Marina's Experiment

The night air was crisp, the kind that stung your lungs just enough to remind you that you were alive. The clearing was a patch of uneven ground, surrounded by trees that leaned in like they were trying to listen to your secrets.

A small clear stream ran along the chosen site, its gentle rhythm relaxing and soothing. Kurt was hunched over a pile of kindling, his broad shoulders flexing as he worked to coax a fire out of nothing.

Marina and Selina were unpacking the gear, their movements efficient but silent, like two people who'd done this a thousand times before. Liam stood at the edge of the clearing, his back to the group, his eyes fixed on the dark line of the woods.

Marina watched as Selina wandered a few steps into the trees, her braid swinging behind her like a dark pendulum. She stopped suddenly, her head tilted to one side, her eyes narrowing as if she'd heard something no one else could. Her breath caught in her throat, and she whispered a name: "Valentino."

Marina dropped the gear where she stood, her curiosity peaked as Selina just stood there, staring off into the trees. Marina walked towards Selina, her movements light and quiet, not wanting to attract the boys' attention. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.

Selina turned to face her, her pale skin catching the faint moonlight filtering through the trees. Her expression was a mix of excitement and fear, like a kid standing at the edge of a cliff, wondering if they had the guts to jump. "He's coming," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Valentino is coming."

Marina's eyes flickered toward the woods, and then she saw it too—a faint, glowing light in the distance, moving steadily toward them. Her lips curled into a small, predatory smile. "Perfect timing," she muttered, grabbing Selina's arm and pulling her back toward the group. "We can test my theory."

Selina didn't resist, but her eyes were wide with doubt. "Marina, are you sure—"

"Positive," Marina cut in, her voice bright with excitement. She dragged Selina over to where Liam and Kurt were now standing by the fire, which was starting to crackle and spit glowing ash. "Liam, Selina, behind the fire. Not a word, not a move. Understand?"

Liam raised an eyebrow but nodded, his expression skeptical. "You really think I hide Selina and myself by instinct? I'm not sure."

Marina gave him a look that could freeze water at a hundred paces. "Just do it. Humour me. Please."

Selina and Liam exchanged a glance, then shrugged and moved behind the fire. The small flames were growing, casting flickering shadows on the ground. Selina watched intently as the glowing light in the distance grew brighter, resolving into the shape of a man holding a flashlight—tall, broad-shouldered, his presence commanding even from a distance. Behind him, a shadowy group of figures moved in formation, their movements precise and practiced.

Valentino.

Selina's heart pounded in her chest like a drum, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She'd imagined this moment a thousand times, wondered what it would feel like to finally meet him.

Now that it was here, she felt… disappointed. There was a pull, a strong pull towards him, but no spark like in her dream. Shouldn't there be more, like the mate bond? She could see it, feel it between Marina and Kurt. Not here though, not with Valentino. The disappointment made her stomach twist into knots.

She glanced at Liam, who was watching the scene with a calm, unreadable expression. His indigo eyes met hers, and she knew he was thinking the same thing: *This isn't right.*

Valentino stopped just a few steps away from the fire, his deep green eyes scanning the clearing before landing on Marina. His gaze narrowed, his jaw tightening as he took in the sight of her. "Marina," he said finally, his voice low and rough, like gravel underfoot. "I didn't expect to find you here."

Marina stepped forward, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp. "Alpha. I didn't expect to find you here either."

He ignored her sarcasm, his tone clipped and businesslike. "I'm glad you finally found the courage to leave your despicable father. Congratulations. It's about time you got out from under his thumb." Valentino's eyes looked over Kurt before he continued. "It looks like you had help."

Kurt, who'd been watching the exchange with a wary eye, opened his mouth to introduce himself, but Marina cut him off before he could get a word out. "Valentino, this is Kurt. My…one of my new friends"

Valentino's gaze flicked back to Kurt, his expression unreadable, before returning to Marina. "Friends? I only see one "friend" here," he questioned, his tone dripping with skepticism.

"There are three of us Alpha. The other two went scavenging for firewood." Kurt offered.

Not acknowledging Kurt's words, Valentino reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black business card, holding it out to her. "If you ever need anything—protection, a place to stay, anything—call me. You're the last of the Shadowcrest line, Marina. You don't have to do this alone. It's only right that I help my niece."

Marina took the card, her fingers brushing against his, but there was no spark, no flicker of recognition. Just two people making a transaction. "Thanks," she said, her voice flat. "I'll keep that in mind."

Selina glanced at Liam, her indigo eyes meeting his. A flicker of doubt crossed her face, but as she saw the same uncertainty mirrored in his expression, it transformed into a spark of belief. They both nodded almost imperceptibly, a silent acknowledgment that Marina's theory might hold truth.

With an unspoken agreement, they decided to test Marina's theory further. Selina and Liam stepped silently as they slowly circled behind Valentino and his patrol. The moonlight shining on them as they walked through the dappled patterns on the ground.

Valentino stood tall, his presence commanding as he spoke to Marina. "We're patrolling the Lunar Lake packlands," he said, his tone crisp and businesslike. "He was at both of the facilities that we destroyed, but escaped. " It was clear, he hadn't noticed them at all.

"If you should happen to see him, hide, stay safe, and call me. You have my number now."

Marina nodded, her expression unreadable, but her eyes gleamed with a hot intensity. Valentino turned to leave, his patrol falling in step behind him. As they disappeared into the darkness, Selina felt a mix of relief and regret. She had anticipated this moment countless times, yet now, it felt anticlimactic.

Selina became lost in whirlwind of conflicting emotions and self-doubt. Her heart sank, a hollow feeling settling in her chest. She had expected the mate bond to ignite, a spark that would confirm their connection. She wasn't just disappointed; she felt a deep-seated fear that she had been chasing a fairy tale all along.

"Hey," Liam said softly, breaking the silence. His voice was a gentle intrusion into her thoughts. "You okay?".

Selina turned to him, her expression a mask of control, but her eyes betrayed her turmoil. "I thought I'd feel something more," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But there's nothing. What if it IS just a story?"

Liam's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he processed her words. He knew her words had nothing to do with the prophecy. "It's not a story," he said firmly. "The mate bond IS real. It just... isn't time yet. You can see it with Marina and Kurt, despite how much they fight it. It's 4 days too early."

Selina sighed, the sound carrying a weight of frustration and sadness. "But he should have felt it. He's older. Why didn't he?"

Liam's expression softened, and he reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I don't know. Perhaps because I was hiding us."

"You're probably right." Selina's mood brightened as her thoughts drifted to Marina and her theory, "Marina's so smart. Told ya she was a game changer." Selina reminded her brother as she playfully slapped his shoulder.

Marina, who'd been watching the exchange, frowned. "Well, that's… interesting."

Selina shot her a look. "Interesting? That's not interesting. That's—"

"Complicated," Marina finished, her tone sharp. "We'll figure it out, eventually. And I'm glad you think I'm smart!" Marina paused, deep in thought.

"Perhaps we should move," Marina suggested. "Valentino might not have sensed you two, but if he's patrolling this area, he could be back. Or worse, maybe my father is actually around."

Liam nodded but hesitated as he moved to grab their gear. "Let's see what Selina thinks."

Selina shook her head. "I thinks it's fine. There are no warning bells or some strange thing pulling me away" Just Valentino, she thought to herself. "Let's finish setting up." As they unpacked the rest of their gear, Selina's self-doubt crept back in. And she wasn't sure if she was ready for whatever came next.