Oakridge High was always loud. But the Hale family? Their silence was sharper than a blade. And today, Aarvin finally understood something terrifying: *A Hale's silence was never peace. It was pressure, expectation, a storm quietly choosing where to strike.*
After Adrien Intervened
Aarvin walked beside Adrien through the long, empty hallway. Their footsteps echoed off the lockers, each one reminding him of the moment Adrien had stepped between him and trouble. Adrien still hadn't said a word.
"You… didn't have to do that," Aarvin whispered, eyes dropping.
Adrien finally slowed, giving him a sideways glance. _His expression was unreadable._ "I didn't do it for you."
The words landed harder than a punch.
"Oh." Aarvin lowered his head.
Adrien added, almost too casually, "And because you looked like you were about to cry."
Aarvin stumbled. "I— I wasn't—"
"Don't lie," Adrien said, voice flat. _He looked away, gaze locking onto something distant._ "Hales don't lie. We just stay quiet."
Aarvin couldn't tell if that was reassurance… or a warning.
The Cousin No One Talks About
Adrien Hale was everything Aarvin wasn't: cold, precise, unshakeable. Where Riyan was a storm, Adrien was the silence before it—the part that made people most afraid. Rumors said he once ended a fight without lifting a finger; some said he didn't need to fight because his voice alone was enough. Aarvin had never understood him—until today.
The Question Aarvin Feared Most
They reached the staircase when Adrien suddenly stopped, forcing Aarvin to halt too.
"Why is everyone suddenly looking at you?" Adrien asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
Aarvin's heart began to race. "Wh‑what do you mean?"
Adrien's tone stayed flat, clinical: "I heard Liam got hurt. I heard Riyan threatened a whole hallway. And I heard your name far too many times today." His gaze sharpened. "What exactly did you do?"
"I… didn't do anything," Aarvin whispered. "I just reacted."
Adrien stared at him for a long, cold moment. "You're lying."
Aarvin flinched. "I— I'm not—"
"Not to me," Adrien said quietly. _His eyes seemed to bore into Aarvin's soul._ "You're lying to yourself."
The words struck deeper than any accusation. "You think you're weak. That's your real problem."
Aarvin dropped his gaze. "I am weak."
Adrien exhaled—disappointed, controlled. "Weak people don't drop Liam."
Aarvin blinked. "It was an accident."
Adrien stepped closer, his voice low and razor‑sharp: "Every accident reveals the truth you're afraid to admit."
Aarvin's breath caught. Adrien wasn't interrogating him; he was trying to understand him.
When the Wolves Interfere
Footsteps echoed above them. Zane Lockhart appeared at the top of the stairs, flanked by the Iron Wolves. His expression was unreadable—too calm, too calculated.
"Adrien," Zane greeted smoothly, "didn't expect you in this wing."
Adrien didn't turn. "Leave."
Zane chuckled. "That's rude."
"I wasn't asking," Adrien replied, voice still quiet… but lethal.
The Wolves tensed. Zane ignored the tension and looked at Aarvin.
"Aarvin, you should be careful walking alone. Oakridge is… unpredictable."
Adrien finally turned his head, eyes narrowing. "He isn't alone."
Zane's smile sharpened, interest flaring. "So it's true, then."
Aarvin stiffened. "What's true?"
"That the Hale family is taking you seriously."
Aarvin swallowed. "I don't want any of this."
"That doesn't matter," Zane said. "At Oakridge, we don't control what people believe about us. We only survive it."
Adrien's hand rested on Aarvin's shoulder—steady, protective, an unspoken warning.
"Stay away," Adrien told Zane.
Zane nodded slightly. "Wouldn't dream of it."
But his eyes lingered on Aarvin far too long.
When Adrien Finally Speaks
The moment the Wolves disappeared, silence settled again. Adrien looked at Aarvin, his expression unreadable.
"You're attracting problems."
"I'm not trying to," Aarvin whispered.
"I know." Then, surprisingly, Adrien placed a steady hand on Aarvin's head—gentle, protective, something only family could do.
"Stay close to us. And don't run from the name you carry."
Aarvin's throat tightened. "But I'm not like any of you…"
"You don't have to be," Adrien murmured. "You just have to stop being afraid of yourself."
Aarvin didn't fully understand—not yet. But something cracked inside him—a small fracture in the fear he lived within.
Adrien started walking away before adding:
_"People aren't afraid of your name, Aarvin. They're afraid of who you might become."_
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_To be continued…