Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Kael's POV
I sat in the corner of my room, back against the wall, feeling the rhythm of the entire camp. Outside, I heard the footsteps of training, the hammering of wood construction, and the laughter of children. I could distinguish every sound, identify the owner of every footstep.
Marcus was fixing the fence, his steps heavy and powerful. Mira was training recruits, her voice crisp and stern. The rescued people were adjusting to their new lives, their steps still uncertain and cautious.
I ran the numbers in my head. Currently one hundred and thirteen people. Thirty-seven fighters. The new recruits needed at least three months of training before they were battle-ready. Food reserves for six months. Weapons and ammo were sufficient. At this rate, in a few weeks, I could launch the next round of attacks on Derek. As for Dorian... that would take more time, more preparation.
Sabrina. I paused when I thought of her. Her toughness exceeded my expectations. That fight with Garrick—she knew she would lose, knew she would get beaten badly, but she held on until the end. That willpower, that determination to protect others at all costs, reminded me of... never mind, not worth remembering.
"You're thinking about her again," my wolf, Alec's voice rang in my head, teasing.
"Shut up," I responded internally.
"Admit it, Kael, you know it."
"I said shut up."
"The daisy? Really romantic. I didn't know you had that side."
I ignored him. Alec was getting more annoying lately, always speaking up at the wrong times. I focused on listening to the sounds outside, analyzing every detail to tune out the wolf's chatter.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened, and Sabrina walked in. Her steps were hesitant, her heartbeat fast. Nervous? Scared? Or...
"Holy shit, she's here!" Alec yelled excitedly in my head.
"Quiet," I warned him.
Sabrina started stammering, saying some nonsense about disturbing me. I was just about to tell her to get to the point or leave when lighter footsteps approached.
A child.
Then the little girl rushed in, running straight at me. Abigail. She opened her small arms and hugged my thigh, rubbing her little face against my leg. The warm touch made me freeze.
"Oh god, she's so cute!" Alec was going crazy. "Hug her! Hurry!"
"Shut up."
I didn't know where to put my hands. Touch her? Would I hurt her? Are kids this fragile? She was so small, and my hands were stained with blood...
"Kael, can you play baseball with us?" she said in that sweet voice, looking at me with big, sparkling eyes.
"Say yes! Say yes!" Alec bounced around in my mind.
I wanted to say no. I never joined these... social events. I was the Rogue King, not some babysitter playing games. But looking at Abigail's expectant eyes, and Sabrina standing there nervously waiting for my answer...
"They are both waiting for your answer, Kael. Don't be a jerk."
"Pretty please?" Abigail said again, sounding even more pitiful.
Damn it. Why were a child's eyes so lethal?
Sabrina started speaking, her voice soft and gentle, saying it was okay if I didn't want to, they wouldn't force me. But...
"Abigail really likes you," she said. "She thinks you're a superhero."
Superhero? Me?
"She's right," Alec said seriously. "In their eyes, you are a hero. You saved them, protected them."
I felt my throat tighten. The feeling was unfamiliar, uncomfortable.
"One inning," I finally said. "Just one inning."
Abigail squealed and hugged tighter. "Thank you, Kael! You're the best!"
Then she said something that completely stunned me: "Kael smells so good. Like... like... the forest? I really really like it."
"She can smell us!" Alec was going insane with excitement. "She likes our scent! That means—"
"Shut up!" But it was too late.
Alec threw his head back and howled in joy, the sound exploding in my mind. Then... then I felt the connection. Mind link. A connection with Sabrina.
Her eyes went wide in shock; she obviously heard Alec's howl. How was that possible? She was Wolfless, she shouldn't be able to hear...
"Oh my god, oh my god! Mind link! We have a mind link!" Alec was losing it. "That means she's our—"
"Shut up!" I roared internally, my face darkening. "Get out. Now."
I had to make them leave, before Alec said more stupid things, before I did something even more stupid.
Sabrina hurriedly left with Abigail, saying they'd see me at the field tomorrow at two. After the door closed, I leaned against the wall, trying to process what just happened.
"Mind link, Kael! We have a mind link with her! You know what that means!"
"I know it doesn't mean anything," I responded coldly. "Could be an accident, or she has abilities we don't know about."
"Bullshit! Mind links only happen between mates! She is our mate!"
"She is not."
"She is! You felt it! I know you felt it! That connection, that warmth—"
"Enough!"
But Alec didn't stop. All night he kept rambling about fate, mate bonds, and how I should be brave and pursue my feelings. I tried to ignore him, tried to focus on other things, but he just wouldn't shut up.
"She saved us, Kael. Ten years ago by the lake. Now she's in our life again. It's not a coincidence."
"Everything is a coincidence. I wasn't waiting for anyone."
"Liar! You know it in your heart! The daisy, your worry when she was unconscious, your protection of her—"
"I protect all camp members."
"Then why is she the only one who can get you to agree to a baseball game?"
That question left me speechless. Alec seized the chance to press the attack.
"Go, Kael. Go to the damn baseball game. Let yourself be happy for once. Let us be happy for once."
The next afternoon, I sat in my room staring at the wall, telling myself I wouldn't go. I had more important things to do, like planning the next attack on Derek, checking weapon inventory, like...
"Go go go!" Alec started chanting.
"I'm not going."
"Go go go go go!"
"I said I'm not going!"
He was like a broken record, repeating the same thing over and over. I tried to ignore him, tried to focus, but the voice echoed in my head.
"Go go go go go go—"
"Enough!" I stood up and stormed toward the door. "You win! I'm going! But this doesn't mean anything!"
"Yay!" Alec cheered. "I knew you couldn't really say no to her!"
I strode toward the field, annoyed. This was ridiculous. The Rogue King going to a kids' baseball game? If Dorian knew, he'd die laughing.
But when I saw the smile on Abigail's face, when she rushed over to hug my leg shouting "You kept your promise!", I felt maybe... maybe this wasn't a complete waste of time.
The adults around were looking at me strangely. I could hear their whispers.
"Kael never joins these things..."
"How did he come?"
"Sabrina invited him?"
"Look at them... there's definitely something there..."
"I told you," Alec gloated. "Everyone can see there's something between you."
"Shut up."
Sabrina came over to thank me, her face slightly flushed. She looked nervous, but also... happy?
The game started. I was assigned to home plate and picked up the bat. It was much lighter than a weapon, but the balance was decent.
Before pitching, Marcus yelled out specifically to me: "Don't hit too hard, Kael. Take care of our Sabrina."
Light laughter rippled around us. I looked at Sabrina standing at third base; her face turned even redder.
"See," Alec giggled in my mind. "Even Marcus knows."
The ball flew toward me. I adjusted my stance, aimed, and swung. The ball connected, flying straight toward third base. Toward Sabrina.