Bella’s frustration was visible as she paced back and forth in the clearing where Avalon had been leading her through another grueling session. Her hybrid powers were unpredictable, a storm she could feel swirling inside her but couldn’t seem to harness. Every time she thought she had control, it slipped through her fingers, leaving her feeling more lost than before.
Avalon, standing with her arms crossed, watched Bella with a calm, assessing gaze. “You’re thinking too much,” she said finally, her voice steady but firm. “Hybrid power doesn’t respond to logic, Bella. It’s instinctual. It’s in your blood.”
Bella stopped pacing and shot Avalon a glare. “That’s easy for you to say. You’ve already mastered yours.”
Avalon smirked, her dark eyes gleaming with understanding. “Do you think I just woke up one day and knew how to handle it? It took years, Bella. Years of failure, frustration, and learning to trust myself. And it starts with this: stop fighting it. Let it guide you.”
The words settled heavily in the air, and Bella frowned, her arms crossing over her chest. “What if I don’t want it to guide me? What if it takes me somewhere I don’t want to go?”
“That’s the risk,” Avalon said, stepping closer. “But it’s also the reward. You’re stronger than you realize, Bella. You just have to stop running from yourself.”
Kael’s voice cut through the tension, calm but commanding. “She’s not running. She’s being cautious.”
Both women turned to see him leaning against a tree, his golden eyes fixed on Bella. Avalon raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.
Kael stepped forward, his presence grounding as always. “You don’t have to force anything, Bella. It’ll come when you’re ready.”
Avalon’s gaze shifted to Kael, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. “You’re protective to a fault, Kael. Sometimes she needs to be pushed.”
Kael shot her a warning look. “And sometimes she needs space.”
The tension between them wasn’t lost on Bella, who glanced between the two of them. She noticed how easily Avalon met Kael’s eyes, the way she seemed unfazed by his commanding presence. There was an ease between them, a mutual respect that Bella couldn’t ignore.
“Enough,” Bella said, her voice sharp as she cut through their unspoken debate. “I don’t need either of you deciding what I need. I’m the one who has to figure this out.”
Avalon gave her a nod of approval, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Good. Then let’s try again.”
Kael lingered at the edge of the clearing, watching as Avalon instructed Bella to close her eyes and focus on the energy within her. Bella hesitated, her breathing shallow as she tried to center herself.
“Trust yourself,” Avalon urged, her voice soft but insistent. “Stop thinking about what you’re supposed to feel and just feel.”
Bella exhaled shakily and did as she was told. At first, there was nothing—just the sound of the wind rustling through the trees and her own uneven heartbeat. But then, slowly, something shifted.
It was faint at first, like a whisper in the back of her mind. Images began to flicker, fragmented and unclear. A feeling of warmth enveloped her, familiar and comforting, and then suddenly, she saw it: Kael’s face.
The memory hit her like a wave, vivid and overwhelming. She was in his arms, her body trembling as he held her close. It was during the war—a moment of chaos and fear. Kael’s voice was steady, reassuring, as he whispered that she wasn’t alone, that he would protect her no matter what.
Bella’s eyes flew open, her chest heaving as the memory faded. She looked over at Kael, who was watching her intently, concern etched across his face.
“Kael,” she whispered, the name escaping her lips before she could stop it.
Avalon’s lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “There it is,” she said softly. “You’re starting to remember.”
Bella’s gaze darted to Avalon, her heart racing. She didn’t know what to make of the memory, didn’t know how to process the flood of emotions that came with it. But one thing was clear: Kael had been there for her, had been her anchor in a time when everything else was falling apart.
Kael stepped closer, his voice gentle as he asked, “What did you see?”
Bella hesitated, her hands trembling at her sides. “I… I saw you. During the war. You were holding me. You told me I wasn’t alone.”
Kael’s expression softened, a flicker of hope lighting his eyes. “That’s because you weren’t. You never were, Bella.”
The sincerity in his voice made her chest ache, but before she could respond, Avalon spoke up.
“Hold onto that,” she said, her tone more serious now. “Memories like that are the key to unlocking everything else. But be prepared—they won’t all be as comforting as this one.”
Bella nodded, though her mind was still reeling. She glanced at Kael again, her emotions a tangled mess of confusion and longing. She didn’t know what to do with the memory, didn’t know what it meant for her future.
As the session ended, Bella walked back toward the packhouse, her thoughts racing. Avalon lingered behind with Kael, her expression unreadable.
“She’s making progress,” Avalon said quietly, her eyes following Bella’s retreating figure.
Kael nodded, his gaze unwavering. “She is. But I don’t want her to feel pressured.”
Avalon turned to him, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You care about her more than anything, don’t you?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately, his jaw tightening. “She’s my mate. I’d do anything for her.”