Theodora didn't know if this could get any worse.
Sylas was walking between each row and column, his gaze hardened like ice, "You're not students," He was saying, "You're weapons in making. Each of you carries Alpha blood, and it's either that blood evolves or breaks under me. There's no third option,"
A boy seated in front shifted, maybe out of nerves or something, and Sylas's eyes sharpened toward him.
"Sebastian Armstrong," He called, "Did I give you permission to move?"
The boy froze, eyes wide.
"Then don't!" Sylas's tone only dropped even more, even deadlier, even calmer, "In this class, you'll learn to control every instinct, every breath, before it controls you. That is the first rule of survival with me!"
Theo almost swallowed, but paused just before the saliva could slide down. She was afraid he would hear and come at her.
The air in the classroom felt thinner, and she's never been more glad that she was seated next to the window. Even Liam had gone rigid next to her.
"Open your manuals," he ordered, "Page one. No talking,"
The sound of pages turning filled the silence.
Theo exhaled slowly, forcing her hand to steady on the desk. Once he faced the board, she allowed herself to look at him.
His presence was… wrong. Everything about him was just cold and dangerously calm.
He taught them for the rest of the day. Breathing the same air as him was brutal, and his method of teaching wasn't the usual kind. It was difficult to understand, but no one dared to question or even ask questions.
By Noon, everyone was at the discipline hall. It was a circular chamber with the floor etched in silver runes that dampen wolf energy, making Theo's wolf condition even worse.
The air had a faint scent of iron and smoke, and everyone stood in one circle with Sylas standing in the middle.
"Pack Dynamics and Control," He began, "I will start with an obedience test. This is the foundation, and you're to do as I say, with immediate effect!"
Silence.
"Kneel," The command came.
About twenty went down immediately, and Theodora took about two seconds before she followed.
"Turn left,"
Again, she hesitated before she moved, like others.
"Stop breathing for two minutes,"
Theodora soon realised this wasn't about reflex. Sylas was noting each time it took for the students to obey, and for people like her who wasted even a second, waves of shock from the runes erupted through her.
When she remained hesitant at the sixth command, Sylas turned to her, "Douglas, you don't obey,"
She looked away.
"We'll fix that,"
He walked up and stood in front of her.
"You'll surely obey this one. This segment is called the Dominance Assessment. Each of you is to face the person next to you, and make your aura and authority to force your opponent to cower. The pair who can't assert dominance in a minute, will have themselves to blame!"
She looked up at him this time. So, he was her partner.
She kept avoiding his eyes, staring at his neck instead. Was she really that afraid of him? Did he make her more nervous than Cain? Hell, no! So why...
It was because she had a feeling he knew her secret. That he alone, could tell that all her efforts were disguises and she wasn't Thaddeus underneath it.
"Look directly into my eyes, Douglas!" He commanded, his calm demeanour making her pulse almost explode.
She finally forced herself to look at him. And when their eyes met, she felt her blood freeze. His enigma was frightening, but she had to admit, he was unbelievably good-looking.
Tall, sharp jawline, a sculptured masculine face and ash brown hair that appeared silver under the dim light. And now that he was close, she noticed his eyes weren't just blue but kind of smoky silver.
A shiver ran through her spine.
*The moment it begins, you're going to fall before he makes us fall* Seraphina cautioned.
*What?*
*I do not have the strength to face even a student right now, so the minute this test begins, you will cower!*
*Really? Is that what you want?*
Seraphina growled lowly, *Of course not! But we don't have another choice!*
*Fine. I'll intentionally lose before we lose more strength*
Just then, Sylas's spine straightened and Theodora waited for the command to come.
He didn't disappoint.
"Begin!"
Sylas's aura suddenly intensified around both of them, so thick and suffocating that it knocked the breath out of her lungs and had her knees trembling in an instant.
"In the presence of a more powerful wolf," Sylas broke out strongly, "The weak must break, and fall! If you wish to take control, then your authority must be stronger than your opponent's. It's a display of power and strength!"
One of her knees buckled, and she stumbled to her knees.
Sylas stepped even closer, and his eyes narrowed at her. Even though she had fallen, her defiant gaze never left his.
"Stubborn, aren't we?" He whispered, and his aura blasted out even more.
Every instinct screamed at her to look away or run, but she remained glaring back at him. Seraphina was also responding to her resistance, making her appear more tough.
And she held on till a minute had gone by.
Sylas didn't take his eyes off her, but his aura remained relentlessly, "The third one is called instinct suppression. No matter what happens, make sure you do not let your wolf take over!"
He then turned around and walked away, leaving her breathing hard.
She pushed herself to stand.
"Suppress your wolf instinct, and fight that primal need to transform!"
Just then, Theodora heard a faint noise from above and glanced up at the ventilation system. Air was being pushed silently into the room, and in seconds, she picked up the growing stench of blood and fear in the air.
A violent combination of it that stirs aggression in wolves.
Sylas stood by the side, watching as students growled and snapped and fought the need to let their wolves take over. Whenever a student began to transform, the runes would glow brighter and those who failed were instantly pinned down by the magic field.
Theodora didn't even twitch. Everyone around her was battling with themselves, but she felt completely normal.
*Anything different?* She asked Sera.
*Unfortunately, Fear and blood don't motivate me*
*What kind of wolf are you? You could at least make me look like I'm also struggling to keep you back*
*I don't have the strength for anything right now. We used it all up on the staring competition against the hot professor*
*H...hot? He's not hot!*
*Tell that to your red cheeks*
Theodora ignored her for the rest of the time, till the drill was over. Over half of the class had transformed, and the remaining half looked drained.
Liam had managed to keep himself from changing, too.
"That will be the end of the class,"
Even before she turned, her pulse quickened and she just knew his eyes were on her.
"You may all head back to class. Professor Raina will be with you very soon,"
She was the first to move, ready to breathe a different air than him.
"You are to all head back to class. All, apart from Thaddeus Douglas!"