Chapter 3: Stepping In

Jeffery lingered a bit longer than he probably should in front of the mirror, gazing at his reflection that felt unfamiliar. His black hair replaced his usual silver, and Lucien’s face looked back at him instead of his own thoughts. It was as if a life not meant for him was staring back. He gently adjusted the collar of his Northcrest Academy uniform again, even though it sat perfectly—something that made him feel like he had a tiny bit of control. From the hallway, Dominic’s voice called through the door, saying simply, “Time.” That one word always sounded so final to Jeffery. With a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out. Dominic’s gaze was steady and without emotion. “You understand what’s at stake,” he said. Jeffery nodded in response, “The pack.” “And the championship.” Jeffery shrugged lightly, “Same to you.” That earned him a brief, unreadable look from Dominic. Not wanting the silence to stretch awkwardly, Jeffery turned away. He’d learned early on that waiting for Dominic’s approval only made things more difficult. The drive to Northcrest Academy was peaceful, quiet. Jeffery watched the world outside the window move past so quickly, as if it didn’t care who he was trying to be today. Lucien’s life was so neat and well-planned, with every detail in its perfect place and every expectation already set. When the car stopped, Jeffery carefully adjusted his bag before stepping out.

The school gates were large, polished, and loud with movement.

Students filled the entrance, laughing and talking like nothing in their lives had ever been taken away from them.

Whispers started almost immediately.

“That’s Lucien Vale.”

“He looks different today.”

Jeffery kept walking.

He did not slow down.

He found Lucien’s locker without needing to ask anyone. Everything had been memorized the night before. Dominic made sure of that.

Three boys were already waiting there.

Kelvin, Lucas, and Travis.

Lucien’s friends.

Jeffery did not like the word friends in this case. They looked more like people who enjoyed standing close to power.

Kelvin leaned on the locker. “You were gone.”

Jeffery nodded once. “Family issue.”

Lucas smiled slightly. “You always have those.”

Jeffery did not answer.

He opened the locker and started arranging books he did not care about.

Travis looked at him kindly. “Coach mentioned you missed practice.”

Jeffery paused, then softly said, “I’ll take care of it.”

Kelvin shared a glance with Lucas, both sensing that something about Jeffery wasn’t quite right.

Jeffery sensed it too.

Lucien was supposed to be more outspoken, relaxed, and carefree. But Jeffery didn’t feel that way today.

He kept a calm expression and closed the locker door gently.

The bell rang, giving him a break from more questions.

History class was surprisingly quiet.

Jeffery quietly sat near the back, keeping his head slightly down.

He didn’t need much effort to follow the lesson. He was naturally better at this kind of thinking than Lucien.

That thought lingered ind a little longer than it should have.

The teacher entered and began writing on the board.

“Who can explain why the Moonfang treaty fell apart Nobody responded.

Jeffery felt the silence hanging in the air.

Lucien wouldn’t have answered this question. He didn’t care much about history. He cared about movement, speed, and competition.

Jeffery raised his hand, The class immediately responded.

A few Heads turned curiously.

Kelvin looked a bit surprised.

Jeffery hesitated briefly, then spoke up.

“The treaty fell apart because both packs ignored their boundaries and relied on dominance rather than negotiation.”

The teacher nodded appreciatively. “Exactly.”

When Jeffery sat down, the silence afterwards felt heavier.

He could feel eyes on him afterwards, not with admiration, but with confusion, as if something was out of place.

Kelvin leaned toward Lucas and quietly asked, “Since when does Lucien know that?”

Lucas shook his head slightly afterwards.”

Jeffery stared at the board and kept quiet.

He knew he couldn’t afford any mistakes like that.

Lunch was even tougher.

Lucien’s table was too familiar, too noisy, packed with people who spoke without thinking.

French fries with melted cheese sat invitingly in front of him, a cup of cola resting beside them. Jeffery took a glance at it before settling down. Lucien looked pleased, but Jeffery felt a bit indifferent. Kelvin immediately noticed and asked, “You want your drink?” Jeffery picked up the cup and said, “I changed it.” Travis chuckled, “Since when does Lucien Vale change anything?” Jeffery managed a small smile. “People change,” he responded. Silence followed, which felt even heavier than questions. Next came training. The ice rink was colder than Jeffery remembered, and the sharp sound of skates on ice echoed around him. Carefully, he took a step forward. The moment his blade made contact, his balance wobbled—wrong. His body didn’t respond as it should. Almost slipping, he caught himself. Nearby players chuckled quietly. “Lucien’s off today,” someone said softly. Jeffery straightened and steadied himself. The coach blew the whistle. “Vale. Move.” Nodding, Jeffery pushed himself forward, each movement feeling strange, as if wearing someone else’s body—almost right, but not quite. A puck was passed to him. He reached to stop it, but it bounced off his stick instead, drawing more quiet laughs. He gripped his stick tighter and tried again—this time better, but only just. The coach watched him longer than usual, and Jeffery could feel it, like he was being subtly studied—not as Lucien, but as someone who didn’t quite belong. Then, suddenly, the doors at the far end of the rink swung open. Everything changed instantly, though Jeffery sensed it before he saw it. The air shifted, different somehow. He looked up to see Roland Hayes walking inside. Around him, Northcrest seemed to freeze just a little. Not because Roland demanded attention—because he didn’t need to. Without rushing, Roland stepped onto the ice, his gaze sweeping across the rink once before settling on Jeffery. Instantly, Jeffery felt a reaction from within, nothing fear or curiosity, but something deeper, more instinctive, like recognition without knowing why. Roland skated closer, stopping just a short distance away. The rink’s noise faded into the background. Roland studied him silently for a moment before speaking softly. “You feel different today.” Jeffery swallowed hard, fighting to keep his voice steady. “I am the same,” he replied. A pause filled the space, and Roland’s expression sharpened—like he was trying to understand something that didn’t quite make sense. Jeffery felt the strange awareness return.

Something inside him shifted as he felt Roland’s presence. Roland finally looked away, but it seemed like it took a real effort. “We will meet again,” he said, then skated past him. Jeffery stayed still on the ice, feeling a heart that didn’t race as it normally would when meeting an enemy. It felt like something inside him had already accepted him, even though he didn’t fully understand it yet. He turned his head slightly, watching Roland disappear across the rink. And for the first time since he entered Lucien’s life, one thought became crystal clear in his mind: this was no longer just pretending. Roland Hayes might already know exactly who he really was.