"Senior?" Astron's voice came through the phone, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Maya took a deep breath, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. "Sorry, Junior. I was just… thinking," she replied, trying to sound composed.
"Is everything all right?" Astron asked, his tone carrying a hint of concern.
"Yes," she said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "I'm just… tired from the training. But I'm fine."
But she wasn't fine. Not really. The fear of losing Astron to someone else, especially someone like Irina, gnawed at her, making her feel vulnerable in a way she hadn't experienced before. She had always prided herself on being strong, composed, and in control, but this was different. This was a matter of the heart, and it terrified her.
'He's mine,' she thought fiercely, a surge of possessiveness rising within her. 'I can't let anyone take him from me. Not Irina, not anyone.'
