Newt

Mia sat at the long wooden table in the Glade, surrounded by the boys who had become her true family. They were laughing, sharing stories, and discussing recent events, but deep down, something felt off for Mia. Every time her gaze accidentally met Newt's, she felt her heart skip a beat. He was mysterious and quiet, and although they both understood there was something more between them, pride kept neither of them from taking the first step. They never missed an opportunity to needle each other. Newt would intentionally stay closer to Teresa if Mia was watching, knowing he was provoking her jealousy, but that only made the feeling in his soul sweeter. But Mia wasn't a fool either. She would constantly giggle with one of the boys just to annoy Newt, and damn, it always worked.

This evening was particularly tense. Mia was chatting cheerfully with Gally; his jokes always lifted her mood. She giggled and smiled, not noticing how Newt sat at the other end of the table, his eyes full of jealousy and anger. He couldn't tear his gaze away from them, and the more she laughed with Gally, the more his irritation grew.

Newt took a wooden mug of birch sap and took a sip, but the moment he saw Mia's hand rest on Gally's cheek, his patience snapped. With a loud thud, he slammed the mug onto the table, splashing juice all around. All conversations fell silent, and the attention shifted to him.

"Get your hand off him, right now. I won't say it twice," he said in a low, harsh tone.