ACROSS THE DEPTHS OF THE UNIVERSE

THE FORGIVENESS

***author's pov***

Kian and Alexander’s eyes locked on Valeria as she opened her eyes, the blue depths reflecting a storm of emotions they couldn’t quite decipher. In that instant, every moment of regret and longing they had felt since her loss came rushing back, overwhelming them. Without hesitation, they ran to her, hearts pounding in sync with the urgency of their steps.

“Valeria!” Kian called out, his voice breaking the silence. His usually calm demeanor was shattered, replaced by an expression of raw vulnerability. He dropped to his knees before her, his hands reaching out but stopping just short of touching her. He was afraid to shatter the fragile connection they had reestablished. “I… I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “For everything. For the forest, for leaving you alone. I should have never let you go. I should have protected you, trusted you.”

Alexander followed suit, kneeling beside Kian, his eyes filled with the same desperation. The fire that usually burned with unrelenting strength in his gaze was now tempered with remorse. “Valeria, please,” Alexander pleaded, his voice a deep, resonant echo that carried his sincerity. “We didn’t understand, we didn’t know the truth. If we had, we would have never… we would have done everything to protect you. Can you ever forgive us?”

Valeria looked down at them, her expression unreadable, her thoughts guarded. The sight of Kian and Alexander—two of the strongest elemental lords—kneeling before her with such humility and regret stirred a whirlwind of feelings within her. She remembered the warmth of Kian’s embrace, the safety she felt in Alexander’s presence, the moments of joy that had once felt so right. But she also remembered the pain of their abandonment, the betrayal she had felt when they turned their backs on her.

“You left me,” she finally said, her voice steady but laced with the faintest hint of sadness. “You both left me when I needed you the most. I don’t understand why.”

Kian’s eyes filled with tears, his anguish evident. “We were fools, Valeria,” he admitted. “Blinded by our own fears and the pain of betrayal. We didn’t see you for who you truly were. We let our doubts cloud our love for you.”

Alexander nodded, his voice soft. “We were afraid of losing you, so afraid that we didn’t see we were already pushing you away. But we’re here now, Valeria. We’re here to make things right, to stand by you, no matter what. Please, give us a chance to prove ourselves worthy of your trust again.”

Valeria’s heart ached at their words. She could sense the sincerity in their voices, the truth in their eyes. They were genuinely sorry, and the bond they shared with her, even in her new life, was pulling her towards forgiveness. But it wasn’t easy. Trust once broken was hard to rebuild, and wounds so deep didn’t heal overnight.

Her gaze shifted to the side, catching sight of Jerone standing at the far corner, his arms crossed over his chest, his face a mask of cold indifference. Unlike Kian and Alexander, Jerone made no move to approach. His blue eyes watched her with a mixture of anger and resentment, as if he couldn’t bring himself to share in the remorse of his brothers. He had always been the hardest to reach, the most guarded of them all.

“Jerone,” Valeria called softly, her voice cutting through the air. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Jerone’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Valeria saw a flicker of pain in his eyes before it vanished. “What’s there to say?” he replied coolly, his voice laced with bitterness. “You hid the truth from us. You were Zelerious’s queen, his mate. You betrayed us, Valeria. How can you expect forgiveness when you’ve never been honest with us?”

Valeria felt the sting of his words, each one landing like a blow to her heart. She stood slowly, turning to face Jerone fully. “I didn’t remember any of it, Jerone. My past, Zelerious, none of it. I’m just as confused and lost as you are. Do you think I asked for this? To be torn between my past and the present, between my memories and my heart?”

Jerone’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, his silence louder than any argument. The tension in the room was palpable, the unspoken conflict simmering between them. Alexander and Kian looked from Valeria to Jerone, understanding that the scars from their past would take time to heal, that trust and love couldn’t simply be demanded.

“We’ll give you the time you need,” Alexander said quietly, standing and offering Valeria a gentle smile. “We’re not here to force you into anything. We’re here to stand by your side, to fight with you and for you, however long it takes.”

Kian nodded in agreement, rising to join his brother. “We’ll wait, Valeria. As long as it takes, we’ll be here.”

Valeria’s gaze softened, the anger and hurt within her giving way to a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time. Despite the pain of their past, the bond they shared was still there, unbroken. And though the road ahead was uncertain, one thing was clear—she would not face it alone.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

Asher watched them from a distance, his heart swelling with hope. Despite everything, there was still a chance for healing, for unity. He looked at Jerone, silently willing his brother to see what he saw—that love, true love, could overcome any darkness. Even the darkness of their past.