Chapter Ten

Aria’s POV

Brother.

The word echoed long after Kael said it, rough and bitter like it had been torn out of him. 

I stared, waiting for him to say more, but he didn’t. His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed on the wall as if it could answer for him.

Kaiden shifted uneasily beside him, his expression a mix of guilt and worry. He clearly knew more than I did, but neither of them seemed eager to share.

Silence pressed around us, and I hated it. I hated not knowing.

Finally, I asked, softer than I meant to, “What happened between you two?”

Kael’s eyes flicked toward me, sharp and guarded, before sliding away again. “You don’t want to know.”

But I did. More than anything, I did.

Kaiden rubbed the back of his neck, breaking the silence Kael left hanging. 

“Luca… he was supposed to be the heir before Kael was born. Everyone thought he’d inherit everything, respect and the future of the Draven pack.”

My eyes flicked back to Kael. His expression didn’t move, but his knuckles had gone white at his sides.

Kaiden went on. “Then Kael came along. The rare core, the attention, the resources. Overnight, Luca was… nothing. No one listened to him, no one looked at him. They all turned their backs, even their father. Especially their father.”

Kael’s jaw clenched tighter, but he said nothing.

“And Luca never forgave him for it,” Kaiden finished quietly. “He’s been waiting for a chance like this, where no laws can stop him. In the Cull Trials, murder isn’t murder. It’s… strategy.”

The weight of it settled on my chest. I glanced at Kael again, searching his face. He still wouldn’t meet my eyes, like the shadows on the floor were easier to look at.

“So that’s it?” I asked softly. “He wants you dead just because you were chosen instead of him?”

Kaiden sighed, but Kael finally spoke, his voice low, rough, laced with something I couldn’t place.

“It’s not just that.”

But before I could press him, he pushed away from the wall and strode for the door.

“We leave at dawn. Get some sleep.”

And just like that, he slumped on his bed, refusing to even look at me.

What in the…

Kael was always so lively, arrogant, and full of energy. It was rare seeing him disheveled. Almost… defeated.

“I’m not sleeping until you tell me what’s going on,” I said, arms crossed.

He didn’t even flinch. Not a word, not a glance, nothing. Just lay there like the ceiling mattered more than anyone in the room.

My patience snapped. “Fine. Don’t talk.”

I turned to Kaiden, grabbed him by the arm, and shoved him toward the hall. He stumbled after me, confused.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing?” he protested, trying to pull free.

I didn’t stop until we were out of the room and the door shut behind us. Then I squared up to him.

“You’re going to tell me everything,” I said flatly. “Whatever Kael won’t say, you will. Because if I’m going into the Cull Trials with him, I need to know exactly what Luca Draven is and why just hearing his name turned Kael into… that.”

Kaiden froze, guilt flickering across his face. “Aiden… this isn’t my story to tell.”

“Then make it,” I snapped. “Because if Luca really plans on killing Kael in the Trials, that means he won’t stop at him either. So stop protecting him and start talking.”

Kaiden exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. For a moment, I thought he’d shut me out too. But then his shoulders slumped.

“Alright,” he muttered. “I’ll tell you what I know. But once you hear it, you’ll understand why Kael didn’t want to say it himself.”

Kaiden was still rubbing his temples, searching for the right words, when a heavy tread echoed down the corridor.

I turned and froze.

A man strode toward us with the kind of presence that demanded space. His face was sharp, scarred faintly along one cheek, his eyes cold as steel.

Kaiden stiffened immediately, his voice tight. “Luca… what are you doing here?”

The man stopped a few paces from us, gaze sweeping over Kaiden first. “Where’s Kael?”

Kaiden squared his shoulders, forcing steadiness into his tone. “He’s asleep. And it’s against Academy policy to force your way into another’s quarters.”

I shot Kaiden with a side-eye. Funny, since that’s exactly what you did a few minutes ago.

Luca’s lips twitched, not quite a smile. He exhaled slowly, almost bored, then turned away as if dismissing us. “Fine. Till the Cull Trials, then.”

But before walking off, his eyes locked on mine. Cold. Measuring.

“You,” he said. His tone dropped like a blade. “Stand too close, and you’ll fall with him.”

I didn’t look away.  I let him feel the weight of my stare, sizing him back like he was nothing more than another wolf in the ring.

Something flickered in his expression, surprise, then amusement. His laugh was low, empty of warmth.

“Interesting,” he said at last. Then colder, sharper: “After I kill Kael, I’ll kill you too.”

The words lingered in the air even after he walked past, each step echoing down the hall like a promise.

Kaiden exhaled sharply as Luca’s footsteps faded. He turned on me, eyes narrowed.

“You just had to provoke him, didn’t you?”

I folded my arms. “What? He threatened me first.”

“That’s Luca. He doesn’t need a reason.” Kaiden raked a hand through his hair, frustration plain on his face.

Then his tone softened, almost reluctant. “Listen… Aiden. Protect Kael. He may seem like a brute, arrogant and unbearable, but he’s just… a wolf under pressure.”

I frowned, caught off guard by the shift. “Pressure from what?”

Kaiden shook his head. “You’ll see. Just promise me you’ll watch his back.”

The way he said it left no room for jokes. His eyes were steady, almost pleading.

“I…” My voice trailed, but he didn’t wait for a full answer.

“Promise.”

“Fine. I promise.”

At that, Kaiden gave a single, satisfied nod before rushing off down the hall, leaving me standing there.

I stared after him, confusion heavy in my chest. What did he mean?

With a tired sigh, I dragged myself back toward my room. Exhaustion weighed on every step, my thoughts tangled with Kael, Luca, and Kaiden’s strange request.

By the time I reached my bed, I already knew one thing for certain. Tomorrow was going to be the start of a new hell.