No Longer Mine to Hold - Chapter 6

Anderson gritted his teeth and admitted it with a pained expression, “That’s right. The two of us have been bullying Irene all this time like blind fools. But you’re not that innocent either.”

His wolf let out a furious roar, “You and I both deserve to burn in hell!”

Just then, Rhys came running back, covered in dirt. He had dug Irene’s gift out of the trash.

While Leah’s parents kept arguing in their defense, Rhys gave a bitter smile and pulled out solid proof from his coat, no longer believing them. “I got my memories back. The one who protected me and took care of me was always Irene.”

Faced with undeniable evidence, Leah’s family finally turned pale.

Five months later, in Icebourne, clinging to the ice wall, I plucked a rare Silverleaf Herb and tucked it into my medical kit.

It had been a good harvest. I headed back to my ice hut.

Just as I packed everything up, my teacher called me.

“The mission is almost over. When are you coming back?”

I hesitated. The bitter cold had become familiar, almost comforting in its own way. Icebourne had offered me solitude, a place where the past felt distant, where my name was my own and not attached to whispered scandals or pitiful glances.

“I’ll return soon,” I said, though my voice lacked certainty.

My teacher sighed. “Hiding won’t change what happened.”

“I’m not hiding,” I murmured, staring at the frosted window. Beyond it, the endless expanse of snow stretched out, untouched, pure. “I just… needed time.”

“Time won’t wait for you, Irene. When you do return, be sure of what you want.”

The call ended, and I exhaled, rubbing warmth back into my fingers. I had come here to heal, to grow stronger. But had I really? Or had I simply frozen myself in place, afraid to face the world beyond this icebound sanctuary?

A sharp knock at the door startled me.

I wasn’t expecting visitors.

I stood slowly, heart pounding, and walked to the door. But when I pulled it open, it wasn’t Anderson standing there.

It was Rhys.

The sight of him nearly took me off guard, but I steadied myself. He looked different—less certain, less confident. The weight of guilt sat heavy on his shoulders.

“Irene…” he started, but I cut him off.

“You don’t get to say my name like that,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm building inside me.

Rhys flinched. “I know I was wrong. I should have—”

“You should have believed me,” I interrupted, stepping forward. “You stood by and let them tear me apart. You watched as I was cast aside, humiliated, abandoned. And only now—after everything—do you come looking for me?”

He had no answer. His mouth opened, but no words came. For the first time, Rhys—who always had something to say, some excuse, some justification—was speechless.

I let the silence stretch between us, watching him struggle beneath its weight. Then, with a quiet breath, I took another step forward, my gaze turning icy.

“Do you know what the worst part is?” I whispered. “It’s not that you stood by while they destroyed me. It’s that deep down, you knew. You knew I was innocent, but it was easier to side with them. Easier to let me suffer than to challenge your own blind loyalty. And now you want to stand here and apologize? To clear your conscience with a few pitiful words?”

Rhys clenched his fists, shame flickering in his eyes, but I didn’t let up.

“You’re a coward, Rhys. A coward who only finds his voice when it’s too late. And I have no use for cowards.”