AARON

I had sensed her presence before she stumbled into my luggage, nearly injuring herself. Fortunately, I caught her in time to prevent a fall. Upon seeing and touching her, I felt the mate sparks. I yearned to pull her close and bury my face in her pale, perfect neck, but before I could act, I detected a male presence. His magical signature seemed familiar to my mate, so I respectfully handed her over to him and apologized in my mother tongue, unsure if she understood. Then, with a clap of my hands, my servants collected my luggage. As I was about to depart, I realized I had neglected my manners. I extended my hand, invoking the nature gods for assistance to summon my magic. Feeling the power surge, I manifested a red rose and presented it to my mate before walking away. As I left, I could sense her gaze following me, which brought me satisfaction.

When I reached my room, I asked my help to rest, as I needed time to cool down after their negligence with my luggage in the hall nearly caused my fated mate to get hurt. They left immediately, apologizing profusely for their actions. I let them go and began meditating, channeling all my frustrated magic to unpack and sort my luggage. After meditating, I went to find my friends. We talked and shared stories about our summer holidays, or the lack thereof, as we all endured the same rigorous training. Then we entered the dining room, where I found her hiding behind her friend, who acted like a shield with her height. I saw her talking to another girl, and as I eavesdropped, I learned that she had been kissed by two of my friends and had received a rose from me. She explained to her friend that she wasn't a player; the events were initiated by us, and until recently, she had no idea who we were. She clarified that she had no romantic relationship with us. Her friends acknowledged that my mate was telling the truth and that she wasn't promiscuous. Then I heard her brother or cousin call out to her, and I finally learned her name: Malaya. Such a beautiful name for someone as sweet and perfect as she is.

When she looked towards him, her eyes sparkled, and her love for him shone brightly. However, as he spoke, I watched my FatedMate become distressed and distance herself. Her eyes glazed over as she sat there, staring at the empty sky, wincing slightly. Then her cousin called out to her, and she snapped back to reality from whatever hellish memory had gripped her. Tears filled her eyes before she abruptly left her chair and ran out of the dining hall. I followed her and saw her enter the restroom. As the door locked, I heard her anguished cries of pain and sorrow, her screams of frustration. My heart went out to my Fated Mate; I wanted to help her overcome the torment she was reliving. I stood outside, listening to her pitiful pleas for them to stop hurting her, and her vehement denials of being a bruja (witch) or practicing brujeria (witchcraft) that she was accused of causing her parents' death. This was peculiar since I had seen her parents with her at the first day's parents' conference.

Feeling weak and like a failure as her fated mate, I was powerless to help her, standing there, hearing her cries and screams. In frustration, I punched the wall, breaking it, but it did nothing to alleviate my distress. Drago's presence soon became apparent, his face mirroring the anguish he heard in our fated mate's cries. We both stood helplessly, letting the inevitable unfold. Hours later, her cousin/brother arrived at the restroom with her parents. Malaya refused to come out until she heard her parents' voices. The doors burst open, revealing her tear-stained face, a testament to her suffering. She confessed to her parents her inability to confront Aunt Glenda and cousin Juniper alone, recounting the ordeal they put her through. Her parents assured her she'd never have to face them again, promising their protection. After some time, Malaya calmed down, bid her parents farewell, and proceeded to her next class, followed by Drago, while I lingered to overhear the exchange between her parents and her cousin.

They expressed regret for not being there to prevent the harm done to Malaya. Her cousin recounted taking her to the hospital after his mother went too far, and how seeing the extent of her injuries from the abuse made him feel powerless. That day, he promised that Malaya would never be harmed again. He explained that he kept his vow and has since protected her.

I appreciated the cousin, and when Malaya's father patted his back, he expressed his gratitude for all he had done for Malaya. She had only spoken of how much he had helped her, which moved the cousin deeply. He smiled at his uncle and aunt and asked to take his leave. After he was gone, I saw Malaya's parents embrace before I left them in privacy. Later that evening, as I took a stroll, I encountered my friends who were also out for a nightly walk and spending time with Drago. While we were chatting, I heard three neighs and looked up to see the most magnificent throrse, even more beautiful than any description in books. I wondered who the throrse belonged to, and then Tiberus hooted excitedly, insisting that the throrse was hers. When we pressed him on what he meant, he revealed that it belonged to our shared fated mate.

Curiosity overcame me, and as I soared into the air, I saw that the throrse indeed belonged to Malaya. Observing how tenderly Malaya had treated her, I discerned it was a female by the elegance of the throrse's movements. I pondered whether Malaya, my beautiful mate, would appreciate a nature dog as a gift—a token I wished to offer upon successfully wooing her and deciding to introduce her to my loyal fae subjects and my parents. We trailed Malaya as she departed the academy grounds with the throrse. Sensing her fear of being followed, I realized we needed to withdraw slightly to alleviate her anxiety, yet I remained attentive to her. She instructed her throrse to use invisibility to conceal them, sensing the presence of others. When the throrse whinnied, dark storm clouds materialized from nowhere. I watched Malaya and her throrse enter the clouds. Concerned, I pursued them, only to discover the clouds served as a ruse for Malaya and her throrse to vanish. As a nature fae, I tracked them effortlessly. Upon my friends' arrival, I recounted the events. They laughed, admiring the clever tactic to elude her pursuers. I beckoned them to follow, and though Malaya and her throrse were out of sight, I traced their magical energy to a floating island. As they descended, Malaya and her throrse reemerged. I listened as Malaya commanded her throrse to land. Obediently, it landed, and Malaya dismounted, rewarding them with treats and instructing her throrse to seek shelter. The throrse bowed and departed, and Malaya inhaled deeply before entering a building.