CHAPTER 16
1677 Words
(Aira’s POV)
Hindi agad bumalik ang mundo sa normal matapos umatras ang Snow Court.
Tahimik ang paligid, pero hindi payapa.
Parang may naiwan silang marka—hindi sa lupa, kundi sa hangin. Sa isip ko. Sa lamig na ayaw tuluyang mawala sa katawan ko.
The frost didn’t lash out anymore.
It lingered.
Nakaupo ako sa gilid ng kama, balot pa rin ng kumot, pinapanood ang paghinga ko na unti-unting bumabagal. Pero bawat segundo, parang hinihintay ko ulit ang susunod na shard. Ang susunod na bulong. Ang susunod na pagsubok.
Sa labas, rinig ko ang yabag ng mga bantay. Mas mabibigat. Mas marami.
Winterfang was awake.
“They’ve doubled the perimeter,” Mara said quietly habang inaayos ang kurtina. “No one’s sleeping tonight.”
Tumango ako. “Galit ba sila?”
She hesitated. That was enough.
“Hindi galit,” sagot niya sa wakas. “Takot.”
Mas masakit pala ‘yon.
Fear meant whispers.
Fear meant doubt.
Fear meant… me.
Bumukas ang pinto.
Hindi ako tumingin agad—pero alam kong si Cassian ‘yon. Ramdam ko ang bigat ng presensya niya, steady, controlled, parang hindi siya naapektuhan ng kaguluhan sa labas. Parang siya lang ang hindi nag-alinlangan.
“You should rest,” he said calmly. “Your body’s still adjusting.”
“Hindi ako makatulog,” amin ko. “Every time I close my eyes… I feel them.”
He stopped a few steps away. “They’re gone. But what you’re feeling is normal.”
“Normal para kanino?” napatawa ako nang mahina. “For Snowborns?”
His jaw tightened. “For survivors.”
That word hit harder than any shard.
Survivor.
“Cassian,” mahina kong sabi, “they knew my name.”
“Yes.”
“They didn’t even need to ask.”
“No.”
Parang may gumapang na lamig sa likod ko, mas malalim kaysa frost. Memory, not magic.
“There are things you haven’t remembered yet,” he continued. “And they know that.”
Napapikit ako. Biglang may flashes sa isip ko—puting bulwagan, ice-carved symbols, dugo sa snow. Hindi malinaw. Parang panaginip na ayaw magpakita nang buo.
“May ginawa ba ako?” tanong ko, halos pabulong. “Something that made them hunt me like this?”
Cassian didn’t answer immediately.
That silence… terrified me more than any threat.
“You were born into something you didn’t consent to,” he finally said. “And you were taken before you understood it.”
Taken.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero parang may humigpit sa dibdib ko. “Taken… saan?”
“Snow Court territory,” he said evenly. “Training grounds. Ritual spaces.”
Images flashed again—mas malinaw ngayon.
Cold stone under my knees.
A voice chanting.
A blade made of ice.
Napaungol ako sa sakit ng ulo, napahawak sa sentido ko. “Stop—please—”
Cassian moved instantly, kneeling in front of me. Hindi pa rin niya ako hinawakan, pero malapit na. Close enough to ground me.
“Breathe,” he instructed. “You’re here. You’re safe.”
Huminga ako, nanginginig. Isa. Dalawa. Tatlo.
“They didn’t finish whatever they planned,” he continued softly. “That’s why they’re here now.”
“Because I escaped?” tanong ko.
“Yes.”
At doon ko naintindihan.
Hindi lang ako target.
I was unfinished business.
Mara cleared her throat. “The elders are asking for you, Alpha.”
Cassian stood, expression hardening. “Tell them they’ll wait.”
“They’re insisting.”
His voice dropped, dangerous. “So am I.”
Mara hesitated… then nodded and left.
Tumayo rin ako, kahit nanginginig ang tuhod ko. “I’ll go.”
Cassian’s head snapped toward me. “No.”
“Kailangan nila akong makita,” sabi ko. “Kung takot sila, mas lalala ‘yan kung magtatago ako.”
“You are not facing them alone.”
“Hindi ko naman sinabi na mag-isa,” sagot ko, looking up at him.
For a long second, pinagmasdan niya ako—parang tinitimbang kung handa ba ako o hindi. Kung babagsak ba ako o tatayo.
“Fine,” he said finally. “But you stay close. And you don’t answer questions I don’t approve.”
Tumango ako.
Habang naglalakad kami palabas ng kwarto, ramdam ko ang tingin ng pack. Hindi hostile. Hindi rin welcoming.
Curious.
Uneasy.
Afraid.
At doon ko naramdaman ulit ang frost—hindi lumalabas, pero gumagalaw sa ilalim ng balat ko. Alert. Listening.
The Snow Court had come for me.
But Winterfang was watching me now.
And somehow… I felt like the real battle was only beginning.
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Tahimik ang bulwagan ng Winterfang.
Hindi ‘yung katahimikang payapa—kundi ‘yung mabigat. Yung parang hinihintay kang madurog kapag nagkamali ka ng hakbang.
Nasa gitna kami ng malaking silid na yari sa bato at kahoy, ang kisame mataas, ang mga apoy sa sulo steady pero malamlam. The elders sat in a half-circle, mga mukha nilang hindi ko mabasa kung galit ba, nag-aalinlangan, o naghahanda lang humusga.
Ramdam ko ang tingin nila sa akin. Hindi direkta. Pero sapat para manginig ang balat ko.
Cassian stood beside me, bahagyang nasa unahan. Hindi niya ako hinahawakan—pero malinaw sa tindig niya na hindi ako mag-isa. Parang pader na hindi ko kailangang hipuin para maramdaman.
“Begin,” sabi ng pinakamatandang elder, mababa ang boses. “We don’t have all night.”
Mara stepped forward. “The Snow Court reached the border. They tested our defenses. No casualties.”
A murmur rippled through the room.
“Tested?” may sumingit. “Or marked?”
“Both,” sagot ni Mara. “And they were looking for her.”
Hindi ko sinasadya, pero bahagya akong napahigpit sa sarili ko.
All eyes turned to me.
Hindi ko alam kung alin ang mas masakit—ang takot sa mga mata nila, o ang katotohanang may dahilan sila para matakot.
“She brought them here,” sabi ng isang elder, malamig ang tono. “Whether intentionally or not.”
Cassian moved before I could speak.
“She didn’t bring them,” he said evenly. “They were hunting her long before she crossed our border.”
“Then that makes it worse,” sagot ng isa pa. “It means this will not be the last time.”
Tahimik lang ako, pinipigilan ang lamig na gustong gumapang palabas. The frost responded to the tension—hindi umaatake, pero nagigising. Alert. Parang aso na naramdaman ang banta.
“We are not questioning your authority, Alpha,” dagdag ng elder na kanina pa tahimik. “But we are questioning your judgment.”
Cassian didn’t flinch. “Then choose your next words carefully.”
A heavy pause followed.
I swallowed.
“Kailangan kong magsalita,” mahina kong sabi.
Cassian glanced at me. “You don’t.”
“I do,” sagot ko, kahit nanginginig. “Kung ako ang dahilan ng takot nila… I owe them the truth.”
A murmur again. This time, curiosity.
Tumayo ako nang tuwid, kahit ramdam kong nanginginig ang tuhod ko. “Hindi ko alam ang lahat,” umpisa ko. “Marami pa ring alaala ang putol. Pero totoo ‘to—hinahanap ako ng Snow Court. Hindi dahil gusto ko. Hindi dahil may ginawa akong masama.”
Huminga ako nang malalim. “Kundi dahil may gusto silang tapusin.”
“Ritual,” may bumulong.
Tumigil ang hininga ko sandali.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano,” amin ko. “Pero alam kong hindi ako babalik sa kanila.”
One elder leaned forward. “And what happens when they come again? Stronger? Louder?”
I looked at Cassian—then back at them. “Then I’ll stand here. Not hiding. Not running.”
Silence.
Cassian finally spoke. “She stays.”
A sharp intake of breath echoed.
“She stays under my protection,” he continued. “Under my law. Any decision regarding her goes through me.”
“That is not tradition,” protesta ng isa.
“I am not asking for permission,” Cassian replied. “I am informing you.”
The tension snapped like a wire pulled too tight.
“Alpha,” Mara said carefully, “they’re afraid this will divide the pack.”
Cassian’s gaze swept the room. “Fear already has.”
That hit harder than any accusation.
Tahimik ang bulwagan. Walang sumagot.
One of the elders finally exhaled. “Then we impose conditions.”
Cassian’s eyes narrowed. “Name them.”
“She will not leave pack grounds without escort.”
“Agreed.”
“She will not train without supervision.”
Cassian hesitated—then nodded. “Agreed.”
“And,” dagdag ng elder, “any uncontrolled manifestation of her power will be reported. Immediately.”
That one… hurt.
But I nodded. “Fair.”
The elders exchanged looks.
“For now,” the oldest one said, “she remains. But understand this, Snowborn—Winterfang protects its own. If you become a liability…”
“I won’t,” sabi ko agad. “I promise.”
He studied me for a long moment. “Promises don’t stop wars.”
“No,” sagot ni Cassian. “But preparation does.”
The meeting adjourned soon after.
Habang palabas kami ng bulwagan, ramdam ko ang bigat sa dibdib ko—hindi dahil natalo ako, kundi dahil alam kong nagsisimula pa lang ang laban.
Sa labas, malamig ang hangin. The pack avoided my gaze now—not in fear, but in uncertainty.
Cassian finally spoke once we were alone.
“You did well.”
Napangiti ako nang mahina. “Hindi sila convinced.”
“They don’t need to be,” sagot niya. “They just need time.”
“And if time isn’t enough?”
His eyes hardened. “Then I’ll make it enough.”
Tahimik akong tumingin sa langit, sa snow na dahan-dahang bumabagsak.
The Snow Court was waiting. Winterfang was watching. And I was standing in the middle.
Hindi na ako tumatakbo.
At kahit natatakot pa rin ako…
handa na akong lumaban.
- Writer
