Chapter 6 The first betrayal

The next morning, Maya sat on the edge of her bed, a packed bag at her feet.

Chase paced the room like a caged animal.

His jaw was tight, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his whole body thrumming with barely contained anger.

"You can't stay here anymore," he said, voice rough. "It's not safe."

Maya wanted to argue. Wanted to pretend she could handle it alone.

But deep down, she knew the truth: she wasn't safe.

Not from the threats.

And maybe... not even from Chase.

Still, she nodded and zipped her bag closed.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Chase hesitated - too long.

And Maya felt the first flicker of unease.

"Somewhere they'll never find you," he said finally, offering a tight smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

They drove for hours, leaving the city behind.

The skyline faded into rolling hills, dense forests, and winding, unfamiliar roads.

Maya watched Chase from the corner of her eye, noticing things she hadn't seen before.

The way he flinched at every passing car.

The way his hands tightened on the wheel.

The way he kept checking his rearview mirror.

He was scared. Or guilty.

Maybe both.

They pulled up to an abandoned cabin deep in the woods.

Isolated. Forgotten.

Maya stepped out of the car and wrapped her arms around herself against the cold.

Something about the place felt... wrong.

Chase hauled her bag inside and started locking windows, checking the doors, pulling curtains tight.

Only when everything was secure did he finally face her.

"You'll be safe here," he said.

"Safe from who, exactly?" Maya asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Chase stiffened.

There it was again, that flash of something in his eyes. Something he didn't want her to see.

"You know who," he said roughly. "My father's people."

"But you're one of them," Maya whispered. "Aren't you?"

Chase didn't answer.

And in that silence, Maya felt something inside her fracture.

She stepped closer. "Tell me the truth. Why did you come to me that night? Why have you been helping me?"

Chase looked at her then, his face open, raw.

"I didn't come to help you," he said quietly.

"I came to stop you."

The words hit like a slap.

Maya staggered back, her heart crashing against her ribs.

"You.., you were working against me?" she choked out.

"At first," Chase said, his voice breaking. "I was supposed to scare you off. Destroy your evidence. Make you disappear if necessary."

Maya's hands trembled.

"But I couldn't do it," Chase said, stepping closer. "I couldn't hurt you. Somewhere along the way, protecting you became more important than protecting myself."

Tears blurred Maya's vision.

"So you lied to me," she whispered. "You betrayed me."

"I never wanted to!" Chase said fiercely. "I tried to stay away. I tried to make you hate me. But I..."

He cut himself off, raking a hand through his hair.

"But you what?" Maya demanded.

Chase's eyes locked onto hers. Tormented. Pleading.

"But I fell in love with you."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Maya shook her head, backing away.

Love.

It felt like another trap. Another lie.

Because how could you love someone you were sent to destroy?

She turned away from him, blinking back furious tears.

"Get out," she said hoarsely.

"Maya-"

"GET OUT!"

Chase hesitated, his fists clenched at his sides, as if he wanted to fight, to stay, to fix it. But he didn't.

He picked up his jacket, threw one last broken glance at her, and disappeared into the night.

Leaving Maya alone in a cabin full of shadows and a heart full of shattered trust.