Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Kaelani POV

When we walk onto the combat field there are obstacles scattered around the field. “Good morning students this year we have decided to do something different for the tournament. Starting next Monday you will participate in a variety of drills and based on your performance in those drills you will be put into different ranks. The final rank determination which will be the rank you enter the tournament in depends on how you perform in these drills. Although the tournament is sparring focused there is more to being a good fighter than brute force or strength alone.”

“Well this is definitely new” Kaia says walking up behind me.

“Tell me about it but it will definitely be interesting.”

“How so?” Liam asks looking at me.

“A real warrior can read a person’s body language, pays attention to everything their opponent does, doesn’t show off, winning isn’t about being the strongest it’s about being the smartest,” I explain.

My father drilled that into me long before I was old enough to compete. Anyone can throw a punch. Not everyone can think while they're getting punched. He always says the strongest fighter in a room isn't always the one who walks out of it. Sometimes it's the one who knows when to wait, when to move and when to let somebody make a mistake. Anybody can learn how to fight. Learning patience is the hard part."

I finally take my eyes off Principal Rivers and look at him.

His eyes are locked on me and he is smiling.

“You sound like someone who is a real warrior,” he says, amusement in his voice.

“Oh Lani is definitely a real warrior, she let Ezra win last year,” Kaia blurts out.

My entire body stills.

“Kaia nobody is supposed to know that,” I say through gritted teeth.

Not my teachers. Not the other students. Nobody.

“Oh well now half the senior class knows,” Liam says laughing as he looks around at the students staring at me.

I slap my hand over my face.

“Thanks Kaia,” I mutter.

“I’m sorry Lani, I forgot.”

“It’s fine, just try not to blurt out anymore of my secrets okay?”

She puts her hand over her mouth and nods.

“Kaelani may I speak with you a moment?”

Principal Rivers walks over to us.

That can't be good.

I glare at Kaia before walking away with him.

“Kaelani it will do well if you play by the rules this year. We all know you let him win and we all knew why so we didn’t call you on it.”

I stop walking.

We all knew.

Not some of them. All of them.

“You are good and you shouldn’t hide that for anyone, not even your brother. Do have a good year Ms. Quinn.”

He walks away from me.

They knew?

All of the judges knew I let him win and nobody said anything.

The entire time I thought I had gotten away with it.

The entire time they were watching me, waiting to see what I would do.

And if Principal Rivers knew, how many other people knew too?

The entire reason I threw that match was because Ezra was graduating. He wanted the title before he left and I wanted him to have that moment. I figured if anyone noticed they would call me out immediately. Instead they all stood there and watched me hand him the win like they were waiting to see if I would choose myself or my brother.

Apparently I made the wrong choice because Principal Rivers looked almost disappointed when he said it.

“Are you in trouble?” Kaia asks when I walk back over to her.

“No thankfully.”

“So we have 30 minutes until next period, want to go sit in the quad?”

“Yes, I could use an iced coffee.”

“Mind if I join?” Liam asks.

“Of course not Ridge boy,” Kaia says smiling.

“He’s up to something,” Nyra says.

I shake my head.

“She’s always up to something.”

And whatever plan Kaia is cooking up almost certainly involves me and a boy.

I follow behind them.

When we make it to the quad I’m instantly annoyed that everybody had the same idea.

Apparently half the school decided to spend their free period outside today.

I ignore the stares and walk to the coffee cart.

“Hey Carmen can I get a Vanilla iced coffee with two shots?”

“Make that two,” Liam says handing her a twenty-dollar bill.

I glare at him and his smile drops.

“Don’t do that.”

“Pay for you? Why not?” Confusion crosses his face.

“I can’t be bought.”

And I don't need people thinking a coffee means something it doesn't.

“It’s just coffee Kaelani.”

He grabs his drink and walks away.

“Girl what the hell is wrong with you?” Kaia whisper yells at me.

I roll my eyes.

“Kaia you heard what I said in the car. I don’t have time for boys" I say

Especially not good-looking Alpha heirs who smile too much and make my heart forget how to behave.

"And nothing is wrong with me. I just don't understand why every interaction between a guy and a girl suddenly has to mean something. He bought a coffee. Tomorrow somebody will swear we're secretly dating and by next week they'll probably have us picking wedding colors."

I grab my coffee and walk toward an empty table.

She may be thinking about boys but the only thing on my mind is finding that tree and not turning into something I can’t recognize.

Every minute I spend worrying about Liam, Kieran or whatever weird thing is happening at school is a minute I'm not spending figuring out how much time I actually have left.

Nobody else seems to understand that. Kaia thinks this is some exciting mystery. Everybody else is focused on tournaments and parties and relationships. Meanwhile I wake up every morning wondering if my grandmother was telling the truth. What if I don't find the tree? What if the magic keeps growing? What if one day I wake up and can't control it at all?

The tournament matters. Senior year matters. But none of that means anything if I lose myself before I ever make it to graduation."