Noah's P.O.V
The three of us made our way into the back of the forge, grabbing the materials along the way. We immediately got to work, melting down the steel and forming it in the shape of an axe. I walked over to Natalie to hand her a blade. "Natalie, we need this sharpened." She didn't answer. It was then that I realized that she had a sort of distant look in her eyes.

"Natalie?" Again, she didn't answer. Welp. I set the blade on the table near her and gently shook her shoulder. "Earth to Natalie. Hello, do we have a response?" She shook her head and looked up at me. "Huh? What'd you say?" I sighed and picked up the blade again. "This needs to be sharpened." "Oh. On it!" She grabbed it from me and walked over to grab the sharpener.

I watched for a bit, then followed her as she walked back to her worktable and leaned against the table. "What's going on?" She looked at me like I was an idiot. "I'm sharpening this blade. What's it look like?" "No, I mean what's going on with you. You're distracted in the workplace."

Natalie turned red and looked away, still sharpening the axe blade. "Wh-what are you talking about, Noah? I'm perfectly fine!" "Girl, I called your name three times before you responded." "R-really? I didn't hear you." "My point exactly! Why are you distracted?" "I-I-" "Natalie, what happened while you and Jordan were out?"

Natalie gritted her teeth and leaned against her worktable, setting the blade aside. "You won't stop until you get an answer, won't you?" "Yes. Now tell me." She stayed silent, and I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Hey, whatever happened, just know I'll stay by your side, as a brother should." She sighed and nodded. "I know. I just..."

She looked away from me and said, "What do you do when you meet your soulmate?" I raised my eyebrow. Okay, didn't see that coming. "Well, you see if the test happens. If they're your soulmate, the thread will wrap around you and intertwine you two." Natalie looked up; her nervous expression had changed into a wicked smirk. "Really." I raised my eyebrow and nodded. "Yeah...hey, what's with that look?" Her grin got even bigger. "You know what the test is like."

"Wh-what? No I don't." She tilted her head to the side, still smiling. "Yes you do. You just told me exactly what happens during the soulmate test. I didn't even mention the test." "I-I just figured that's what you were asking! Y-you asked what you do when you met your soulmate-" "But I wasn't talking about the test. I didn't even say anything about the test." "W-well-" "I don't know why it's such a big deal, Noah. You can-" "Okay, fine!"

I felt my face heating up, but I sighed and covered my face. "You win. I'll tell you, but you need to continue sharpening the-" Natalie smiled and sat down on her workbench. "Oh, no need. I already finished sharpening that." She leaned her chin on the palm of her hand and grinned. "Spill it. Who's the unlucky girl?"

I rolled my eyes and leaned on the table next to her. "One, you severely misunderstand me. People would love to date me." Natalie snickered, and I continued speaking. "Two? W-well...my soulmate isn't exactly a girl."

Natalie's eyes widened slightly. "Really?" I nodded. "Yeah. I kinda knew it from the start that I'd have a guy for a soulmate." Natalie stayed quiet for a bit, then smiled and hugged me. "Look at you, knowing exactly who you are and who you love! Good for you, big brother!"

I smiled and hugged back. "Heh. Thanks, sis." She pulled away and smiled again. "So?" "So..?" "Who's the unlucky guy?" I sighed and was about to answer when Jordan walked over. "Sorry. I couldn't help but overhear the conversation." Natalie looked over at him and smirked. "I'm just asking a question, Jordan." I made a fake sad face. "You're bullying me." She giggled. "Seriously, though. Who's the unlucky guy who shall be stuck with you for eternity?"

I was about to answer - again - but Jordan interrupted me - by wrapping his arm around my midsection and pulling me close to him, shooting Natalie a smug grin. "Actually, you've got that wrong, Natalie. I'm not stuck with him. He's stuck with me." I turned red and looked away, staring at the red thread that connected me to Jordan.