The Rebel Heiress: Raised as a Son

Chapter 8: The Crimson Forest

The morning of the elite campus camping trip arrived with a heavy mist that clung to the trees like a shroud. Abhi stood by the bus, her backpack feeling like a mountain on her shoulders. For twenty years, she had avoided overnight trips, swimming parties, and anything that required her to be away from the safety of her private bathroom. But today, the devil himself was holding the leash.

"You look like you're heading to your own funeral, Singh," Dev’s voice cut through the chatter of the other students. He was leaning against the bus door, wearing a rugged tactical jacket that made him look like a professional hunter.

"For me, this is a funeral," Abhi hissed, her voice barely a whisper. "If my father finds out I'm sharing a tent with a Malhotra, he'll kill us both."

Dev stepped closer, his shadow falling over her. He reached out and adjusted the strap of her bag, his fingers brushing against her neck. The touch was brief, but it sent a jolt of electricity through Abhi’s entire body. "Don't worry, Abhi. Your father is the last thing you should be worried about. Worry about me."

The bus ride was a nightmare. Dev forced Abhi to sit next to him at the very back. For three hours, she had to endure the heat of his body pressed against hers as the bus bumped along the mountain roads. Every time the bus jolted, Abhi’s arm would brush against his, and she could feel the intense gaze he kept on her profile.

When they reached the campsite deep within the Himalayan foothills, the air was crisp and freezing. The students began setting up their tents in pairs.

"Abhi! Let's pair up!" Lara shouted, running toward her.

Abhi felt a surge of hope, but it was crushed instantly. Dev stepped in front of her, his hand resting possessively on Abhi’s shoulder. "Sorry, Lara. Singh and I have some... family business to discuss. He's with me."

The look on Lara's face was pure confusion, but no one dared to argue with Dev Malhotra. Abhi’s heart sank as she watched the professor assign them Tent Number 13—the one furthest from the main campfire, hidden behind a thicket of pine trees.

As night fell, the forest turned into a wall of shadows. Inside the small, cramped tent, the tension was suffocating. There was only one large sleeping bag and a single lantern casting a flickering orange glow.

"I'll sleep outside by the fire," Abhi said, grabbing her jacket.

"No, you won't," Dev said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back down. The force made her fall onto the soft mat, and before she could react, Dev was looming over her. The space was so small that she could feel the rhythm of his breathing.

"The wind is picking up, and there are wolves in these woods," Dev whispered, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Besides, we haven't finished our talk from last night."

"There's nothing to talk about, Dev," Abhi breathed, her eyes wide with fear and defiance.

"Isn't there?" Dev’s hand moved slowly, almost hesitantly, toward her face. He traced the line of her jaw with his thumb. "You spend so much energy pretending to be a man. Don't you ever get tired of the weight, Abhi? Don't you want to just... breathe?"

He reached for the zipper of her tactical vest. Abhi froze. "Dev, don't."

"I just want to see the truth, Abhi. Just once," Dev murmured, his voice sounding strangely raw.

Suddenly, a loud scream pierced through the night from outside the tent. “Help! Someone help! There’s something in the woods!”

Abhi reacted instantly. Her years of martial arts training took over. She pushed Dev aside and scrambled out of the tent, dagger in hand. But as she stepped into the moonlight, she realized the scream was a distraction. Maya was standing there, pointing a flashlight directly at Abhi, who was disheveled, her vest half-unzipped, and Dev Malhotra was stepping out behind her, looking equally disarranged.

"I knew it!" Maya screamed, her face contorted with jealous rage. "I knew there was something going on between you two! Wait until the whole school sees these photos!"

Abhi looked down and realized the camera on Maya’s tripod had been recording everything. The secret wasn't just Dev’s anymore. The trap had snapped shut, and this time, the whole world was watching.