Chp 43
2054 Words
PEARL – POV
The hall was buzzing with excitement and tension. Today, the results of our academic evaluation were being announced. I tried to keep my head low and my heart steady, but my nerves were everywhere. My fingers gripped the hem of my robe as the head scholar walked in, scroll in hand, his expression unreadable.
"The top five students of this round’s evaluation," he began, voice echoing across the stone walls, "are as follows."
I held my breath.
“First—Demyan.”
No surprise there. The room responded with a mix of admiration and envy. Demyan, seated a few rows ahead, didn’t even flinch. Typical.
“Second place is shared by two students… Perin and Lucien.”
My stomach dropped. Wait, Lucien?
I turned slowly to the side, only to catch Lucien already looking at me, a smug smirk curling on his lips. I instantly looked away.
“And fifth Killian and Rowan.”
A round of applause followed, but my ears were already ringing.
“Now,” the head scholar continued, “as this evaluation concludes, your next challenge begins. All students will be paired into groups of two for the ‘Strategic Field Trial’—an important part of your training here. The top pairs will be evaluated not only on strength but leadership and trust.”
My palms began to sweat.
“Perin and Lucien will be one team,” he announced.
Lucien chuckled under his breath and leaned back in his seat. I felt his gaze on me like it burned.
My chest tightened.
No. No, no, no.
“And Demyan will be partnered with Evander Gray.”
I looked up. Demyan glanced over his shoulder, his gaze cold and unreadable. He didn’t look at me the way he usually did. No flicker of teasing, no silent questions. Just… a wall.
Lucien leaned closer to me and whispered just loud enough, “Guess we’re stuck together now. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.”
I wanted to push him away, to yell at the head scholar that this was a mistake. But I couldn’t. All I could do was sit there, fists clenched, heart racing, and feel the world tilt off balance again.
I didn’t want to be near Lucien. I didn’t want to keep more secrets. And most of all I didn’t want to be away from Demyan.
I wanted to be with him and not Lucien, why is this happening again? When things are getting better there is some other obstacle in my way
I stepped out into the corridor, needing air, space anything to stop the pounding in my chest. The thought of being paired with Lucien made my stomach churn. And yet, I had no choice. I was still standing there, lost in my own storm, when I felt a presence approaching. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
Demyan.
“Perin,” he called, his voice calm but there was something underneath, something heavy.
I turned slowly, unsure what to say, afraid of what I might see in his eyes.
He didn’t waste time. “If you don’t want to be paired with him, say it now. I’ll speak to the head scholar and have the pairing changed.”
His words were so direct so firm like he wasn’t asking for permission. He was giving me a way out. My heart stuttered.
But… I shook my head, slowly. “No… I’ll be fine.”
His brow twitched. “Are you sure?”
No. I wasn’t sure. I was scared. I didn’t trust Lucien. I didn’t want to do this without Demyan.
But I couldn’t let fear stop me. I needed to prove myself, not just to the academy but to me.
“I need to do this,” I said, steadying my voice. “I can’t keep running from challenges. I need to face them. I’ll be okay.”
He didn’t respond right away. His eyes locked on mine, searching. As if trying to read something I wasn’t saying aloud.
Finally, he exhaled. “Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I’m stepping in. I don’t care about rules.”
The heat in my chest returned—not fear this time, but something warmer, something I couldn’t name.
Before I could speak again, he turned and walked away.
And I stood there, heart pounding, wondering if I had just made the right choice or a terrible mistake.
I then headed towards the main hall at the north end. The main hall buzzed with energy and tension. All the students were gathered, standing beside their assigned partners. I could feel the weight of everyone's anticipation and the heavy, unmistakable pressure of his gaze.
My eyes flicked across the room and found Demyan. He was standing with his partner, farther away, arms crossed over his chest, eyes fixed on me. Not a word spoken, but it felt like he was screaming a thousand things through that intense stare.
Before I could react, Lucien stepped slightly closer beside me. His voice slid into my ear like an oily whisper.
“Your bodyguard’s watching again,” he said with a smirk, nodding toward Demyan. “Should I wave?”
I turned to him sharply, my expression sharp. “He’s not my bodyguard,” I snapped under my breath. “He’s my best friend. And you—” I took a deep breath, keeping my voice low, “—should stop dragging him into everything.”
Lucien only chuckled, amused by my anger. “Touchy,” he murmured. “I was just making an observation.”
I turned away, jaw clenched. Don’t let him get to you. Don’t show fear.
Just then, the head scholar stepped forward onto the dais, silencing the room.
“The task for today,” he began, voice echoing across the marble hall, “is a test of both physical endurance and teamwork. Each pair will make their way toward the Silver Moon Flag, placed several miles beyond the eastern temple gate.”
A collective murmur spread through the students.
“The first pair to retrieve the flag and return here shall earn not only extra merit, but immunity from the next elimination.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. Miles… we’d have to travel together—and possibly rest along the way. Alone. With Lucien.
As if reading my panic, Lucien leaned in again. “Guess we’ll be spending some quality time together, won’t we?”
I felt a chill race up my spine. I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My body tensed.
Out of instinct, my eyes darted back to Demyan. He was still watching.
And gods, I wished more than anything that he was standing next to me instead of him.
*___*---*___*
DEMYAN – POV
I stood with my arms folded, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring as I watched Lucien stand far too close to Perin.
No. Pearl.
Every inch of me screamed to move, to step in, to rip him away from her. The way he leaned toward her, whispered into her ear like he had the right like he knew her. Like he had any claim on her.
My jaw clenched so tight it ached. My partner, some clueless noble’s son, was babbling beside me about strategy. I didn’t hear a single word.
I only saw her.
Her brows were creased, lips pressed tight, shoulders tense. She was uncomfortable. I knew it. She was trying to hide it, to look brave, but her body language spoke louder than words ever could.
And Lucien, he was enjoying it. Feeding off her discomfort like a damn leech.
I couldn’t take this. I should be next to her. I was supposed to protect her. I had to protect her from myself as well.From the secret I carried like fire under my skin.
She was mine. Mine.
The moon goddess wouldn’t bind me to someone by mistake. I felt it in my blood, in my bones. Her scent, it had weakened again, like she was hiding behind that damned potion, but that one night... when she’d fallen on me, when her binds had loosened I knew.
Her softness. Her warmth. The way my body responded to hers like a flame drawn to air.
She’s a girl.
She’s my girl. She will be the future luna to my pack.
And now, she was being sent off on a task with him. Traveling miles together. Possibly sleeping outdoors. Alone. Damn my blood is boiling thinking about this. I'll make sure she is not left alone with that fvcker!!.
I felt something primal rise in me, something dangerous.
I hated this.
I couldn't demand a re-pairing not without raising suspicion. And I promised her I’d stay out of her way.
But the thought of Lucien touching her, or worse figuring out what she really was, was eating me alive.
No. I won't let that happen.
If I couldn’t stop the task, I’d find another way. I’d follow them if I had to. I’d find an excuse. Get myself assigned as a backup or pretend I had business near the temple.
Whatever it took. Because no one, especially not Lucien, was going to take her from me.
The announcement had barely settled when I slipped out of the hall. I needed air. No, I needed control.
I walked towards the far corridor, the one students rarely used. My fingers ran through my hair in frustration. This wasn’t just a task, it was a trap. A risk. A chance for something to go wrong.
Lucien was cunning. Too smooth. Too confident. He was watching Perin—Pearl—too closely. Like he knew more than he let on. And if he figured it out before I could protect her…
No. I wouldn’t let that happen.
I pulled out a folded parchment and quickly scribbled a message.
“Karl, meet me in the armory wing. Bring your travel kit. Don’t ask questions.”
I sent it off with my pet racer, my eagle. I then leaned against the cold stone wall. My heart thundered. I could still picture her face from earlier—the worry in her eyes when the task was announced. She was scared. Trying not to show it, but I knew her now. Knew the shift in her scent when she was stressed. Knew the way her hands twitched slightly when she tried to hide her fear.
She wasn’t safe with him.
Minutes later, Karl came jogging down the corridor, brows raised, confused but ready.
“You planning to sneak into the task?” he asked as he handed me the kit.
“Something like that,” I muttered, latching the straps and scanning the courtyard.
Karl stared. “You’re going after him, aren’t you? That noble brat? The one paired with Perin.”
I didn’t respond.
Karl crossed his arms. “Look, I’m not judging, but the way you keep hovering around Perin, it’s starting to feel like you’re obsessed. You sure you're not into guys?”
I rolled my eyes, deadpan. “Even if I was, trust me, you wouldn’t be my type.”
He barked a laugh. “Hey! Rude.”
“I’m not into him,” I said, low and sharp. “But I am protective. Something’s off with Lucien, and I don’t trust him around Perin. I have reasons.”
Karl looked at me with narrowed eyes, then finally gave a slow nod. “Alright. So what’s the plan?”
“I’ll trail them. From a distance. You stay back, cover for me. If anyone asks, say I had an assignment from the academy to investigate something near the outer woods. Make it sound official.”
Karl gave a mock salute. “Got it. Stalker mode, activated.”
I gave him a look.
“Okay, okay,” he chuckled, hands up. “Protector mode. But if this gets you in trouble, I swear I’ll be there to laugh first and help second.”
As I left the corridor, my mind already shifted gears—routes, timing, cover. I’d find a way to stay close without being seen. Pearl didn’t need to know.
All that mattered was that she was safe.
Even if she didn’t want me near her... I’d always be there.
Because she’s mine.
- Writer
