Page 133 of Caelum

It was only by misfortune that today my Were had decided it should take the reins. But as a result, we were in the garden, and we were close to the Academy, and though the fear was there, it wasn't engulfing me. Panic wasn't at the forefront of my mind either, just surprise. When I figured that out, my heart stopped racing, and my lungs stopped chasing air.

“What happened?” I whispered, knowing Dre couldn't answer me, and once again, horrible though it made me, I enjoyed the silence for a moment. “Should I get Stefan?” I asked, realizing the bear couldn't just stand here, out in the open. Not only because we were trying to keep a low profile, but I could tell that Dre had no idea what to do. There was a reason why he hadn't gone and hidden without any prompt from me. He was as frozen as I was. As stunned as me.

That didn't bode well.

Dre was a cocky, arrogant jerk, and there weren't many questions he didn't have answers to. Heck, he had answers to questions that hadn't even been asked. But now? He was speechless, and not just because he didn't have human vocal cords.

I could sense his panic deep inside me, and if I thought about it too much, I started to realize I could feel it in that place he'd insisted I had to discover inside myself. That strange place where the eight souls wriggled around together, finding a makeshift peace among themselves as they juggled for control of my body.

Deep in that pocket, I felt Dre.

The thought had my heart racing, but not with panic, just with nerves. Not nerves because he was a grizzly bear, but because that meant something. That I could feel him—it meant something. I just didn’t know what.

With a shaky breath, I reached out a hand and pressed it to the bear’sfur, which was surprisingly silky, and I wondered if that was because it was virgin fur. Free from dirt, free from detritus. It was fluffy even. It wasn't hardened by years of becoming grubbier after trekking through the woods.

My fingers squished around, stroking him, patting him in an attempt to soothe him. Deep inside, I felt his panic lessen, but my own soared.

What was this?

It was as though we were on a seesaw. Only, when he calmed, I stressed.

My brow puckered as I tilted my head to look over him. “What do I do?”

Of course, there was no response.

Feeling stupid because I knew he couldn’t answer and I’d asked him anyway, I gulped and closed my eyes, seeking his response in the same pocket as before.

He was confused, worried. There were emotions, not exactly deep thoughts that he could convey, but they gave me some clue as to his state of mind.

“Should I get Stefan?” I asked again.

Relief. That was the next feeling that hit me.

Nodding and understanding, I murmured, “Do you think you should hide? You're not supposed to shift yet, are you?”

Agreement came in the form of a strange warmth that filtered through me. I’d never felt anything like it in my life. And I'd admit that being around some of the boys here—yes, Stefan, Frazer, and Reed, in particular—had stirred something in me, but this was different.

I wasn't sure why, and didn't know how, but knew it was the truth.

This was more intrinsic.

More earthy.

This connection grounded me in a way that made me realize how up in the air I'd been for a long time.

Staggered by the knowledge, I pushed away from the bear as the creature lumbered off to hide.

The crispy, spiky grass scratched at my feet as I rushed down the yard in my sandals toward the Academy.

It wasn't often I ran anywhere because running and my behind did not go together. No matter how hard the coach tried to insist that I train. As I half waddled, half jogged toward Caelum proper, I was relieved when Eren appeared in the doorway.

His concern was a soothing balm, like honey on a wound. There was a gentleness about his care that eased me, took away my fear.

“Eren!” I gasped, ashamed to admit I was out of breath even after that tiny run.

He rushed toward me, concern etched onto his features. I was starting to know his face like I knew mine, and in his own way, I realized I was closest to him of all the boys here. Even the ones I had apparently Chosen.

I had no doubt Eren was a good warrior, had no doubt he was fierce when required, but equally, he was gentle. Sensitive. Careful with me, and I appreciated that so much. It didn’t really surprise me that he was here either—I’d bet my new computer that he’d been on his way to check up on my lesson with Dre.

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