Chapter Nine__Part:1

POV: Astrid

The world around me was soft and hazy as I drifted back to consciousness. My head pounded, and my body felt like it had been put through a wringer. Slowly, I opened my eyes, taking in my surroundings. I was back in my room, the familiar glow of the amulet still pulsing softly on the table next to me. The events from the council meeting flooded back, and I winced at the memory of the power that had surged from me.

Had I really done that? Unleashed a force so strong that it knocked an Elder off his feet? The very thought made my heart race, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. The amulet had reacted to my emotions, feeding off my anger, but there had been something else, too. A presence that had taken over my voice and thoughts, speaking through me. Something ancient and powerful.

I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced me back down. Just then, the door creaked open, and Kaden stepped into the room, his expression a mix of worry and frustration.

"You're awake," he said, his voice softer than usual.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. "Barely. What happened?"

Kaden crossed the room in a few strides and sat in the chair next to my bed. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked at me seriously. "You lost control, Astrid. The amulet tapped into something deep inside you, something dangerous."

I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering the wind, the power, the way Ronald had provoked me. "He was in my head, Kaden. Ronald. He pushed me too far, and then... I don't know what happened."

Kaden's jaw clenched, and I could see the anger flashing in his eyes. "I know. And he'll be dealt with. His methods were... reckless. He was trying to test your connection to the amulet, but he crossed a line."

"Test?" I repeated, my voice full of disbelief. "He practically forced me to lose control!"

Kaden sighed, rubbing his temple. "Yes, and we all saw the consequences of that. What happened in that chamber? Your power was incredible. The elders are... divided on what to do next."

I frowned. "Divided how?"

"Some of them believe that you need more training and more control before we attempt anything else with the amulet. Others think we should take an entirely different approach."

I felt a surge of frustration and sat up despite the dizziness. "I'm the one who's connected to the amulet! If I'm not involved, how will we figure this out?"

Kaden met my gaze, his honey-hazel eyes serious. "That's exactly what I told them. But this... it's not just about you anymore, Astrid. This power is beyond anything we've seen in centuries. If it's not controlled properly, it could be catastrophic. I'm not willing to lose you to that."

His words hung heavy in the air, and I could see the genuine concern in his expression. For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of our situation pressing down on both of us. The tension between us, the one we had been dancing around for weeks, was still there, palpable and thick, but now, it was complicated by fear. Fear of what I had become, of what I might be capable of.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kaden reached out, his hand gently covering my cheek, enveloping me in warmth. "You won't lose control, Astrid. We're going to get through this together. I'm with you every step of the way." His voice was soft, reassuring, and filled with a quiet strength I hadn't realized I needed.

I looked down at his hand resting on mine, the steady warmth of his touch grounding me. It calmed the storm brewing inside me, but the fear was still there. "I trust you, Kaden, I really do... but I'm scared. What if I lose control again? What if it's worse next time?"

Kaden's grip tightened, firm but comforting, and he leaned in closer, his deep honey-hazel eyes locking with mine. There was a softness in them now, a protective determination that made my chest ache. "Then I'll be right there, making sure you never have to face it alone. Whatever happens, I'm not letting you fall."

The sincerity in his voice broke through my fear, and for a moment, I believed him completely. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions from bubbling over. "You're good with words, you know," I murmured, attempting to lighten the mood, but it only brought the intensity of the moment back into focus.

A small smile curved his lips, his gaze still steady on mine. "It's not about saying the right thing. I'm just telling you the truth."

I chuckled softly despite the heaviness in the air. "There you go again with the wisdom."

Kaden's smile widened, and this time, it reached his eyes. "I think you're rubbing off on me." His voice was gentle, full of warmth that made me feel like I wasn't just another responsibility to him. I was... something more.

He shifted back slightly, keeping his hand on mine, his thumb gently tracing small circles across my skin. "You need to rest, Astrid. We'll figure out what to do next, but you can't keep pushing yourself like this."

I nodded, though exhaustion was pulling at me, and the weight of the day was making it hard to stay upright. "I know. But promise me something?"

Kaden's brow furrowed slightly. "Anything."

"Be honest with me. If things get too dangerous, don't try to protect me by keeping me in the dark. I need to know everything."

Kaden's face softened, and he nodded slowly. "I promise, Astrid. But you have to promise me something, too."

I looked at him, surprised. "What?"

He leaned in closer, his voice low and full of concern. "Promise me you won't keep pushing yourself until you break. I can't... I won't let you burn yourself out like that."

I offered a weak smile, feeling the tenderness in his words. "Deal."

Kaden stood slowly, his hand lingering on mine, the warmth of his touch grounding me in a way I hadn't expected. But then, as if he'd decided to pull himself away from whatever tethered us at that moment, he gently released my hand and took a step back. He turned to leave, casting one last glance over his shoulder, his eyes still full of concern but softened by something more intimate, something unspoken between us.

"Get some sleep, Astrid," he said softly, his voice low and tender.

"Good night, Kaden," I whispered, watching him walk toward the door. But as he reached the threshold, a sudden ache welled up inside me, the thought of him leaving pulling at something deeper than I wanted to admit.

I bit my lip, hesitating for only a moment before calling out, "Wait."

He paused instantly, turning back to face me, his brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"

I swallowed, my heart beating a little faster, and before I could overthink it, the words spilled out. "Would it be possible if you stayed?"

His eyes darkened, surprise flickering across his face, but then something else, something that made the air between us feel charged with an unspoken intensity. Kaden took a step back into the room, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he were weighing the gravity of my request. "Are you sure?" His voice was low, almost hesitant, but there was an underlying heat in his tone that sent a shiver down my spine.

I nodded, my heart racing in my chest, unable to meet his gaze for too long without feeling my pulse quicken. "I... I don't want to be alone tonight." The words felt loaded with more than just the fear of being left with my thoughts. It was the comfort of his presence... I craved the warmth and safety that only Kaden seemed to provide.

Kaden's gaze softened, and after a heartbeat of silence, he slowly crossed the room, sitting down beside me again, closer this time. The space between us was almost nonexistent, and I could feel the heat of his body, the subtle tension that hummed in the air as his eyes searched mine.

"I'll stay," he murmured, his voice a little rough around the edges now as if he was holding something back. His hand found mine again, and the moment his skin brushed against mine, the tension between us seemed to coil tighter, the air heavy with something unsaid, something undeniable.

We sat there in the quiet, the glow of the amulet casting soft light over the room. My heart was racing, and every breath felt too loud in the silence. His thumb grazed over the back of my hand, sending a spark of electricity up my arm, and I realized how dangerously close we were, how the space between us seemed to be shrinking with every passing second.

"Kaden..." I whispered, my voice barely audible, but it carried the weight of everything I wasn't saying, everything that hung between us.

His gaze locked onto mine, intense and smoldering as if he was fighting the same battle I was. The pull between us was almost too much to resist, and for a moment, I thought he might close the distance, that he might kiss me. My breath caught, my heart pounding in anticipation, my body leaning ever so slightly toward him.

But Kaden stayed where he was, his eyes flickering between my lips and my eyes, his hand still holding mine in that gentle, protective way. His voice, when he spoke, was thick with restraint. "Astrid... we should..."

"I know what you're thinking..."

He cuts me off with a mumble, "I highly doubt that."

"Kaden..."

Kaden exhaled slowly, gently releasing my hand, though the connection between us still lingered. "You need to rest," he said softly, his voice low but filled with a warmth that made my chest tighten.

I'm starting to lose my patience with this man, "Will you stop cutting me off?! Cut me off again, and I might lose my shit." Now I have his attention.

I straightened up, took a deep breath, and let my thoughts spill out. "These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions, and it's driving me insane. I don't want to sound desperate, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. More than my family, more than my team. You are constantly on my mind. And I know that's a problem."

I paused, trying to gather my thoughts, but they were racing too fast. "When we were in the archives, there were these texts... I couldn't read them, but something felt off. What is really going on in this world? There are forces at play I don't understand. And those pictures in the books... they weren't all human. The history of your people, of this place, it doesn't make sense."

I hesitated, my mind scrambling to make sense of it all. "They looked like... like..."

"Wolves?" Kaden's voice was steady, cutting through my chaotic thoughts.

I froze, leaning back against the headboard, staring at him in shock. My brain started putting the pieces together, and as the realization hit me, a wave of anxiety crashed over me.

I locked eyes with Kaden, his single word lingering in the silence between us.

The pieces were falling into place faster than I could process. My chest tightened as the realization settled in. I blinked, trying to make sense of it all, but a growing feeling of betrayal tugged at me, sharp and painful.

He knew. He always knew.