006

🖱️Jayden🖱️

I stormed out of the building like the whole academy had personally offended my ancestors. The night air slapped my face, cold and sharp, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t even care that stepping outside after curfew was basically an instant invitation for every creature in this forest to use me as a midnight snack.

I was done.

Completely, absolutely, aggressively done.

This academy was fucked. Not just fucked. Fucked in HD. Fucked in 4D with surround sound.

I lost my first kiss to some golden-eyed psycho who kissed me like he was conducting a science experiment on my soul. Then, as if the universe wanted to spit on me personally, another asshole pinned me to a wall and kissed me like he was claiming property.

Two kisses.

Two strangers.

Zero consent.

Zero peace.

And my roommates? That crazy yet nice River looked at me with fear in his eye and warmed me about the first psycho that kissed me.

“Stay away and always keep your eye down.”

Like I needed a TED Talk to know that.

I kept walking deeper into the trees behind the dorms, phone clenched in my hand, anger pounding in my chest. The forest creaked like it was warning me to turn back. Whatever. Let it try me. I was in no mood.

I finally stopped under a huge tree and unlocked my phone. My fingers shook. I didn’t even think. I just hit call.

Dad Alex picked up on the first ring like he’d been waiting all day.

“Jayden? Son, are you okay?”

My throat tightened so fast I almost choked.

“I hate it here so much, Dad. I want to come home.”

The words broke out of me before I could swallow them. I sounded like a little kid again and I hated it but I couldn’t stop. My chest hurt. My eyes burned. My life was an active horror movie and I hadn’t even finished day one.

There was a soft breath on the other end. A pause that felt like a hug.

Then Dad Alex spoke, gentle but firm in that annoying way that made me want to cry and punch a wall at the same time.

“A son of mine quitting on the first day of a new adventure makes me wonder if I raised a real man.”

My jaw dropped. “Dad—”

“But,” he cut in, his voice softening into that warm tone he only used when he really meant something, “a son of mine calling me because he’s overwhelmed? That tells me I raised someone brave enough to ask for comfort. And that matters more.”

My chest cracked.

He sighed, and I could hear the smile in it. “Jayden, I hate that you’re there. I hate that I had to send you to a place I don’t fully understand. But you being alive… that’s the only thing I care about. Your father and I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”

I closed my eyes, and for a second the fear shook out of me. Just a little.

“I don’t feel safe here,” I whispered. “Everyone is weird. Everyone is dangerous. I’ve been kissed twice by strangers like I’m a buffet item. And people keep sniffing me. Sniffing me, Dad.”

He actually chuckled. “Of course they are. You’re special. You’ve always been special. And creatures can smell special.”

“Dad, that does not help.”

“I know.” His voice softened again. “But listen to me. You are stronger than you think. You’ve survived worse than this. You’ve faced hunters, rogues, crazed beings who wanted your blood. And you’re still here.”

A tiny breath shook out of me.

“You won’t be there forever,” he added. “Just long enough until we understand what’s happening with you. Long enough to keep you safe. And besides my Jayden is a well trained man in all fighting techniques, I’m certain you can beat them up if you want”

A tear slipped down my face, and I wiped it aggressively. “I still hate it.”

“I know,” he murmured. “But I believe in you. And you’re going to make it through this. You always do.”

Silence settled between us for a moment. Heavy. Comforting. Real.

“I’m scared, Dad,” I admitted.

“And yet you’re still standing outside in the dark like a stubborn little warrior,” he said. “That’s my boy.”

A shaky laugh slipped out of me.

“Go back inside,” he whispered. “Lock your door. Try to rest. Tomorrow will make more sense. And if it doesn’t… you call me again.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“And Jayden?”

“Yeah?”

“We love you. More than life. Don’t forget that.”

The call ended softly.

I stood there under the trees, breathing slow, letting the words settle in my chest like something warm enough to keep me standing.

Then I wiped my face.

Straightened my shoulders.

And turned back toward the academy I absolutely, deeply, passionately hated.

Because Dad was right.

I wasn’t going to break.

Not tonight.

Not here.

Not ever. If I have to beating them all up then… I don’t mind doing that, it was just that the way they make me feel like being human was a crime… they are just like me aren’t they…?