Bound by Secrets, Broken by love

hl

oom is...

ed, catalog-

even a floor-length mirror by the clo

at, it still feels li

walls are a soft cream, but the kind that reflects fluor

oom - I guess that's the perk of being a lat

ts and folding them into the closet when my stomach twists - no

s, that

ething suspiciousl

timal fuel" to keep us "at our peak." By the loo

ingers down the crisp line of hangers. The closet doors slide shut

the alar

h the building's sound system, like a fir

raining.

s Eva said I'd need. My muscles are still stiff from the last few days of trav

tudents are everywhere. Some stretching, some

before calling me out like I vol

t even kno

to roll my eyes

r sleep. Long legs. Cropped tank. The kind of muscle tone y

internally praying f

, and we charge

hold my stance - knees bent, arms up, just like I was taught. But my

- before I can react

loud, humiliating thud tha

y breath stuttering whil

breaks out

even have g

don't bel

s bloody

ds and wishing I could disappear. My

trained before. I've done we

ted. My fucking wol

- I can still feel her, somewhere, distant - but she

, I'm just a gir

p!" Coa

at dripping down my forehead. I b

t one

n Whi

arms crossed, face unreadabl

if I'm worth the time. I blink, lowering

owel over my shoulder. "Ignore them,

knot in my che

the mat, Coach storm

elite academies," he growls. "No idea if it was Mommy o

roat burns, but I say not

llow

e Principal's office wing

er from today's first period snaps, dra

. Like none of

ted - rubs his temples like he regrets ev

he girl needs help. Aiden needs struct

in her. Twice a wee

drops. No

his breath. "She won

sn't encourage weakness. She's got a lot to prove–

n't flinch.

myself than this? I've been assigned to train with a guy I'm actively trying to avoi

glance at the screen, my mood sou

ext from

o get you in. Don't embar

ig

but all I feel is that emptiness - and that i

you? If I go down,

eted by

n bitch!"

to fix this when my w