What He Wants

Tension under the surface

Kaitlyn

The next morning begins with the usual blaring of the bells, the groan of exhausted bodies rising from beds, and the soreness settling into my muscles like a second skin.

Jax hasn’t said much since yesterday’s conversation in the training yard. But something changed between us—the kind of change you can’t name, only feel. Like a current under calm water.

He doesn't avoid me. He doesn't exactly seek me out either.

But the looks he throws? Longer. Sharper. Curious in a way that makes my stomach twist.

Breakfast is loud, as usual. Reed is retelling yesterday’s rogue attack like he single-handedly defeated an entire army.

"…and then Kai, right? He just swings around and—bam! Dude’s out like a busted TV."

I roll my eyes. "It wasn’t like that."

"Bro. It was exactly like that. I wanted to clap. Like, standing ovation." Reed grins and steals a slice of toast from Kael’s plate, who doesn’t even blink.

Jax stifles a smirk. "You’re starting to get a reputation."

"I don’t want a reputation," I mutter, poking at my scrambled eggs.

"Tough. You’re the mysterious new guy who fights like he was trained in the pits. What did you think would happen?"

He has a point.

"You’re just mad they stopped talking about your abs," I shoot back playfully.

Reed chokes on his juice. Jax raises an eyebrow. "My abs speak for themselves."

"Gross," I say, snorting. "Let them rest."

He nudges me under the table with his boot. I nudge back.

Flirtation. Light. Harmless. Dangerous.

After breakfast, we’re split into teams for a strategy simulation. A capture-the-flag kind of scenario in the forest surrounding Crescent Hill. I’m assigned to Jax’s team—of course.

The rules are simple: get the flag from the opposing team’s base and bring it back without getting ‘tagged’ out.

Easy in theory.

In practice? Chaos.

The forest is alive with bodies weaving between trees, tackling, shouting. I stick close to Kael and Jax, who seems to have instantly appointed himself team captain.

At one point, we duck behind a large rock, strategizing.

"Kai, you’re fast. You take the right flank. Kael, middle. I’ll create distraction left. Reed's probably wandering somewhere being useless."

"Copy," I say.

He grabs my wrist before I can move. "Be careful."

Our eyes meet.

A second too long.

I nod and bolt.

The run is exhilarating. The wind in my face, the leaves whipping past. I duck under branches, leap over roots, and zero in on the brightly colored flag fluttering in the distance.

I dodge two opponents, outmaneuver a third, and grab the flag.

Adrenaline surges.

Suddenly, a shadow tackles me from the side. We roll, limbs tangling. I twist midair and land on top of the guy—a cocky brute from Team B. My knee pins him before he can move.

He stares up at me, dazed and scared. "What the hell are you?"

"Kai? Hehe."

I know my eyes are wide with energy and I look almost demonic. I've been told multiple times I turn into a creature from hell when challenged.

in summary I'm a little competitive.

I take off with the flag.

I don’t stop until I cross our base.

Cheers erupt.

Jax arrives seconds later, chest heaving. "You got it?"

I hold up the flag like a trophy. "Delivered." My body still buzzing from the excitement.

He laughs, genuinely. That rich, full laugh that makes his eyes crinkle.

"Remind me never to play tag with you."

After the drill, we head back, flushed and buzzing from the win. Reed is already telling the story like it was his master plan.

The moment we step into the dorm, I feel it—that lingering energy between Jax and me.

He drops onto his bed and stares at the ceiling. "You keep doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Being more."

I sit at the desk, fiddling with a pen. "Is that a compliment or a threat?"

He shifts to face me. "A compliment. But maybe also a warning."

"Why?"

His voice is soft. "Because I don’t know what to do with you."

My breath catches.

"Sometimes," he says, rubbing the back of his neck, "I think maybe I’m not supposed to. Maybe it’s not about understanding it all. Just... feeling it. Letting it be what it is."

I nod slowly. "That sounds scary."

"It is. But so is ignoring it."

He moves closer, and I freeze. Not from fear. From everything else.

The silence stretches. Heavy. Tense.

"Kai," he says, "if you ever need to tell me something... you can."

I meet his eyes. There’s a vulnerability there I haven’t seen before. A quiet plea.

"Thanks," I whisper.

He nods once. We say nothing else.

Later, when the lights are off and the room is quiet, I lie awake.

My wolf is restless. Torn.

I want to tell him everything.

But something tells me—not yet.

For now, the truth can wait.

But not forever.

I shift onto my side, staring at the wall.

That’s when it hits.

A sudden, searing pain shoots through my arm like fire laced with ice. I bite down on my knuckle to keep from crying out. My back arches. It feels like someone is carving into my flesh from the inside.

I scramble out of bed and rush into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. My breath comes in short gasps. I roll up my sleeve— the skin on my arm glows faintly, lines burning into the flesh as if etched by invisible fire.

Glowing marks form.

Letters.

Words.

Come back home, Kaitlyn.

The pain fades, leaving a tingling chill behind. I stare, wide-eyed, chest heaving.

My parents.

Only they would know how to use an ancient bloodbind.

Only they would be desperate—and cruel—enough to use it.

I touch the glowing script, now fading slowly into my skin. But not gone.

Not gone at all.

Do they know where I am?

what the h*ll . I thought they said the loved me.

They’re calling me back.

Now I know I wasn't crazy to leave. I know I wasn't overreacting.

Because deep down no matter how I wanted to believe they loved me I also know its just my mind trying to prevent me from hating them.

I sink to the floor, trembling.

At this point Yuna might be in danger. I have to get her out of that pack.

The truth might not be able to wait much longer.