Strings Of Love

Part 3: A Forbidden Connection

The days passed in a blur, a series of stolen glances and quiet exchanges that both unsettled and captivated Leah. She could feel Angel's presence even when she wasn't near. The pull—this connection—was becoming impossible to ignore. Every time Leah caught a glimpse of the angel's golden eyes, her heart would race, and her breath would hitch in her throat. But each time, she forced herself to look away, to focus on anything but Angel.

Leah had never been one to back down from a challenge, but this was different. This wasn't something she could fight with her usual strength or determination. No, this was something more ancient, more primal, something that was bound to change her in ways she couldn't even begin to understand.

Despite the chaos surrounding them—the looming threat of the Volturi, the constant preparations for an impending battle—Leah found herself drawn to Angel in a way that terrified her. There was no denying it anymore. The connection between them wasn't just a passing feeling. It was deep, rooted in her soul.

But she wasn't ready. She couldn't be ready for something so overwhelming. Especially not with everything else going on.

One evening, Leah found herself alone again in the woods. She had been training with the pack, honing her skills and trying to keep her mind occupied, but it wasn't working. The weight of the situation—the impending Volturi confrontation, the pressure of her role in the pack—was too much. She needed to clear her head, to find some peace, even if it was just for a moment.

As she walked deeper into the forest, she realized that she wasn't alone.

Angel was there, standing by the trees, her figure bathed in the soft, silvery light of the moon. Her presence was undeniable, like a beacon in the night, and Leah's heart skipped a beat. She knew what was coming—knew that she couldn't outrun this any longer.

Leah stopped a few feet away from her, feeling the magnetic pull between them. She clenched her fists at her sides, unwilling to let herself be weak. "You've been following me."

Angel didn't flinch. She didn't need to. Her gaze was steady, warm, and understanding. "I haven't been following you, Leah. I've been waiting."

Leah swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. "Waiting for what? For me to give in? For me to accept this thing between us?"

Angel's expression softened, but her eyes held a hint of sadness. "No. I'm not asking you to give in, Leah. I'm not asking you to accept anything you're not ready for. But I can't help the bond that exists between us. And I can't help how I feel. I'm not asking for anything from you... only for you to feel what I feel."

Leah shook her head, feeling the panic rising in her chest. "I don't know what to feel! This isn't something I can just accept. I've spent my whole life avoiding attachments. I've been hurt too many times, and now you're telling me that I'm supposed to just... what? Give myself over to this?" She gestured between them, frustration lacing her words.

Angel took a step forward, her voice quiet but steady. "I'm not asking you to give yourself over, Leah. I'm asking you to feel. To allow yourself to understand what this is. You don't have to make any decisions right now. But if you can't even allow yourself to feel it, then you'll never know what's truly possible."

Leah opened her mouth to argue, but something in Angel's voice, in the sincerity of her words, stopped her. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm the racing thoughts in her mind. She wasn't ready. She couldn't be. But even as she told herself that, the truth clawed at the edges of her heart.

She was ready. She had always been ready. But fear held her back. Fear of what it would mean, fear of what it would cost her.

Angel seemed to sense her inner turmoil. "I know this is hard, Leah. I understand. But I'm not going anywhere. And when you're ready, I'll be here."

The words settled into Leah's chest like a heavy weight. She didn't know what to say. All she knew was that Angel was right. The connection between them was undeniable, and it was only growing stronger with every passing day.

For the first time, Leah allowed herself to look into Angel's eyes, truly look, without turning away. She felt a shudder run through her, a deep sense of recognition and belonging that filled every inch of her being. Her heart hammered in her chest, her breath shallow, as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to leap.

Angel's expression was soft, almost sad, but there was hope there too. "Whenever you're ready, Leah. I'll be here."

Leah's pulse quickened, her mind racing. The world around them seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them standing in the forest, a bond neither could deny.

"I don't know if I'm ready," Leah whispered, her voice barely audible.

Angel nodded slowly, understanding. "I won't rush you. But know that you're not alone in this. You never have been."

The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken things. And in that silence, Leah felt the weight of the decision that was coming, the decision that she would one day have to make. For now, though, she couldn't bring herself to face it fully.

"I'll see you around, Angel," Leah said softly, turning to leave, her steps slow but deliberate.

Angel didn't stop her. She only watched as Leah walked away, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

But as the night grew colder, Angel felt something stir deep inside her. It wasn't just the promise of the bond between them. It was something more. Something that she hadn't realized until now.

The moment they had shared wasn't just a fleeting connection. It was the beginning of something far greater than either of them had anticipated.

And as Leah walked away, Angel's heart swelled with an emotion she hadn't felt in centuries. Hope.