(Akilah's pov)
The realization settled in my chest like a stone, heavy enough to steal every sensible thought from my head.
"What is wrong with you?" I muttered under my breath.
I dragged both hands down my face before releasing a long, frustrated sigh.
This wasn't me.
Everything I was feeling had to be the mate bond.
I straightened my hoodie and forced myself to walk back toward the others.
Taylor and Darien had already returned and were now waiting.
Kael stood a few feet away from them, speaking quietly to Darien.
I looked away before he could notice me staring.
Whatever happened back there wasn't him.
I repeated the words silently.
It was his wolf.
Not him.
He had already made it painfully obvious that he didn't want me.
He would reject me eventually, since he wouldn't accept my rejection, so I'd better let him do it; the bond would disappear.
The possessiveness, tension, and every moment that made my heart race when he was near me would all fade away.
I clung to that thought because the alternative hurt far too much.
Movement caught my attention.
Taylor had already slipped the pendant over his neck.
He bent down and picked up my bag.
Again.
I opened my mouth to protest.
Honestly, there wasn't any point.
"You've been carrying my bag for hours; I can carry my own bag," I began.
A low growl rolled through the clearing. The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to silence everyone.
I looked toward Kael.
His eyes were fixed on Taylor.
"Isn't it about time she carried her own bag?" His voice was calm.
"Taylor isn't your servant."
"We're all carrying our own bags." His blue eyes shifted toward me.
"So why aren't you?"
I blinked. Was he serious?
"I was about to take it."
"So take it."
My irritation immediately flared. "Gladly."
I marched toward Taylor, reaching for my bag. Before I could grab the strap, Kael reached across me, lifted the bag from Taylor's shoulder, and effortlessly swung it onto his own.
For a second…
Nobody moved.
Even I stared at him.
"There." His expression remained completely blank.
"If you're too weak to carry it, I'll do it."
My jaw practically hit the floor.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I'm not weak."
He looked at me with one eyebrow lifted.
"Interesting." He began, "Cause you looked ready to collapse twenty minutes into the mission."
"Well, excuse me for not being used to walking so much; I normally use my board." I defended.
"Ahh, so you admit that you're lazy."
I glared at Kael.
"You are unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
"Give me my bag."
"No."
"Kael."
"No."
I folded my arms.
"You literally just said everyone should carry their own things."
"I did."
"And now you're carrying mine."
"Correct."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It does."
"No, it doesn't."
His eyes remained fixed ahead.
"It does."
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Then decided he wasn't worth the argument.
"Hmph."
Taylor cleared his throat. "Can you please stop bickering with each other? We're a team, and fighting with each other is not going to help us get through this challenge."
Sighing, I knew he had a point, but Kael really knew how to press my buttons.
Kael started walking.
"Taylor."
Taylor looked up.
"Walk beside me."
Taylor frowned.
"Why?"
"You're wearing the pendant."
"But—"
"We need to monitor whoever wears it."
Taylor nodded slowly before moving beside him.
I watched the two of them walk ahead.
Only then did realization hit me.
He wasn't monitoring the pendant. He was separating Taylor from me. He's doing it on purpose.
Rolling my eyes at his childish behavior.
"He's impossible," I muttered.
Darien laughed beside me. "Well, that's Kael for you; weird, isn't he?"
"Ha— weird is an understatement."
We continued deeper into the forest.
Leaves crunched beneath our feet.
Branches creaked overhead.
Nobody spoke.
Until—
"Oh, come on."
A massive fallen tree blocked our path.
Its trunk was easily twice my height.
Kael barely slowed.
He planted one foot on the bark before vaulting cleanly over it.
Taylor followed.
Darien simply jumped.
Show-offs.
I stared at the enormous log.
Then at my short legs.
Then back at the log.
"This is discrimination."
Darien burst out laughing.
"You want a ladder?"
"I want the tree to be shorter."
"It doesn't work like that."
"It should."
Determined not to embarrass myself, I grabbed onto the rough bark and pulled myself upward.
I made it halfway.
Then slipped.
My shoes scraped uselessly against the wood before I slid back to the ground.
"Ouch."
I looked up to see three pairs of eyes on me.
"I'm fine," I announced.
"Don't tell me you're struggling to get over a simple log; I guess all that fighting talent has its limits," Kael said.
"I almost had it."
"And yet you didn't," he finished.
Ignoring his comment, I looked around trying to find another way over this thing.
Just as I was considering walking around the obstacle, warm hands settled carefully beneath my arms.
Before I could react…
I was lifted.
Effortlessly off the ground.
He steadied me on top of the log.
"You looked like you needed a little assistance."
"I absolutely did not."
"You absolutely did."
I narrowed my eyes.
"I was getting there."
"Mhm."
He climbed up beside me before jumping down first.
Then he reached up.
"Come on."
I accepted his hand.
He helped me down carefully.
Once my feet touched the ground, I dusted imaginary dirt off my leggings.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
A grin spread across his face.
"I couldn't continue watching you struggling to find a way over the log," he said.
"I wasn't struggling."
Taylor laughed from ahead.
"Yes, you were."
"Traitor."
"I'm just honest."
"I liked you five minutes ago."
Darien chuckled.
"I think she still likes you."
We fell into step together again.
This time Darien walked beside me while Kael and Taylor stayed ahead.
After several minutes, Darien broke the silence.
"So…"
I glanced sideways.
"So?"
"How are you liking Veyloria Academy?"
The question surprised me.
"It's… different."
"Different good?"
"Mostly."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"I hope Seraphina hasn't been giving you too much trouble."
I smiled faintly.
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
"We don't interact enough for her to cause problems."
He let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.
"Good."
"She's really that bad?"
"She's my sister."
He looked toward the sky dramatically.
"I've earned the right to complain."
I laughed.
"When I first heard we would be sharing the school with a felinarian, I wasn't thrilled," he stated.
"Fair enough."
"But."
I looked up.
"That changed."
"Why?"
He smiled again.
"I realized sharing the academy with you wasn't such a bad thing."
"Really?"
"Actually…"
He laughed quietly.
"It made school more interesting."
I frowned.
"Interesting?"
"I find myself looking forward to classes now."
My eyebrows rose.
"Why is that? I mean nothing actually changed except that we are here now. Was something wrong before we came?" I asked.
"Let's just say school became a lot more entertaining."
For someone I'd only just met…Darien was surprisingly easy to talk to. Even he seemed to be better than Kael. Who was allergic to having a normal conversation.
As if summoned by my thoughts…
Kael looked back.
His eyes immediately landed on us.
A small smile lingered across my face. I knew he already hated the fact that I was now talking to Darien, even when he forcefully pulled Taylor away so that there wouldn't be anyone for me to talk to.
His expression darkened almost imperceptibly.
He turned forward again without saying a word.
Was he going to look back every time I spoke to someone close to him? This was beginning to become ridiculous.
Taylor rubbed the back of his neck.
"You alright?" Darien asked.
Taylor gave a small nod.
"I think so."
"You don't sound convinced."
His voice had grown unusually soft.
"It showed me something."
"Something like what?" I asked, my stomach beginning to tighten. This was all beginning to terrify me. First Kael, then Darien and now Taylor.
"Something I'd rather not talk about," he said.
The words settled over us like a blanket of ice. Taylor's warm smile had disappeared completely, meaning whatever he said had to be triggering.
"I saw my mother."
His confession caught all of us off guard.
"I haven't thought about that day in years."
He swallowed hard before continuing.
"I remembered every detail of what happened that day."
His hands trembled slightly.
"The smell of smoke."
"The rain."He shut his eyes briefly. "That day was the worst day I had ever experienced. It's actually why I hate the rain."
None of us knew what to say.
Even Kael remained silent.
Taylor managed a weak laugh.
"I guess this thing likes reopening old wounds."
My eyes drifted to the pendant.
It hung innocently around his neck.
Beautiful.
Simple.
Yet somehow…
Dangerous.
A few minutes later, Taylor stumbled.
His hand shot to his temple.
A pained groan escaped him.
"Taylor."
I hurried to his side before he could fall.
He caught himself against a nearby tree.
"I'm okay."
"No, you're not."
"I've been better."
Sweat had formed along his forehead. His breathing had become uneven. He looked at the pendant with visible unease.
I immediately opened my bag.
After digging through the side pocket, I found the small container of painkillers I'd packed earlier.
"Here."
Taylor accepted them gratefully.
"You really came prepared."
"Well, I knew a headache would occur while being on this challenge," I said, side-eyeing Kael.
He swallowed the tablets before washing them down with water.
Color slowly returned to his face.
"I'll survive."
"You'd better," Darien muttered.
"I don't feel like carrying you."
Taylor chuckled.
"I appreciate your concern."
While the boys exchanged quiet jokes, my eyes remained fixed on the pendant.
Someone had to wear it.
Someone had to keep carrying its burden.
I stepped forward.
"I'll take it."
Three heads turned toward me.
Taylor immediately reached for the clasp.
"No."
Kael's voice cut through the air before either of us could move.
He crossed the distance between us in only a few strides.
His gaze locked onto mine.
"You're not wearing it."
"I can handle it."
"No."
"It's my turn."
"I said no."
I folded my arms.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do if it affects the team."
His tone remained infuriatingly calm.
"You'll slow us down."
Anger flared inside me.
"You keep assuming I'm weak."
"I assume based on evidence."
"What evidence?"
"You've struggled to keep up since we entered the forest."
"I climbed the log."
"Barely."
"I climbed it."
"You were lifted."
While the boys exchanged quiet jokes, my eyes remained fixed on the pendant.
Someone had to wear it.
Someone had to keep carrying its burden.
I stepped forward.
"I'll take it."
Three heads turned toward me.
Taylor immediately reached for the clasp.
"No."
Kael's voice cut through the air before either of us could move.
He crossed the distance between us in only a few strides.
His gaze locked onto mine.
"You're not wearing it."
"I can handle it."
"No."
"It's my turn."
"I said no."
I folded my arms.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do if it affects the team."
His tone remained infuriatingly calm.
"You'll slow us down."
Anger flared inside me.
"You keep assuming I'm weak."
"I assume based on evidence."
"What evidence?"
"You've struggled to keep up since we entered the forest."
"I climbed the log."
"Barely."
"I climbed it."
"You were lifted."
Darien coughed into his fist, clearly trying not to laugh.
I shot him a look.
He wisely looked away.
Taylor stepped between us.
"Maybe we should—"
"No."
Kael didn't even look at him.
"The pendant stays between us."
He gestured toward himself, Taylor, and Darien.
"That's not your decision," I snapped.
"It is."
"No."
"It is."
My patience finally snapped.
Without another word, I reached past him, unclasped the pendant from Taylor's neck, and slipped the chain over my own before anyone could stop me.
The glowing ruby settled against my chest.
For one heartbeat…
Nothing happened.
Kael swore quietly under his breath. He walked past me, making sure to brush his shoulder against mine. Taking in a deep breath, I started to walk as we continued into the forest.
We had been walking for a while, and my anxiety was increasing by the minute. My mind kept racing, wondering what memories I would be seeing. There were so many possible options that I wouldn't like to relive.
Then I heard a sound. It sounded like steel smashing against something. I looked to the side to see a little girl standing there. When she finally turned around, I couldn't fathom who she was.
It was me, but mini me. Probably around six years old. Beside her, another figure appeared; it was Azai, but the younger version of him.
My small hands were clutching onto the edge of a training sword, which was far too heavy for me.
I remembered this day; it was the first day of training, and Azai took it upon himself to train me.
"I can't…"
"You can," Azai said as he stood before me.
"Again."
"My arms hurt."
"I know."
"I want to stop."
"If you stop now, you will never get better."
"I don't want to get better, I don't want to fight."
"I know, but one day you'll thank me."
The memory shifted.
I was standing alone after another failed lesson.
Students whispered.
They always whispered.
"She's strange."
"I thought Princesses were supposed to be tough."
"My mother said she isn't normal."
The memory blurred as tears burned my younger eyes.
I remembered every single word.
Every laugh.
Every stare.
Another memory.
Another ache.
I stood outside my parents' bedroom after a nightmare.
My hand hovered inches from the door.
I wanted to knock.
I wanted my mother.
Before I could reach for the door, I peeped through the crack, seeing mother and father saying something to each other.
I could hear father's disappointed approval of me.
"If it wasn't for you mothering all the time, she would be so weak.
"Zayden, we can't rush her. They said when the time is right it will happen. For now we need to be patient," my mother answered, and she reached for his hands.
Father, sighing he nodded his head softly as he looked at my mother, a smile appearing on his face.
I decided to walk away, convincing myself they were already tired of worrying about me and I didn't want to disturb them anymore than I already had.
The memory shifted again. I was now ten years old.
Curled beneath my blankets while muffled voices argued outside my bedroom.
"She transformed."
"She's only a child."
"What happens when the council finds out?"
Silence.
Then my father's voice.
"We have to keep it hidden. No one can know that the princess has transformed into a panther."
The words pierced me all over again.
Not because they were cruel.
Because I remembered how frightened he'd sounded.
Back then…
I'd mistaken fear for disappointment.
This was after I had gotten Vee. I struggled to control her and kept shifting nonstop. She would rampage, destroying everything.
The memories kept coming.
Faster.
Harder.
Each one reopening wounds I'd spent years stitching together.
When the forest finally returned, I staggered backwards.
Someone caught my arm.
Kael.
His grip was firm.
Steady.
"Are you okay?"
His voice sounded different.
Lower.
Less hostile. It almost seemed like he cared.
I pulled away.
"I'm fine."
"You almost fell."
"I'm still standing."
His eyes searched mine.
"You cried."
Only then did I realize tears had slipped down my cheeks.
I wiped them away quickly.
"It was nothing."
He didn't believe me.
Neither did Taylor.
Nor Darien.
But none of them asked again.
We continued walking.
This time…
Nobody spoke.
The pendant began to feel heavy as it rested against my chest.
Every step made it tap lightly against my hoodie.
Each touch reminded me of the memories waiting beneath its golden surface.
Taylor eventually checked the glowing academy timer attached to his wrist.
"It's currently four in the morning."
"If we don't solve this soon," Darien muttered, "we fail."
"We won't," Kael answered.
His certainty surprised me.
"You sound confident."
"That's because I am. If I were to ever fail this, it's because you're on my team," he said.
Ouch, that stung.
We started to walk again, but I stopped when I saw something moving.
At first I thought it was smoke drifting between the trees.
But smoke didn't move like that.
The dark shape slowly rose from the forest floor.
Two crimson eyes opened within the darkness.
No one else reacted.
My heartbeat quickened.
The figure hovered above me. Creating a big cloud of smoke.
"Akilah."
The voice wasn't loud.
It barely rose above a whisper.
Yet somehow…
It sounded like it was inside my head.
"Akilah." It said more clearly this time.
The others kept walking.
Completely unaware.
The creature circled me.
Its body twisted like living shadows.
"You hide yourself."
I backed away.
The others kept walking.
Completely unaware.
The creature circled me.
Its body twisted like living shadows.
"You hide yourself."
I backed away. Completely terrified.
"You fear them."
"Fear who?" I asked it.
"They will fear you too."
My breathing became shallow.
The creature drifted nearer.
"They'll see the truth."
Its voice became sharper.
"When they discover what you truly are…"
Its red eyes glowed brighter.
"…they will abandon you."
"No."
"Your father already has."
"Stop."
"He fears you."
"No, he doesn't!"
"He never wanted you."
"Liar!"
The word tore from my throat.
The shadow laughed.
A horrible sound.
Like dozens of voices laughing together.
"Then prove me wrong."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Shift."
"No."
"Accept what you are."
"No!"
"You belong with me."
"Stop!" I screamed.
The laughter stopped instantly.
Silence flooded the forest.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Nothing.
The dark cloud had vanished.
The boys were gone.
The forest was empty.
My pulse thundered inside my ears.
"Kael?"
No answer.
"Taylor?"
Silence.
"Darien?"
Only the wind replied.
Panic clawed at my chest.
I turned—
The shadow appeared inches from my face.
Its crimson eyes filled my entire vision.
Before I could scream, it surged forward.
Darkness slammed through my body like a wave.
Pain exploded behind my eyes.
The world tilted violently.
Somewhere, very far away, I heard someone shouting my name.
Strong arms caught me just before I struck the ground.
Then everything disappeared into darkness.