5. Ex’s Brother

“Hello little brother”

The deep voice was sharp and void of any emotions.

I froze, realizing he was talking to Theo.

Alpha Kael was Theo’s elder brother.

The man before me was the Alpha Kael, he stood tall and composed, his presence dominating the narrow corridor. His dark hair was tousled just enough to look effortlessly perfect, and those piercing gray eyes were slow and assessing.

Theo’s expression faltered for the first time since I had known him, his smugness drained away, replaced by something I never thought I would see on his face. Fear.

“Kael,” he breathed, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Yeah,” Kael drawled, his tone was lazy. “Me neither. How is Father?”

“He…. He’s fine” Theo spoke as though he was struggling to find his voice.

Kael’s mouth curved into a sharp, humorless smile. “Is he? I’m sure he’s doing well. Otherwise, how could he afford to fulfill your wishes…” His eyes cut toward me, for a nanosecond before drifting back to Theo “….Like sending a lowborn girl into Silvervale Academy?”

The jab hit hard. My spine stiffened. I wasn’t used to being talked about like I was invisible, and it was clear that he was referring to me.

I tried to defend myself, but without hesitating, I needed to make it clear that I had never received any help from Theo. “Hey, I’m not __”

“I was talking to my brother” his gaze snapped at me, that single look silenced me and I hated it. His voice was quiet, but dangerous.

The hallway suddenly felt small, and the air grew heavier. His presence was suffocating and there was tension between the two brothers, which made it obvious that the brothers were not particularly on good terms.

Theo chuckled weakly, scratching the back of his neck. “Look, I’ve got things to do. I will just be going.” His eyes darted between Kael and me, then immediately he bolted down the corridor, without looking back or stopping.

Coward. He could not even face his own brother.

Now it was just me and him. Right now I would have preferred to be in a room with Theo than standing here feeling suffocated.

Kael turned slightly, as though he was about to leave, but something in me refused to let the moment end like that. Maybe it was the humiliation in his tone. Maybe I was just tired of people assuming they knew who I was.

“Hey!” I blurted, stepping forward before I could register what I was doing. “I don’t care who you are, but I just want to make this clear. I got into this academy with my own ability”

He stopped and slowly turned back around.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. He took one step closer. Then another, every instinct in my body screamed to back away, but my pride rooted me in place, call me stupid but I knew he wanted to humiliate me and I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of that.

Soon, he was close enough that I could smell his cologne, it was clean, cool, and edged with something woody. His presence was overwhelming, the kind that made the air feel thick and hard to breathe, but I stood still.

No doubt his aura was intimidating, and I tried so hard not to let it show that it affected me.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle “Most people don’t talk back to me. Especially not those who don’t understand who they are standing in front of.” His voice was threatening.

“I don't think so” I shot back even though my heart was beating wildly in my chest and I tried so hard to calm it “You don’t scare me”

He gave me a questioning look, raising one of his brows “I don't scare you” he repeated.

He leaned down, his face now only inches from mine, the smell of sandalwood pungent which was oddly nice.

His gaze flicked to my chest before returning to my eyes, and I instinctively leaned backward, “Then why is your heart racing?” he whispered.

My breath hitched. Damn him.

I forced a smirk, “Maybe because a stranger decided to step into my personal space.”

His eyes glinted with amusement. “Stranger”

I swallowed, refusing to look away. “I don’t care to know who you are, but that's what you are to me”

For a heartbeat, silence stretched between us.

Then he chuckled, it was low and dangerous. “You really don’t know when to back down, do you?”

“Not when someone’s being an ass.” I retorted not knowing how I had gotten all bold.

He smirked, and it was devastating. “Brave,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Or stupid.”

My hands curled into fists. “You can pick whichever makes you feel better.”

He stepped even closer, until the tips of his boots nearly brushed mine. I had to tilt my chin up to meet his gaze, but I refused to look away.

He lowered his head slightly, his breath brushing my ear. “You’ll regret saying that one day.”

A shiver ran down my spine before I could stop it. “Is that a threat?”

He raised his head “You are interesting, little rabbit,” he said with a faint smile. “We will meet again.”

Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked away without sparing another glance at me. He was gone, his dark silhouette disappearing in the corridor’s dim light.

I exhaled, realizing only then that I’d been holding my breath. “What the hell was that?” I muttered under my breath.

I stood there for several seconds, my heart pounding, and my palms were clammy.

I rubbed my palm against the side of my dress as I tried to calm my beating heart.

I tried to shake the feeling off, but it lingered, his scent, his voice, his presence. Everything about him felt dangerous.

Deep down I hoped our path would never cross, but his last statement really put me off.