Chapter 10

Eli knew something was wrong.

He just didn’t expect it to happen this fast.

The moment the pressure in his chest tightened again, sharper than before, he stopped walking.

“…Not again,” he muttered under his breath.

Charlotte noticed immediately.

“Eli?”

He forced a small smile.

“I’m fine, I just—”

The air shifted.

Not like before.

This time, it was heavier.

Colder.

Charlotte frowned slightly. “Did you feel that?”

Eli’s heart skipped.

“…You felt that too?”

Before she could answer—

A voice cut through the space behind them.

“Eli.”

Eli froze.

He knew that voice.

Slowly—

He turned.

Kieran stood a few steps away.

Silent.

Still.

But something about him was different.

His gaze wasn’t calm this time.

It was locked.

Sharp.

And fixed on one person.

Charlotte.

The air between them turned tense instantly.

“…Kieran,” Eli said, trying to sound normal. “What are you doing here?”

Kieran didn’t answer.

His eyes were still on Charlotte.

Studying.

Measuring.

Charlotte glanced between them.

“…Eli?” she asked softly. “Who is this?”

Eli hesitated.

That question felt heavier than it should.

“This is… Kieran,” he said finally. “He’s—”

He paused.

What was Kieran?

Friend?

No.

Trainer?

Not exactly.

Problem?

Definitely.

“…someone I know,” Eli finished.

Charlotte nodded slightly.

“Nice to meet you.”

Kieran didn’t respond.

Not immediately.

His gaze finally shifted—back to Eli.

“You didn’t come today.”

Eli frowned.

“…I said I needed a break.”

“You didn’t inform me.”

Eli blinked.

“…Inform you?”

Charlotte’s eyes moved between them again, picking up the tension.

Eli sighed.

“I didn’t know I had to report my movements to you.”

Kieran stepped closer.

That same invisible pressure followed him.

“You should have.”

Eli’s expression tightened.

“…Why?”

A pause.

Then—

“Because you’re not safe.”

Charlotte frowned slightly.

“Safe from what?”

Eli rubbed the back of his neck.

“…It’s complicated.”

Kieran’s gaze shifted to her again.

Cold.

Unwelcoming.

“She shouldn’t be here.”

Eli’s eyes widened slightly.

“…Excuse me?”

Charlotte stiffened just a little.

Eli stepped forward slightly.

“She’s not part of whatever this is,” he said. “So don’t involve her.”

Kieran’s expression didn’t change.

“That’s exactly why she shouldn’t be near you.”

Eli’s frustration spiked.

“She’s fine.”

“No,” Kieran said calmly. “She’s a risk.”

That was it.

Eli stepped forward again, his voice sharper now.

“Don’t talk about her like that.”

Charlotte placed a gentle hand on Eli’s arm.

“It’s okay,” she said softly.

But Eli shook his head.

“No, it’s not.”

He looked directly at Kieran.

“You don’t get to decide who I stay around.”

Kieran held his gaze.

Unmoving.

“You’re already connected to me.”

Eli’s jaw tightened.

“That doesn’t mean you control my life.”

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Tense.

Charlotte slowly withdrew her hand, sensing the shift.

“…Eli,” she said gently, “maybe I should go—”

“No,” Eli said immediately.

Kieran’s eyes darkened.

“Go,” he said.

Both of them turned to him.

Eli frowned.

“You don’t give her orders.”

Kieran didn’t even look at him this time.

His focus stayed on Charlotte.

“You don’t understand what you’re stepping into.”

Charlotte met his gaze.

Calm.

Steady.

“Then explain it,” she said.

That surprised Eli.

Even Kieran paused slightly.

But only for a second.

“Leave,” Kieran repeated.

Charlotte didn’t move.

Eli exhaled sharply.

“Stop it,” he said. “You’re making this worse.”

Kieran finally looked at him again.

Something in his expression had changed.

Less controlled.

More—

Possessive.

“She affects the bond,” Kieran said.

Eli frowned.

“…What?”

Kieran stepped closer again.

The pressure in Eli’s chest reacted instantly.

Stronger.

Unstable.

“You feel it too,” Kieran continued.

Eli hesitated.

“…That doesn’t mean anything.”

“It does.”

Eli shook his head.

“No, it doesn’t.”

But even as he denied it—

The feeling in his chest twisted again.

This time—

Sharper.

Uncomfortable.

Charlotte watched him closely.

“…Eli, you’re not okay.”

“I’m fine,” he said quickly.

But his voice lacked certainty.

Kieran’s gaze didn’t soften.

“If she stays near you, it will get worse.”

Eli looked at him.

“…Why?”

A pause.

Then—

“Because the bond rejects interference.”

Eli blinked.

“…Interference?”

Kieran didn’t elaborate.

But his eyes flickered briefly to Charlotte again.

That was enough.

Eli’s expression hardened.

“…So what? I’m supposed to stay away from everyone now?”

“Yes.”

Eli let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

“That’s insane.”

“It’s necessary.”

Eli stepped closer to him.

“No. It’s not.”

Kieran didn’t move.

Their distance closed.

Tension rising.

“You don’t get to decide that for me,” Eli said.

Kieran’s voice dropped slightly.

“I already did.”

That snapped something in Eli.

“…You’re unbelievable.”

Charlotte stepped in slightly.

“Eli—”

But Eli shook his head.

“No. I’m tired of this.”

He looked directly at Kieran.

“You dragged me into this.”

Kieran’s eyes flickered.

“And now you’re trying to control everything around me too?”

Silence.

Then Eli said it.

Quiet.

But sharp.

“If I hadn’t tried to help you that night, none of this would have happened.”

The words hung in the air.

Heavy.

Kieran didn’t respond.

But something in his expression shifted.

Just slightly.

Eli exhaled, his chest still tight.

“…I’m not cutting people off because of you.”

Kieran’s gaze darkened again.

“You don’t understand the consequences.”

“Then let me deal with them.”

Silence.

A long one.

Then—

Kieran stepped back.

Just once.

But it was enough to ease the pressure slightly.

His voice, when he spoke again, was colder.

“Stay away from the forest tonight.”

Eli frowned.

“…Why?”

Kieran didn’t answer.

Instead—

He turned.

And walked away.

Just like that.

Leaving the tension behind.

Charlotte looked at Eli.

“…Eli… what was that?”

Eli ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“…I don’t even know anymore.”

But one thing was clear.

Very clear.

This wasn’t just about survival anymore.

It was becoming something else.

Something more complicated.

And far more dangerous.