Chapter Thirty-Nine: Morning Witnesses
656 Words
The first pale light of morning spilled over the rooftops of LA, washing the city in soft orange and pink. Asia sat cross-legged on the roof, hugging her knees, staring at the sky. Her hair was tangled from the night breeze, her wolf restless but quiet for once.
The silence lasted only a moment before Jack climbed up beside her. His eyes caught the morning light—and Asia froze. Deep, piercing blue. Exactly the same shade as hers. The rare color reflected hers perfectly, like two stars caught in human form.
“You didn’t sleep,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jack shook his head. “I didn’t want to.”
That warmth she always felt near him returned—right before it vanished.
A sharp thud sounded from below. Followed by clanging metal and Kael’s unmistakable voice:
“WHO LEFT THE LIGHTS ON?!”
Jack stiffened. “That’s—”
“Kael,” Asia groaned, pressing her face into her knees.
The rooftop hatch creaked open.
Kael emerged like a tornado in a bathrobe, holding a mug in one hand and a half-eaten bagel in the other. His eyes went wide, his mouth dropped, and then he froze mid-step as his gaze fell on Asia and Jack.
“…Wow,” Kael breathed, slowly.
Asia moaned. “Kael—please—”
“Nope!” Kael interrupted, waving the bagel like a sword. “I leave for one night to sleep and maybe dream about vampires being civil, and this—this is what I walk into?!”
Jack’s voice was calm. “Good morning.”
Kael whipped his head toward him. “Good morning?! You! Sitting there with blue eyes identical to hers! Do you realize what you look like right now? A perfectly paired romantic novel cover—on my roof—without consulting me?!”
Asia groaned, hiding her face. “Please, just go away.”
“Oh no,” Kael said, dramatically clutching his chest. “I am absolutely not going away. I was told to watch over you, not… supervise rooftop romance novels while my sanity evaporates!”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “You are not helping.”
“I am helping!” Kael snapped, pointing the bagel like a tiny spear. “I am preventing mistakes. I am narrating history. I am—by all accounts—a hero!”
Asia peeked at him. “Debatable.”
“Debatable?” Kael gasped, aghast. “Debatable?! I just witnessed—two blue-eyed wolves—sitting close together—on a rooftop—gazing at the sky like… like… like cinematic destiny!”
Jack blinked. “…You have a point.”
Asia groaned louder. “You’re insane.”
Kael froze, dramatically pinching the bridge of his nose. “Exactly. Perfectly insane. Heroic. Slightly traumatized already. And caffeinated. An unbeatable combination for supervision!”
Jack muttered, “I think I’m more afraid of him than the hunter sometimes.”
Kael whipped his gaze on him. “Excuse me?!?”
Asia groaned again, smirking despite herself. “You’re impossible.”
Kael spread his arms wide. “Thank you! I take that as a compliment!”
For a moment, the three of them just sat there, ridiculous and tense, staring at the morning sky. Then Kael muttered, half to himself:
“I really need stronger coffee.”
Jack smirked. “You’ve been awake five minutes.”
Kael scowled. “Exactly. My point!”
Asia laughed—a real, unrestrained laugh. Jack leaned closer, his shoulder brushing hers. And for once, the danger outside felt distant.
But Kael’s eyes never stopped moving.
Jack’s posture never relaxed.
And Asia’s wolf kept pacing beneath her skin.
Because beneath the humor, beneath the jokes, they all knew: whatever was hunting her… was still out there, and now Kael had seen it happen on a rooftop.
He would never, ever let them live it down.
- Writer
