Chapter Three

Kael’s POV

Ironclaw was hiding something. I could see it in the way he moved, the way he always held back just when the fight started tipping in my favor. No heir fought like that, controlled, careful, almost desperate not to show too much.

It gnawed at me.

Kaiden caught up with me after sparring, falling into step beside me as we left the grounds. His glasses were crooked, as usual, but his tone was calm.

“You’re pushing him too hard, Kael.”

“He can take it,” I muttered.

Kaiden gave me a look, the kind that said he’d already read too much in my silence. “Or maybe you’re trying to break him because you can’t figure him out.”

I didn’t answer.

Every time I looked at Ironclaw, something inside me twisted. My wolf stirred like it had found something it wanted.

Like I was attracted to him.  The word burned in my head, ugly and wrong. He was a male. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Kaiden sighed when I didn’t speak. “You’re obsessed. And that’s dangerous. Ironclaw isn’t just anyone, he embarrassed you in front of the entire Academy. You’re letting that get under your skin.”

“It’s not just that,” I snapped before I could stop myself. My voice dropped, harsher. “He doesn’t fight like the others. He’s hiding something. And I’m going to find out what it is.”

Kaiden pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Or maybe you’re just looking for excuses to chase him. Think about it, Kael. Why does it matter so much?”

Because every instinct screamed at me not to let Ironclaw out of my sight.

Because every time I watched him fight, I saw something raw and dangerous. Because the thought of him slipping away unsettled me more than I cared to admit.

I ground my teeth, shoving the thoughts down. “It matters because no one puts me on the ground and walks away. No one.”

Kaiden didn’t argue. He just gave me that long, steady look of his, then shook his head and walked off.

I stayed where I was, fists clenched and my wolf restless inside me.

Ironclaw was going to show who he really is. I’d make sure of it and when he did, I’d be there to see what he really was.

I saw everything. The way his shoulders tensed when I entered the room. The way he avoided looking at me, like if he ignored me long enough, I’d disappear. 

Kaiden kept calling it obsession. Maybe it was. But I couldn’t shake the feeling crawling under my skin whenever Ironclaw was near. 

“Kael,” Kaiden muttered as we walked to class one morning, “you’re acting like a stalker. He’s not going to crack just because you keep breathing down his neck.”

“He will,” I said flatly.

Kaiden adjusted his glasses. “And what happens when he doesn’t? You’ve been restless since the duel. Admit it, you’re probably attracted to him. Disgusting but yeah”

I didn’t answer. Because he was right, and I hated that.

Before the argument could go further, the bell rang, echoing through the stone halls. Students shifted, murmuring as instructors shouted for order. One of the head scholars stepped forward, his voice booming.

“All heirs, to the Assembly Hall. Now.”

The call rippled through the Academy. I glanced at Kaiden, and without another word, we followed the crowd.

The Assembly Hall was massive, pillars carved with ancient runes, banners of every pack hanging high. The air thrummed with anticipation as the heirs filled the space, their voices low but buzzing with speculation.

When the Council entered, everyone went silent. Their robes trailed behind them, heavy with authority, faces unreadable.

One of them stepped forward, gaze sweeping over us. “The next trial approaches. To prepare, you will be partnered. Each pair will face the challenge together.”

A ripple of whispers tore through the hall. I felt my chest tighten with anticipation, my eyes already on Ironclaw.

“And to strengthen bonds,” the Councilman continued, “partners will also share dormitories until the trial concludes.”

The hall buzzed louder, the heirs shifting uneasily. The Councilman raised his hand, silencing the noise.

“You will find your partner when you return to the dorm halls. Each of you will collect a tab from the box. The number on the tab will lead you to your room. There, you will meet your partner.”

The Council dismissed us, and the hall erupted with noise. Heirs rushed out in groups, voices bouncing off the stone walls. Some were excited, others complained about being forced to share rooms. I didn’t join in. My thoughts were fixed on one thing.

What if Ironclaw wasn’t my partner?

The idea clawed at me. If the Council paired him with someone else, I’d lose my chance to keep him close. I wouldn’t be able to watch him the way I needed to.

At the dorm halls, instructors stood beside a wooden box. One by one, heirs pulled bronze tabs from inside, their numbers glowing faintly under the torchlight. When it was my turn, the metal pressed cold against my palm.

Seven.

I walked the corridor slowly, my wolf restless in my chest. Each step felt heavier the closer I got. Door after door passed, numbers carved neatly into the wood. I stopped at mine.

Room Seven.

I turned the key, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. Empty.

My jaw tightened. What if it wasn’t him? What if some nameless heir was about to walk through that door? My fingers curled into fists before I forced them loose again. I didn’t care who it was, I only cared if it wasn’t Ironclaw.

The latch clicked. The door swung open.

And there he was. Bag slung over his shoulder, hair slightly messy from the walk, eyes freezing when they landed on me.

Ironclaw.

Relief rushed through me before I could stop it, sharp and hot in my chest. I let it twist into something else, something easier to control. A smirk.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me, Ironclaw,” I said, leaning back against the desk. “Try not to cry about it.”