The morning of her 18th birthday dawned quietly, with the sun casting a warm glow through the thin curtains of Ben's room. She lay still, her mind unexpectedly drifting to memories she’d long kept buried. Today, as Bella—now hidden behind the carefully crafted identity of Ben—turned a year older, the memories carried a different weight. This was the first birthday she’d spend away from her true self, away from the life she once knew. She pushed back the surge of nostalgia, reminding herself that her disguise as Ben was essential. This was her chance at a fresh start, away from the expectations and restrictions that had once bound her.
As she sat up, a strange sensation washed over her. A faint, unidentifiable pull seemed to linger in the air, something that stirred an odd unease within her. But she dismissed it, shaking off the feeling as mere jitters. Today was just another day, she told herself.
Ethan and Asher, meanwhile, awoke to their own sense of unfamiliarity. Both felt a restless energy pulsing within them, a spark that set the day apart from others without them knowing why. Yet, neither paid it much attention. They were rivals, after all, and their minds were preoccupied with outdoing each other—especially with Ben lingering somewhere between them, stirring intrigue that only intensified their competition.
Ethan was the first to encounter Ben that morning. He spotted him alone on a path through the courtyard, a book tucked under one arm. With his signature smirk, Ethan sauntered over, his presence as magnetic as ever. “Morning, Ben! Studying already?” he asked, his tone teasing yet affectionate.
Ben glanced up, flashing a shy smile. “Just catching up on some reading,” she replied, trying to mask the surge of nervous energy she felt around him.
Before he could respond, a strange shift rippled through Ethan. His smirk softened, his green eyes flickering with a warmth and intensity Ben had never seen. It was as if Ethan had been replaced by someone else, an unfamiliar presence in the same body. His gaze settled on Ben with an oddly protective intensity. “You’re important,” he said quietly, his voice laced with a gentleness that was out of character.
For a moment, Ben stood frozen, unable to decipher the sudden change in his tone. The Ethan she knew was bold and mischievous, not soft-spoken and gentle. “Uh… thanks?” she replied, her words hesitant, trying to gauge his intentions.
Then, just as quickly as the moment began, it ended. Ethan’s eyes seemed to flash back to their usual brightness, and he blinked, looking around as if he’d just woken from a trance. He offered a quick, almost confused smile before flashing his usual grin. “I just mean you’re important enough to stop studying all the time,” he joked, nudging her playfully.
Ben chuckled, though a lingering curiosity tugged at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more beneath Ethan’s carefree exterior—something that occasionally flickered to the surface without warning.
As they chatted, Asher observed from a distance, his sharp gaze never missing a detail. Ethan’s energy was always bold and unpredictable, a constant reminder of the contrast between them. But today, as he watched Ethan interact with Ben, Asher felt something stir within him—a flicker of protectiveness, of knowing, that he couldn’t ignore.
Unconsciously, Asher’s wolf, Kael, took control, slipping into the driver’s seat without Asher’s full awareness. Kael watched Ben with an unreadable expression, his icy blue eyes softening ever so slightly. He approached quietly, his movements as smooth and deliberate as always. “Ben,” he greeted in a voice that seemed to resonate differently, carrying a warmth that surprised even him.
Ben looked up, taken aback by Asher’s unusually gentle demeanor. His eyes held a sincerity she hadn’t seen before, a calm assurance that wrapped around her like a protective shield. It was a side of Asher that rarely surfaced, his usual cold detachment replaced by an almost comforting presence.
