Chapter 1

Raven's life wasn't full of fairy tales—far from it. She lived in a modest apartment in Brooklyn, where the city's endless hum of life made her feel both alive and invisible at the same time. But despite the crowded streets and constant buzz, she felt like a solitary figure—except for Sara. Sara was her rock, the one person who had always been there for her.

Now, as Sara's wedding day approached, Raven couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was thrilled for her friend, of course, but at the same time, there was a part of her that felt… empty. She couldn't ignore the fact that Sara was moving forward with her life, while Raven was still stuck in the past—especially when it came to Alaric.

She often found herself thinking back to high school. The way he'd always been the center of attention, the way her heart would race every time he passed by. He had always been the one she couldn't have—the one she'd admired from afar.

But it wasn't just admiration. Raven had been about to tell him how she felt once. She had worked up the courage to approach him at a party after graduation. Her hands were shaking, but her mind was made up. She was finally going to tell him everything—how she'd secretly had feelings for him for years.

That was before Emily showed up.

Raven had seen them standing together in the backyard, laughing and talking. Emily, the girl who'd always been rude to her in high school, had somehow wormed her way into Alaric's life. And just when Raven thought she could walk up and finally speak her truth, Emily sidled up to him, flashing a smile that made Raven's stomach churn.

Raven had stood there, frozen, as Emily leaned into Alaric and wrapped her arm around his. Her voice, too bright and too loud, filled the space between them.

"So, are you and Raven close, or what?" Emily asked with a sharp edge to her tone. Raven's heart sank, but she stayed where she was, watching from afar.

Alaric's smile faltered slightly, and he shrugged. "She's like a sister to me. Been friends with her forever. No big deal."

"Really?" Emily's tone didn't match her smile. "So, nothing more than that? No feelings there, ever?"

Alaric laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Hell no. Never saw Raven like that. She's just a friend."

That was it. The words Raven had been about to say, the confession that had burned on the tip of her tongue, died before they could leave her mouth. She wanted to turn around and leave, but her feet felt glued to the spot.

"Maybe you should tell her that," Emily quipped, her voice laced with a mocking sweetness. Raven couldn't stand it. She turned quickly, walking away before they could see her face, before they could see the hurt in her eyes.

Fast forward to the wedding. The moment when Raven thought she'd finally be able to let go of her past feelings for Alaric felt like a joke. Here they were again—Alaric and Emily, just as they were in high school. She was once again the outsider looking in. But this time, she wasn't the shy girl she used to be. She'd learned to hide those feelings, to bury them deep down where no one could see them.

The moment she reached for the last piece of chicken at the buffet, her hand froze when another hand snatched it away. Raven looked up, a mixture of surprise and irritation bubbling in her chest, only to come face to face with Alaric.

His smirk was playful, but Raven couldn't ignore the way her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. He hadn't changed much, at least not on the outside. Still the same messy hair, the same broad shoulders that filled out his shirt, the same confident, almost arrogant grin. But there was something different about him. Older, more mature, and a whole lot more difficult to ignore.

"Little Raven?" he said, his voice deep and warm, like a secret whispered in the dark. His smile widened as he pulled her into a hug. Raven stiffened, her hands awkwardly patting his back before pulling away. Her mind was spinning, and her heart was doing flips.

"Hi, Alaric," she muttered, trying to act casual, but it was hard when he was standing there, looking at her like it had been years since they last saw each other. It had been years, but Raven had never really forgotten him.

"How long's it been? Two, three years?" Alaric asked, studying her like she was something he couldn't quite place.

"Actually, four," Raven replied, her voice betraying a hint of her old nerves. She hated how he could still make her feel like a teenager, like that same girl who'd watched him from a distance, never quite able to get his attention the way she wanted.

"Well, you've grown up," he said, his gaze moving over her, his eyes lingering just a little too long on her face. It made her skin prickle. His lips quirked in that way that made her heart flutter, and Raven hated that she still couldn't shake that old crush on him.

"So have you," she replied quickly, trying to mask the effect he had on her. It wasn't the same as it had been in high school, though. Raven was older, wiser, and not about to let Alaric Johnson play with her emotions anymore.

But as they stood there, the conversation shifting to small talk, Raven couldn't help but notice the presence of Emily lingering nearby, watching them with a sharp, possessive gaze. The tension in the air was palpable. Raven wanted to walk away, but something kept her rooted to the spot.

Finally, Emily broke the silence, her voice dripping with a sort of sweet malice. "So, Raven," she said, "I've been wondering. Did you and Alaric ever, you know, hook up? Or was it just a friendly thing?"

Alaric stiffened slightly, his eyes flicking between them. Raven's stomach churned, but she forced herself to keep her composure.

"Of course not," Alaric said with a laugh, shaking his head. "Raven's like my sister. There's never been anything more than that. You know that."

Emily's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you sure? I mean, you two are awfully close for just friends."

"Trust me," Alaric said, his tone firm. "We're just friends, okay?"

Raven's heart twisted at the finality in his voice, and for the first time that night, she realized just how far out of his world she truly was. There was no space for her in Alaric's life, not like that. And it hurt.

She forced a smile, even as her heart shattered. "Right. Just friends."