Chapter 22

Chapter 22
Chapter 22 – Sera

“You’ve been lying to me.”

Kael’s words kept replaying themselves in my head for a while. I tried to play it cool, act like I was not affected by anything but in the end, I couldn't.

The others froze when they heard kael.

River’s eyes went wide before narrowing into a grin. “Ohhh… wait a damn second. Did Kael just… call Seth out? For lying? Or is this about something else?”

Luca tilted his head. “No, no… this isn’t about lying. This is about Kael being possessive. Our boy here can’t stand Seth ignoring him.”

“Possessive?” I sputtered, heat rising to my face. “That’s insane.”

River gasped dramatically. “Oh my God. He does like you.”

Theo choked on his granola bar. “ No way!Finally, something interesting.”

I buried my face in my hands. “You guys are ridiculous.”

But of course, they weren’t stopping.

“Think about it,” River continued, pacing like a conspiracy theorist. “Every time Seth tries to leave Kael grabs him. Every time someone teases Seth, Kael glares at the person like he’s gonna commit homicide and now he’s accusing Seth of lying?”

Theo nodded excitingly “ typical crush behavior.”

“Shut. Up.” Kael’s voice was sharp, but that only added fuel to the fire.

Luca leaned casually against my shoulder, smirking as if this whole thing was for his entertainment. “So, Seth… since Kael’s busy brooding, maybe you should just settle for me instead. I promise, I flirt openly. No suspicious wrist grabbing involved.”

I shoved him off, my cheeks burning hotter. “Luca, you’re not helping!”

“Oh, I am,” he said smugly, winking.

River clutched his chest. “Seth, you have options with the mysterious brooding prince Kael or the charming ladies’ man Luca. A love triangle for the ages.”

I groaned, pulling my hoodie strings so tight the hood nearly swallowed my face. “You’re all insane.”

But Inside my heart was in chaos.

Because River’s teasing words… they were too close to the truth. And Kael’s stare was unreadable, it felt like he was holding my secret in his hand, waiting for a perfect time to crush it.

When we returned to our room, the night was finally quiet.

The laughter, the teasing, even Luca’s endless flirting, all of it faded into muffled snores and shifting blankets.

But I wasn’t sleeping I was curled on my side, clutching my stomach as a sharp cramp shot through me.

Perfect! Just perfect.

Of course my period had to show up now, of all times. The universe had serious grudge against me.

I bit down on my sleeve, forcing myself not to make a sound. Boys didn’t get cramps, Seth didn’t get cramps If I made a noise, if I let it slip, everything would change.

My body curled tighter, my breaths turned shallow and uneven I kept telling myself I could handle it. I had to handle it.

But then Luca shifted in kael's bed across the room. “Seth?” His voice was groggy as he was sleeping. “You okay?”

I froze. “I’m fine.” My voice was hoarse. “Go back to sleep.”

There was silence, then he let out a low chuckle. “You’re a terrible liar.”

My stomach cramped again, this time so badly, and I pressed my face into the pillow, praying he couldn’t see the tremor in my shoulders.

From the corner, Kael’s low voice cut through the dark. “He said he’s fine. Go to sleep.”

I stiffened. His tone was sharp, but beneath it… something else lingered.

Protectiveness.

I closed my eyes, forcing back the sting of tears. I couldn’t afford for anyone to know.