تسجيل الدخولMICHAELA'S POV "Michaela?" I blink, looking up to find that Damon is no longer studying the house but watching me. His expression softens slightly. "Do you want us to come in with you?" he asks, then adds, "We could wait outside if you'd prefer that." The question catches me off guard. For a moment, I simply stare at him. Because embarrassingly enough, I hadn't even considered it. Not really. I'd been so busy worrying about seeing Mum and Talia that I'd completely forgotten another detail. Was I even allowed to bring guests? My gaze flickers toward the front door. Then back to Damon. Then to Cole. Who suddenly looks just as uncertain as I feel. A laugh threatens to escape me. Because somehow the possibility of not being welcomed by anyone feels slightly less terrifying than having to explain why I've shown up with two men. One of whom happens to be the Alpha. And the other my best friend. I shrug. "I honestly have no idea." Neither of them says anything for a mome
MICHAELA'S POV "Michaela?" I blink, looking up to find that Damon is no longer studying the house but watching me. His expression softens slightly. "Do you want us to come in with you?" he asks, then adds, "We could wait outside if you'd prefer that." The question catches me off guard. For a moment, I simply stare at him. Because embarrassingly enough, I hadn't even considered it. Not really. I'd been so busy worrying about seeing Mum and Talia that I'd completely forgotten another detail. Was I even allowed to bring guests? My gaze flickers toward the front door. Then back to Damon. Then to Cole. Who suddenly looks just as uncertain as I feel. A laugh threatens to escape me. Because somehow the possibility of not being welcomed by anyone feels slightly less terrifying than having to explain why I've shown up with two men. One of whom happens to be the Alpha. And the other my best friend. I shrug. "I honestly have no idea." Neither of them says anything for a mome
MICHAELA'S POVBy the time we are out of the car, Cole is already waiting outside. He had driven here too, following behind Damon and me in his own car.He takes my hands in his the moment he sees me and gives them a gentle squeeze."How was the ride?" he asks, falling into step beside me."It was fine," I say, offering him what I hope is a convincing smile.And it had been.Though Cole had been noticeably reluctant to let the matter drop when I'd chosen to ride with Damon.Cole nods.Then glances over his shoulder, probably toward Damon, who is walking a few steps behind us, studying the house.My gaze shifts between them.Cole.Then Damon.And something warm settles unexpectedly in my chest.A few months ago, the sight would have been impossible.Cole belonged to one part of my life.Damon belonged to another.Two separate worlds that were never supposed to meet.Yet here they are.Walking beside me.One on each side.For all their differences, for all the tension that exists betwee
DAMON'S POV.“I’ll drive you?” I offer the moment she tells me what she intends to do.I try my best not to comment on her puffy eyes, tear streaked cheeks, the way she'd left the study earlier like the world was falling apart and she was at its center.Or the fact that she'd asked for some more tear drop suppressants when she got back.I knew Michaela enough to know that pushing wouldn't get me anywhere with her, it'll only make her push back seven times harder.She looks up at me for a second. Then another, contemplating.“Okay.” She says finally.I sighed, relieved. For a second there I thought she wasn't going to let me be there for her at a moment where she'd obviously need someone by her side.“I'm coming too,” Cole says, stepping into the study and coming to a stop behind her.My gaze shifts towards him as he enters.“Naturally,” I reply, not at all surprised.For a fraction of a second, something sharp flashes through me.It's not anger.Not surprise.Just the uncomfortable
MICHAELA'S POV "Cole. You're here."I immediately wipe at my face.As though that will somehow erase the evidence.Cole's eyes narrow.His expression changes instantly."Mia?""I'm fine."The lie leaves my mouth automatically.Cole doesn't even pretend to believe it.I watch his gaze move over my face.The tears.My red eyes.The fact that I look like I've just lost a fight with my own emotions.His jaw tightens."What happened?"I look away.Because suddenly I don't want to answer.Don't want to talk about it.Don't want to think about it."Nothing," I say quickly.Too quickly.He studies me closely."It's nothing, really," I add.He doesn't buy it.Not for a second.I take in a deep breath and let the rest out with a sigh. "The council picked a date."The words come out smaller than I intend."The first trial is in two days."Something flashes across his face.Not surprise.Something else.Slowly, I realize he already knows.That immediately catches my attention."You already knew
MICHAELA'S POV For Goddess' sake, why the fuck was I crying? This wasn't the time for an emotional breakdown. If anything, this was the time to get angry. To make a plan. To prepare myself. To do literally anything other than whatever the hell I was doing. Yet here I was. After Soorayah delivered the news about the trials with smugness written all over her face, I didn't even remember leaving the study. One moment, I was standing there. The next, I was twisting the door handle. Walking into the hallway. Putting distance between myself and that room. Between myself and the words that kept echoing inside my head. Two days. Two days. Two days. The number follows me down the corridor like a curse. It was happening. The trials were actually happening. And I wasn't entirely sure what I was feeling. Fear? Anger? Frustration? Determination? All of it tangled together into something too large to properly understand. Too large to process. I didn't even know where I was
I blink twice. Then stare at the door for several seconds, incredulous. I half expect Damon to walk right back in. He doesn’t. The fire crackles softly behind me as rain lashes against the cabin walls. I wait. And wait. And wait. Soon, I can’t sit still anymore. I have no idea how
“Turn around.” I blink. “…Excuse me?” His eyes flick briefly toward mine. Flat. Unbothered. “Turn around.” My mouth opens slightly before I catch up to what he means. “Oh,” I say, watching as he picks out two items of clothing from the pile. Then, because I am apparently committed to sur
Rain crashes through the forest hard enough to blur the world around us. Within minutes, everything is soaked. The trees. The ground. Us. Water streams down my face in cold, relentless sheets as thunder rumbles overhead again. Damon scans the forest quickly, eyes sharp and calculating de
The world tilts violently.Loose earth crumbles beneath my feet as the slope suddenly gives way.I hit the ground hard.Pain explodes through my shoulder before gravity yanks me downward again.Branches lash against my face.Rocks tear beneath my boots.Everything becomes dirt and motion and panic.







