Chapter 14
*Jiselle*
I lost count of how many times the obnoxious bell rang throughout the night.
By the fifteenth chime, I realized that sleep had completely evaded me. This was, by far, the most traumatic experience of my life.
Nate had brought me to the cave he mentioned after about thirty minutes of walking. We hadn’t encountered another pair even once. Either they somehow knew he was responsible for the first kills, or they were smart enough not to be the next ones.
Still, every time that damn bell rang, I jolted upright, panic lacing through my veins like ice. I couldn’t help but wonder if one of those deaths had been him. The only thing keeping me sane was my mate bond still intact–and my twin bond with Ethan that assured me he was alive, too.
But Eva was out there. Max, too. And even though I wasn’t as worried about him, I had made other friends over the past month. Maybe not close ones, and maybe most of the students still saw me as a weakling who couldn’t keep up, or a bratty girl hiding under powerful men, but I had a few friends.
And I wondered if they had made it.
The cave was silent. Too silent.
Nate had left about an hour and a half ago to hunt for something to eat. I had practically begged him not to go, that I could endure hunger until morning, but he had insisted.
“You need your strength,” he had said,
Right. My strength.
Because even after fighting two wolves, he didn’t have a single scratch on him.
I sighed, pulling my knees closer to my chest. The cave was tall enough for me to sit comfortably, but Nate would have to hunch slightly when he returned. If he returned.
There was no light, save for the faint silver gleam of the moon filtering through the tiny entrance. He had promised me this place was safe. No one would find it. But we didn‘ t start a fire because it would be too risky, like a beacon in the darkness inviting danger straight to us.
So I sat there, in complete darkness, on cold stone, waiting.
Waiting for him.
I had closed him out over the past two weeks after learning about this so–called promise to my brother. I had pushed him away and refused to let him close, even as we trained at midnight.
But he was still my mate. And he was out there.
Chapter 14
The bell tolled again, snapping me from my thoughts, and I realized I had been dozing off.
Then, a figure ducked into the cave and my heart seared.
Nate.
He was back. And in his hands, he held two roasted rabbits.
I blinked at him, stunned.
“That’s why you took so long?” My voice was hoarse. “You didn’t just catch them–you roasted them?”
He exhaled, lowering himself beside me, his movements careful. “You need to eat.”
But my gaze had already dropped to his arms. Fresh blood.
“Are you okay? Is the blood yours?” I pushed to my feet so fast my head spun.
His lips parted slightly before he sighed. “No.”
Relief flooded my chest. He had encountered other students when he left, it seemed. And won. I wondered if he was responsible for any of the new chimes from the bell over the past hour, but pushed the thought away.
He pulled two large leaves from his back pocket, placing the bigger rabbit on one and handing it to me.
I took it slowly, murmuring a small thank you as he set his bottle of water between us and began to eat.
We sat there in silence, the only sound being the occasional tear of flesh as he stripped his meal clean. I ate as much as I could, but halfway through, I couldn’t eat any more. I was too full, yet he gave me the bigger rabbit.
I placed the rest beside him and took a sip of his water.
The container was nearly empty. He had already fed me most of it earlier when we arrived. I knew he needed it more, so I took only a mouthful and set it down beside him.
Without even looking at me, he muttered, “Drink more.”
I hesitated but obeyed, ensuring there was still enough left for him before setting it down beside him.
Silence stretched between us again before I found my voice.
“Did you see Ethan or Eva?” I asked. I knew he was alive due to our special bond, but I
had no idea if he was injured, or if he even found his claw.
Nate’s movements paused for a fraction of a second before he nodded.
“Yeah,” he mumbled. “I saw Ethan about an hour ago.”
I straightened. “And?”
“He had a claw.” A pause. “His partner wasn’t with him. He’s dead.”
Chapter 14
I froze. “Ethan… killed him?”
I knew my brother would kill eventually. We all would. It was the nature of this academy, of this world. But hearing it was… different.
Nate shrugged, unbothered.
I swallowed hard. “Why didn’t you invite him to the cave?”
“I hinted at it,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t tell him outright, That would be aiding. It’s against the rules.”
Still, how they ‘know‘ was still eerily terrifying and unfortunate at the same time.
“I also hinted at some other places where he could stay safe for the night. Whichever he finds, whether here or somewhere else, he’ll be fine,” Nate added, sounding like he was assuring himself, too.
I nodded, trusting that Ethan had found somewhere safe for the night. He had to:
I knew better than to ask about Max.
So, instead, I laid down beside him.
The cave floor was cold, and even though Nate’s presence alone warmed the space, it wasn’t enough. My entire body shook from the chill.
Sleep wouldn’t come.
My back was turned to him, but I heard when he moved.
I blinked as I saw him walk toward the cave entrance and my stomach clenched. Was he leaving again? At this time? Whatever for?
“Nate?” I called, a bit panicked. I didn’t want to stay up another minute worrying if he was okay.
But he didn’t answer. Instead, he rolled a boulder in front of the small opening of the cave. It didn’t cover it completely, but it blocked some of the breeze and closed us in enough so that no human could come in unless they moved the bolder.
My chest eased slightly.
When he returned, I turned on my side, pressing my lips together. I had used my only extra piece of clothing to wrap my ankle, and now I was freezing against the cold
stone.
I didn’t dare ask him if he had anything else. He needed to keep himself warm, too.
So, I kept my mouth shut and tried to suppress my shivers, squeezing my eyes shut as I willed sleep to come.
I heard Nate’s sigh, then a bit of shuffling like he was moving.
I stiffened when I felt his warms wrapping around me, pulling me against his chest.
My breath hitched as I tried to make sense of what was happening, instinctively
Chapter 14
drawing away as I’d been doing for the past two weeks.
His voice was warm, low, and right against my ear as he spoke. “You’re shivering, Jiselle. Just let me hold you. Just for tonight.”
A part of me wanted to protest, wanted to remind me that this was the same man who was trying to kiss me a few hours ago, knowing he had no intention of doing anything about it. Just like he had done when he took my virginity. Just like he continued to do every day. Playing with my heart.
But, the logical side of me–or at least I tried to tell myself it was logic–reminded me that I would positively freeze my ass off. So, I swallowed hard before slowly nodding and he relaxed, instinctively making me relax, too.
It felt like paradise.
I tried to ignore how right it felt. I tried to pretend I didn’t feel safe in his arms, that my wolf wasn’t purring at the contact, that I didn’t want this more than my next breath.
But I indulged.
Just for tonight.
I barely noticed it at first–the feather–light brush of lips against the side of my neck.
Then, a whisper.
“Sleep, Jiselle.”
His voice was softer, like this was the only time he could be this person with me.
I drifted. Finally.
And maybe I imagined it, but I swore I heard him mutter something else under his breath as I completely dozed off.
“So I can sleep too… And finally enter a reality where this isn’t just for one night.”
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