Lyra's POV
The announcer unfolded a slip of paper. "Kael Draven of Shadowfang Pack." The name alone sent a chill down my spine. I had heard the rumors. Everyone had.
Arrogant.
Ruthless.
Untouchable.
My father had mentioned him more than once during political discussions with the elders. Always carefully. Always cautiously. The heir of Shadowfang Pack was not someone to underestimate. And certainly not someone to provoke.
I swallowed slowly. Then the announcer read the next name. "And Lyra Valen of Mooncrest Pack." The world seemed to go quiet. For a second, I thought I had misheard. But the sudden wave of whispers around me confirmed the truth.
"Wait… those two?" "That's the Mooncrest Princess." "And the Shadowfang heir…" My pulse pounded in my ears. This couldn't be happening. I forced my feet to move toward the center of the grounds, my mind racing with disbelief.
Kael Draven.
The name echoed in my head. I scanned the crowd, searching for the infamous heir everyone feared. Then, I froze. Because standing directly in front of me… Was him. The same arrogant jerk who had knocked me down earlier.
The same man who had argued with me in the shop. The same man I had tried desperately to avoid all day. My breath caught. "Wait…" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You're Kael Draven?"
His expression didn't change. If anything, he looked mildly amused. "We keep running into each other," he said calmly. "Strange coincidence, isn't it?" Heat rushed to my face. This explained everything.
The confidence.
The arrogance.
The way people stepped aside when he walked, of course he was the heir, of course he was powerful and of course fate had decided to make my day even worse.
"I don't want to be here either," he added coolly. "But we're teammates now. Try not to embarrass your pack." My eyes widened. Excuse me? "Embarrass my pack?" I repeated sharply. "You should worry about embarrassing yours." A murmur spread through the surrounding crowd. People were watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
The tension between us thickened instantly. Kael's gaze swept over the spectators before returning to me, dark and steady. "Ready?" he asked. I crossed my arms. "Do we have a choice?"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not really." For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes… something softer. But it disappeared just as quickly.
"Seems fate has a sense of humor," he added. I scoffed. "Fate is a joke." The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Kael stiffened slightly. I saw the reaction. Quick. Subtle. Controlled. But it was there. Then his expression hardened again. "Maybe," he replied quietly, "it's a joke we don't get to laugh at."
Kael's POV
Working beside her was harder than I expected. Not because she was incompetent. Not because she was weak. But because every time she moved, every time she spoke, every time our shoulders brushed… My wolf reacted.
Restless.
Demanding.
Claiming.
Mine.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to focus on the task. We carried supplies. Raised banners. Followed instructions. Simple work. Routine work.
But nothing about this situation felt simple.The first time our arms brushed, my wolf went completely still. Then…It roared. The reaction hit me like a shockwave, sending heat racing through my body. I inhaled sharply, trying to steady myself, but her scent surrounded me again.
Sweet.
Dangerous.
Impossible to ignore.
I stepped back instinctively.
Too close.
Far too close.
"Focus," she snapped suddenly. Her voice pulled me back to reality. I blinked, realizing I had been staring at her again.
Annoying.
Infuriating.
Unavoidable.
I forced my attention back to the task, ignoring the pounding of my heartbeat. But my wolf refused to cooperate. It had already made its decision.And deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before everything changed.
Suddenly, the lead organizer's voice echoed across the grounds. "All teams, prepare for the next stage!" The crowd shifted in anticipation. I glanced toward the stage, expecting another routine instruction. Instead, the organizer raised his hand.
"This next challenge," he announced, "requires partners to remain together for the remainder of the festival." A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
My stomach tightened. I turned slowly toward Lyra. She was staring back at me, eyes wide with disbelief. And in that moment, we both realized the same thing. We weren't just teammates anymore. We were stuck together.