The Encounter
1153 Words
The word followed her.
Scentless.
It echoed in Aria’s mind long after the whispers had faded, clinging to her thoughts like something she couldn’t shake off no matter how hard she tried.
She walked quickly through the corridor, her steps uneven, her fingers curled tightly at her sides.
Scentless.
Each repetition felt sharper than the last.
She didn’t belong here.
That much was clear now.
Every stare.
Every whisper.
Every laugh.
They all said the same thing.
You’re not one of us.
Aria swallowed hard and kept walking.
The academy halls felt colder than before.
Larger.
Empty in a way that made her chest tighten.
Students still passed by occasionally, but fewer now. Most had already gone to their next classes or gathered in groups somewhere else.
Aria turned down another corridor, hoping for quiet.
She needed a moment to think.
To breathe.
To understand what was happening to her.
Her footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor.
The silence wrapped around her.
But then—
That feeling came again.
The same one from before.
Heavy.
Unseen.
Like someone was watching her.
Aria slowed.
Her heart began to beat faster.
She stopped walking.
The corridor stretched ahead of her, empty.
Behind her, nothing but shadows and stillness.
“Okay… this is getting creepy,” she muttered under her breath.
She took another step forward—
And suddenly—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Aria gasped.
Before she could react, she was pulled back sharply.
Her back hit the cold stone wall.
The impact knocked the breath from her lungs.
“What—?!”
Her words died instantly.
Because she saw him.
Standing in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
Kael Draven.
His grip on her wrist was firm.
Unyielding.
His expression was darker than she had ever seen it.
His eyes burned with something intense.
Something dangerous.
Aria’s heart slammed violently against her ribs.
“You—” she started.
“What are you?”
His voice cut through her words like a blade.
Cold.
Sharp.
Demanding.
Aria blinked.
“What?”
Kael’s grip tightened slightly.
“I asked you a question.”
His gaze locked onto hers.
“What are you?”
Aria frowned, confusion mixing with irritation.
“I’m a student,” she said. “Same as you.”
His jaw clenched.
“No,” he said flatly. “You’re not.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Aria pulled slightly against his grip.
“Let go of me.”
He didn’t.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Closing the already small distance between them.
Aria’s breath caught.
The air shifted.
Something about his presence felt overwhelming.
Like standing too close to something powerful.
Unpredictable.
Her pulse quickened.
“Why can’t I smell you?” he asked, his voice lower now.
The question sent a chill through her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.
His eyes narrowed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t have to explain anything to you,” she shot back.
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Tense.
Charged.
Then Kael did something unexpected.
He leaned closer.
Aria froze.
His face was inches from hers now.
Too close.
Her breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his proximity.
Her heart began racing uncontrollably.
Why is this happening?
She should be pushing him away.
Arguing.
Angry.
But instead…
Something else stirred inside her.
Something strange.
Something unfamiliar.
Kael inhaled slowly.
As if trying to catch something in the air.
His brows furrowed.
Confusion flickered across his face.
Again.
He leaned even closer.
His grip on her wrist tightened unconsciously.
Aria’s pulse pounded in her ears.
“Stop that,” she said, her voice unsteady.
But he didn’t listen.
His breathing changed.
Sharpened.
His eyes darkened.
For a split second—
Something shifted.
Something clicked.
Kael froze.
Completely still.
His eyes widened just slightly.
Like he had just realized something impossible.
“No…” he whispered.
Aria frowned.
“What?”
His grip on her wrist tightened again—
Then stilled.
His gaze locked onto her with a new intensity.
Shock.
Disbelief.
And something deeper.
Something instinctive.
Something neither of them understood.
Aria felt it too.
That same strange pull.
Stronger now.
Like something invisible had just snapped into place between them.
Her chest tightened.
Her breath caught.
“What is wrong with you?” she asked, trying to break the tension.
But Kael didn’t answer.
His expression changed.
The shock in his eyes twisted into something darker.
His jaw clenched.
Hard.
“This is impossible,” he said quietly.
Aria blinked.
“What is?”
His gaze hardened.
“You.”
The word was sharp.
Cutting.
Aria’s frustration flared.
“What is your problem?” she snapped.
Kael stepped back suddenly.
Like the distance between them burned.
His expression was cold now.
Completely shut down.
“You’re not supposed to exist,” he said.
Aria stared at him.
“What are you talking about?”
His eyes flashed.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
“I don’t know!” she shot back. “You’re the one acting insane!”
For a brief moment, something flickered in his gaze again.
Conflict.
Then it vanished.
Replaced by something colder.
Something final.
“You are not my mate.”
The words hit like a slap.
Aria froze.
“…What?”
Kael’s voice was firm.
Controlled.
“I refuse to accept this.”
Her heart skipped.
Mate?
What was he talking about?
“I don’t even know what you mean—”
“Then learn quickly,” he cut in coldly.
“Because whatever this is…”
His eyes scanned her briefly.
“…it’s wrong.”
The word lingered.
Heavy.
Final.
Aria felt something twist painfully in her chest.
She didn’t even understand what he was rejecting.
But the way he said it…
The way he looked at her…
It still hurt.
Kael released her wrist abruptly.
The sudden absence of his touch felt strange.
Empty.
He stepped back fully now, creating distance between them.
Like he needed it.
Like being near her was a problem.
His expression remained cold.
Unreadable.
Without another word, he turned.
And walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving her alone in the empty corridor.
Aria stood there, frozen.
Her heart still racing.
Her mind spinning.
Mate.
The word echoed in her head.
She didn’t understand it.
Didn’t understand him.
Didn’t understand what had just happened.
But one thing was clear.
Whatever it was…
It wasn’t normal.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Her chest still felt tight.
That strange pull she had felt when he was close…
It hadn’t completely disappeared.
And that scared her more than anything.
Aria slowly slid down against the wall, her thoughts racing uncontrollably.
One question rose above all the others.
Louder.
Sharper.
More terrifying.
What kind of bond makes someone look at you with both recognition… and disgust?
- Writer
