Chapter 7

Caleb's POV ~

I crack an eyelid open only to hiss and slap a hand over my face immediately. A sharp beam of light already pierce through the gap in the curtains and is stabbing directly into my pupil.

My head feels heavy but I sit up and swiftly look over at the small bed in the corner. Zane is nowhere to be found. The sheets are pulled up neat which means he’s been up for a long time.

Is Zane avoiding us?

I assume it's just because Cade told Zane we have our scary bone-breaking training today.

Zane looks like he’d break if a strong wind hit him, so I bet he’s hiding in the library or the woods.

I find it strange that I care about a boy like him. I’ve never felt this way about anyone at the other academies. For some reason, I want to protect him.

Every time he looks at me with those wide doe-like eyes, I feel like I should be standing in front of him and offering him a shoulder to cry on.

Great. Just great…I’m lowkey starting to question my sexuality. Something tells me this isn't normal for a future Alpha.

Am I interested in boys now, or …is there just something weird about the way Zane smells that makes my brain stop working?

A nervous laugh escapes my lips, sounding loud in the quiet room while I stare at the empty bed.

I don't want to be the guy who falls for his roommate, especially when my brother is a jerk who would never let me hear the end of it.

“Are you starting to go crazy and talk to yourself now?” Cade walks in with a towel around his neck. He looks at me like I have gone crazy before dropping his dirty clothes on the floor in a messy pile.

I ignore him and grab my bathing bucket. I have a strong urge to ask him about Zane but Cade is annoying, and I don't want him giving me a weird look so I figured keeping quiet would make me look less like a babysitter.

I turn and walk out of the room without saying a single word. My mind is too full of Zane. If he gets hurt today, I think I might actually lose my mind and tear this whole school apart just to get to him.

***

"Everyone get in position. Late comers will be punished." The middle aged wolf groans, looking clearly displeased judging by the deep frown on his face.

Alphas and betas are scattered everywhere, they move like ants in a busy hill.

"Silence!" He issues another warning, this time his voice sends a chill down everyone's spine and makes the hair on my arms stand up.

The hall goes silent in an instant, you could hear a pin drop on the cold floor.

"Right on cue," I move over to Zane and give him a right soft punch on his stomach, wanting him to look at me.

He looks like he is saying a silent prayer in his heart, he only looks down at his feet and touches his clothes with shaking fingers.

Before I get the chance to ask what's wrong, he's dragged away by a guy about my age.

I angrily watch Zane follow him with no resistance.

Good thing I took special lessons on how to control my anger. It was something our father forced us to do.

"You will be grouped into a group of fours," The man announces, his eyes scanning the crowd. "For every team, three wins from each team qualifies you for the next round on Thursday. Cade, Zane, Caleb and Marcus, you are up against Alyrin, Bruce, Eric and Argus."

I pop up a smirk, feeling satisfied that I was paired with Zane and my twin brother, Cade.

I walk towards the center of the podium with Cade and Zane.

This means I'll be closer to Zane. Maybe I'll even get to know him more.

A date doesn't sound bad Caleb, l like this new kid already.

My wolf yawns lazily and I scoff in reply.

“In your dreams Shar”

One minute I'm talking to my wolf and the next minute—

"What's uppp dudes I'm Marcus, your teammate."

The guy who had previously dragged Zane away is now standing in front of me, shielding Zane from my view with his wide shoulders.

Cade seems to have sensed what's going on too, I can tell by the sharp hiss he let out.

Good thing I ain't the only one who doesn't like this Marcus guy.

The so-called Marcus proceeds to withdraw his hands and I shake it just at the last minute.

Keep your enemies closer they say. I need to befriend this guy in order to know his relationship with Zane and I ain't backing out now.

"Welcome, Mar—cus, I'm Caleb and this is my brother, Cade. Hey Zane, get over here buddy!"

Zane nods and walks over.

We all discuss some strategic fighting skills we are to use, and our opponents join us just right after.

I see Zane skin go immediately pale as he recognised the boy who had bullied him earlier, his breath hitching in his throat.

Without thinking I strike the first attack and challenge the guy, my fist meeting his jaw with a loud crack.

Before long, our team won and we have successfully defeated 3 out of the 4 guys, leaving them panting on the floor.

We qualify for the next round.

"Thank you for shielding me earlier, I won't slow you guys down when next," Zane says in a whisper.

He walks away with a slightly arched back.

Why does my heart hurt as I see him walk away?

"We should let him be for now." Cade says and walks away. I can sense he feels the same way too.

Even though Cade always appears as a jerk in front of people, I am sure he cares about our roommate as much as I do.

I glance at Marcus as he rushes after Zane, his hand reaching out to catch him.

Their closeness eats me up inside but I force myself to look away, dragging my feet as I walk in the opposite direction.

Just as I reach the door, a loud, pained howl rips through the air from the hallway where they went, and it sounds exactly like Zane's.