04

KAIRA

“Probably nothing,” she said quickly. “Just residual adrenaline from the attack. Though…” She hesitated.

“Though what?” I wrote, My handwriting was getting messier with anxiety.

“Have you been experiencing any unusual symptoms lately? Strange dreams, enhanced senses, unexplained energy surges?”

I thought about the silver light, the way I had felt during the sparring match, and the moment I had sworn I spoke telepathically. But Alpha Zane had said it was just adrenaline, just my mind playing tricks.

I shook my head and wrote, “Nothing unusual.”

Nurse Emily didn't look convinced, but she let it go. “Well, if anything changes, you come see me immediately. Understand?”

I nodded and headed back to my dorm, my mind spinning with questions I didn't have answers to.

That night, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those red eyes and yellowed fangs. But worse than that, I kept thinking about Alpha Zane. The way he looked at me during our fight. The way he said “mate,” or maybe I had imagined that part too.

Around midnight, I gave up on sleep and decided to take a walk. The academy was quiet, most students locked in their rooms after the attack. I made my way to the library, thinking some reading might help calm my racing thoughts.

That's where I found him.

Alpha Zane was sitting at a table in the back corner, surrounded by old books. His hair was messy, like he had been running his hands through it, and he had ditched the formal professor clothes for jeans and a t-shirt that showed off his ridiculous shoulders.

He looked up when I approached, and for a second, something wild flashed in his amber eyes before he got control of himself.

“Kaira,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “You should be sleeping.”

I pulled out my whiteboard and wrote, “So should you. What are you reading professor?”

He tried to close the book, but I was faster, catching a glimpse of the title, “Lunar Bloodlines and Lost Abilities.”

I wrote quickly, “Do you need it for something?”

“Just… academic curiosity,” he said, but his jaw was tense.

I erased and wrote again, “For what exactly?”

He stared at me for a long moment, like he was waging some internal battle. Then he leaned forward, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper.

“Kaira, what I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room. Do you understand?”

I nodded, my heart suddenly racing.

“There are things about today's attack that don't add up. Rogues don't usually work together. They don't coordinate attacks. And they definitely don't flee from a fight unless something truly terrifying scares them off.”

I wrote, “Like what?”

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Ran a hand through his hair. “Well, you see… the thing is…” He trailed off, looking everywhere except at me.

I raised an eyebrow and wrote, “So… Start talking, or I don't deserve to know anymore?”

“Right. Yes. Very technical supernatural stuff. You wouldn't understand,” he said quickly, then winced at his words.

“Try me.” I flashed my whiteboard directly in his face.

“It's, uh…” He gestured vaguely at the book. “Complicated. Lots of big words. Ancient prophecies. Very boring, really.”

I stared at him, “You're a terrible liar.”

“I am not!” he protested, then caught himself. “I mean, I'm not lying. Just… simplifying.”

“By saying nothing at all?” I wrote again.

“Exactly. Very efficient communication method.”

Despite everything, I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. “Is this how you teach your classes? 'Today we'll learn about combat, but it's complicated, so just trust me'?"

Immediately he read it and laughed. “You're enjoying this, aren't you?”

I nodded. “You're squirming, It's entertaining.”

“I do not squirm. I'm an Alpha. Alphas don't squirm.”

' You're squirming right now."

“This is… strategic repositioning,” he said, shifting in his seat again.

“Is that what we're calling it?”

He leaned back in his chair, looking defeated. “You're relentless.”

“I have to be. I can't exactly out-talk you.” I wrote with a straight face, but something flickered across his face - guilt, maybe? “Kaira, I..." “Don't. I was joking.” I held my whiteboard up.

“But still, I should..."I erased and wrote, “Professor Zane. Stop.”

When he looked at me again, his eyes were glowing that same amber-gold color from our sparring match.

“You're mine to protect,” he said suddenly, his voice carrying the unmistakable authority of an Alpha claiming what belonged to him.

The words sent heat pooling in my stomach, but they also raised a thousand new questions. “Yours?” I wrote with shaky handwriting.

He seemed to realize what he had said and quickly backtracked. “I mean, you're my student. It's my responsibility to keep you safe.”

But we both knew that wasn't what he meant.

The library fell silent except for the sound of our breathing. The tension between us was now so thick I could practically taste it.

“Kaira,” he said softly, “there are things I need to tell you about what happened today. About what you are and what we…"

His words were cut off by the sound of footsteps approaching. We both turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows between the bookshelves.

It was Madison, but something was wrong with her. Her usual perfect appearance was disheveled, her clothes torn, and her eyes…

Her eyes were glowing red.

“Well, well,” she said, her voice distorted and not quite her own. “What do we have here? The little freak and her protector, all alone.”

Alpha Zane was on his feet instantly, positioning himself between Madison and me. “That's not Madison,” he said grimly.

“Oh, but it is,” Madison's voice replied, though there was something else speaking through her. “She let us in so easily. All that jealousy and hatred made her the perfect vessel.”

“Possessed,” Alpha Zane breathed. “Someone's controlling her.”

Madison smiled, revealing teeth that were far too sharp. “We know what she is now. We felt her power during the attack, and we're here to collect our prize.”

She lunged forward with inhuman speed, claws extended toward my face.

I froze, unable to move, unable to breathe.

But before those razor-sharp claws could reach me, Alpha Zane was there.

He caught Madison's wrist mid-strike, his own eyes blazing amber-gold with Alpha authority.

“You made a mistake coming here,” he said, his voice deadly calm.

Whatever was possessing Madison seemed to realize it had underestimated him. Her red eyes widened with something that looked like fear.

“This isn't over,” the thing speaking through Madison hissed. “We know what she is now. We know where to find her. And next time, pretty Alpha, you won't be able to protect her.”

Madison's body convulsed once, twice, then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.

When she opened her eyes again, they were her normal brown color, filled with confusion.

“What… where am I?” she whispered, then looked at Alpha Zane's protective stance over me, and her face twisted with familiar jealousy.

But I barely heard her. I was staring at Alpha Zane, my heart pounding from more than just fear.

Because I was still hearing the hiss of that thing, still seeing the flash of red in Madison's eyes, and still feeling the chill of what that thing just said.

“You won't be able to protect her. We know what she is now.” The words echoed in my mind, but before I could think of the next thing to do, Madison walked towards me quickly.

“I said…” She snapped, her voice trembling, “What's going on here?”

“Madison, you don’t understand…” Alpha Zane started, but she cut him off.

“Not you professor, I'm talking to her.” She said, pointing at me.

"I don’t…" I started to write, but she didn't let me finish. Madison closed the space between us in a heartbeat. “What did you do to me?” she spat, her voice breaking. “Tell me!”

Before I could even lift my board, her hand flew across my face. The slap echoed loudly as I staggered back.