Chapter 111: Why Is There Always Something Blocking This Process?
Evelyn's POV
"That's impossible!" Aria bolted upright, eyes wide. "I've seen how Alistair acts with you - the forehead kisses, holding your hand. I thought you two had something before he met Rowan, and you stepped back when he found his mate."
"God, no," I shook my head. "We're just friends. He does that stuff to ward off girls who won't take a hint. The triplets do the same things, but to them, I'm basically their little sister."
The conversation made my mind wander. Should I find someone to practice with before meeting my mate? I didn't want to seem clueless, but I also didn't want to give away something that should be special. I buried my face in my hands, groaning.
"This whole thing is a mess," I muttered. "I don't want to hook up with someone who isn't my mate, but what if my inexperience drives him away? Or what if having experience makes him reject me? Either way, I lose." My breathing quickened as anxiety crept in.
"Whoa, slow down," Aria said, sitting beside me with a gentle hand on my shoulder. "First off, guys don't overthink this stuff like you are. They're mostly running on instinct and hormones - always using that 'biological need' BS as an excuse. And if your mate hasn't saved himself for you, he's got zero right to judge."
Her voice softened. "If it doesn't feel right, then don't do it. Trust your gut and your wolf. Your perception skills are off the charts - use them for yourself too."
She stood up, stretching. "Anyway, let's finish this homework and start packing. I'm dying to get back to the training center and finally get our Sentinel mark. No wonder Taric and Shepherd were so impatient - we're crawling along while there's clearly major werewolf activity happening here."
Aria disappeared into the bathroom, emerging ten minutes later ready for bed, still glued to her phone, thumbs flying across the screen.
"Who're you texting like the world's ending?" I asked.
"Looking up those guys from dinner," she replied without looking up. "I was so focused on surveillance I didn't catch their names. Ember says they're students too, and one was asking if we're a couple." She made a face. "Like, romantically. You're gorgeous and all, but girls aren't my thing."
She laughed, continuing, "But seriously, I missed basic details because I was so mission-focused. We definitely need more training - even during ops, incomplete observation can bite you in the ass."
"Roland and Neo," I said, eyes still on my laptop.
"What?"
"Their names. Roland and Neo. Sophomores, football team - though I'm not sure if they actually play or just say they do. Roland's in finance, Neo's in sports medicine."
When I glanced up, Aria was staring at me, mouth slightly open.
"What?" I asked.
"You barely said two words all night, and you picked up all that?"
"Just because I don't talk doesn't mean I'm not listening," I smirked. "Lily was flirting so hard she practically had a neon sign over her head, but she wasn't paying attention to their answers." I shook my head. "She was just trying to get noticed. It did help with our mission, though. What did you mean about them asking if we were 'together'?"
"Exactly what you think," she snorted. "They wanted to know if we'd be up for a threesome or foursome. And if one of us wasn't into it, Ember even offered to step in and make it a party."
I couldn't help laughing at the absurdity. "Who asks that within five minutes of meeting someone?"
"Judge all you want," Aria shrugged, "but I think Lily would be perfect for them. At least to find out if they're worth the time. I'd want to know if they're actually interesting beyond their pickup lines."
---
The weather turned brutal. No snow yet, but morning frost clung stubbornly to everything, and the wind had a vicious bite.
"Just a few more days!" Aria bounced around excitedly. "I seriously can't wait!" Her imitation of those college girls was adorable, though I couldn't understand their obsession with nail polish or store sales. But the excitement about going home? That I got.
Home. The word stirred something strange in me. The training center had become home. The castle was home. Even the residence in Polaris City felt like home now. But would they still feel the same after we returned? Less than a year with the Sentinels had changed me profoundly.
I missed Sophia, Mark, and Cyrus. They'd accepted me instantly, knowing almost nothing about me then. They knew the shortened version about my scars - even Aria had asked after seeing them whenever Luna Selena and Sebastian dressed me up. They knew I'd been attacked and drugged before arriving. But they never saw me as weak - just a survivor who'd made it through hell. I was starting to believe them, feeling stronger despite my small size.
The front door suddenly banged open, jolting me from my thoughts as Conrad stomped in, covered in snow.
"What the hell?" Aria jumped up.
"Blizzard's coming," Conrad said, shaking ice from his hair and boots. "Felt it days ago but didn't expect this intensity. Team's headed back to base in case the storm spreads south. I've got supplies, but we need to prepare for being stuck here a while."
"No way!" Aria's fists clenched tight. "We're supposed to meet the elder council this weekend for our Sentinel marks! Why is something always blocking this? It's like some force doesn't want us completing the ritual!"
She paced the room, face twisted with frustration. I felt it too - we both desperately wanted those marks. Conrad's news hit like a bucket of ice water.
"Maybe the timing isn't right yet," Conrad said while sorting supplies, his voice showing unusual thoughtfulness. "Maybe since Aria's already eighteen, her mate might be nearby, and the Goddess is preventing the marking to protect that connection. Or simpler - maybe She's warning those who treat you like chess pieces that you're worth more than they realize."
He took a deep breath, moving to the kitchen to check our food stores. He'd said more in those few sentences than he typically did in a day, clearly frustrated by the situation too.
From the start, Conrad had insisted we shouldn't be on this high-risk mission. I'd tried discussing it with him several times, but he only ever said it was a "gut feeling." Still, his protectiveness toward us was obvious, perfectly aligned with whatever premonition had him so worried.