Chapter 192: Can’t Shoulder It Alone Anymore
Then he tossed a spark into the pile of dry branches.
Kaelan Hawthorne took out the remaining meat pieces from the Beast Skin bag, each piece a different size.
He skillfully threaded the meat onto a sharpened stick.
After placing the stick by the fire, he crouched down, turning it continuously with his hands.
Oil droplets slowly seeped from the meat, falling into the fire with a gentle crackle.
The aroma gradually spread through the air, mixed with the scent of the charcoal, becoming all the more enticing.
He sprinkled a handful of the coarse salt he had saved, the grains landing on the sizzling meat surface, instantly enhancing the savory aroma.
The fragrance mingled with the burnt smell, swirling around, making everyone feel even hungrier.
He focused intently, selecting the tenderest piece of chicken breast to cut off.
Once both sides were grilled to a golden brown and glistening, he tore it into strips, sprinkling some salt flakes, and offered it to Seraphina Caldwell with both hands.
There was a glimmer in his eyes, a hint of indescribable expectation.
"Seraphina, have a bite to tide you over."
Seraphina looked up at him, her fingers accidentally brushing against his palm, immediately pulling away.
"Thank you for your trouble."
She took a bite, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, the savory aroma filling her senses.
But she still sensed it.
Kaelan Hawthorne’s expression darkened for a moment.
He knew he wasn’t waiting for this cold, indifferent gratitude.
Kaelan tightened his grip on the empty skewer, knuckles turning white, the edge embedded in his palm without feeling pain.
The emotions that had surged a moment ago felt doused with cold water, cooling bit by bit.
He stood there, stunned for a few seconds, seemingly resolute, stepping forward to face Seraphina.
"This life of mine was saved by you. Even if you don’t intend to acknowledge me as a companion, I won’t leave. I was wrong in the past, but I want to change. Please, don’t treat me like a stranger... in the future, don’t say thank you to me, okay?"
Seraphina’s hand paused, lifting her head.
Kaelan’s eyes were full of stubbornness.
His fingers curled slightly, nails digging into his palm.
The air grew still for a few moments, the fire crackling, its glow reflecting on the side of his face, revealing a hint of obstinate light.
Seraphina hadn’t expected him to speak so directly.
But avoiding it wasn’t a solution.
She put down the meat, speaking candidly.
"I can stop saying thank you. But I remember everything you’ve done before. Those hurtful actions can’t be erased with just an apology. I haven’t forgotten, and I can’t simply move on."
"I can’t say for sure when I’ll truly let go or even think about renewing the bond. If you don’t want to wait around, you can break the contract now, I won’t stop you."
"I’m not leaving!"
Kaelan blurted out, his voice rising.
He didn’t retreat or lower his head, merely staring intently into Seraphina’s eyes.
"Seraphina, don’t treat me like this. Give me one more chance, please? If you really want to chase me away, then just take my life back as well, since it’s not really mine anyway."
He spoke with determination, his gaze unwavering, meeting hers head-on.
Seraphina looked at his expression, sighed softly, and didn’t respond.
She couldn’t bring herself to forgive immediately, but she also couldn’t harden her heart to truly push him away.
The matter was left hanging.
The campsite was quiet, the wind rustling through the trees, lifting a few fallen leaves.
As she looked down, she realized she was still holding the Green Rank Beast Crystal in her palm.
Its edges pressing into her palm lines, the cool touch a reminder of her earlier hesitation.
She understood how important this was to Kaelan right now.
His recent actions were all aimed at building up his strength.
A complete Green Rank Crystal Core would be enough to make him break through the current bottleneck.
But the stiff words they had exchanged earlier made handing it over now seem awkward.
He would surely think she was softening and falling back, further complicating things.
She stood up and approached Wyatt Yardley.
"Wyatt, keep this Kyzag Beast’s Crystal Core, you decide how to divide it."
Wyatt took the Beast Crystal, immediately understanding Seraphina’s intentions.
This way of handling it maintained her stance while leaving room for maneuver.
His fingertips gently brushed over the crystal core’s surface, sensing the stable energy fluctuation within.
It wasn’t that she was unwilling to give it to Kaelan, but in the end, it made everyone uncomfortable.
His eyes flickered slightly, understanding but not exposing her, simply responding softly.
"Got it."
He slipped the Beast Crystal into a pouch at his waist, planning to hand it over discreetly later.
Ensuring Seraphina wasn’t put on the spot, nor leaving Kaelan guessing blindly.
Isaac Vaughn, witnessing this, had his purple eyes curve slightly, smiling softly, not saying a word.
He simply handed another skewer of cooked meat to Gideon Larkin.
Her movements were swift and sure, brushing off some grass from his shoulder as she did.
Gideon took the meat skewer, took a bite, swallowing back the words he had been about to utter.
He mumbled something indistinctly, his attention drawn to the food.
After they finished eating the grilled meat, the fire died down, embers just beginning to emerge.
The rain became denser, a thin layer of moisture rising in the air, with the woodpile completely settling down.
Only a few wisps of blue smoke struggled out of the ashes, swiftly carried away by the wind.
Everyone quietly tidied up the last remaining items, tossing used bamboo skewers into a pit, covering it with soil.
The group dusted off the bits of grass from themselves, organized their packs, and continued along the mountain path.
Seraphina walked in the middle, with Wyatt’s silhouette ahead and Gideon and Isaac following behind.
The group kept a close but respectful distance, maintaining a subtle harmony.
Before setting off, Wyatt helped adjust Seraphina’s cloak hood.
Ensuring no rain could seep in, he crouched down, scooping her up by the crook of her knees.
Seraphina softly made a sound of acknowledgment, not resisting.
Allowing herself to be securely settled in his arms.
The silver-white tail slid along the ground, skillfully avoiding the wet mud pits.
Whenever it brushed against water, a gentle push propelled them forward.
Seraphina leaned into his embrace, her nose filled with the scent of pinewood from him.
The light rain dampened a few silver-gray strands of hair over his forehead, clinging softly.
Droplets trickled down, landing on his neck.
His expression remained focused, eyes fixed ahead on the path.
The deep red of his eyes focused forward, even his jawline carried an air of determination.
In a moment of clarity, she realized something.
Apart from Evan, the others seemed to have hinted they didn’t want to break the contract.
The words they had once said echoed in her ears.
She hadn’t thought deeply about it then, but now, looking back, she saw a shared attitude beneath those words.
Trust was a heavy burden for her, one that felt suffocating.
She had tried to convince herself to let go of her guard.
But whenever she got close to someone, memories would surge up.
The rainy mountain path became harder to navigate, physical discomfort from estrus adding to her distress, and still no news from her father.
The humid air exacerbated her inner turmoil.
She could only grit her teeth, trying to suppress her emotions from showing.
But the more she suppressed, the more isolated she felt.
The lack of contact from her father made her worry that something might have happened.
At that moment, she realized she couldn’t bear it alone anymore.
She needed someone truly by her side to support her, not constantly second-guessing.
The first person she thought of was Wyatt.
The time spent together these days gradually made her feel that this was someone she could rely on.