Chapter 8

8

ARIA

" I 'm... overwhelmed, I guess," I admitted, deciding to focus on the broader situation rather than my personal dilemmas. "I mean, we have ancient magic in us, and we're in a whole new world. I could jump things I never could have dreamed of jumping before, and my reflexes… let's just say, clumsy was my middle name most of my life. Now, I seem to be quick and able to do incredible things. Nothing like you guys, but still enough to get through the course. It's a lot to take in." I paused, then added, "But I know it's not just me. We're all in this together, dealing with this crazy situation. I guess I just feel even more naive and new since I didn't even know that you guys existed," I said as I gestured at him.

Chris nodded knowingly. "Yeah, it's pretty insane. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and find out this was all some weird dream. You've just been hit with an entire hidden-world-around-you stick as well, then tossed into another one."

"Tell me about it, god, it's crazy," I said with a wry smile. "But then again, the magic we felt today... that was real. Something amazing. I've never experienced anything like that before."

"It was incredible," Chris agreed, his face lighting up as he smiled at me. "When I felt that energy coursing through me, it was like... like I was finally complete. Like a part of me I didn't even know was missing suddenly clicked into place."

I nodded, remembering the warmth that had spread through my body during the training session. "It's strange, isn't it? To suddenly discover you're not who you thought you were?"

Chris's expression grew serious. "Tell me about it. I mean, I've always been a werewolf, but this... this is different. It's like there's this whole other side to me that I'm just now discovering. Another whole new learning curve, because having your first shift and learning to master your wolf side isn't a mission in itself, now we're adding on another whole level."

"What's it like?" I asked, my curiosity winning out about the werewolf stuff. "Being a werewolf, I mean. If you don't mind me asking."

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. "It's... complicated," he finally said. "On one hand, there's this incredible sense of power and freedom. When I shift, it's like all the worries and constraints of the human world just fall away. But on the other hand..."

"On the other hand?" I prompted gently when he trailed off.

Chris sighed, running a hand through his shaggy hair. "On the other hand, it can be isolating. I've never quite fit in with my pack. I was a late bloomer - didn't have my first shift until I was in my twenties. In the werewolf world, that's practically unheard of. Now, amongst humans, you can't really connect on a deeper level. They'll never be able to know who you really are. Our existence has to be kept secret. It's been hard. At home, I seem like a regular guy with a crappy cubicle job. Being confined to a desk like that when you have an animal inside you, it's tough as hell. But I need the work to survive."

"That must be difficult," I said softly. "You guys said that the supernatural world is governed by a Council of sorts. That hunters exist to exterminate you. That's insane in itself. But I can only imagine how the world would react if you came out."

"Exactly," he said with a heavy sigh. "And since I'm without a pack, life gets hard, lonely. You can't really open up to anyone, all my friends, they're just acquaintances really," he admitted, his brow furrowing as he looked down and flexed his hand.

"Wait, you're without a pack? Why? I thought you said most werewolves are born into packs, that lone wolves are rare…" I frowned at him, confused by this knowledge as I recalled what he'd told me. I'd wanted to ask him about his pack, but I'd gotten distracted by all the shifter stuff and gotten overwhelmed.

He nodded, his expression pained. "When I turned twenty and still hadn't shifted, my family... they disowned me. Said they had to maintain their standing within the pack. I was forced to leave the pack territories, completely unprepared for life on my own, since a pack works together in all ways. You tend to stay on Pack land, you get helped with schooling, getting a job, getting a house in the territory… I lost all of that support."

I reached out, placing my hand on his arm as my heart pulled for him. "Chris, I'm so sorry. That's terrible."

Sure, my father and I had our differences, but he'd been there for me when I needed him. Helped me with school and pushed me to go to college, although he'd said it was to help me find a respectable man pursuing a good career, but he always meant well. A pang sliced through me as I thought of him, the fear of never seeing him again if we couldn't beat the Void, but I shoved it aside as Chris managed a smile at me. He covered my hand with his and squeezed it, causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach.

"It was rough," he admitted. "I had to learn to navigate the human world while dealing with this part of me I didn't fully understand. Then, when I finally did shift, I thought... well, I thought I could go back."

"You tried to return to your pack?" I asked, sensing there was more to the story. His hand was warm on mine, and it tightened as he frowned, his jaw clenching. This was something that still hurt him, and I wanted to ease the pain somehow.

"Yeah, I did. But it didn't work out. My late shift was seen as a weakness, something that made me unworthy of the pack. They refused to accept me back."

"That's awful," I said, a surge of anger rising within me on his behalf. "How could they do that? You're one of them. They're your family!"

He shrugged, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. "Pack dynamics can be... complicated. In their eyes, I was a liability. Someone who might weaken the bloodline."

"That's fucked up, Chris. You don't just turn your back on family, who cares about bloodlines and all that? I bet they'll feel mighty stupid when they learn that you've got ancient blood in you, dragon blood."

"Yeah, maybe. Family can be a fickle thing, I've learned. But it doesn't matter, I carved out my own path," he said, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "By that point, I'd already established my own life, my own identity to some extent. I decided to embrace that rather than try to fit into a world that didn't want me."

"You've been through so much," I said, feeling a new level of respect and understanding for him. "I dunno how you did it in all honesty."

Chris gave me a small smile, tracing a circle in the back of my hand with his thumb. "It was hard, but in a way, I think it prepared me for this. Being different, being on the outside... it's given me a unique perspective."

"I can understand that," I said. "I mean, I'm the only full human here. Talk about being on the outside."

"Hey," Chris said, his voice softening. "You're not on the outside. You're one of us, Aria. Human or not, you belong here just as much as any of us."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words. "Thanks, Chris. That means a lot."

"Besides, I like what Zephyr said. That we've got our own little pack forming of misfits. It has a nice ring to it," he said with a chuckle.

"It does," I agreed.

"So, do you think they did a broadcast at home? With whatever the Dracarian representative left?" I mused.

"Who knows? Maybe they decided to keep it under wraps so as not to cause a panic. Mind you, dragons appearing everywhere likely did that already," he said with a scoff.

"Wish there was a way to know what was going on back home, to tell people we're okay," I murmured.

"Are we though? We're being trained up as soldiers for a grand war," he said as his brow furrowed.

I sighed. He had a point there. We were in a precarious situation with no way out. Maybe it was better people were left in the dark.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the stunning landscape of Dracaria stretching out before us. I found myself thinking about our little group - Chris, Zephyr, Lydia, and me. Despite our differences, we were becoming a team, a family of sorts. Sure, we hadn't known each other long, but our group had formed, and I liked it.

"You know," I said, breaking the silence. "I'm glad you guys are here. You, Zephyr, Lydia... I don't think I could handle all this on my own."

Chris smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Me neither. We've got a good little group going, don't we?"

I nodded, thinking about how quickly we'd bonded. "It's strange how close we've become in such a short time. I guess facing extraordinary circumstances together is a pretty good bonding experience."

Chris laughed, the sound warm and rich. "Yeah, nothing brings people together like being thrown into a magical realm to fight an evil darkness. Along with new powers."

As we chuckled together, I felt the tension of the day start to melt away. Sitting here with Chris, talking and laughing, it almost felt... normal. Like we were just two friends hanging out, not potential saviors of two worlds. Like we didn't have this enormous weight bearing down on us.

But then I remembered Ossian's visit as well, his desperate request, and the normalcy shattered. I wanted to tell Chris, to ask him about it. But the words stuck in my throat. What if telling him made things worse? What if it put Ossian in danger? It was clear the vampires were shunned by other supes.

"Aria?" Chris's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "You okay? You looked like you were a million miles away for a second there."

I forced a smile. "Yeah, sorry. Just got lost in thought for a moment."

Chris leaned forward, concern etched on his face. "Hey, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? Whatever's bothering you, I'm here to listen."

The sincerity in his voice almost broke my resolve. I opened my mouth, ready to spill everything about Ossian's visit. But at the last moment, I held back. "I know," I said instead. "Thank you, Chris. Really. I'm just... processing everything, I guess."

He nodded, seemingly accepting my explanation. "I get it. It's a lot to take in. But remember, you're not alone in this. We're all figuring it out together."

As he spoke, I suddenly became acutely aware of how close we were sitting. I could see the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes, count each individual eyelash. The air between us seemed to crackle with an invisible energy, not unlike the magic we'd felt earlier.

Chris must have felt it too because his gaze dropped to my lips for a brief moment before meeting my eyes again. "Aria," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I..."

Whatever he was going to say was lost as he leaned in, closing the distance between us. Our lips met, and it was like the world fell away, sparks erupting in my mind and body. The kiss was soft, tentative at first, but quickly grew more intense as the fire burned through me. Chris's hand cupped my cheek, and I leaned into his touch, losing myself in the moment. I'd never felt anything like this, and I'd kissed a handful of guys since I'd first started dating in high school. This was something powerful, magical even, and it had my heart racing madly.

But then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Chris pulled back abruptly, his eyes wide with... was that fear? His expression, which had been so open and warm moments ago, suddenly closed off.

"I... I should go," he said, his voice distant and formal.

"Chris?" I asked, confusion and hurt swirling inside me. What the hell had just happened? Why had I felt all of that? And why was he suddenly so off? "What's wrong?"

But he was already standing up, avoiding my gaze. "I'm sorry, Aria. I shouldn't have... I need to go."

Before I could say anything else, he was gone, the door closing behind him with a soft click that seemed to echo in the sudden silence of my room as I stared after him.

I sat there on the balcony, stunned and hurt. What had just happened? Everything had been going so well, and then...

I pursed my lips, hating the hurt that washed over me.

Great, rejected by the one guy I was catching feelings for.

My mind raced, trying to understand Chris's sudden change in behavior. Had I done something wrong? Was he regretting getting close to me? Or was there something else going on, something he wasn't telling me? What had that sensation been?

As the questions swirled in my head, I found myself thinking of Ossian again. His desperate request, the hunger in his eyes… the questions I had, it all seemed to blend together with Chris's abrupt departure, creating a confusing mess of emotions that I couldn't begin to untangle.

I stood up, walking back into my room and closing the balcony doors. The view of Dracaria, which had seemed so beautiful earlier, now felt oppressive and foreign - unwelcoming. I was truly alone here, wasn't I? Despite the connections I'd thought I was forming, in the end, I was still an outsider. A human in a world of supernatural beings and ancient magic.

As the silence of my room settled around me, I found myself staring at the ceiling as I sunk onto the edge of my bed, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Chris's kiss then swift retreat, Ossian's earlier visit - it was messing with my mind.

Damn supernatural creatures and this whole new world.

I ran a hand through my hair. The day wasn't over yet, and the thought of facing everyone at dinner after everything that had happened made my stomach churn. How was I supposed to act around Chris now? And what about Ossian?

With a sigh, I stood up and walked to the glass balcony doors, looking out at the landscape of Dracaria. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, painting everything in shades of gold and purple. It was beautiful, in a strange, otherworldly way. If it wasn't for the threat looming over me, I would've found it even more magical and amazing.

As I watched the shadows lengthen across the unfamiliar terrain, I couldn't help but wonder what dinner would bring. Would Chris avoid me? Would Ossian try to approach me again? How was I supposed to navigate these complicated people while also trying to adapt to this new reality?

"One step at a time, Aria," I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath. "Just take it one step at a time."

I turned away from the window, steeling myself for what was to come. Whatever happened at dinner, whatever challenges lay ahead, I had to face them head-on. We all did.

As I reached for the door handle, ready to head to the dining hall, I paused for a moment. Despite everything, despite the confusion and the fear and the overwhelming newness of it all, a small part of me was excited. Excited to learn more about this strange new world, excited to explore my newfound abilities, excited to see what I was truly capable of.

Even if it was to prepare me for a battle.

With that dreadful thought in mind, I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Dinner awaited, and with it, no doubt, new complications. But I was ready. Whatever came next, I would face it.

After all, I was part of something extraordinary now. And I was determined to rise to the challenge.

I had no other option.