Chapter 4
1155 Words
Astra’s POV
I slowed down when I saw them sitting together in the back garden. Honestly, I only came because Kaelith disappeared from the gathering again, and I already knew where he’d gone.
He had gone to look for Nymera. It was always Nymera. I stayed behind the large pillar near the balcony entrance when I heard my name earlier, not really planning to eavesdrop at first. But then I heard Nymera’s quiet voice.
“There is something wrong with me.”
And Kaelith answered immediately.
“There isn’t.”
“I’m sixteen and still don’t have a wolf.”
I folded my arms tightly across my chest. For a while, nobody spoke. Then Kaelith sighed softly.
“You really think that’s the only thing that matters?”
Nymera laughed weakly. “In this pack? Yes.”
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
My stomach tightened with jealousy instantly. He never talked to me the way he talked to her. He was always treating me like a bratty little sister while he treated her like…
Nymera looked down at her tea again. “You say that now because you’re kind.”
Kaelith frowned. “No. I say it because I mean it.”
I rolled my eyes quietly. Of course, he meant it. He always meant it when it came to her.
Nymera shook her head softly. “One day you’ll become Alpha. People already expect you to choose someone strong.”
Kaelith looked genuinely annoyed now.
“I’m tired of hearing that.”
“Hearing what?”
“That people think they can decide things for me.”
Nymera blinked at him slowly. Then she gave that soft, nervous smile she always did whenever Kaelith looked at her too seriously.
“You shouldn’t get upset over me.”
“I’m not upset over you.”
“Then why are you angry?”
“Because every time someone makes you feel less than everyone else, you just accept it.”
I frowned slightly at his tone. Kaelith rarely got frustrated with Nymera. But then his voice softened again almost immediately.
“You’re the smartest person I know.”
Nymera looked embarrassed already.
“You’re kind even when people don’t deserve it.”
“Kaelith...”
“And you make me feel calm.”
My fingers tightened around the tray in my hands. Nymera stared at him quietly now. I could already tell where this was going. And I hated it. Kaelith rubbed a hand over his face before speaking again.
“When I’m with everyone else, it feels exhausting sometimes. Everyone expects something from me all the time.”
Nymera’s expression softened.
“But when I’m with you...”
He paused and smiled slightly at her.
“I can breathe.”
Something sharp twisted painfully in my chest while Nymera looked completely frozen.
“Kaelith...” she whispered softly.
He leaned back against the bench, staring at her like she was the only person there.
“I don’t care if you don’t have a wolf.”
I swallowed hard.
“I don’t care what the elders think.”
“I like you exactly the way you are.”
Nymera’s eyes widened slowly while Kaelith looked calm. Then she laughed nervously.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“No, you just...” She looked flustered already. “You care about me because we grew up together.”
Kaelith shook his head immediately.
“Astra grew up with me, too.”
My breath caught.
“And I love her like family,” he continued simply. “But it’s different with you.”
I felt my face burn instantly, and tears started welling up in my eyes. Nymera looked stunned. Kaelith kept going like he had no idea he was destroying me right now.
“When I think about the future, you’re always there.”
My chest hurt. It hurt so bad I could barely breathe.
Nymera looked close to panicking now. “Kaelith...”
“I’m serious.” He smiled softly at her. “I think I’ve liked you for a long time.”
I didn’t stay long enough to hear the rest. The moment those words left his mouth, I turned around and walked away quickly before either of them noticed me standing there. My eyes burned painfully as I walked through the hallway.
I hated this feeling. Because no matter what I did, no matter how long I stayed beside him, no matter how much I cared about him...
Kaelith had never looked at me the way he looked at Nymera. I wiped my face angrily before anyone could see the tears gathering in my eyes. I turned the corner too quickly and slammed into someone carrying folded sheets.
The servant gasped loudly as the pile dropped to the floor.
“Oh my goodness, Lady Astra, I’m so sorry. I…”
“Watch where you’re going!” I snapped immediately.
The young servant flinched.
“I-I didn’t see you coming around the corner.”
“Well, obviously,” I hissed. “Or are you blind too?”
The girl immediately lowered her head. “Forgive me.”
Normally, I wouldn’t have cared this much. But tonight, everything irritated me.
“You servants keep getting more useless every year,” I muttered coldly.
The girl looked close to tears now as she hurriedly bent down to pick up the sheets.
“Astra.”
I froze at the sound of my dad’s voice. Dad didn’t look like someone who raised his voice often, even when he was angry. He had that calm face people in the palace respected without thinking twice, the kind that made servants straighten their backs the moment he walked past. His beard was always neatly trimmed, his warrior uniform always fitted properly, like he didn’t allow even small things to slip, and even when he was disappointed in me, his eyes still carried this steady kind of focus that made it hard to lie to him for long.
I watched him for a moment while he stood there, like he was already thinking about ten different things at once, probably pack duties, palace politics, and whatever mess I had just added to his day. He was not the type to shout for long. When he spoke quietly like this, it usually meant he was more serious than when he was angry.
The servant immediately bowed deeply.
“Chief Warren.”
Dad smiled warmly at her. “It was an accident. Don’t worry about it.”
The girl nodded quickly.
“S-Sorry again, sir.”
Dad bent slightly and picked up one of the sheets for her before handing it over.
“You should hurry before the head maid notices you’re late.”
The servant looked relieved immediately.
“Thank you, sir.”
Then she hurried away quickly. The
moment she disappeared around the hallway, Dad’s expression changed completely.
- Writer
