CHI3의 작품

JACKSON’S POVMom was openly crying now, her mascara running down her cheeks in black streaks.“Jackson, please. You’re not thinking clearly. This man—this Frost—he’s confused you. Made you think you’re something you’re not—”“He didn’t make me think anything!” I stood up, my chair scraping against the hardwood. They could talk smack about me but not Frost.“He just made me brave enough to admit what I’ve always been too scared to realize on my own. My life was on mute before him, Mom. On hold. Like I was just going through the motions of being whoever you wanted me to be. And then I met him and everything changed. I changed. And I’m not going back.”She laughed—a low, broken sound that made my chest ache.“Changed?” She choked out, “Jackson, you’re throwing away your entire future! Your education, your reputation, your relationship with Tammy, your family, everything we’ve worked for, everything we’ve built—” She was hyperventilating now, her voice climbing higher with each word.“Fo

JACKSON’S POVIt was the next day, and I was seated in the dining area, face-to-face with my raging parents.Apparently, they hadn’t been in the mood to talk to me this entire time because they still needed time to “process things.”Now it was about seven in the morning. I was sleep-deprived, running on little to no energy, and the worst part was—I hadn’t talked to Frost since last night. My phone had died, and of course, I’d forgotten my charger all at once.“I don’t know what you did with my son, but I want him back!”I actually laughed.I couldn’t help it—the sound burst out of me before I could stop it, sharp and humorless, filling the room.I found it genuinely unbelievable that she’d rather believe I’d been abducted by aliens or that my boyfriend was using voodoo on me than just accept that this is who I am.“You think this is funny?” Her voice climbed higher now, that cracking edge of panic creeping in. “You think your father and I find any of this amusing?”“No, Mom. I think i

FROST’S POVI’d finally made it to the ice cream store and Riley was thrilled to see me, immediately putting me to work despite my protests that I’d just come to visit.“Nope, since you left we’ve been having less customers. I can’t miss out on this golden opportunity.”Not like I was complaining.The familiar routine was soothing—scooping ice cream, restocking toppings, wiping down counters.Simple tasks that required just enough focus to quiet my racing and noisy thoughts.“This is good,” I muttered to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips as I finished the last counter. “This is really good.”I wasn’t spiraling as much.I hadn’t thought about Seraphina or Jackson in the last hour.But—I couldn’t stay here forever.Eventually, the evening rush died down and Riley shooed me away, insisting I looked exhausted and needed rest.So much for taking golden opportunities.“Whatever family stuff you’re dealing with,” she said, giving me a quick hug, “I hope it works out. You’re one of th

FROST’S POVI woke up gasping.My chest felt like someone had wrapped iron bands around it, squeezing tighter and tighter until I couldn’t breathe.Cold sweat soaked through my shirt, plastering it to my skin, and shivers wracked my body despite the room being perfectly warm.The pull.The god-damned pull hadn’t gotten any better and if I had to say—it had gotten entirely worse. It was already bad, but now it just felt…it felt beyond vile.This dreadful, dark, creeping sensation that crawled up my spine like some bad omen, settling in my bones with the weight of inevitability.I sat up in bed, pressing my hand against my chest where the sensation was strongest, trying to determine what I was feeling.Was it Jackson?Had something happened to him?No.Through the mate bond, I could still sense him—distant and muted by the miles between us, but alive. Anxious, yes. Stressed, definitely. But not in any immediate danger.This was something else entirely and I was afraid to admit what it w

FROST’S POVWe trained in the woods behind the apartment complex, far enough that my powers wouldn’t attract attention.Kieran pushed me harder than he ever had before, putting my combat memories and all I’d learned to the test.My body moved even when my mind didn’t—how to dodge, how to strike, how to use my ice as both a weapon and shield.But the sensation of the pull and impending dread wouldn’t leave me. My mind kept racing—how would Seraphina fight? How would she react to my movements? Would she think I was weak? Would she even laugh at me for trying?I said she wouldn’t go after Jackson, but what if she did? Would I even be able to stop her? Or even come close to the level she was already on?She was the strongest warrior out there, and even if my skills had improved, they’d still been weakened from staying in the human realm for so long.Could I really do anything expected of me?Could I really save my people?It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and I was

FROST’S POVMorning came a little too soon.I woke up to find Jackson already up, standing in front of the mirror in a white button-down shirt and some black formal pants—I’d never seen him look so formal before.“Ah—you’re awake,” he said, his back still turned to me. “I know you seem surprised.” He smiled then, but I couldn’t tell if it was genuine.“This is my ‘good son’ uniform.” His hand moved to straighten his hair. “I only wear it once in a blue moon. I guess this is as good a time as any.”“There’s still time to change your mind, you know. If you don’t actually want to do this,” I said from the bed, my voice still rough with sleep.He turned and met my eyes.“I still want to do this, Frost.”I watched him fuss with his collar, his hands slightly shaky.He could fool anyone, but this bond between us would never lie. I felt the link churn with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.I could feel every emotion as clearly as if it were my own.“What time are you leaving?” I asked.“In abo