Chapter 14.1 Bondfire

The sun hadn’t fully risen when Tempest’s voice slipped into Nuri’s mind like a whisper—soft, familiar, the kind that had always been there. ‘Good morning, Nuri.
Tempest’s presence pressed at the edges of Nuri’s consciousness, a pull that tugged at her soul like the tide’s rhythm. Nuri groaned, her eyes still closed as she buried herself deeper into the sheets. The gentle nudge, though, wouldn’t be ignored. Tempest was insistent today, a shift that pulled Nuri from the cocoon of sleep.
‘You’ve snoozed your alarm twice. If you don’t wake up soon, Kalmin will come in to get you.’
That was all Nuri needed. Her eyes snapped open, heart racing. She scrambled out of bed, rubbing sleep from her face. Her body felt heavy, but her mind still lingered in the fog of slumber.
“We start finishing school today,” she mumbled to the mirror, trying to wake herself up. She didn’t need to look at her reflection to know her hair was a tangled mess, sleep still lingering on her face. But when Tempest circled inside her head, she felt a sudden rush of energy—a spark of positivity that cut through the tiredness.
‘Remember when we were sixteen? Watching all our friends head off to secondary school, wishing we could go with them?’
Nuri swallowed the lump in her throat, staring at her reflection but not truly seeing it. Tempest’s excitement rang in her mind, but a bitter note lingered. She set the brush down with a sigh, refusing to acknowledge the ache that tightened her chest. ‘I do,’ she replied quietly, her voice small. ‘Why bring it up now?’
‘Now it’s our turn!’
Nuri’s fingers trembled slightly as she picked up her toothbrush. ‘Two years late. Surrounded by strangers younger than us.’
There was a pause in Tempest’s thoughts, the excitement fading into something softer, more reluctant. ‘Two years late and surrounded by strangers is better than never attending at all.’
Nuri was silent for a moment, brushing her teeth with quick, sharp strokes. ‘Say what you’re avoiding. I can feel your hesitation. There’s something you want to ask me.’
Tempest hesitated, a flicker of something deeper than excitement brushing against Nuri’s mind. The wolf’s thoughts shifted, a pang of regret lacing the edges. ‘About what I did—'
“No,” Nuri’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air. She dropped the toothbrush in the sink and shook her head vehemently. “I’ve already told you, Tempest. Stop bringing it up. You don’t have to remind me every time you think about it. I’ve said I forgive you.”
The words cut deep. Tempest’s presence quieted, almost withdrawn. Nuri closed her eyes, her hands pressing against her temples, pushing back the familiar ache that always followed.
I didn’t mean to hurt you. Tempest’s voice softened, sadness threading through the link. ‘I know it doesn’t make it right, but I didn’t want to—'
“I know.” Nuri’s voice cracked. “You’ve apologized enough.”
But Tempest wouldn’t let it go. ‘I hate it when you’re upset with me.’
Nuri’s breath caught in her throat. Her hands stilled, and she fought to hold back the tears. She wanted so badly to move on, to put the past behind them. There were more important things today. ‘We need to get to school,’ she said, pushing the weight of the conversation aside. But it lingered like a shadow that refused to leave, even as she yanked open the wardrobe and pulled out clothes with jerky movements. The sting in her chest wouldn’t go away.
‘I want to talk about it. I—’ Tempest began again, but Nuri’s heart ached at the sound of the wolf’s voice and the unresolved guilt woven through her words.
Nuri slammed the wardrobe door shut with a sharp motion. She closed her eyes, fingers clenching into fists. She couldn’t take it anymore. Dropping to the floor in front of the closet, she buried her face in her hands, trying to stop the overwhelming wave of emotion. ‘Tempest—’
The sound of Kalmin’s voice sliced through the air like a crack of thunder.
“Nuri?” His voice was sharp, pulling her out of the haze of thoughts. She whipped her head around, startled, and found him standing in the doorway of her room. His gaze was fixed on her with that dangerous focus he always carried. “Why aren’t you dressed?”
Her heart leapt in her chest. How had he moved so silently? Her breath caught. She scrambled to her feet. “I didn’t know what to wear.” Her voice was low, almost embarrassed. She stepped aside, eyes lingering on the clothes she had thrown around the room—scattered and chaotic, a reflection of the mess in her mind.
Kalmin didn’t wait for more explanation. He stepped into the room and, with an easy, practiced motion, grabbed a hanger. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “They’ll give you a uniform.” He tossed the hanger onto the bed. “Breakfast is ready. If you’re not downstairs in ten minutes, you’ll miss it.”
“I’ll be right down,” she said, her voice trembling. She quickly dressed in the outfit he had chosen—a black pleated skirt and a royal blue blouse. It fit her, but only just; not too tight, but not comfortable either. She could feel him as she pulled on the clothes—the heat of his gaze even though he wasn’t looking directly at her. Kalmin had a way of making everything feel alive, of making her feel watched, even when his eyes weren’t on her.
Once she was dressed, she hurried downstairs, heart racing, guilt still hanging in the air. Kalmin was already at the table, sipping coffee, his focus on some work he was reading. The morning light highlighted the sharpness of his profile, the way his jawline caught the light, the way his broad shoulders filled out his jacket. Everything about him radiated power, authority, and dominance.
“That was fast,” Kalmin said as she entered, his eyes not leaving the folder in his hands. “There’s more coffee in the pot.” He motioned to the chair across from him, where a plate of food was already waiting.
She poured herself a cup, mind still spinning from earlier. The sharp taste of black coffee did little to dull the unease in her chest. “What are you reading?” she asked, hoping to steer the conversation somewhere neutral.
Her Possessive Mate
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