Chapter 37:Finally Safe

Inside the thick walls of the enchanted forest, the canopy slowly began to lighten. The shadows that had wrapped around the trees like a suffocating blanket seemed to peel away, as if the forest itself had begun to breathe again.

Ynah halted mid-step, her eyes narrowing as the wind danced gently around her. Then a voice echoed through the leaves, soft, soothing, familiar.

"I know this voice…" Ynah whispered, her eyes wide. "It's Aella… she's talking to the forest."

"They're trying to save us," Sebastian added, staring at the sky above, which was no longer cloaked in gloom.

And then, like a bubble bursting, a radiant shockwave rippled across the forest. The very air shimmered and glittered, as though reality had fractured into golden dust. The oppressive weight of the barrier gone.

"The barrier's been lifted…" Sebastian breathed in awe.

Ynah's face lit up with joy, and without thinking, she threw her arms around Sebastian in a sudden, overwhelming hug. Her heart pounded, but in that moment, it was pure relief.

Sebastian froze at first, caught completely off guard, then his arms found their way around her too. A smirk crept up his face. "You initiated it first," he teased, pulling her back into the hug before she could escape.

The moment lasted, just a few seconds but long enough for warmth to bloom between them.

Then realization hit Ynah like a rock.

She jerked away, flustered, her face flaming red. "Y-you wouldn't let go! So I—I—" she stammered, and without thinking, she kicked him lightly in the leg.

"Ow!" Sebastian yelped, hopping slightly. "That's your thank you?"

Ynah looked away, arms crossed. "You deserved it…"

Sebastian chuckled. "You look like a tomato."

Before she could respond, he reached out and gently took her hand.

"This is okay, right?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "For safety reasons."

Ynah tried to protest, but he'd already started walking, pulling her toward the forest's edge.

As the trees thinned, a wide clearing opened before them, and there they saw the crowd of students and professors waiting anxiously near the forest's border. Gasps and shouts filled the air as someone pointed toward them.

"They're here!"

"They made it!"

Professor Valcroft and Professor Vaughn stood ready. A group of students broke into a sprint toward them.

Ynah's eyes locked with Khierra and Winter, and in a heartbeat, all three of them were running toward each other.

"You left me!" Ynah burst out, her voice cracking as she threw her arms around them. "You left me in the forest…"

"We didn't know!" Khierra sobbed, hugging her tightly. "We didn't know you were left behind!"

Winter wrapped her arms around both of them, her voice trembling. "We're safe now. All of us…"

Tears streamed down all three faces, pain, guilt, relief melting into one another.

Meanwhile, Sebastian's eyes scanned the crowd until he saw her, Ayra.

He jogged over quickly. "Are you okay?" he asked, eyes soft with concern.

Ayra nodded, visibly relieved. "Yeah… thank you."

Sebastian gave her a small smile, then turned to head toward Professor Tulits, the beta instructor. Before walking off completely, he cast one last glance over his shoulder, toward Ynah, still embraced by her friends.

A look passed between them.

Something unspoken.

And then he turned away to report what they had just survived.

With the barrier down and the last of the students found, relief washed over the entire academy. The forest had calmed, and the air felt lighter as everyone made their way back to the grounds. Some rode back in enchanted carriages that hovered just above the path, while others were teleported through magical circles summoned by the professors.

Laughter and exhaustion filled the space. Students leaned on each other, bruised and tired but safe.

Kaesy was about to step into one of the carriages with the rest of the Alphas when a firm hand caught her wrist.

"You're going with me," a calm, deep voice said.

She turned and stared, Professor Vaughn. His expression unreadable, his eyes steady on hers.

Kaesy narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

"I need to tell you something," he replied, voice low but serious.

For a moment, Kaesy hesitated, her instincts flaring. She wasn't one to obey easily, especially not without an explanation, but something in his tone made her pause. Whatever it was, it wasn't a request.

She gave a slow nod, her curiosity piqued more than her caution, and followed him to his separate carriage.

But as she walked away, she couldn't escape the weight of a hundred teasing stares on her back.

"Kaesy," a familiar sing-song voice called out.

She turned her head just enough to see Charline, her grin so wide it could split her face. She was nudging Aella and whispering something that earned her a muffled laugh.

Kaesy rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing just slightly.

"Shut it, Charline," she muttered under her breath.

But Charline only waved, her smile widening like she'd just witnessed something scandalous.

With a sigh, Kaesy climbed into the professor's carriage and the door shut behind her, silencing the noise of the others, but amplifying the question pounding in her chest.

What does he need to tell me?