‘Does it really show that much?’ I wondered, a fresh wave of embarrassment washing over me. ‘Does everyone see how hopelessly I'm in love with him?’Heza smiled gently, reaching out to cup my cheek. Her touch was warm and reassuring. "Oh, Brielle," she said softly. "Don't look so shocked. I've had my suspicions about you and Elion for a while now. Ever since last year, actually. But seeing you with him earlier today… the way you looked at him when you thought no one was watching… it was all the confirmation I needed."A sigh escaped my lips, heavy with a mixture of relief and regret. "I should have told you sooner," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "But… I was afraid. Afraid you'd judge me. Afraid of what you'd think."Heza squeezed my hand, he