The walk back to Aethelgard was a study in silent tension. Zevran led the way, his posture every inch the commanding Alpha, his movements efficient and sure. I followed a step behind, just as I had on the way in, but everything was different. The air between us crackled with unspoken words and the memory of his touch.
We were the first team to emerge from the tree line. Professor Halward stood at the edge of the training grounds, a chronometer in his hand. He raised a bushy eyebrow as we approached.
"Graves. Silvius. Impressive time," he grunted, making a note on his clipboard. "No injuries to report?"
"No, sir," Zevran said, his voice crisp and neutral. He didn't even glance in my direction.
"Good. Dismissed. Go clean up. You both smell like a campfire."
We walked toward the dormitories in a silence that felt heavier than any pack. The stone corridors, which had felt like a prison days before, now felt like a stage. Every echo of our footsteps was a reminder that we were back in the spotlight, that our every move was being watched and analyzed.
Just as we were about to split off to our respective wings, a figure stepped out of a side hallway, blocking my path. Daren. A smirk was plastered on his face, his eyes flicking between Zevran and me with malicious curiosity.
"Well, well. Look what the forest coughed up," he drawled. "I'm surprised you two didn't kill each other out there. Or did you finally put that little rivalry to bed, Silvius?" His gaze was pointed, probing for a weakness.
My blood ran cold. I opened my mouth, my mind scrambling for a cold, cutting retort that would fit my Alpha mask, but nothing came.
Before I could form a word, Zevran moved. He didn't step in front of me, but he shifted his weight, his shoulder coming between Daren and me. It was a subtle, almost imperceptible movement, but its meaning was as clear as a shout.
"He held his own," Zevran said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that was entirely different from the tone he'd used with the professor. His golden eyes locked onto Daren with a predatory intensity that made the other Alpha take an involuntary step back. "Which is more than I can say for some. I heard your team got lost for four hours by the eastern creek. Maybe focus on your own shortcomings."
Daren's smirk vanished, replaced by a flush of anger. The challenge in Zevran's stance was unmistakable. This wasn't just a defense of a teammate; it was a warning. Back off. He's under my protection.
The message was received. Daren's jaw tightened. He shot me one last, hateful look before muttering, "Whatever," and stalking away.
The moment he was gone, the tension in Zevran's shoulders eased slightly. He still didn't look at me. "Get to your room," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I'll find you later."
He walked away without another word, leaving me standing alone in the hallway, my heart pounding. The interaction had lasted less than a minute, but it had changed everything. Zevran had publicly, if subtly, marked his territory. The rumor mill would be churning by lunchtime.
I finally made it to the sanctuary of my room, locking the door behind me. I leaned against it, closing my eyes, trying to slow my racing heart. The silence was deafening. I could still feel the ghost of his arm around me, the warmth of his body against my back.
My gaze fell on my duffel bag. The syringe. I had one dose left. The need for it was a dull, persistent ache in my veins, a reminder of the precarious ledge I was walking. But for the first time, the thought of injecting the cold, chemical calm felt like a betrayal. It felt like trying to put a lid back on a volcano.
A soft knock on my door made me jump.
My first, foolish thought was Zevran. But he wouldn't knock.
"C-Come in," I called out, straightening up and forcing my expression into one of bored indifference.
The door opened to reveal Kaelix. His usually cheerful face was etched with concern. "Soren! There you are. I heard you were back." He slipped inside, closing the door quickly behind him. His eyes scanned me up and down. "Are you okay? I heard a rumor that Graves…" He trailed off, his meaning clear.
The concern in his voice was a balm. He was the only person in this entire academy who knew a fraction of the truth, the only one who saw the real me beneath the mask. I couldn't lie to him, not completely.
"It's… complicated, Kael," I said, the words feeling inadequate.
His eyes widened. "Complicated? Soren, your scent is… different. It's stronger. And I just saw Graves practically growl at Daren for looking at you funny. What happened out there?"
I sank onto the edge of my bed, all the fight draining out of me. How could I even begin to explain? "He knows, Kaelix," I whispered, the confession feeling both terrifying and liberating. "He knows what I am."
Kaelix's face went pale. "Oh, gods. Soren, no. Is he going to—"
"He's not going to turn me in," I interrupted, the certainty in my own voice surprising me. "It's… it's the opposite."
Understanding dawned on Kaelix's face, followed by a fresh wave of alarm. "The opposite? Soren, he's a Graves! Their family has hunted—"
"I know!" I snapped, then immediately regretted it. I took a deep breath. "I know what his family is. I know what this means. But he… he's different."
Kaelix stared at me for a long moment, his expression a mixture of fear and disbelief. "This is bad," he murmured, running a hand through his hair. "This is so, so bad. You're playing with fire, Soren. The most dangerous fire in this entire academy."
I knew he was right. Every logical part of my brain agreed with him. But the memory of Zevran's arms around me, the protective rumble in his chest when he faced Daren, the way he'd looked at me in the firelight… it had all carved a new reality into my soul.
"I know," I said softly, looking down at my hands. "But the fire's already lit, Kael. I can't put it out now."
I was trapped. Not just by my biology, not just by the academy's rules, but by something far more powerful and infinitely more dangerous.
I was trapped by the one thing I never thought I'd feel for the Alpha who was supposed to be my executioner.
Hope.