CHAPTER 2

Ten years later.

Aiden never liked rainy mornings.

They always made the world feel heavier, gray skies, damp air, and the soft rumble of thunder that reminded him too much of the past he was try so much to forget.

He pulled his hoodie tighter around himself as he unlocked the small café where he worked. The bell above the door jingled weakly, echoing through the quiet space. He switched on the lights, arranged the pastries, wiped the tables routine, safe, predictable.

He needed predictable.

His heart couldn’t handle anything else.

By the time the café opened, the rain had stopped, and customers trickled in. soft chatter filled the room. Aiden worked quietly, offering shy smiles, keeping his head down.

Everything was normal.

Until the bell over the door chimed again and the air shiffed.

Aiden didn’t look up at first.  He wiped a mug, placed it on the shelf, turned slightly.

And froze.

Standing at the entrance was the one faced he prayed he’d never see again… but secretly hoped for every night.

Raven.

 Older. Taller. Sharper.

Black coat, damp from the rain. Dark eyes scanning the room like he owned it.

Aiden’s breath caught so painfully it felt like someone had punched him hard.

No. Not now. Not here.

Raven’s gaze fell on him exactly, directly like it had been searching for only him.

And Aiden’s heart dropped into his stomach.

For a second, everything disappeared.

The noise.

The café.

The world.

It was just the two of the again.

Raven stepped inside, slow and controlled, the way he always moved. Like a storm in human form.

Aiden’s fingers trembled around the tray he held. He forced himself to breathe, to look away, to pretend his chest wasn’t collapsing.

Why is he here? After all this time?

A chair scraped softly as Raven sat at a corner table. Not demanding attention, but somehow commanding the whole room.

Aiden could feel his gaze. Heavy. Familiar.

It burned through him.

He didn’t want to go over to him.

His legs don’t care.

He walked toward the table, each step louder in his ears than his last.

“G-good morning,” Aiden whispered avoiding his eyes. “What would you like.”

Raven didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stared at Aiden with a look so intense it made Aiden’s chest tighten.

“You cut your hair?” Raven said quietly.

Aiden’s breath wavered. That was the first thing he noticed?

“Y-yes,” he said, trying to sound neutral. “It… it was getting too long.”

Raven’s eyes softened for a fleeting moment.

“It suits you.”

Aiden swallowed hard.

He hated how those words still made him warm.

“I’ll… get your order,” Aiden muttered, turning quickly.

But before he took a step, Raven spoke low, deep, unmistakable.

“Aiden.”

Aiden stopped.

His name still sounded different in Raven’s voice.

Too gentle.

Too dangerous.

He turned slowing, heart pounding.

Raven’s expression was unreadable as he leaned back in his seat.

“It’s been a long time.”

Aiden gripped the tray against his chest.

“it has,” he whispered. “And I would like it to stay that way.”

Raven’s jaw tightened ever so slightly.

“Aiden please-“

“I’m working,” Aiden cut in, voiced trembling. “Don’t… don’t make this harder.”

Silence fell between them, heavy and painful.

Aiden walked away before his courage shattered.

Behind him, Raven watched quietly like a man who had finally found the one thing he lost but wasn’t sure how to reach anymore.

And outside, the rain began again.

Soft. Quiet.

Like the sky was crying the words Aiden refused to say:

I’m not ready to see you.

But I missed you.

So much it hurts.

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