Beyond

Concealed feelings

The cabin was eerily quiet when Alistair, Elara, and Finley returned from the portal. As they stepped inside, the warm glow of the fire illuminated the small space, casting flickering shadows across the wooden walls. The scent of simmering soup filled the air, and in the corner by the hearth, they found Connor, sitting alone at the table, staring down into his bowl, stirring the liquid absentmindedly.

Connor's dark hair was a mess, his brow furrowed in deep thought. He looked up the moment the door creaked open, his expression immediately sharpening with the sudden hope of seeing Piper enter behind them. But as the trio stepped in and closed the door, the absence of her presence hit him like a blow.

"Where's Piper?" His voice was low but demanding, the urgency barely masked.

Alistair, Elara, and Finley exchanged a glance, their expressions tense. It was clear that they were in no mood for pleasantries, and the atmosphere shifted with the weight of what had just transpired at the portal.

"She's gone, Connor," Finley said, his voice clipped with irritation. "She crossed back."

Connor's face paled, and the spoon in his hand fell into the bowl with a small splash. "Gone? Back?" His voice wavered slightly, disbelief colouring his tone. "What do you mean, she's gone? Why did you let her go?" Alistair, ever the calm voice of reason, stepped forward, but his expression was grim. "Connor, she was upset. Overwhelmed. She needed space—"

"Space?" Connor's frustration flared, and he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the wooden floor with a harsh sound. His chest tightened at the thought of Piper leaving, slipping away from him when they had barely begun to explore their bond. "And you just let her go?"

"What did you expect us to do?" Elara shot back, her usually soft demeanour hardened by the tension of the moment. "Force her to stay? She was practically in tears, Connor! After everything that happened, she needed to leave."

"She was confused!" Connor shouted, his voice louder than he intended, a mixture of frustration and guilt creeping into his tone. "I could have talked to her, explained everything."

"You mean explained nothing," Finley interjected sharply. "You've been distant and cold with her all day. What were you planning to tell her? That you've been keeping secrets from her since the moment you met? That you've been holding back because of some fated bond you haven't even been honest about?" Connor's jaw clenched. He wanted to argue, to defend himself, but the truth in Finley's words cut too deep. He had been holding back. He hadn't told Piper about the bond, hadn't told her about who he really was, and now she was gone—back to her world, away from him.

"You don't understand," Connor muttered, his voice quieter now, but still edged with frustration. "I was trying to protect her."

"Protect her?" Elara scoffed, crossing her arms. "You were trying to protect yourself. You let your fear get in the way, and now look what's happened." Alistair, who had been silent for most of the exchange, finally spoke up, his voice calm but filled with disappointment. "Connor, we're not saying it's all your fault, but she needed someone to be honest with her. All of this was too much, and she couldn't handle it. That's why she left." Connor's gaze dropped to the floor, his heart sinking. He hadn't meant for this to happen. He hadn't meant to push Piper away. But now she was gone, and the weight of his inaction and secrets felt unbearable.

"I thought..." Connor began, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought if I gave her time, she'd come around. That maybe she'd be ready to hear the truth. But I messed up, didn't I?" Alistair sighed deeply. "You did what you thought was best, but sometimes doing nothing causes more harm." Elara's eyes softened, though her voice still carried a trace of irritation. "Connor, she cares about you. That much is obvious. But you can't expect her to stay when you've barely let her in."