Heart Bound

Not So Normal

Kyrie's POV

Monday came too quickly, the weekend a blur of strange dreams, lingering questions, and unshakable unease. As I walked through the bustling hallways of Carmichael Academy, I was still caught up in the images from my dream: the silver wolf, my mom in red, Cal’s eyes turning gold, Gina bound in shimmering chains. Even in the daylight, they felt too real, like puzzle pieces just out of my reach.

I spotted Gina and Channing waiting for me near my locker, both of them grinning as they waved me over. Gina’s silvery hair glinted under the fluorescent lights, and Channing leaned casually against the lockers, his dark hair falling into his eyes.

“Morning!” Gina chirped, giving me a quick hug. “How was the rest of your weekend?”

I let out a sigh, casting a quick glance around to make sure no one was listening. “Honestly? Weird. Really, really weird.”

Channing tilted his head, eyebrows raised. “What happened?”

I glanced between them, lowering my voice. “Well… for starters, I overheard my dad talking in his study on Friday night. He didn’t know I was there, and he was saying things that didn’t make any sense. Something about needing to cast a spell, and…” I hesitated, my stomach twisting as I remembered the fear in his voice. “He said something like, ‘If she finds her, we’re dead.’”

Gina’s face went pale. “He said what?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “And then he mentioned Mom… like something had happened, something that made her upset. When he realized I was there, he got all tense, like he knew I’d heard too much. And he was… different, like he was hiding something.”

Channing’s jaw tightened. “And you haven’t been able to ask him about it?”

I shook my head. “He’s been distant ever since. And Mom’s been gone all weekend, supposedly at Grandma’s, but… I don’t know. Everything just feels off. She’s supposed to come back today, but something tells me this isn’t just a family visit.”

Gina folded her arms, her gaze serious. “That’s strange, Kyrie. And it doesn’t sound like your dad at all. He’s usually pretty open, right?”

“Exactly,” I said, frustrated. “And to make it all worse, I had the strangest dream that night. There was this massive silver wolf watching me, and Mom was there, dressed in this deep red cloak. And Cal… he was in the dream too, but his eyes were glowing gold. And then I saw you, Gina… but you had wings, and you were in chains.”

Gina’s face fell, her usual sparkle dimming. “In chains?”

“Yeah. It was so real, like it was some kind of warning. I don’t know what it means, but I can’t shake it.” I let out a breath, feeling like I’d finally unloaded everything weighing on my chest.

Channing frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe it’s just stress. You’ve got your birthday coming up, and the rare Silver Moon and all. Maybe your mind is just trying to make sense of everything.”

“Maybe,” I said, though I wasn’t convinced.

Gina reached over, squeezing my hand. “Whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out together. We’re here for you.”

I smiled, grateful for their support, but the uneasy feeling in my chest refused to leave. The bell rang, signaling the start of the day, and we all headed off to our classes.

First period was PE, and I immediately regretted showing up. Hannah and her clique were clustered near the bleachers, each of them in matching workout gear, looking like they’d stepped out of a sportswear commercial. As soon as they spotted me, Hannah’s lips twisted into a smug smile.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” she said loudly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Her friends giggled, their eyes flickering between her and me.

I ignored her, focusing on stretching, but I could feel her gaze boring into me, waiting for a reaction.

“Guess the human girl thinks she’s one of us now,” she continued, her tone mocking. “Maybe if you tried a little harder, you could almost pass for interesting.”

Her friends laughed, and I forced myself to keep my focus on my breathing, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. She and her gang were always ready to remind me of my “place,” as if I didn’t know it.

The class dragged on, each passing minute feeling like an eternity as I dodged Hannah’s insults and glares. By the time the bell rang, I was more than ready to escape, practically sprinting to my next class.

Chemistry with Gina and Channing was a relief, a welcome break from the hostile atmosphere of PE. I slid into my seat beside Gina, and Channing gave me a sympathetic smile as he settled down across from us.

“Rough start to the day?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You could say that,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Hannah’s on her usual power trip.”

Gina groaned, drumming her fingers on the table. “Honestly, how is she not bored of this yet?”

“She probably doesn’t have anything better to do,” Channing said with a smirk. “Other than obsess over Cal.”

I snorted, unable to resist. “Right. Because a guy like Cal would definitely go for someone as shallow as her.”

Gina raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “Are we detecting a hint of jealousy here?”

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the blush creeping up my cheeks. “Please. I know where I stand. Cal’s… well, he’s Cal. And I’m just… me.”

Channing reached over, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. “You’re more than enough, Kyrie. Trust me on that.”

I smiled, grateful for his words, even if they didn’t make the ache any less real. Class started, and I tried to focus on the lecture, pushing all thoughts of Cal and Hannah out of my mind.

At lunch, we found a table outside, the sun casting a warm glow over the courtyard. I unwrapped my sandwich, grateful for a quiet moment with my friends, but it wasn’t long before Hannah’s group found their way to a nearby table. She kept throwing glances in my direction, whispering to her friends, who giggled and cast smug looks my way.

“Seriously,” Gina muttered, narrowing her eyes at Hannah. “Does she ever get tired of this?”

“Probably not,” I sighed. “But I’m not going to let her ruin my day.”

Channing grinned, taking a big bite of his sandwich. “That’s the spirit. Let her be miserable on her own.”

But despite my determination, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Hannah was watching me more closely than usual, as if she knew something I didn’t.

As I settled into my seat in art class, focusing on setting up my paints, I noticed someone sliding into the chair next to me. I looked up, surprised to see Cal Lockwood easing into the spot right beside me, his familiar brooding expression softened by a playful glint in his eyes.

“Didn’t realize art class was where you hung out,” he said, flashing a lopsided grin. “I would’ve guessed you were more of a science whiz.”

I laughed, a little too loud, feeling my cheeks warm. “Yeah, well, I’m a woman of many talents,” I replied, trying to sound casual.

I reached for my brush, but in my nervousness, it slipped through my fingers and clattered to the floor. Cal immediately bent down to grab it, his fingers wrapping around the brush handle before I could react. As he straightened up, he handed it to me, his face close—so close I could see the faint gold flecks in his dark eyes. He held my gaze, a smile playing at his lips.

And then, almost imperceptibly, he leaned in, his nose brushing just beside my cheek. My heart stuttered as I caught the subtle, almost surreal moment of him breathing me in, as though he were savoring a scent he’d been searching for his whole life.

“You smell amazing,” he murmured, his gaze unwavering, intense. His words sent a jolt through me, a warm, pulsing thrill that spread from my chest to every inch of my skin, making me tingle all over. My entire body seemed to come alive under his gaze, the room fading away until there was only him, his face so close that I could feel his breath on my skin.

For a moment, it felt like the entire world had faded into the background. It was just me and Cal, and the unspoken pull between us that I couldn’t deny, no matter how much I tried.

But then, a throat cleared beside us, shattering the spell. I blinked, snapping back to reality, and saw Channing watching us, his brow furrowed, clearly not impressed.

Cal pulled back just enough to flash me a roguish grin, his white teeth gleaming. “Too bad I don’t date humans,” he said, his voice light but with a hint of something darker. “You’d be the exception, though.”

With a wink, he slid back to his own seat, leaving me staring after him, my heart pounding as the words hung in the air. The thrill of his closeness quickly morphed into a pang of disappointment, a sinking feeling in my chest as I realized what he was really saying. To him, I’d always be “the exception”—a human, out of reach, never quite enough.

Channing shot me a look, his frown deepening, and I forced a smile, trying to shake off the strange cocktail of emotions twisting inside me. But as I picked up my brush, I couldn’t ignore the way Cal’s gaze lingered on me, or the unspoken question in Channing’s eyes.

The lines between who I was and who I thought I’d always be were blurring, shifting.