The biting cold of the early morning air did little to numb the ache in Rose's chest. "Rose! I missed you so much!" Kayla's cheerful voice, usually a balm, felt like a jarring echo against the turmoil inside her.

Rose managed a weak smile as she stepped out of the car, the school building looming like a silent judge. "Kayla, I need your help. Please." The words were a whisper, raw and desperate.

Kayla's bright demeanor faded, replaced by concern. "Anything, come with me. We'll talk about it." They found a secluded bench behind the school, away from the bustling morning crowds. Rose set her books down, the weight of them a physical manifestation of her burdened heart.

"It started yesterday, he never told me," she began, her voice trembling despite her efforts to control it. Kayla's eyes widened. "Never told you what?"

Rose took a shaky breath, the dam finally breaking. Tears welled, blurring the familiar outline of her best friend. "That he was getting married."

Kayla gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "What?! What are you talking about?"

"He's my mate, how could he do this?" The question was a cry of anguish, lost in the quiet solitude of their shared secret.