The Price Of A Secret

Chapter Four – The Price of a Secret

Maelis’ POV

By the time I managed to calm my wolf, the combat hall had almost emptied.

The instructors had dismissed the other students, but the whispers followed them as they left.

Every pair of eyes that looked at me carried the same question.

Who was I?

I wished I knew the answer myself.

My body still felt weak.

The struggle to force my wolf back had drained every bit of strength I had.

I sat quietly on one of the wooden benches near the edge of the training hall, staring at the scrape across my hand.

The fall had torn the skin across my knuckles.

Tiny drops of blood still stained my fingers.

“Hold still.” I looked up. Jace stood in front of me with a small wooden first-aid box in his hands, before it was Silas, now Jace one of the alpha… Why are they helping me? 

“When did you get that?” I asked.

He smiled. “I stole it.”

My eyes widened, he laughed.

“I’m kidding. The healer gave it to me before running off to treat someone who actually knows how to stay on their feet.”

Despite everything that had happened, a small smile tugged at my lips.

“There it is,” he said.

He sat beside me and opened the box.

Jace grinned.

“Much better.”

He gently took my injured hand.n“This might sting.”

“I think I’ve had enough pain for one day.”

“Fair point.”

He carefully cleaned the wound before wrapping a fresh bandage around it.

His movements were surprisingly gentle. 

“You’ve done this before?” I asked 

“I have two younger brothers.” He shrugged. “They’re professional troublemakers.”

Before I could ask another question, the hall doors slammed open.

The sound echoed through the empty room. Jace looked toward the entrance.

I turned as well. Cassandra stood there.

Her eyes immediately fell on my bandaged hand.

Then she looked at Jace sitting beside me.

Her expression darkened. “So this is where you’ve been.”

I slowly stood. “Cassandra…”

She ignored me.

Instead, she looked at Jace. “I’d like to speak to her.”

Jace glanced at me. “I’ll be right outside.”

He stood, gave my shoulder a reassuring pat, and walked toward the exit.

As soon as he disappeared, the silence between Cassandra and me became unbearable. First Silas chose you, then Jace bandaged your hand, even Kieran covered you. Do you know what everyone was talking about when they left?”

“Not me.”

“You.”

I stared at her. “It wasn’t like that.”

“No?” Her voice trembled with anger. “You lived in our house for years, you ate at our table, my parents fed you and all this time, you’ve been deceiving them.”

“I wasn’t deceiving anyone, I didn’t even understand what was happening to me.”

“You expect me to believe that after what everyone saw today?”

Tears burned behind my eyes. “I was scared.”

“So were we supposed to wait until you lost control and hurt someone?”

“I would never hurt you.”

“You don’t know that.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. She folded her arms. “I’ll tell Father everything and when he comes for you…”

She smiled without warmth. “Your time at Alpha Academy will be over.”

My heart sank. “Cassandra, please.”

“No.”

Her expression remained cold. “It’s time you went back to the pack, I no longer need you in this academy”

The words stole the air from my lungs. She turned and started walking away.

Without thinking, I hurried after her. “Cassandra, wait.”

She stopped but didn’t turn around. “I never wanted to lie to you.”

She slowly faced me. “If you really want to don’t want to go back ” Hope flickered inside me. “…then do something for me.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Everyone saw Silas choose you today.”

“I didn’t ask him to.”

“I don’t care.” She stepped closer until we were only a few feet apart. “I don’t care why he chose you. but whatever it’s, make it stop “

I stared at her. “What?”

“If he talks to you, bring him to me, if he wants to see you, make sure he sees me instead.”

“I can’t do that.”

“You can, make him notice me” 

“I can’t control Silas.”

“You’d better find a way.” She looked at me without a trace of sympathy. “Because if you don’t…”

She let the silence finish her sentence. “My parents will know everything.”

Then she walked away, leaving me standing alone beneath the fading evening light.