Chapter 32 The Almost Kiss
POV: LUNA
The sun was setting by the time we finished. Most students had gone to dinner hours ago. But Ryder and I kept training. Pushing harder. Going longer than we probably should have.
My body screamed for rest. Every muscle ached. Sweat soaked through my shirt. My hair stuck to my neck in wet strands.
But I didn't want to stop. Didn't want this moment to end.
Training with Ryder felt different now. Less like student and teacher. More like partners. Equals.
"One more round," Ryder said. He looked as exhausted as I felt. His shirt was damp with sweat. His hair messy from running his hands through it.
"I can barely stand."
"Then we'll make it quick. Come at me. Full force. Don't hold back."
I didn't have the energy to argue. I charged. He met me halfway. Our movements were slower than usual. Sloppy from exhaustion. But still effective.
We sparred for maybe five minutes. Then Ryder called it. "That's enough. You're done for today."
I collapsed on the grass. Breathing hard. My chest heaving. "I think I'm dying."
"You're not dying. You're growing stronger."
"Same thing right now."
Ryder sat beside me. Close. Closer than necessary. Our shoulders almost touching.
The training grounds were empty. Just us and the fading sunlight. The air was cooling. Comfortable after hours of hard work.
"You're getting stronger every day," Ryder said quietly. He wasn't looking at me. Just staring out at the forest. "It's impressive. Most students plateau after their first major shift. You keep pushing past your limits."
"I have a good teacher."
He turned to look at me then. His eyes intense. Searching. "You're not like the others. You actually care about learning, not just surviving."
My heart started racing. For a completely different reason than training. "What happened to the cold, strict mentor?"
"You happened."
The words hung between us. Heavy. Meaningful.
Ryder reached out. His hand gentle as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered. Barely touching my cheek.
"Luna..."
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Just felt. The warmth of his hand. The intensity of his gaze. The way my body responded to his proximity.
He leaned closer. Slowly. Giving me time to pull away. To stop this before it started.
I didn't pull away.
His face was inches from mine. I could feel his breath. See the flecks of gold in his eyes. Smell the mix of sweat and something uniquely him.
Our lips were almost touching. Almost.
Then my mark burned.
Sharp. Sudden. Painful.
Miguel's face flashed in my mind. His smile. His warnings. The dream-link. The howl outside my window. The knowledge that he was marked. In danger. Connected to me whether I wanted it or not.
I pulled back. Fast. Putting distance between us.
"I can't. I'm sorry."
Ryder's expression shifted. The warmth draining. The professional mask sliding back into place. "Don't apologize. You're not ready. And that's okay."
"It's not that I don't want to. It's just... there's so much happening. Miguel. The challenge. The creatures. I can't think straight about anything right now."
"I understand."
But I wasn't sure he did. How could he? I barely understood it myself.
I stood. My legs shaky. From exhaustion or emotion, I couldn't tell. "I should go. Get some food. Sleep. Big day tomorrow."
"Yeah. Big day."
I grabbed my water bottle. Started walking toward the dorms. Every step felt wrong. Like I was leaving something important behind.
But I couldn't deal with this right now. Couldn't handle one more complication in my already impossible life.
I made it maybe twenty feet before I heard him. His voice so quiet I almost missed it.
"But I am."
I stopped. Turned slightly. "What?"
Ryder was still sitting where I'd left him. Staring at the ground. He looked up. Our eyes met.
"Nothing. Get some rest, Luna."
I wanted to go back. To ask what he meant. To maybe try again without my stupid mark interfering.
But I didn't. I kept walking. Because some things were better left alone. At least for now.
The dorms were quiet when I got back. Most students were at dinner. I went straight to my room. Locked the door. Collapsed on my bed.
My mark still burned. Fainter now. But present. A constant reminder of connections I couldn't escape.
Miguel was out there somewhere. In danger. Connected to me through bonds I didn't fully understand.
Ryder was here. Real. Present. Offering something I desperately wanted but couldn't accept.
And somewhere in the middle was me. Confused. Overwhelmed. Trying to survive long enough to figure out what I actually wanted.
My phone buzzed. Text from Nova.
"Where are you? You missed dinner. I saved you a sandwich."
I texted back. "In my room. Not hungry. Just tired."
"Training with Ryder again?"
"Yeah."
"You two spend a lot of time together lately."
I didn't respond to that. Didn't know how to explain what was or wasn't happening between us.
Another text came through. This one from an unknown number.
"Stop getting close to people. They become targets. First Miguel. Now your mentor. How many more will you sacrifice?"
My blood went cold. I stared at the message. Read it three times.
Someone was watching. Keeping track of everyone I cared about. Threatening them.
I wanted to text back. To demand answers. To threaten them right back.
But that would accomplish nothing. Whoever sent this wanted me scared. Isolated. Vulnerable.
I deleted the text. Threw my phone on the desk. Tried to pretend my hands weren't shaking.
The almost-kiss replayed in my mind. Ryder's gentle touch. The way he'd looked at me. The words he'd whispered that I wasn't supposed to hear.
But I am.
But he was what? Ready? Sure? In love with me?
I groaned and buried my face in my pillow. This was too much. Way too much for one person to handle.
Three days until the full moon challenge. Three days until everything came to a head.
And I still didn't know if I'd survive it.