They walked out of the dorm and across the school's grounds. The night air smelled like damp and sweet at the same time..
They got to the blossom tree. Pink petals were scattered all over the ground. Yvaine sat. Caelan sat next to her.
Caelan said, "How do you feel now? As a Silverwolf?"
Yvaine said, "Hungry all the time. I can hear things quite better now. Smell things from far away. My body feels strong. But my control of magic is wacky."
Caelan laughed.
"I'm getting the hang of being wolf."
Caelan said, "With time you'll balance it. As for the magic, I could teach you some things."
Yvaine said, "Yeah you should. You did say your sister's a witch and I've read about your family. Your great-grandmother and grandmother were powerful witches."
Caelan smiled a little. "You've been reading about me?"
Yvaine said, "It's kind of hard not to. Your family name is everywhere. You're like a walking school legend."
Caelan shrugged. "Legends are just stories people build around you."
Yvaine looked at his hands. "Do you miss home?"
Caelan said, "Sometimes. But here isn't so bad. I get to meet people like you."
Yvaine felt her heart bump. She looked away. "You don't even know me."
Caelan leaned in a little. "I'm trying to."
They stayed quiet for a moment. The petals dropped slowly from the tree.
She felt him move closer. The heat from his body spread across her... That's weird, he's supposed to be cold, right?
Her heart was beating fast. Her wolf stirred but she didn't understand why. It was just a lazy stir. She could hear his breathing. Her lips almost brushed his.
Caelan's wolf was chanting in his head; kiss mate kiss mate kiss mate.
The smell of her hair filled his nose. Was it strawberry ? He remembered she smelled like that the last time they'd been trapped in that storage room. The bond buzzed under his skin. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to kiss her.
Their lips touched. It was light but it sparked all through her.
Yvaine pulled back fast. "We can't."
Caelan said, "Why not?"
Yvaine said, "I know you have someone. And most males in this school just want to play and have fun. Nothing serious. I don't want that. I have my powers to focus on."
Caelan thought, If only she knew… but wait… how come she doesn't recognize me as mate? Her wolf might have awakened, but her mate bond hasn't.
He said out loud, "Listen, Yvie… I do not have anyone. And I'm not most guys. I'm Caelan Vireleith."
Yeah. The Vireleith boy. The one with the hard abs. The one making her feel this buzz she couldn't understand.
Caelan's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "I like you. A lot, pup... I don't even know why."
Well, maybe he did know why... She was different and quirky in the right ways....plus, the moon goddess being generous, making her his mate.
Yvaine said, "What about the girl?"
Caelan said, "What girl?"
Yvaine said, "The one in your dorm room when I came to return your sweatshirt. I thought we had a connection but…"
Caelan took her hand. "We do have a connection. I feel it too."
His wolf yelled in his head, just tell her we're mates.
"No," Caelan answered back in his head.
He said to Yvaine, "That person in my room was Crysa. Me, Crysa, Zayven, Ash and some other wolves had a little dorm room game night. Crysa got drunk and sick. I had her stay put so I could help her heal. I know witch healing, remember?"
Yvaine said, "But you were shirtless."
Caelan laughed. "Our dorm is built to be a natural cold habitat. I'm bound to move around shirtless."
Okay. That made more sense. So much for your silly jealousy, Yvaine.
They looked at each other. This time they didn't stop. Their lips met again.
His lips were warm. The buzz shot through her, yet again. The ground under her felt like it shifted. Ice started forming where they sat. She felt the cold under her butt. She broke the kiss.
The bond screamed in Caelan's blood. Ice bloomed out of his palm without him even knowing. When she broke the kiss, he caught himself, breath fast.
Caelan laughed nervously, rubbing his hand behind his neck. "Sorry about that. I'm just uh… excited."
Yvaine laughed.
Inside Caelan's head his wolf broke into a happy dance, shouting, mate mate mate.
___
Ed walked slowly toward Silver Howl Hall. He held a small box of chocolates. Yvaine's favorite.
His fingers tightened around the box as he walked. The path was almost empty. Most students were inside.
He hummed under his breath as he walked.
Then he heard it. A laugh. Familiar. Bright.
Yvaine.
His head snapped up. He followed the sound. It came from the blossom tree ahead. Yvaine sat under it with Caelan. She was laughing hard at something Caelan said.
A sharp ache hit his chest. His hands trembled. The box slipped and dropped on the path.
He stared at it for a second, then turned away. He started walking back to Wolffire West. His steps were quick now.
"So silly of you to think someone like her would want someone like you," he muttered.
"Hey, Ed!" Veylor's voice cut in. He was waving. Elyan stood beside him.
"We're going to the herbs garden," Elyan said. "Want to tag along?"
Ed forced a smile. "No… I feel, uh… a bit tired."
Elyan's eyes lit. "Okay. We've got this cool plant we read about—"
"Leave me the hell alone," Ed snapped.
Veylor and Elyan froze. They exchanged a look.
Ed said nothing else. He broke into a run and disappeared inside the dorm.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" Veylor asked.
Elyan shrugged. "How should I know? You're the seer, aren't you?"
___
Yvaine shot up in bed with a gasp.
Her room was dark. The small wall lights blinked on and off.
"What the hell?" she whispered.
It was still midnight. She pushed the curtain aside. The moon hung there, big and round.
Great. Full moon. Of course. Silverwolf night. Nice one, Moon Goddess.
She groaned and dropped her head back on the pillow. Tried to close her eyes. Couldn't. Something kept tugging at her chest.
Nymera stirred inside her. Restless.
"What is it, girl?" Yvaine asked softly.
Nymera whimpered. Something is off. Something is off.
"Okay, calm down," Yvaine murmured.
Her throat tightened. A howl slipped out before she could stop it.
"Nymera!" she hissed.
Out. Let's go out.
Yvaine rubbed her face. "Ugh…" She swung her legs off the bed and grabbed a sweatshirt.
She slid it on, shoved her feet into sneakers. Nymera's push inside her chest was stronger now, pulling her to the door.
She opened it and stepped into the hallway, letting Nymera lead.