Heart Bound

Protection

Kyrie's POV

I brushed out my hair, I caught sight of the silver streaks again, and my heart gave a little flutter. This was me now, all of me. And despite the chaos of the past few days, the secrets, and the truth that had been hidden from me, I felt more alive than ever.

When I got to school, I could already feel the stares. People glanced my way, some doing double-takes as they noticed the change in my hair, the glint in my eyes. I walked down the hall, holding my head high, pretending I didn’t notice the whispers that followed me. I felt like a stranger in my own skin, yet somehow more myself than I’d ever been.

As I reached my locker, I spotted Gina waiting for me. She was leaning casually against the locker next to mine, her arms crossed, but the moment she saw me, her mouth fell open, her eyes widening.

“Whoa, Ky,” she breathed, looking me up and down. “You look… different. Like, in a really good way.”

I grinned, though the attention was starting to make me feel self-conscious. “Thanks, Gina. It’s been… a lot to take in.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze softening as she took in the changes. “Tell me about it. You went through a complete glow-up in, like, a weekend.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “If only it were that simple.”

Just then, I felt a warm presence behind me, and before I could turn, a hand slipped around my waist, pulling me close. I glanced up, surprised to see Cal standing beside me, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. Before I could say anything, he leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss, soft at first, then deepening as he pulled me closer. A thrill shot through me, my heart pounding as I melted into him, aware of nothing but his warmth, the intoxicating scent of him, and the electric pull of our bond.

When we finally broke apart, I heard a collective gasp ripple through the hall, followed by the quiet hum of whispered voices. My cheeks flushed as I remembered we were in the middle of school, and every pair of eyes in the hallway seemed to be glued to us.

Gina cleared her throat, breaking the spell of the moment. “So… you two are just going to make out in front of the whole school now?”

Cal flashed her a grin, his arm still comfortably around my waist. “What can I say? When you’re mates, it’s hard to resist.”

I looked away, feeling my cheeks burn, but a small smile tugged at my lips. Being this close to Cal felt so natural, like breathing, and the world seemed to fade whenever he was near. But I knew we had more important things to talk about, and the weight of everything I’d learned over the weekend pressed down on me.

“Actually… Gina, Cal,” I said, my voice softening as I glanced around the crowded hallway. “We need to talk. Like, really talk.”

Gina’s playful smile faded as she caught the seriousness in my tone, and she nodded. “Right. Let’s find somewhere a little more… private.”

We headed to a small alcove near the library, away from the noise of the hallway and the prying eyes of curious classmates. I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach as I prepared to tell them everything—about Selene, my wolf; about Max, who wasn’t my father but my uncle; and about the Djinn masquerading as my mother. My gaze flicked from Gina to Cal, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and concern, and I took a deep breath, steadying myself.

“So… here goes.” I hesitated, then started from the beginning. “This weekend, a lot happened. I found out things about myself, my family, things that don’t make sense but feel true. And, well, it turns out… I’m not exactly who I thought I was.”

Cal’s brows knit together, but he stayed silent, letting me continue.

“My wolf, Selene, awakened on my birthday, and she told me that I’m… I’m not just a regular werewolf. I’m actually from a royal bloodline.” I paused, glancing at them to gauge their reactions. Gina’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open, while Cal’s expression remained unreadable, his gaze intense.

“Wait, royal bloodline? Like, queen kind of royal?” Gina asked, her voice barely a whisper.

I nodded, feeling the weight of those words sink in again. “Yes. I’m… I’m technically the Queen of wolves. And the silver in my hair—it’s a mark of my lineage.”

Cal’s eyes softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I knew you were something special.”

I gave him a weak smile, then continued. “But that’s not all. My dad… well, Max… he’s actually my uncle. He revealed that the person I thought was my mom is a Djinn. She’s been pretending to be my mother for years. She took over when I was a kid, and she’s been keeping me hidden, under some kind of protection spell.”

Gina’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my god, Ky… that’s…”

“I know,” I said, feeling my throat tighten. “And Kade? He’s not my brother; he’s my cousin. Max told me that if Kade sees the truth, the spell on him might break too. If that happens, the Djinn will know, and we’ll all be in danger.”

Cal’s face darkened, his arm slipping from my waist as he leaned against the wall, his expression thoughtful. “So… she’s been watching you, keeping you close. And now that the spell’s weakening, she’ll be more on guard than ever.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. “Exactly. Max said that there are… forces, a shadow or something, that are after me. The council knows, but they’re divided. Some want to protect me, but others think I’m a threat.”

Gina shook her head, disbelief mingling with anger. “This is insane, Ky. I can’t believe you’ve been living with all this and had no idea.”

“I can’t either,” I whispered, feeling the surge of emotions swirl inside me. “Everything I thought I knew… it’s all a lie. And I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Cal reached out, gently cupping my face, his eyes intense as he looked into mine. “You can trust me, Kyrie. No matter what happens, I’m here. We’ll get through this.”

I felt a wave of relief at his words, his presence grounding me as I leaned into his touch. “Thank you, Cal. I… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gina cleared her throat, glancing around as if she’d just remembered something. “And… what about Channing? Have you seen him today?”

I blinked, realizing I hadn’t. “No, actually. I haven’t seen him since Saturday.

Gina’s expression tightened. “I don’t like it, Ky. He was acting strange, and now he’s just gone? It doesn’t feel right.”

A cold feeling settled in my stomach as I remembered the look in Channing’s eyes, the anger and frustration that had simmered just below the surface. But he was my friend. I wanted to believe he was on my side.

We have to focus on keeping you safe, Ky. Whatever this Djinn is planning, we’re not letting her take you.”

I looked between Cal and Gina, feeling a surge of gratitude swell in my chest. They were here, standing by my side, willing to face whatever came next. And as terrifying as the path ahead felt, I knew I wasn’t alone.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice filled with emotion. “I… I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m glad I have you both.”

Gina wrapped her arm around me, pulling me into a hug, and I leaned into her, grateful for her strength. Cal placed a hand on my shoulder, his gaze steady, filled with a quiet determination.

Gina headed off to her next class, Cal caught my hand, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and secrecy.

“I want to show you something, Kyrie. It’s important,” he said, glancing around to make sure no one was watching.

“Come with me?”