From His Luna to His Rival's Mate

Chapter 17

SELENE

The day of the second Lunar Trial arrived with a heavy feeling in the air. The academy announced it would be a Scent Hunt and Team Challenge. Students gathered early on the large open field near the edge of the forest.

The full moon hung low even though it was still afternoon, casting a soft silver glow over everything. I stood among the crowd, my hands slightly sweaty, my heart beat a little faster than normal as I waited for the instructions.

Coach Theo stood at the front with a serious expression. "Today is a team challenge," he called out. "You will be paired randomly. The goal is to follow the hidden scent trails through the forest, work together, and reach the finish point. There will be temptations along the way. Stay focused and stay in control."

My stomach tightened when the pairings were announced. My name was called together with Kael Voss. I looked across the field and saw him, his eyes met mine and he looked surprised but did not say anything. We walked toward each other slowly through the grass.

"Looks like we are stuck together," I said when I reached him.

Kael nodded. "Try to keep up. Do not slow me down."

I gave him a small smile. "Same goes for you."

The trial started with a loud horn. We moved into the forest together, the trees were tall and thick. The air smelled of pine and damp earth. Kael took the lead at first, his steps quiet and sure.

I stayed close behind him, watching how he moved. We worked surprisingly well together. When he found a scent trail, I confirmed it quickly. When I spotted a hidden marker on a tree, he nodded in agreement.

"You are faster than I thought," he said after some time, glancing back at me.

I caught up to walk beside him. "You are not as annoying as I remembered from our old rival days."

He let out a short laugh, the sound felt warm in the quiet forest. We kept moving, our shoulders brushing sometimes when the path narrowed. The closeness felt natural and comfortable and for the first time in a long while, I did not feel alone in this fight.

We continued deeper into the forest. The trees grew thicker but Kael moved with calm confidence. I matched his pace as best as I could. We communicated with short words and quick gestures. It felt easy and natural, like we had done this many times before.

We stopped at a small clearing to catch our breath. Kael reached out to help me over a fallen log. The moment his fingers touched my hand, a strong wave rushed through me.

It was not just feelings this time. Clear memories flooded my mind. I saw Kael in our old classes, watching me from across the room while we competed.

I saw him looking at me with quiet admiration when I thought he was only mocking me. I saw him following me from a distance after I married Calder, worried but staying hidden, the images felt so real that my knees weakened.

I pulled my hand away quickly and blinked hard as my head felt dizzy.

"Are you okay?" Kael asked, his voice full of concern. He stepped closer and held my arm gently to steady me. "You look pale."

I nodded slowly, still trying to understand what I had just seen. "I am fine. Just... tired from the run."

We continued the trial. We worked even better after that moment. Kael pointed out scent trails and I helped him read the markers.

We moved as a real team, our bodies stayed close as we ran through the trees. Sometimes his hand would brush mine, sometimes our eyes would meet and hold for a second longer than necessary. The tension between us felt alive and warm.

On the other side of the forest, I heard loud voices. Calder’s team was struggling. I caught a glimpse of him through the trees. He kept looking in our direction instead of focusing on the trail. His face looked tight with anger and distraction, because of him, his whole team fell behind.

Kael noticed it too. "He is losing control," he said quietly. "His obsession with you is affecting everything."

We kept moving and we reached the finish point before most other teams. Coach Theo marked our names and nodded with approval. "Good work. You two make a strong team."

I felt a small spark of pride. Kael stood beside me, his shoulder lightly touching mine. We did not speak much, but the silence felt comfortable. The trial had shown me something important, we worked well together, maybe too well.

As students finished and gathered, I looked across the field. Calder stood with his team, his eyes burned as he stared at us and his hands were clenched into tight fists.

I took a deep breath and walked back toward the dorm with Kael beside me. The memories I had seen during the trial stayed in my mind, he had cared about me even during our rival days. The thought made my chest feel warm, but I did not say anything about it.

We walked in silence for a while, the forest path felt peaceful after the intensity of the trial. Kael’s presence beside me felt steady and strong. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. His face looked calm, but his shoulders were still tense.

"You did well today," he said finally, his voice low.

"So did you," I replied. "We make a good team."

He looked at me for a moment and something soft passed through his eyes before he looked away again. "Do not get used to it."

I smiled a little to myself. The words were cold, but I could hear the small change in his voice, the trial had brought us closer. I could feel it, and even though Calder’s distraction had cost his team the win, I knew his anger would only grow stronger now.