The Choice Let her go, Rafael! Alexanders voice cracks as he stumbles forward, blood staining his shirt, his face pale and sweaty from the pain.
He barely stands, but his eyes burn with determination.
Shes not yours.
She never was.
Rafaels eyes flicker toward him, his expression unreadable for a moment.
He doesnt move.
He doesnt even flinch.
His hand is still wrapped around Elenas wrist, holding her tightly, his grip unrelenting.
Elena is mine, Rafael says, his voice cold and full of finality.
He turns his attention back to her, his eyes narrowing as he assesses her every move.
She doesnt have a choice.
Elena feels a chill run down her spine at his words.
She knows its true.
As long as Rafael breathes, she has no choice.
Shes been running, hiding, plotting… but deep down, shes always known this day would come.
The day she would have to make a choice.
The choice between the man whos been her captor, and the man shes been trying to save.
The air between them crackles with tension.
Elena looks from Rafael to Alexander, her heart pounding in her chest.
She wants to run.
She wants to pull Alexander into her arms and never look back.
But she knows that if she does that, Rafael will hunt them down, and theyll never be free.
Make your choice, Elena, Rafael whispers, his voice almost a caress, but theres something dark in it.
You know Ill never stop.
Ill always find you.
So, choose.
Who will you be with? The question hangs in the air like a guillotine, sharp and unforgiving.
Elenas mind races, but her heart feels heavy, trapped between two worlds.
She looks at Alexanderhis face bruised, bloodied, but still full of the fire shes come to love.
His eyes are pleading with her, full of hope, but also fear.
Please, he whispers, his voice hoarse.
Dont let him win.
Rafael smirks, clearly enjoying the torment in Elenas eyes.
You see, Elena? Hes weak.
Hell never be able to protect you the way I can.
Elena flinches at his words.
The accusation, the insinuation, its all too much.
Shes heard it before.
Shes heard it from him for years.
But this time, it feels different.
This time, shes had enough.
Im not weak, she mutters, though the words barely come out.
Her hand is shaking, but not from fear.
From anger.
From frustration.
She has no idea how much longer she can stand this.
Rafael steps closer, tightening his grip on her arm, his thumb pressing into the tender flesh of her wrist.
You dont have a choice, he growls, his face inches from hers.
But Elenas heart doesnt flutter anymore.
It doesnt skip.
Its calm, steady, determined.

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The chaos around her fades into the background, and she knows exactly what she has to do.
Elena… Alexander says, his voice cracking again.
Hes struggling, his body shaking with exhaustion, but his gaze is unwavering.
He looks at her as if hes already lost everything, and all he has left is her.
Please… dont do this for me.
You dont owe me anything.
Rafaels grip tightens as he looks at Alexander, his lips curling into a smirk.
Hes already lost, Elena.
You know that.
Youre mine now.
And theres no going back.
Elena feels the weight of his words.
But as his hands tighten on her arm, something inside her snaps.
She doesnt owe Rafael anything.
She doesnt owe him her loyalty, her life, or her love.
And she wont let him take Alexander from her, no matter what it costs.
Without thinking, she leans into Rafael, her lips brushing his ear as if shes giving in.
His grip loosens slightly, a moment of triumph flashing across his face.
His eyes darken, expecting her to say the words hes been waiting for.
I choose you, he thinks.
But Elena isnt choosing him.
Not now.
Not ever.
Instead, her lips press against his, but its not a kiss of surrender.
Its a kiss of defiance.
She lets her lips linger, giving him what he wants, letting him believe hes won.
And then, with a swift movement, she pulls a hidden blade from her sleeve and drives it into his side.
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