Breaking Free.

The sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of Lila's bedroom, casting a soft golden glow over the room. It was a beautiful morning, but Lila didn't notice. She sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clenched in her lap, her gaze fixed on the mess surrounding her. Clothes were scattered across the floor, papers piled haphazardly on her desk, and a thin film of dust coated her dresser.

The state of her room mirrored her life—chaotic and out of control.

The events of the past week played on a relentless loop in her mind. Adrian's dark, intoxicating presence. Caleb's shocking confession. The overwhelming guilt she felt for betraying one man and the resentment for being betrayed by the other. It was too much.

Lila exhaled slowly, her shoulders slumping. She couldn't keep living like this, trapped in a storm created by two men who had upended her life. If there was one thing she could control, it was herself.

With a sudden burst of determination, she stood. The first step to regaining that control was to reclaim her space.

She grabbed a trash bag from the closet and began methodically cleaning her room. Old receipts, crumpled tissues, empty bottles—they all went into the bag. She moved with purpose, but her mind was anything but calm.

Caleb's confession haunted her.

A werewolf?

The word felt foreign, like something out of a storybook rather than her reality. Yet, it explained so much—his sudden disappearances, his occasional distance, the tension that always seemed to linger in the air around him.

How had she missed it?

As she folded clothes and stacked books, her thoughts drifted further. What else had Caleb been hiding? And Adrian—what was he keeping from her? She had a sinking suspicion that neither man had been entirely honest with her, and the weight of their secrets felt suffocating.

By the time she finished cleaning, her room looked almost unrecognizable—tidy, organized, and serene. But Lila didn't feel the same. If anything, the emptiness of the room only made her more aware of the chaos inside her.

She sank onto the freshly made bed, staring at her phone on the nightstand. There was only one person she could call, one person who could help her make sense of everything.

She picked up her phone and dialed Mia.

"Lila!" Mia's voice was warm and familiar, her tone instantly putting Lila at ease. "Finally! I've been worried sick about you. What's going on?"

Lila hesitated, her fingers tightening around the phone. "Mia… I don't even know where to start."

"Just start somewhere," Mia said gently. "I'm here."

Taking a deep breath, Lila began to recount everything.She told her about Caleb—how he had shown up unexpectedly, how he'd revealed the truth about himself, and how she'd pushed him away.

By the time she finished, her voice was raw, and tears were streaming down her face.

Mia was silent for a moment, processing everything. Finally, she let out a long breath. "Wow. That's… a lot."

"Tell me about it," Lila muttered, wiping at her cheeks.

"I mean, werewolves? Lila, this sounds insane."

"It feels insane," Lila admitted.

"So, what now?" Mia asked. "What are you going to do?"

Lila stared out the window, the words forming slowly in her mind. "I think… I think I need to get out of here. Away from Caleb, away from Adrian, away from this town. It's all too much. I need a fresh start."

There was a pause, and then Mia's voice came through the phone, bright and eager. "Move to the city."

"What?"

"Move here," Mia said, her tone full of excitement. "You've been talking about it for years, haven't you? About wanting something bigger, something different? Well, now's your chance. Come stay with me. You can crash on my couch until you find a job and get your own place."

The idea was like a lifeline, and Lila clung to it. The city. A fresh start. Mia. It sounded perfect.

"Are you serious?" Lila asked, her voice trembling.

"Of course I'm serious," Mia said. "You're my best friend, Lila. I'd love to have you here. Plus, my current roommate is a nightmare. I need you."

A laugh bubbled out of Lila, surprising even herself. "Okay," she said softly, the word feeling like a promise. "Okay, I'll do it."

"Yes!" Mia cheered. "You're going to love it here, Lila. The city is amazing, and I'll help you with everything—finding a job, getting settled, all of it. You're going to feel like yourself again, I just know it."

The two friends spent the next hour talking, making tentative plans and catching up. By the time they hung up, Lila felt lighter than she had in weeks.

She looked around her room, the space that had once been her refuge. Now it felt like a cage.

This was no longer her home.

She grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started packing. Clothes, books, photos—everything she thought she'd need for her new life. As she folded shirts and tucked shoes into the bag, her mind wandered back to Caleb and Adrian.

Would they miss her when she was gone?

She shook her head, refusing to let the thought linger. It didn't matter. This wasn't about them. It was about her.

By the time she finished packing, the sun had set, and the first stars were beginning to appear. Lila stood at the window, staring out at the familiar streets of her hometown.

This was it. Her chance to start over.

And she wasn't going to waste it.

A week later, Lila stepped off the plane, her heart pounding in a mix of anxiety and anticipation. The bustling sounds of the airport surrounded her—chatter, rolling suitcases, announcements over the intercom. She clutched the strap of her carry-on bag, her knuckles white. This was it. Her new life was finally beginning.

As she made her way through the terminal, she spotted Mia standing near the arrivals gate, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and she waved enthusiastically when she saw Lila.

"There you are!" Mia shouted, pushing through the small crowd to get to her. She pulled Lila into a tight hug, the scent of her floral perfume instantly calming Lila's nerves.

"Mia," Lila breathed, her voice muffled against her friend's shoulder. "Thank you for this."

Mia pulled back, her hands gripping Lila's arms as she grinned. "Don't thank me yet. My apartment's tiny, and you might hate my cooking. But I'm so glad you're here."

Lila managed a small smile, the weight on her chest lifting slightly. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe.

Mia grabbed one of Lila's suitcases and led her toward the exit. "Okay, so my place isn't exactly glamorous, but it's cozy. I stocked up on your favorite snacks, and we can binge-watch something terrible tonight. How does that sound?"

"It sounds perfect," Lila said, her voice soft but sincere.

The ride to Mia's apartment was a blur of city lights and chatter. Mia filled the silence with updates about her life—her job, her nightmare roommate who had finally moved out, the best coffee shop on the block. Lila let the words wash over her, grateful for the distraction.

When they arrived at Mia's apartment, Lila took a deep breath before stepping inside. The space was small but warm, with mismatched furniture and walls adorned with photos and string lights. It was everything Lila needed: a sanctuary.

Mia flopped onto the couch, motioning for Lila to join her. "Welcome home," she said, her grin wide.

Home. The word settled in Lila's chest, bittersweet but comforting.

The next few days were a whirlwind of settling in. Mia helped Lila unpack, introduced her to the neighborhood, and even made a list of potential job openings. Lila threw herself into the process, trying to keep her mind occupied, but her past refused to let her go.

Caleb's name lit up her phone every day, sometimes multiple times. His texts were desperate, pleading for her to respond.

"Lila, please. I just want to talk."

"I know you're upset, but I need to see you."

"We can work through this. Don't shut me out."

Each message twisted the knife in her chest, but she didn't reply. She couldn't. Seeing Caleb's name, hearing his voice—it would pull her back into the chaos she was trying so hard to forget.

After a few more days of ignoring Caleb's calls, Lila made a decision. She couldn't keep living with the constant reminders of her old life. She needed a clean break, and that meant cutting off all ties.

Sitting on Mia's couch with her laptop balanced on her knees, Lila searched for the nearest phone store. "I need a new number," she announced.

Mia, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a bowl of popcorn, raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? What if Caleb shows up ?"

Lila frowned. "He doesn't know where I am. And I don't want him to find out. I need to focus on moving forward, and I can't do that if my phone keeps dragging me back."

Mia nodded, her expression softening. "Okay. Let's do it."

The next morning, Lila walked out of the phone store with a new number and a new sense of freedom. As she held her new phone, she felt like she was shedding the last vestiges of her old life.

For the first time in weeks, her mind was clear.

The following days were a blur of job applications, interviews, and long walks around the city. Lila threw herself into the process, determined to build a new life for herself.

Mia was her rock, always ready with a pep talk or a glass of wine after a particularly frustrating day. "You've got this," she would say, her voice full of conviction. "You're smart, talented, and you deserve a fresh start. Don't let anyone make you doubt that."

Lila clung to those words, replaying them in her mind whenever she felt herself slipping into doubt.

One evening, as she sat at the kitchen table scrolling through job postings, Mia plopped down beside her, a mischievous grin on her face.

"What?" Lila asked, eyeing her warily.

"I found the perfect job for you," Mia said, spinning her laptop around to show Lila the screen.

Lila leaned in, her eyes scanning the listing. It was a position at a marketing agency, one that matched her skills perfectly. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Do you think I have a chance?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mia rolled her eyes. "Lila, you're going to crush this. Now, go write the best damn cover letter of your life."

For the first time in weeks, Lila felt a spark of hope. As she typed out her application, her mind stayed focused, the noise of her past fading into the background.

This was her chance. Her new beginning. And she wasn't going to let anything—or anyone—hold her back.