I resisted the urge to either scoot closer to Serge to absorb his warmth and the contradictory magical urge to push myself against the door to get as far as I could away from him.

Perhaps the magic was correct, because I rather thought the coming confrontations would go better if I did not smell too much like the man who cursed me in the first place.

They would have to get used to it eventually, but for now rubbing their noses in it seemed like a terrible plan.

We did not say much as Serge drove his truck through the town and towards Matthias's house. My heart was in my throat and for once it was not the curse that put it there. When we pulled into his driveway, I nudged the door open.

Had I made the right choice? Was there a right choice?

This was going to be so hard in so many ways.

I managed a glance at Serge and he smiled.

"You can still change your mind, Elise," he told me.

His words made me want to cry, but they did not make me want to reconsider. If anything, they hardened my resolve. This was my choice.

I swallowed hard past the lump in my throat and pushed out of the vehicle.

I dragged myself up the front walk and knocked. I had never felt so terrible putting my fist to Matthias's door.

The door opened and Matthias's father stood there. I was relieved, because I was unlikely to have to answer awkward questions with him. Still, he resembled Matthias and that alone strummed my guilt.

"Is Matthias here?" I asked. My voice sounded timid to my own ears.

"No. Didn't he go visit you today?"

"Yeah, he did, but he left. Could you get him to call me?" I asked. I could not tell him over the phone, but I could at least make plans to meet.

"Sure will, Elise," his father promised. It seemed unlikely that he would be so friendly towards me if he had any idea what was going on.

"Thanks," I said. I bit my lip and turned away. I walked back towards Serge's truck dejectedly. How was I going to do this?

Then, there was movement in the trees beyond the yard. I spotted Matthias's wolf form.

"Matt!" I called.

He turned and disappeared into the trees.

I walked towards where I had last seen him.

"Matt?" I called.

He appeared, fully dressed and in his human form. I met his eyes and he looked wary. Did he suspect what was coming? My heart ached for my friend and I hated the position I was in. "I need to talk to you," I said.

"I understand," he said. "Inside?"

I thought of his crowded house and shook my head. "Probably out here is better," I said.

He nodded and we began walking without confirming the destination.

It was a little clearing with a fire pit in the centre, surrounded by pine trees. Like the rest of the forest, small plants were fighting for survival in the shade of the trees.  Matthias sat on one of the smooth logs we had used like benches when we had hung out here so many times before.

It was full of memories. "Maybe we should go somewhere else."

He shook his head. "Just say it, Elise."

I sat down beside him, but kept a few feet of log between us. I looked at the man who had grown from the boy I had always known and my mind scattered to the four winds. I loved him, too. I could still change my mind.

I looked away and closed my eyes like a coward. "Matt, I chose h-him."

The clearing was completely silent except for the wind and the cruel songs of birds in the trees beyond.

Forcing my eyes open, I looked at him. His expression seemed neutral, but his jaw was tensed. I knew him too well, he did not need to say anything. His pain was in his eyes, even though he tried to hide it Just as he had hid his feelings under scowls and teasing and I had been a fool not to see it sooner.

"I'm sorry," And I was. I wished I was two people so that I would not have had to hurt him.

But, it was better to rip off the bandaid and be done with it, wasn't it?

"I thought you would," he said.

It was surprising that he was not arguing, that he was not reminding me all the reasons I was wrong and about the suffering Surge had brought into my life.

"Why? It was such a hard choice, Matt."

"That does not make me feel better," he commented. He leaned back a bit and looked up at the sky.

"No?"

"How am I supposed to let you go, Elise, if you make it sound like I had a chance?"

"I don't know. I never wanted to lose you, either, but I know things can't go back to the way they were."

He did not look at me. "Yeah."

I tried to steady my breathing.

He sat up straight again. "I'll still be there if you need me," he said.

I shook my head, "No, I can't ask that of you."

"You've been my friend forever," he said. "That runs deeper than anything."

"You've been mine, too," I agreed. "But still."

"I need space," he said slowly. "But promise you'll come to me if you need me."

I wanted to protest, but he was obviously resolute. "Fine. I'll call you if I do," I lied.

He was my best friend and I would always need him, but I would not keep reopening the wounds I had caused.

"I'm, um, going to go now," I said.

"Good luck. Be happy," he told me and I was certain tell he meant it.

I was going to need it.

I walked out of the forest and back out to Matthias's driveway where I had left Serge waiting. I felt guilty about that, and for Matthias's pain, and for pretty much everything else I had ever done. Was this what the curse was like for other thralls? I understood why they might spend their lives attempting to repay their curse accused debts to their masters.

I opened the door and climbed into the truck. "Where is he?" Serge asked.

"Matthias?" I asked, and I quickly glanced at his face.

He looked as dejected as Matthias had. He had probably thought I would change my mind. My heart hurt. "He's out in the forest." I made myself properly meet his gaze. "I didn't change my mind, S-Serge."

He did not respond, but he put the truck into gear.

"Do y-you want me to change it?" I asked nervously.

"Of course not."

I digested his response.

"But perhaps I think you should."

I looked out the window as he pulled off onto the main road.

"I know this isn't going to be easy," I said. "I broke Matt's heart, my family is going to be furious and people are going to say terrible things about u-us." I could only imagine the derision Serge would face and the painful pity I would have to endure.

He chuckled darkly. "I'm glad you understand that."

"I do, but are you willing to do this? Maybe it's y-you who should reconsider."

"Apparently I'm ready to burn it all down for you," he said.

Fearful sweet pleasure rose at his words. "I hope it doesn't come to that."

"Me too. Are you ready to face your father?"

I paused. "Not really, but I need to. Are y-you?

"No, but you're right. We have to do this."

I wanted to slide over to him and have him put his arm around me and infuse me with his warmth. I wanted him to banish the fear that was swimming through me, but I feared that my father would only be more enraged if he suspected Serge had been touching me.

I needed my dad on my side. I was not so naive to think he would be instantly accepting, but eventually he would have to come around to my decision. It would take time, but I did not want to wait. Hopefully, if love was the key to the lock holding my chains, my father would come around after I was free. I wanted to try to escape as soon as possible.

Ice stabbed the nape of my neck and wound through my nerves, reminding me that even if the curse had taken its cold hands off the wheel while I naturally suffered, it was always watching and it did never wanted to let me go.

We pulled up to my childhood home and I shook.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked. He would drive away if I but said the word.

The curtain moved, probably Moramay checking who had pulled up. There was no escaping detection now.

"Yes," I said. It did not feel true, but it was.

I imagined I now knew how Juliet might have felt when she thought about her father potentially finding out about Romeo. The comparison was rather unfair to my father, though, since he would never try to force me to marry someone against my will.

And I was hoping for a considerably happier ending than poor Romeo and Juliet.