The Bet Between Ice And Heart

The Council Academy gates were already packed before Ayla Veyra walked through them and Seraphina Valen bounced beside her, like the holiday break had never occurred.

"I hate school but it's better than long boring meetings with elders from the council."

Ayla laughed, shaking her head. "You do have a point."

" I always have a point ." Seraphina smiled and took Ayla's arm.

They walked like that, arm in arm, past the notice board where a gang of second-years were yelling about a boy's new haircut, past a bunch of boys who were practically falling over themselves to say hello.

"Seraphina! Welcome back"

"How was the break Seraphina?"

"Sera! Over here! I got you roses."

Seraphina waved at all of them, without breaking stride. A handful of students looked at Ayla and nodded quietly, "hey, Ayla," before their focus returned to the Alpha's daughter.

Ayla was used to it. She refused to show on her face, she did not anymore.

"You'd think after four years they would act like. normal students and stop this. It's getting annoying." Ayla gritted her teeth.

"I won't have you talk about my subjects like that mama ," Seraphina said, deadpan, and then laughed at Ayla's nudge on her shoulder. "Come on, don't get all sulky on me, you're literally on the top scoring student in our level every semester that is its own kind of famous."

"It don't come with roses tho." Ayla joked.

"Their loss," Seraphina said, squeezing her arm.

They walked by the bakery display case near the west entrance, and Ayla's eyes involuntarily darted to the display case before she realized. Half of her summer had been spent dusting counter tops with flour and working late at night, selling pastries in silence to a few regulars, who were unaware of the girl behind the counter, sitting at the top of each exam list. She had collected all the coins. She always did. The Valens had been kind enough to give her whatever she wanted, but Ayla had vowed as far back as she could remember, never to be a girl who took and never gave .

"That is you thinking about the shop face," Seraphina said. "What's wrong?"

" I don't have a thinking about the shop face." Ayla argued

"Yes, you do indeed. Your eyebrows make this little furrow." Seraphina poked her forehead. "There. That one."

"Stop that. It's just... the shop... and the money...." Ayla mumbled, swallowing the rest of her words but Seraphina already understood.

"I knew something like that would happen, good thing I have a back up plan... I already spoke to dad." Seraphina said with a tone of finality that left Ayla speechless.

All of a sudden a different energy came through, and Ayla didn't need to turn around to see why.

"Kael's back," a voice said loudly, too excited.

"Oh he is so dreamy." A girl squeaked and fell to the ground with a thud.

Ayla turned anyway.

Kael Valen sauntered into the gates as if he owned the ground under his feet, Riven Arclay at his side and the rest of the hockey team just behind him scattered. Over the holidays, Kael hadn't changed much – not really – except that he was a little taller, a little broader through the shoulders, a little longer black hair pushed away from his face. Students peeled away from whatever they were doing to greet him.

Kael ignored all students and kept walking. He was focused on a particular individual. Some of the younger boys, first year boys who evidently looked up to him, stood around the side, like waiting for permission to come up to him but he just kept walking.

"Ayla," he said, flatly, in a nonchalant manner as he finally stood in front of her.

"Kael," she replied, matching his nonchalant tone.

"That's Senior Kael to you." Kael hissed.

Seraphina swatting at her brother's arm, "Okay, be nice, both of you. It's the first day. Don't kill each other already?"

Kael said, "I'm always nice."

"Of course not," replied Seraphina's boyfriend , Riven cheerfully.

Kael didn't complain about that. He just stood there, staring at Ayla.

"Two minutes," Seraphina said, already ambling away as Riven pulled her arm. "Don't take your own lives. We will be back soon."

"I'll try." Ayla mumbled, her arms were folded, her gaze fixed somewhere past her shoulder, like she wanted to be anywhere else, but a few feet away, beside this guy standing in front of her.

"What did you do?" Kael hissed the second they were alone.

"Huh?" Ayla mumbled in disbelief.

"What trouble did you get into this time around? And you had to meet my father ?" Kael asked again.

"I- I'm sorry I don't know what you are talking about." Ayla replied honestly.

"Lies." Kael said as he brought out an envelope and pushed it against her chest. "You asked my dad for money... to get a fancy dress? Shoes? To impress a boy? Riven perhaps!"

"Riven? What has Riven got to do with this?" Ayla asked in confusion.

But Kael only scoffed. "What has Riven got to do with anything but you always find a way to make sure he is brought in!" Kael hissed.

"May I ask you a question?" she asked after minutes of uncomfortable silence.

"No." Kael hissed.

Ayla took a deep breath and calmed her trembling voice. "Why have you been so hostile towards Me for a long time? Why do you hate me?"

Kael scanned her body with his eyes, slowly till she felt uncomfortable, only then did he speak. "Because you are a home wrecker. I know you are in love with Riven."