Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 26: The Rescue

It’s been six months since RightArm was attacked by WICKED. Six months since Teresa’s betrayal. Six months since Katherine’s friends were ripped away from her, screaming, fighting to hold on. Six months of working to the bone, piecing together every shattered fragment of a plan to get them back.

Now, the sea stretches endlessly before Katherine, dark and restless. The stars above are distant pinpricks of light, too far away to touch, too small to matter. Cold waves brush against the shore, leaving trails of white foam that vanish within seconds. She hugs her knees to her chest, fingers digging into her arms. The world feels too big, too empty.

A voice breaks through the silence. "Can't sleep?"

Katherine glances over her shoulder as Newt drops onto the sand beside her. He keeps a small distance between them, the way he has for months, and she hates it. The space, the silence, the feeling of something unresolved pressing between them. "Nope."

Newt exhales slowly, his breath a thin cloud in the cool night air. He’s quiet for a long moment, staring out at the waves, before speaking again. "I'm sorry."

She turns to him, startled. "Sorry for what?"

His jaw tightens. He stares down at his hands, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles like he’s trying to smooth out the guilt embedded there. "For punching Chris," he mutters. "And for being cold to you."

Katherine nods slowly. "I'm sorry too."

Newt blinks at her, caught off guard. "For?"

She hesitates, biting the inside of her cheek. The confession sits heavy on her tongue, shame curling in her stomach. "I kissed a woman at the party," she admits.

His expression doesn’t shift. He just watches her, unreadable, his soft brown eyes locked on hers. "You were drunk," he says simply. "It’s not your fault."

Katherine lets out a short, humorless laugh. "You’re supposed to be mad at me, you know? Call me a cheater or something."

Newt tilts his head, studying her. Then, a small, tired smile tugs at his lips. "How about we forgive each other and move on?"

The tightness in her chest eases just a little. "I like that idea."

Newt’s smile widens, a glimmer of warmth returning to his face. "Let’s start from a kiss. Shall we?"

Her heart stumbles, but she smirks. "You don’t have to ask."

Newt leans in, his fingers ghosting over her jaw before he finally presses his lips to hers. They’re cold, but the moment is anything but. His grip tightens, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. The crash of the waves fades into the background, the whole world narrowing to the press of his lips, the way his hands find her waist, the way her fingers tangle into his hair.

"You have no idea how hard it’s been staying away from you," Newt breathes as he pulls back just enough to look at her. His forehead presses against hers, his voice rough, low.

"Trust me," she whispers, sliding into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I do."

Their mouths crash together again, the kiss urgent, raw. She traces her tongue over his teeth, swallows his quiet groan as he tightens his hold on her. The warmth of his body seeps into hers, their movements turning frantic, desperate—six months of longing and silence unraveling all at once.