Chapter 27

Tori’s POV

Kael stayed back at the house, alone as usual, since he couldn’t just move around freely like everyone else. Especially with the way I had turned him down.

I loved every part of it. He also seemed like he wasn’t interested in going out with Laura.

The festival had already begun, and for once, Laura and I decided to make something good out of it, something that would take our minds off everything else, even if it was just for a few hours.

"You have to keep this with you," one of the organizers said as he handed us a small item, his tone serious despite the excitement around us. "If anything happens, someone will be able to reach you immediately."

It looked like something we would have to use if we were in danger. I didn’t know what it was and I didn’t know how to use it either. Nothing was going to happen and I was quite confident about that.

I nodded, taking it from him while exchanging a quick glance with Laura.

There were people everywhere, laughter and chatter blending into the air as groups formed and moved toward the hill.

According to Laura, once we reached the very top, sometime in the evening, we would be allowed to make a wish.

Apparently, people here believed it would come true. It was part of the whole festival thing, but I do not really believe in things like that.

It must have worked for them, but I’m not sure if it’d work for me. It’s their belief but there is a thing called destiny too.

Besides, I have real wishes I could get to use.

But I wasn’t here for that anyway. I was here for the experience, for the distraction, and maybe just maybe, to help Laura get whatever it was she wanted out of this.

"Are you ready?" a man, who looked like the instructor, called out to us.

I let out a small breath, adjusting the rope around me. "Of course."

"You don’t have to worry," Laura said, patting my back lightly. "This is going to be easy."

This is not the first time I’ve got hiking. I’ve been in the military several times and this was nothing to me.

I smiled faintly at that, appreciating the reassurance, even though something deep inside me refused to settle completely.

I was glad she had forgiven me, or at least it seemed that way, but there was still something off. Something I couldn’t quite place.

And my instincts were rarely wrong.

"So, what’s he like now?" she asked suddenly as we began climbing. "It has been a long time since we talked and I can’t tell what he is now. I do hear a lot of rumors and I bet most of them were true."

"Kael?" I let out a small, dry laugh. "He hates people. Especially weak people. I think you might be the only exception."

She laughed at that, shaking her head slightly.

"I guess that makes sense. My father treated him well when he was younger. He didn’t really have much growing up. It was complicated, but I’m glad he became strong."

I glanced at her.

I had heard bits and pieces about him before, especially about him not having a wolf, but never anything detailed. What did she mean by he didn’t have much? Was his father not the Alpha?

"What do you mean by ’didn’t have much’?" I asked, genuinely curious despite myself.

She looked at me, surprised. "Wait, you’ve never heard about his parents?"

"Was I supposed to?" We kept walking, our steps steady against the uneven ground.

Truth be told, I didn’t know why I cared this much. I’ve always wanted to know his backstory and probably use it against him during an argument.

"I probably shouldn’t be the one telling you all that," she said after a moment. "You’ll find out eventually if you survive."

I barely reacted at first, too focused on climbing, but then the word settled in my mind.

Survive?

I turned slightly toward her. "What do you mean?"

"You said you’re part of the final batch for the last competition, right?" she replied casually. "Those aren’t games, Tori. They’re deadly."

I swallowed, looking ahead again. She didn’t know everything.

She didn’t know the deal I had made with Kael, and I intended to keep it that way. The less she knew, the better.

"I’ll be fine," I muttered.

"Oh my God," she suddenly groaned, slowing down as she bent slightly, placing a hand on her thigh. "My legs are killing me."

I couldn’t help but laugh softly as I untied the small mat I had strapped behind me and spread it on the ground.

"Good thing we brought this," I said. She sat down with a sigh of relief.

"You said this isn’t your first time here," I teased. "Why are you getting tired so fast?"

"Please, let me breathe," she shot back, rolling her eyes before smiling faintly. Then her expression shifted slightly. "Actually, I know a better path."

I raised a brow. "A better path?"

"Not exactly shorter," she clarified, standing up again after a moment. "But it’s quieter, more peaceful and the view is amazing."

I hesitated. "Isn’t that dangerous?"

She turned to me with a smile, one that felt a little too convincing.

"I’ve been here several times, remember? Just trust me this once."

For a second, I paused. That feeling in my chest came back again, but I guess everything should be fine after.

"Fine."

We left the main trail, stepping into a narrower path that was noticeably quieter, the noise from the others fading behind us.

The trees grew denser here, their shadows stretching across the ground, and the air felt different, heavier somehow.

"It’s just a little further," Laura said, walking a few steps ahead of me, her voice light, almost too light.

I followed, but something still felt off.

The ground beneath my feet wasn’t as firm as before. At first, I ignored it, assuming it was just the change in terrain, maybe damp soil from earlier rain or something natural like that.

It was in the rainy season so it was normal for things like this to happen.

I paused immediately after I noticed my foot was slowly sinking. I really hope it wasn’t what I was thinking at the moment.

"Laura?" I called, my brows pulling together as I looked down.

"It’s fine," she said almost immediately, not even turning back fully. "This path is softer than the main trail. Just keep moving."

I hesitated for a second before taking another step.

And that was when I felt it again. I was going deeper and I noticed her steps retracted.

The ground shifted under my weight, my foot sinking past where it should have stopped, the soil giving in too easily, too smoothly.

A strange unease crept up my spine.

"Wait..." I muttered, trying to pull my leg back, but it didn’t come up as easily as it should have.

That was when it clicked.

"Laura, something’s not right."

I tried again, this time with more force, but instead of freeing myself, my other foot pressed down harder and sank too. My two ankle were deep in the soil already.

My breath hitched.

"No, no, no" I muttered.

"Laura!" My voice came out sharper now, panic slipping in as I felt the ground tightening around my legs, pulling me in slowly, steadily. "I’m sinking—"

"Stop moving so much," she said calmly.

Too calmly.

That was when I looked up at her properly. She wasn’t rushing toward me, and she was safe. I hope it really wasn’t what I was thinking at the moment.

She wasn’t panicking and she doesn’t even look surprised too.

My heart started pounding harder against my chest as realization began to creep in, just as slow and suffocating as the ground pulling me down.

"Laura..." my voice dropped, fear lacing every word now. "Help me."

I tried to move again, instinct taking over, but it only made things worse. The more I struggled, the deeper I sank, the ground swallowing me inch by inch, past my ankles, climbing toward my calves.

My hands reached out, searching for anything solid, anything to hold onto, but there was nothing.

Just soft, yielding earth.

My breathing turned uneven as I stared at her, my chest tightening painfully.

"Why are you just standing there?"

She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable for a moment, before something shifted.

"You said he doesn’t care about you," she said slowly, her voice steady in a way that made my stomach drop. "That you’re just one of his slaves."

The words didn’t register immediately.

Not until I saw the faint smile forming on her lips.

"There’s only one way to find out if that’s true." She smiled. "You should stop struggling. The more you struggle, the deeper you’ll go deeper."

She smiled while I watched as she walked off.

If I was expecting something bad, it wouldn’t be this. Fuck her!