Chapter 7
468 Words
“Rafe, tell me,” she demanded.
“Who is he?”
Rafe stared at her like he was choosing between truth and danger.
“His name…”
He exhaled slowly.
“…is Kael.”
The name alone felt heavy.
Cold.
Familiar.
“You said he’s not supposed to be alive,” she whispered.
“Because he died years ago.
Chasing you.”
“What?”
“You don’t remember because your memories were sealed. All Lunar-Marked reincarnate with sealed memories until their mark awakens.”
Her heart was pounding loud.
“And Kael… who was he to me?”
Rafe’s expression shifted — not angry, not jealous… but something deeper.
“He was the one assigned to protect you.
Your first guardian.”
“Then what happened to him?”
“He betrayed the Circle,” Rafe said bitterly.
“He wanted more than just to protect you. He wanted you for himself.”
The room felt colder.
“And when he crossed the line, the Circle ended him.”
“But if he’s dead… how can he be in my vision?”
Rafe’s voice dropped low.
“Because not everything that dies… stays dead in our world.”
The next day, the mark on her wrist was burning again.
Stronger.
Brighter.
“Rafe, something’s wrong—”
He held her hand firmly.
“That means another awakening is starting. Just breathe.”
But breathing didn’t help.
Her vision blurred.
Her heartbeat echoed in her skull.
The light from her wrist spread up her arm.
“Rafe, it hurts—”
“I know, I know—just focus on my voice.”
He cupped her face.
“Look at me, Alina.”
The world around her began to distort.
Walls bending.
Lights flickering.
Rafe pulled her into his arms.
“I’ve got you. Don’t fight it.”
“Rafe—!”
Her voice cracked as a surge of light burst from her chest.
A shockwave slammed into the room.
Rafe was thrown back.
Furniture scattered.
The ground trembled.
When the light faded, Alina stood in the center of the room—
—but she wasn’t the same.
Her eyes glowed pale silver.
The mark on her wrist had transformed into a full crescent.
A thin line of light floated around her like a ring.
“Alina…” Rafe whispered, awe and fear mixing.
“…you… you fully awakened.”
And behind her, in the shattered reflection of the mirror—
—another figure appeared for a split second.
A hooded silhouette.
Kael.
He whispered only one thing:
“Found you.”
Then vanished.
Alina gasped.
“Rafe… he’s coming.”
Rafe stepped in front of her protectively.
“Then let him,” he said.
“Because this time, I’m not letting anyone take you.”
- Writer
