"Why are you doing this?" Rhydian's voice broke as his heart went into overdrive, "I love you."
Static crackled between them as their eyes met; green to brown. Maddy flinched at the strong impulses tugging at her weak heart.
They were like magnets; needing to be close to one another; the need so powerful, it wasn't human; it wasn't love; it was something far beneath their understanding…
Maddy swatted away her instincts, her face remained smooth and expressionless, "face it Rhydian, we weren't going to last."
"Weren't we?" His eyes tightened, "oh yeah, 'cause love isn't enough, is it? What was I thinking?"
She threw her hands up, exasperated, "I'm being serious. It's not enough." She had to say this; she choked it out, as much as it burned like acid, "I don't love you, Rhydian." Maddy whispered, not being able to look at him anymore, she fixed her gaze on a point in the distance.
Rhydian's eyes blazed, "you weren't complaining when you invited me into your pack all those years ago, or when you slept with me, or when you told me you felt the same, or – "
Mentally unable to listen to the rest, she cut him off, "It was just fun."
His heart fell apart, "Is that so?"
Maddy's voice remained firm, "yes."
He couldn't bear it anymore. Without realising, his legs took off into a sprint, taking the rest of his body with them.
When Rhydian was out of earshot a tear trickled down her cheek; more followed until a sob left her throat. Maddy's knees finally give away as she collapsed to the ground.
But she wasn't doing this for her benefit, was she?
Twenty minutes later Maddy realised there was still one thing she'd left unresolved. Standing up, she began to run.
Three miles later she reached the border of Stoneybridge, where Ceri was expecting her.
"You're late."
Maddy ignored her comment and rubbed her red eyes, "he's really crushed. How can his own mother be so heartless? How can you live with yourself with your son writhing in pain? I know I can't after what I've just done to him. I've done what you asked, now can you just leave him alone?"
A smirk tugged at the corners of her chapped lips, "no," she said simply.
"No?" Maddy shook her head, "wait. You said if I let Rhydian be, you would leave Stoneybridge and stop harassing him!"
"Now you're out of the way, he'll come back to me and Bryn."
"What?" Maddy's heart broke, he couldn't leave her, again, "You can't take him away from me again! I love him!"
"Well, you already drove him away; I'm just speeding up the process." Her brown eyes danced with excitement.
Before Maddy's brain fully registered her actions, she started to slowly take steps back. The twigs snagged at her trouser leg as she quickened her pace slightly, in her haste to put as much space between them as possible.
Having a good few seconds head start, Maddy turned away and sprinted towards the clearing, "I'm going to find him! I won't let you do this!"
…To Be Continued…
Thanks for reading. Any suggestions on how to continue it let me know! :)