The moon hung high in the night sky, casting its silvery glow over the Crescent Howl packhouse. Kael leaned against the doorframe of Bella’s room, his arms crossed as he watched her sleep. Her face, so serene yet troubled in repose, tugged at something deep within him. He had spent countless nights staring at her like this, wishing he could erase her pain and bring her peace.
He was about to turn away when Bella murmured something in her sleep, her voice soft but distinct enough to make his breath catch.
“Kael…”
His name.
Kael froze, his heart pounding in his chest. She’d said his name, and the way her voice curled around it felt familiar, almost intimate. His chest tightened with a mix of hope and longing. Was this a sign that her memories were returning? That the bond they shared wasn’t entirely lost?
He stepped closer, careful not to wake her, and crouched by her bedside. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to believe that things could go back to the way they were. That she might look at him again with the same love she once had.
The following morning, Kael found Avalon sitting by the fire in the main hall, sipping a cup of tea. Her dark hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and her sharp eyes followed him as he approached.
“You’re up early,” Avalon remarked, her tone light but curious.
Kael nodded, sitting across from her. “I heard her say my name last night,” he said, his voice quiet but brimming with restrained emotion.
Avalon’s brows arched slightly, and a small smile played at her lips. “She’s starting to feel it,” she said knowingly. “The bond isn’t gone, Kael. It’s just buried under everything else. You’re reaching her.”
Kael leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “But what if it’s not enough? What if she doesn’t want to come back to me?”
Avalon’s expression softened, and she placed her cup down. “Kael, I’ve worked with hybrids like Bella before. The path to healing is never straightforward. But one thing I know for certain—when someone fights as hard as you do, it makes a difference. Keep fighting for her.”
Her words were meant to comfort him, but as she spoke, Avalon’s gaze lingered on him a little too long, her voice carrying a warmth that felt more personal than professional. Kael, lost in his thoughts, didn’t seem to notice, but the shift wasn’t lost on Avalon herself.
As the day unfolded, Avalon found reasons to linger near Kael. Whether it was offering to help with pack matters or simply standing close during training sessions, her presence was constant. She admired his strength, his unwavering devotion to Bella, and the quiet vulnerability he carried when he thought no one was looking.
But Bella noticed.
She noticed the way Avalon’s laugh seemed a little too loud when Kael was around, the way her hand brushed his arm during a conversation, lingering for just a moment too long. And every time, Bella felt a sharp, unfamiliar pang in her chest—anger, jealousy, something she couldn’t quite name.
By mid-afternoon, Bella’s emotions were a simmering storm, and it all came to a head in the training field. She had been working with Avalon on controlling her hybrid powers, pushing herself harder than usual. Avalon had stepped away to speak with Kael, leaving Bella to practice on her own.
Bella glanced over her shoulder and saw them standing close, Avalon’s hand resting lightly on Kael’s arm as she laughed at something he’d said.
The sight made Bella’s chest tighten with a sharp, unexpected heat.
“Focus, Bella,” Avalon called over her shoulder, her tone breezy.
Bella clenched her fists, her energy crackling faintly around her. “I am focused,” she muttered under her breath, though her gaze stayed locked on the two of them.
She tried to shake it off, to tell herself it didn’t matter. But the longer she watched, the harder it became to ignore the surge of emotions coursing through her. She didn’t understand why it bothered her so much.
Was it because she felt something for Kael that she wasn’t ready to admit? Or was it the way Avalon seemed so at ease with him, like she belonged at his side?
Bella’s frustration boiled over, and she stormed toward them before she could think twice.
“Avalon,” she said sharply, her voice cutting through the conversation. Both Kael and Avalon turned to face her, surprise flickering across their expressions.
“Yes?” Avalon replied, her tone calm but slightly wary.
Bella’s gaze flicked to Avalon’s hand, still resting on Kael’s arm. “We’re not done with my training,” she said pointedly, her tone laced with an edge she couldn’t quite mask.
Avalon raised an eyebrow, her hand dropping to her side. “Of course,” she said smoothly. “I’ll meet you back at the field.”
Bella didn’t wait for a response. She turned on her heel and marched away, her heart pounding as she tried to make sense of the emotions swirling inside her.
Kael watched her go, a crease forming between his brows. “What was that about?” he asked, turning to Avalon.
Avalon shrugged, though her eyes glinted with amusement. “Maybe she’s finally starting to realize what she wants.”