Chapter 13
WINDY
The morning air is cool against my skin as Wallace and I make sure the fire is fully out, preparing to continue our search for the elusive moon bloom. I can feel the weight of the previous night’s events still lingering in the air, the tension between us is palpable. But I push it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
“Do you think we’re getting close?” I ask, trying to break the silence that hangs between us.
Wallace shrugs, his movements stiff and awkward. “Hard to say,” he replies, not meeting my gaze. His answers have been short since yesterday.
I nod, trying to ignore the resentment bubbling up inside me.
Why is he being so distant? It’s like he’s shutting me out, keeping me at arm’s length.
I can’t help but feel hurt by his behavior, though I know I shouldn’t take it personally.
He’s been through a lot, and so have I.
“Wallace, look,” I whisper, pointing towards Warrick in his panther form. “Whatever you two got going on, it seems he’s trying to give you space.”
He follows my gaze, his expression hardening.
“Space,” he mutters, his voice low and angry.
I frown, confused by his reaction. “If he’s such a bad guy, why is he trying to help us?”
Wallace shrugs, his jaw clenched. “Who knows? Probably up to no good.”
I want to argue, to defend Warrick against Wallace’s accusations, but I bite my tongue.
It’s clear Wallace doesn’t trust him, and I can’t blame him after everything that’s happened and without knowing their history.
We continue in silence, the tension between us growing with each step. I try to focus on the beauty of the forest around us, the sunlight filtering through the canopy above, but it’s hard with Wallace’s brooding presence beside me.
Eventually, we stopped to rest by a small stream, the sound of rushing water soothing to my ears. Wallace sits on a nearby rock, his back to me, lost in thought. I take a deep breath, gathering my courage.
“Wallace,” I say softly, moving to sit beside him. “Is everything okay?”
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Windy,” he says, finally turning to look at me.
I reach out, placing a hand on his arm. “It’s okay,” I assure him. “We’re both under a lot of pressure.”
Wallace nods, his gaze searching mine. “I just... I don’t know how to say this.”
“Say what?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest.
He takes a deep breath, his words hesitant. “I’m jealous, Windy. Of Warrick.”
I freeze, my mind reeling.
Jealous?
Of Warrick?
It’s not something I expected to hear, and yet... it makes sense. Wallace has been protective of me, but I never realized the depth of his feelings until now.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” I say softly, feeling a strange mix of guilt and affection. “I care about you, Wallace. More than I can say.”
He looks at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. “I know,” he whispers, leaning closer. “And I care about you, too.”
Before I can respond, his lips are on mine, warm and gentle. My heart skips a beat, and I melt into the kiss, losing myself in the moment. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I never knew I needed.
A bright pink light flashes behind my closed eyes, but our bliss is short-lived. A rustle in the bushes nearby breaks us apart, and I see Warrick emerge, a smirk on his face.
“Well, well, well,” he says, his voice dripping with amusement. “Guess you got that first kiss out of the way.”
I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I quickly pull away from Wallace, trying to compose myself.
“Warrick, what are you doing here?” I demand, my voice is more forceful than I intended. “I thought you were scouting ahead of us?”
He shrugs, his expression nonchalant. “Just taking a little break,” he replies, though there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Nature calls, you know?”
I roll my eyes, not buying his excuse for a second. “Right,” I say sarcastically. “Well, we’re leaving. You can go back to whatever you were doing.”
Warrick nods, though his smirk never falters. “Of course,” he says, stepping aside to let us pass. “Lead the way, princess.”
I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to snap at him. Instead, I turn to Wallace, hoping he’ll take the hint and follow me.
He nods, his gaze lingering on Warrick for a moment longer before he falls into step beside me.
As we continue on our journey, I can’t shake the feeling that Wallace is right and Warrick is up to something. But for now, I push the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. We’re closer than ever to finding the moon bloom, and nothing—not even Warrick’s antics—will stand in our way.