Chp 12

Pearl POV

The competition was going to begin. The boys stood behind me and I was holding the totem like my life depended on it—because it really did. I took baby steps forward, terrified to enter that dark forest, knowing deep down that the death god himself was probably waiting for me in there, licking his chops.

The bullies had huge smirks plastered on their faces, and their leader kept staring at my totem like a starving beast watching its prey. I could feel their hungry gazes and quickly hid the totem under my sleeve. Thankfully, my uniform had long sleeves. This totem was my baby now—I had to protect it at all costs from those predators.

I peeked behind me. Killian, Demyan, and Rowan stood there looking like they had zero fear in the world. Rowan was yawning, like he’d rather take a nap than participate in a game where we might die. Demyan’s eyes were locked on me—not blinking, not moving, just staring—as if he could read my soul. I made a face.

“Don’t stare at me like that,” I said with a stern voice. “It’s making me uncomfortable.”

He didn’t respond. Just kept watching me like he was calculating something deep and mysterious, and I didn’t like it one bit.

Killian, thankfully, seemed more focused. He was scanning the other players, his sharp eyes studying them, maybe trying to predict their moves. I appreciated that—at least someone was taking this seriously. At this rate, he was the only one I trusted not to randomly fall asleep in the middle of a fight.

This forest looked like it ate people for breakfast. And snacks. And maybe even desserts. Great. I was the snack.

As I adjusted the totem in my sleeve, I almost tripped on my own foot. Graceful. Real Alpha material right here.

The air grew still. The forest stood silent, too silent, as if the trees themselves were waiting—listening. Watching. The tension wrapped around us like vines, and I swear I heard my heartbeat echo louder than the birdsong.

Then the bell rang.

The sound shattered the tension, and in a heartbeat, everyone took off running. Chaos erupted. My team—the boys—moved fast, surrounding me instantly like I was a precious jewel they had to protect. I felt like royalty. Nervous, terrified royalty, but still royalty.

I was so proud of them for stepping up, but a thought nagged at the back of my mind: How long can they protect me? What if we get separated? What if they decide I’m not worth the trouble?

No. I shook the thought away. This totem was mine. This mission was mine. And I would protect it like my life depended on it—because it just might.

Branches slapped my face. Twigs snapped under my boots. The forest swallowed us whole the moment we stepped in, like it had been waiting to pounce. I clutched the totem tighter under my sleeve, whispering in my head, Don’t drop it, don’t drop it, don’t you dare drop it.

“Left!” Killian shouted, and instinctively I turned. I didn’t know what I was dodging, but it felt like we just avoided something bad.

“Watch your step, kitten,” Demyan muttered beside me as he reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me away from a tree root that would’ve sent me flying.

“Can we not call me ‘kitten’ while we’re in mortal danger?” I hissed, trying to regain my balance and my pride.

“Focus, Perin!” Rowan called. He was ahead of us now, agile as ever, dodging trees and ducking under low-hanging branches like a wolf born in these woods. “We’re almost at the stream!”

Wait. What stream?

Sure enough, just as I opened my mouth to ask, I heard the rush of water. The stream appeared through the foliage like a silver snake, winding through the forest and cutting off our path.

“How do we cross that?” I asked, panic rising in my throat. The current looked strong, the rocks slippery and sharp. And I was supposed to run through that? If I slip or lose my balance I'm going to fall into the starem and then that stream is going to take me to the waterfall which is even more dangerous. I'm too clumsy in this.

“Simple,” Rowan said with a grin. “We don’t. You leap.” He backed up, sprinted, and jumped over the water like it was nothing. Show-off.

Demyan went next, graceful and silent, not even disturbing the leaves. After him, Killian jumped to the other side effortlessly.

Demyan went next—graceful and silent—not even disturbing the leaves. After him, Killian jumped to the other side easily, landing like it was nothing.

I stood there frozen, taking one hesitant step back. My heart pounded. The stream was broad and wild. I couldn’t jump, and worse, I was scared of water. I don’t know how to swim either. My eyes darted around desperately, trying to figure out another way across. Maybe there was a log or a narrow path hidden in the trees. Anything but this.

“Perin, what are you waiting for? Jump!” Demyan called, extending his hand toward me from across the stream.

Was he serious? How in the moon’s name was I supposed to hold his hand from here? The gap between us was wide, the current below ferocious. I glanced away again, hoping the forest would somehow open a secret door for me.

That’s when I felt it—fingers gripping my collar from behind, yanking me backward with full force.

I gasped and spun around.

It was him.

The leader of the bullies stood there, his dark eyes locked on mine before trailing down to the totem. A twisted smirk played on his lips. He lunged, trying to snatch it from me. I fought back, clutching the totem tight against my chest. He shoved me hard, pushing me toward his group, and in seconds, he was kneeling on my back, trying again to tear it from my grasp.

My mind screamed. Do something, Pearl!

I reached into my pocket and grabbed the pin I had kept—small, sharp, and forgotten until now. Without thinking, I stabbed it into his hand.

He howled in pain.

Seizing the moment, I scrambled away and dashed toward the edge of the stream. My lungs burned. When I glanced back, I saw Demyan's expression shift—his eyes had turned dark with rage, and his fists were clenched. He looked ready to leap back across just to fight.

He took a step toward me, preparing to jump—

But the bully’s head struck my side.

I lost my balance.

Everything blurred.

The sky spun overhead as I fell into the water.

The cold hit me like a slap, stealing every ounce of air from my lungs. The current was relentless, yanking me under, tossing me like a leaf caught in a storm. I tried to scream, but water rushed into my mouth. I thrashed, kicked, but nothing worked.

My arms stretched out, searching for anything to hold on to—but the stream was too strong. My head bobbed above water for a second—just enough to see the others' panicked faces—then I was dragged down again.

That’s when I saw it—the edge.

A waterfall.

The stream led straight to it.

No. No, no, no!

My heart stuttered as the roaring grew louder. I was seconds away from the drop. My thoughts spun wildly, like the water around me. This is it, this is how I die

Just before I tumbled over the edge, I squeezed my eyes shut and thought of the moon goddess.

And the truth I still hadn’t told them.