CHAPTER 2

My True Fated One

Sophia’s POV

“Maybe this is the only way.”

Tears burned my eyes, but I didn’t wipe them away. They rolled freely down my face, hot and bitter against my cold skin. I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of the world press down on me. The memory of Ethan’s cruel rejection replayed in my mind, his cold eyes, his harsh words.

“You’re not good enough.”

Those words felt like a knife, twisting deeper every time I remembered them. The emptiness in my chest grew wider, and I leaned forward, welcoming the pull of gravity.

But just as I felt myself reach past the point of no return, a voice rang out, strong and clear, cutting through the silence like a blade.

“Sophia!”

My entire body froze. The sound of my name, spoken with such urgency, snapped me out of what I wanted to do.. My heart started beating in my chest, and I turned my head, looking into the shadows.

A figure came out from the darkness, stepping into the moonlight. He was tall and broad, his dark hair kept on his back as though he had run through the forest to find me. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, sharp and intense, holding me in place.

“Step back,” he commanded, his voice firm but not unkind.

I looked at him, the tears still blocking my vision. “Who… who are you?” My voice trembled, sounding like nothing more than a whisper.

“That doesn’t matter right now,” he said, taking a cautious step closer. “What matters is that you step away from that cliff.”

Something in his tone made me hold back.. It wasn’t just concern—it was deeper, heavier, like he was carrying a weight I couldn’t see. My mind got confused, confusion mixing with the pain I was already drowning in.

“Why do you care?” I asked, bitterness crawling into my voice.

His jaw tightened, but his expression softened. “Because no one deserves to feel like this. Whatever you’re going through, it doesn’t have to end here.”

I shook my head, laughing bitterly through my tears. “You don’t understand. It hurts too much. I can’t—” My voice broke, and I swallowed hard, unable to finish what I was saying.

He took another step closer, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he was coming close to a frightened animal.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said, his voice more gentle now. “Please, just step back. Talk to me.”

My knees shamed , and I stumbled slightly, the edge crumbling beneath my weight. A gasp came out from my throat as the ground gave way for me to fall freely.

But before I could fall, his strong arms were wrapped around me, pulling me back with a surprising ease. My body jammed with his, my head resting against his chest. His heartbeat could be heard against my ear, steady and grounding.

“Got you,” he murmured, his voice low and comforting .

I held on to him, holding my breath as new tears spilled .The fear, the relief, the sheer exhaustion—it all crashed down at once, and I couldn’t hold it in. My sobs broke free, wracking my body as I buried my face against him.

He didn’t say a word, he just held me tightly, one hand gently rubbing my back in slow, reassuring circles.i could smell his scent , it surrounded me, earthy and warm, with a hint of something unique.

Time seemed to fade fast as I cried, the world fading away until it was just the two of us. Eventually, the storm inside me began to quiet. My sobs turned to sniffles, and I pulled back slightly, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice little and small.

His dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. There was something in those eyes- something warm and strong, like he was seeing every broken piece of me but still refusing to look away.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said softly.

Silence filled between us, broken only by the sound of the wind through the trees. My mind was spinning with questions, but one rose above them all.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice steadier now.

He hesitated, as if deciding how much to say. “Gabriel,” he finally replied. “I heard someone crying and came to find you.”

“Why?” I asked, raising my eyebrows . “Why would you care?”

His lips turned into a small, almost sad smile. “Because something told me I needed to. That you… needed me.”

Those words sent a shiver down my spine, but before I could respond, a strange sensation grew in my chest. It started as warmth, faint and shaky, but it grew, spreading through me like wildfire.

I gasped softly, holding on to my chest. “What… what is this?”

Gabriel’s expression changed, his eyes darkening with an emotion I couldn’t name. He took a step back, though his hand remained on my arm, still holding on to me.

“Sophia,” he said, his voice low and steady, “you’re my mate.”

The world froze, and I stumbled, my fingers tightening on his arm. “What?”

“You’re my mate,” he repeated, his eyes still looking at me. “I can feel it. That bond, that pull—it’s you.”

His words hit me like a dangerous wave, leaving me breathless. The pain of Ethan’s rejection was still there, raw and unending, but this… this was something entirely different.

Gabriel stepped closer, his hand gently brushing against my cheek. His touch was warm, steadying, and I found myself leaning into it despite the different emotions inside me.

“You’re not alone, Sophia,” he said softly, his thumb brushing away a tear that was still clung to my face. “You never were. And you never will be.”

Something inside me changed at his words—not in the painful, shattering way I had grown used to, but in a way that felt… freeing. The walls I wanted to build around my heart because of Ethan’s rejection began to crumble, making room for something new.

Hope.

I looked into his eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the ache in my chest seemed to reduce a little. The bond between us was undeniable, a connection that not even words could describe.

And then it all came to me. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as broken as I thought.