Chapter 34 The Outing
A few days passed, and strangely the rumors died.
Not slowly. Not the way gossip usually starved itself out after people got bored. It disappeared like someone had snapped their fingers and ordered the campus to forget.
Selene noticed it in small ways first.
The lingering stares stopped. The whispers that used to follow her through hallways became normal chatter again. Even the people who had looked at her with that hungry judgment like they were waiting for her to fall suddenly found something else to gossip about.
It should’ve felt like relief.
Instead, it felt unnatural.
Selene sat in her classroom that morning, elbow resting on the desk, chin supported by her knuckles. The professor’s voice flowed at the front, something about advanced pack law and territory disputes, paired with a discussion on how the Bloodbound Rite had affected political alliances in the past.
Most students were half-listening. Some pretended to take notes. Others looked exhausted, their pride still bruised from the trial week.
Selene listened, but her attention moved through the room the way a blade moved through silk. It was quiet, steady, cutting through what mattered and ignoring what didn’t.
Kai sat two rows ahead.
Her hair was neatly tied. Her posture is perfect. Her face was calm enough to pass as innocent to anyone who didn’t know her too well.
Selene watched her for a moment.
Kai didn’t look back. Not once.
No tremble in her shoulders. No nervous fidgeting. No sign that she was thinking about anything except whatever was being written on the board.
That, more than anything, made Selene’s suspicion settle deeper.
Kai always performed and the better she performed, the more she had to hide.
The professor cleared her throat. “Now, as we move into the semestral break, remember: the university expects conduct even outside campus grounds. The Rite may be over, but consequences don’t end just because the trials do.”
A few students groaned. Someone muttered, “As if we’re going to stay on campus.”
The professor ignored it. “Also, for those who were involved in the Rite, further evaluations will be posted. Do not assume you are done simply because you survived.”
Selene’s pen paused mid-note.
Survived.
The word had a way of sinking into her bones these days. Like something she’d already learned in another life.
A rustle to her left pulled her attention.
A folded piece of paper slid onto her desk, pushed carefully by a classmate who didn’t look at her directly, just passed it along like it was normal.
Selene didn’t open it right away.
She stared at it for a second, then slowly unfolded it beneath the desk where the professor wouldn’t notice.
Two lines. Neat handwriting.
Let’s talk later.
—Kai
Selene’s mouth didn’t move, but something inside her shifted.
“Of course,” she thought. “Now you want to talk.”
She folded the note back into a square and tucked it beneath her notebook. Her face stayed calm. Her hand continued writing like nothing had happened.
But her wolf stirred, not angry but alert.
The class dragged on, the professor’s lecture blending into the sound of chalk against the board and the shifting of chairs. When the bell finally rang, the room exhaled all at once.
Students stood, voices rising, the air filling with conversation like a flock of birds suddenly freed.
Selene closed her notebook, unhurried. She packed her bag, stood, and slung it over her shoulder.
She didn’t look around for Kai.
She didn’t need to.
Kai found her.
“Selene.”
The voice was soft—too soft and polite, almost gentle. Like Kai was approaching a stranger instead of her own sister.
Selene turned slowly.
Kai stood there with her hands clasped together in front of her, expression warm, eyes wide and careful, like she was trying not to spook something.
“Can we talk?” Kai asked.
Selene blinked once. “You already told me that,” she replied, tone light.
Kai laughed softly, a nervous sound. “Right. I just—can you come with me?”
Selene could’ve refused.
She could’ve asked why, demanded where, forced the conversation to happen in public where Kai couldn’t control it too well but Selene had learned something important.
If you wanted to see someone’s real face, you didn’t corner them.
You let them think they had the advantage.
So Selene simply nodded. “Sure.”
Kai’s shoulders loosened, relief crossing her face so quickly it almost looked genuine.
She stepped closer, walking beside Selene, guiding her out of the classroom and down the hall.
They didn’t speak much at first.
The hallways were busy, students weaving around each other, laughter bubbling now that break was near. But as they moved farther from the building and closer to the field, the noise thinned.
The training grounds stretched ahead, wide and open, the grass trampled flat in places from the Rite. The stone markers still stood where challengers had once bound themselves to trials they couldn’t escape.
Even without the crowd, the place held weight.
Kai led Selene to a set of benches near the edge of the field, half-shaded by a few trees planted there long ago. The benches were worn smooth, familiar to students who came here to watch training or gossip or simply breathe.
Kai sat first.
Selene followed, crossing one leg over the other, posture relaxed.
Kai inhaled slowly, like she had rehearsed this.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you much at home,” Kai started, voice careful. “You come in, you go upstairs, and then you’re gone again, or you’re out before I wake up.”
Selene’s gaze stayed forward. “I’ve been busy.”
Kai tilted her head slightly. “Busy with what?”
Selene shrugged, like the question didn’t matter. “School. Reading. Thinking.”
Kai’s brows knit. “Thinking about… the Rite?”
Selene hummed. “Among other things.”
Kai’s fingers twisted together in her lap.
“I just…” Kai hesitated, then forced a small smile. “I don’t want you to think I’m bothering you. I just miss you, okay? We’re sisters. We’re supposed to talk.”
Selene turned her head slightly, eyes landing on Kai’s profile.
Kai looked sincere.
That was the problem.
Kai always looked sincere.
Selene let her expression soften just a little, the way someone did when they wanted to calm a child.
“I’m not avoiding you,” Selene said gently.
Kai’s eyes flickered. “Then why does it feel like you are?”
Selene leaned back against the bench, her tone light and casual. “Because you notice it more when you want to notice it.”
Kai blinked. “What does that mean?”
Selene smiled faintly. “It means… maybe you’re paying attention to me now because you’re worried. And when you’re worried, everything feels bigger.”
Kai’s lips parted, like she didn’t know how to argue with that without sounding guilty.
“I was worried,” Kai admitted quickly. “After everything. The rumors, the whispers. People were cruel.”
Selene’s brows lifted slightly. “Were they?”
Kai flinched at the question.
Selene didn’t press it. Not yet.
Kai shifted closer, voice dropping. “I just… I didn’t like seeing you alone. I didn’t like how people looked at you.”
Selene nodded slowly, as if grateful. “It’s fine.”
Kai stared at her. “That’s it? It’s fine?”
Selene’s mouth curved slightly. “What do you want me to say?”
Kai’s eyes searched hers. “I don’t know. That you were hurt. That you were angry. That you need me.”
There it was.
Need.
Kai needed Selene to look weak. Even for a second.
Selene’s smile didn’t change.
“I’m okay,” she repeated.
Kai’s shoulders sank a fraction, disappointment flickering behind her eyes before she caught it.
Selene looked away, letting the silence settle. She could feel Kai thinking. Adjusting. Searching for a new angle.
Then Kai’s voice shifted—lighter now, like she was turning the page to something more pleasant.
“Since we’re on break soon,” Kai said, “I was thinking… maybe we should go out.”
Selene’s eyes flicked back to her. “Go out?”
Kai nodded quickly, smile returning. “An outing. Just a small one. We’ve been through a lot the past few days, and I think we deserve a break.”
Selene studied her face, calm.
A break.
An outing.
A classic move.
Change the setting. Change the control.
Kai continued, more confident now that she’d found a topic that didn’t require tears. “It’s semestral break. We won’t have classes, we won’t have the stress of the Rite hanging over our heads anymore. We can just… breathe.”
Selene tilted her head slightly. “And you want me to come with you.”
Kai nodded again, almost eagerly. “Yes. Please.”
Selene let a beat pass, as if considering.
“Who are we going with?” she asked.
Kai’s smile widened. “Just us.”
Selene’s gaze sharpened just a hair. “Just us?”
Kai laughed softly, like Selene was being silly. “Yes. I want sister time. No distractions. No friends. Just us.”
It sounded sweet.
It sounded safe.
It sounded like a trap wrapped in ribbon.
Selene didn’t let any of that show.
She leaned back, crossing her arms loosely. “Where?”
Kai’s eyes brightened. “There’s a place outside the territory. A quiet spot with a river and little cabins. We can stay overnight or a day or two or three or just go for the day. Whatever you want.”
Selene nodded slowly, like she was warming to the idea.
Kai watched her like a hawk, waiting for rejection.
Selene’s wolf whispered, low and amused: She’s trying so hard.
Selene kept her face neutral. “You planned this already.”
Kai’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Not… fully. I just thought about it.”
Selene hummed. “Convenient timing.”
Kai blinked. “What?”
“Nothing,” Selene said smoothly. “Just thinking out loud.”
Kai’s fingers tightened on her skirt again, but she forced herself to relax.
“So…” Kai pressed gently, smile returning, “will you come?”
Selene looked at Kai for a long moment.
Not long enough to scare her.
Just long enough to make her hope.
Then Selene smiled softly. “Okay.”
Kai’s reaction was instant.
Her eyes widened, and joy burst across her face so brightly it almost looked real. She leaned forward without thinking, like she was about to grab Selene’s hands.
Then she caught herself.
Too excited would look suspicious.
Kai cleared her throat, sitting back straighter. “Really?”
Selene nodded. “Really.”
Kai laughed lightly. “Good. I mean—good. I think we need it.”
Selene raised one brow slightly, as if amused. “You seem very happy.”
Kai froze for half a second.
Then she smiled again, softer this time. “Of course I’m happy. You’re my sister.”
Selene’s gaze held hers, calm and unreadable.
“Right,” Selene said.
Kai breathed out, relief washing over her shoulders. She started talking again quickly, details spilling out as if she was afraid Selene would change her mind if she paused.
“We can leave right after the last meeting tomorrow. I’ll pack snacks. Aunt won’t mind, she’ll probably be glad we’re spending time together. We can—”
Selene let her talk.
Let her build the story.
Let her believe she was winning because Selene already knew one thing:
Kai didn’t ask for sister time out of love.
Kai asked for it because she needed space where no one could hear Selene’s answers.
Kai finally paused, smiling like she’d just solved something. “So it’s settled.”
Selene nodded once. “It’s settled.”
The bell rang in the distance, signaling the end of break.
Students began drifting back toward the buildings, voices rising again.
Kai stood first, brushing off her skirt. “Come on. We’ll be late.”
Selene stood as well, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She walked beside Kai toward the building, expression calm.
Kai kept glancing at her, as if making sure Selene was still real. Still coming. Still agreeing.
Selene didn’t look back.
Not until they reached the hallway.
Not until Kai turned away to greet another student with her bright, innocent smile.
Then Selene’s lips curved—slow, deliberate, private.
A smirk that held no warmth.
“Go ahead,” Selene thought. “Plan your outing.”
Because Selene could already feel it.
The careful timing. The sudden peace. The way the rumors vanished like someone cleaned the air.
Kai was up to something and Selene was going to let her try.
Just once.
Just long enough to see exactly how far she was willing to fall.