Mated to Four Heirs

Chapter fourteen

KARL BLACKWOOD

The sound of the dinner bell echoed through the Great Hall, signaling the end of another day at Nightshade Academy. Almost immediately, conversations rose around the room as students pushed back their chairs and gathered in small groups before making their way toward the doors.

I remained where I was, watching the others more than participating in the conversation.

Darius leaned back in his chair with that smug grin he always wore whenever he believed he had done something impressive. "Don't forget," he said, pointing playfully at Samantha. "I expect to see that bracelet on your wrist tomorrow."

A pleased look crossed his face as he waited for her answer.

Samantha looked down shyly before smiling. "I will," she replied softly. "Thank you again."

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and although she tried to hide it, it was impossible not to notice.

Adrian laughed and shook his head. "Good," he said. "Now Darius can finally stop reminding everyone that he bought you a gift."

Darius placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "Excuse me," he protested, pretending to be offended. "Acts of kindness deserve appreciation."

His exaggerated expression made Samantha laugh.

For a brief moment, the tension that usually surrounded our strange group disappeared.

Then Carla stood. Without saying a single word, he pushed his chair back and walked away. He never looked at Samantha. He never looked at any of us.

He simply left.

Samantha's smile faded ever so slightly as her eyes followed him toward the exit. She didn't call after him. She didn't say anything. She only watched him disappear.

Most people wouldn't have noticed, but I did. And somehow, I knew Carla had noticed her watching him too.

The night greeted us with a bitter wind the moment we stepped outside.

Students scattered across the academy grounds, their conversations fading into the darkness as they headed toward their dormitories.

Samantha wrapped her arms around herself. She tried to hide it, but I noticed the small shiver that ran through her shoulders. Without saying anything, I removed my academy jacket and held it out to her.

She looked at me, surprised.

"Karl..."

"Take it."

Her eyes widened. "No, I'm fine."

I studied her for a moment before answering. "You're cold."

A stubborn smile appeared on her face. "I'll survive."

"You'll catch a cold," I replied calmly. "And pretending you're not freezing won't change that."

For a second, she simply stared at me.

Then she sighed in defeat. "I guess arguing with you is impossible."

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "It usually is."

She laughed quietly before accepting the jacket.

The sleeves were slightly too long for her, and she buried her hands inside them as the warmth settled around her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I only nodded. There wasn't much else to say. Oddly enough, the silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. It was... peaceful.

We walked side by side beneath the moonlight, listening to nothing except the wind moving through the ancient trees.

Eventually, Samantha broke the silence.

"I never thanked you properly."

I turned toward her. "For what?"

"For lending me your Moonstone Steel blade during the initiation."

She lowered her eyes as she spoke.

"I was terrified."

A nervous laugh escaped her lips. "I honestly thought I was hiding it well."

"You weren't."

She blinked before laughing again. "So I failed?"

"You were shaking."

She covered her face in embarrassment.

"Oh, that's humiliating."

"It wasn't."

She looked at me curiously.

I drew a slow breath before speaking. "Courage isn't the absence of fear."

She waited quietly.

"It's choosing to move forward despite it."

She stopped walking. For a brief moment, she simply stared at me. Something softened in her expression.

"I never thought about it that way."

Neither had I… not until years of training had forced me to.

We resumed walking. This time, she looked at me differently… not with uncertainty… with understanding.

Perhaps she was beginning to realize I wasn't silent because I lacked feelings. I simply preferred words that mattered.

After another stretch of silence, she spoke again. "Karl..."

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

She rolled her eyes and laughed. "You know what I mean."

"I do."

She hesitated before asking, "Does it bother you being tied to me?"

The question lingered between us. I didn't answer immediately, because I didn't know how.

For years, I had imagined meeting my mate. One woman. One bond. One future.

Nothing had prepared me for this… four Alpha heirs. One girl. One impossible fate.

Finally, I answered.

"This isn't the life I imagined."

She looked down. "I'm sorry."

"You don't owe me an apology."

She frowned. "Why not?"

"Because neither of us chose this."

The words came more easily than I expected.

"We're both trying to understand something bigger than ourselves."

She let out a slow breath.

"I've felt overwhelmed since I arrived."

"I know."

"You do?"

"I've seen it."

She smiled sadly. "I thought I was hiding that too."

"You weren't."

She laughed despite herself. "You really don't sugarcoat anything."

"I've never been good at it."

"Maybe that's why I like you."

Those words caught me off guard. Neither of us spoke again until we reached our destination.

She slipped out of my jacket and carefully handed it back. "Thanks again."

I accepted it with a nod.

Then she smiled. It looked genuine.

“You're not coming in yet?,” she asked, surprised that I didn't make an attempt to walk inside with her.

“Not yet. I need to pick up something from a friend,” I lied.

“Can I come with you?,” she asked.

“I'd have loved to, but first-year students are not allowed outside by this time.”

“I get,” she simply said.

“Don't worry, you have all the time to go out with me,” I said to her.

"I'm glad you were the first person I met when I came to Nightshade," she suddenly said.

For once, I couldn't think of a reply. I simply inclined my head.

"Goodnight, Karl."

"Goodnight."

She disappeared inside, leaving me standing alone beneath the pale moonlight.

I should have turned around immediately. Instead, I remained there. A strange warmth settled in my chest. Without realizing it, I smiled.

The moment I noticed it, the smile disappeared. Something wasn't right. The Crescent Stone had screamed the day Samantha touched it. She had healed from wounds no ordinary wolf should have survived.

Four mate marks had appeared where only one should exist. Today, silver energy had answered her call as though it already knew her.

Too many impossible things had happened in too few days.

None of them were accidents.

Someone at this academy knew the truth.

And I intended to find it.