Chapter 5 - The Luna mark revealed

Aiden

Blood trickled down my upper lip, and my fingers cupped instinctively over my nose as pain pulsed through my skull. My vision blurred for a second, but before I could blink it clear, Rowan’s voice exploded across the corridor.

“Alpha!”

He bolted toward me like a panicked chicken, eyes wide, face pale. The moment he saw the blood, his voice cracked.

“I’ll go call for a stretcher now!”

“Row…. wait…” I tried, but his panic already carried him around the corner and back again like lightning. Suddenly, I was surrounded, I barely got a breath out before someone shoved me flat onto a stretcher.

“I said I’m fine—” I said through gritted teeth, but nobody listened, of course. Why would they? They were too busy freaking out that an Alpha got injured.

My pride shriveled as murmurs spread like wildfire. Students gathered, whispering, pointing. The almighty Alpha heir was bleeding, helpless, being wheeled away like a tragic accident victim. All because of that stupid Nova.

My fists tightened so hard my knuckles cracked.

Rowan hovered beside me, voice shaking. “What happened to you, Alpha?! Are you hurt anywhere else? Who attacked you? Should I alert—”

“It’s nothing!” I snapped, but heat flushed under my skin. Embarrassment burned in my stomach.

Then I caught a voice from the crowd.

“They’re sending Nova to the dorm master’s office… I heard he might get suspended.”

Suspended?

No. No, no…this couldn’t be allowed. I didn’t want him suspended. He couldn’t escape like that. That would be too easy.

Gritting my teeth, I ripped the blanket off, shoved past the stretcher attendants, and pushed through the crowd. Their shocked gasps scattered behind me as I sprinted down the hall.

And that’s how I ended up in the hallway, my hand hooked into something, soft fabric concealed beneath Nova’s shirt. His entire body froze, trembling lightly. I narrowed my eyes, closing mine just to mentally picture what I was touching.

What the hell was this?

He twitched violently, legs shaking like he’d been electrocuted. The tension in his spine screamed fear. It was… interesting. Curiosity pried at me like claws.

Before I could figure it out, Nova whipped around, eyes wide, cheeks flushed with horror. My fingers slid free instantly.

“You… you pervert!” he yelled, voice cracking, and he bolted like I’d caught him hiding government secrets.

The look on his face, absolutely priceless. But damn it, I still didn’t know what I’d touched.

Rowan stumbled after me. “Alpha! What’s going on? Why were you…wait…what did you grab?”

I ignored him entirely, pushing through the cluster of gossiping students and marching down the hallway with sharp steps. My nose had stopped bleeding, thank the Goddess for alpha healing, but humiliation still clung to my skin like smoke.

Back inside my dorm room, I paced the length of the floor, back and forth, boots thumping with each turn. My thoughts zipped frantically through my head.

Nova was hiding something. And I would be the one to uncover it.

“Alpha,” Rowan entered again, clearing his throat softly, “I gathered some information on Nova. It’s not much yet but—”

I sliced my hand through the air. “Get me books and paper right now.”

He blinked. “Why…”

“Don’t ask questions, just go.”

Rowan scrambled out and returned moments later with a sketchpad and pen. I dropped into my chair and immediately began drawing, trying to recreate what my fingers felt beneath Nova’s shirt. The curve, the strap, that texture… It haunted me.

My tongue traced the edge of my teeth as I sketched intensely, eyes narrowing, lines sharp. When I finished, I held the pad at arm’s length, staring.

What the hell was this?

“Rowan,” I called, summoning him over with one finger.

He approached nervously, leaning over my shoulder to see the drawing. His face scrunched, eyebrows knitting into one thick line.

“How am I supposed to know what you drew?” he muttered, baffled.

I slowly turned my head toward him, glare sharp enough to cut steel.

“You’re useless,” I hissed.

“I…. Alpha, that looks like… I mean, maybe—”

“Shut up!” I snapped, standing abruptly. “Figure it out before nightfall and make sure to bring me answers.”

“I—yes, Alpha!” Rowan squeaked, grabbing the paper and bolting out the door like his tail was on fire.

Silence settled once he left, but it wasn’t peaceful. My chest buzzed with anticipation. A grin spread across my lips without permission.

Nova thought he could embarrass me? Make me bleed? Run away?

He had no idea who he was dealing with.

“Just wait… Soon you’ll be on your knees,” I muttered to myself, voice low, savoring the words. “Begging.”

Minutes crawled by like hours. I paced again, leaning against walls, tapping my foot. Curiosity twisted in my gut. What was he hiding under there? Why did touching it make him react like I’d discovered buried treasure?

Then the door slammed open.

Rowan stumbled in, puffing like he’d sprinted across continents. Sweat dripped down his forehead.

“I—finally… found the answer…” he managed.

I stepped forward immediately. “What? What is it?”

He lifted the paper, gulped, and pointed.

“It’s a…bra strap.”

Silence clapped into the room.

My eyes widened.

A guy… wearing a bra?

My jaw slackened just slightly before a slow smirk curled across my lips. My heart kicked once, not with shock… but excitement.

“Well, well,” I murmured, leaning back. “This just got interesting.”

Was Nova hiding… more than I thought?

A laugh rumbled in my chest.

“Oh, Nova… you’re going to be fun.”

“You look happy,” Rowan muttered, side-eyeing the suspicious grin stretching across my face.

I couldn’t even hide it. “Yes. I finally found a way to make him pay!” A laugh tore out of me, loud, ridiculous, echoing off the dorm walls like I’d lost my mind. I didn’t care. The thought of Nova panicking was pure entertainment. “He’ll hate the day he ever met me.”

Rowan blinked. “Right… well, that’s… impressive?” he mumbled, clearly uncomfortable.

A knock hit the door, sharp, three taps.

We both froze. Rowan’s eyes darted to mine.

“Come in,” I called, casually stretching my arms behind my head.

The door slid open… and there he stood.

Nova. My eyes lit up as I saw him.

His posture was stiff, shoulders tight, fingers hooked awkwardly around his collar. His eyes wouldn’t even rise to meet mine.

Of course, perfect timing.

“Leave us alone,” I said without looking at Rowan.

Rowan nodded instantly, slipping out of the room like smoke disappearing under a door.

Now it was just us.

“I see you're back.”

Nova swallowed, throat bobbing. “Yes, this is my room anyways.”

I leaned back on the bed, folding one leg over the other slowly, deliberately, wearing a smile full of trouble.

I arched a brow. “Wow. You’re just going to pretend like nothing happened?”

His head snapped up, irritation flaring behind those eyes. “Like what?” he spat.

I smirked. “Really? Seriously, you’re going to be like this?” I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “Why don’t you just confess what you are? Beg me not to tell. Maybe…” I shrugged dramatically, “…I’ll consider it.”

His jaw clenched. “I would never. Do what you want!”

That annoying heat flared in my chest. Before I could stop myself, I surged forward. My hand wrapped around his wrist, and he stumbled back, losing balance entirely.

We crashed onto his bed.

He landed first, and I fell right on top of him. His breath hitched against my chest. For half a second, everything froze, the warmth of him under me, the way his lashes trembled.

Up close like this… his face looked soft, like feminine. My brows pinched together. The bra. Was I stupid to think he was gay? What if….

No. Impossible.

His heartbeat hammered against my arm fast, frantic. His cheeks were flushed bright pink. Panic glittered in his eyes as he shoved me off, scrambling backward.

“What the heck are you doing?!” he barked, voice embarrassingly high. “I let it go earlier when you touched my back and now—”

“What?” I sat up, dusting off my shirt. “We’re guys anyway. So what?”

He went silent immediately, completely silent. His lips pressed into a thin, trembling line. He stood abruptly, body stiff like a startled cat, clearly ready to run away again.

Coward.

“Where the heck do you think you’re going?!” I snapped, lunging forward. My hand slammed against the wall beside his head, pinning him in place. His breath hitched again.

“We’re not done.”

His eyes darted everywhere, searching for escape.

And then…

Something soft slipped. A sound so tiny I barely heard it hit the floor near my foot.

I looked down.

“…What the—?”

A round object sat on the floor like a stunned animal.

I bent, grabbed it, and froze, it was a wig, I lifted it slowly.

My heart sank into silence.

Because the person staring back at me… didn’t have short dark hair anymore.

Long, silky white strands cascaded down his shoulders, natural, shining, ethereal. His features shifted instantly, softer, sharper… breathtaking, not boyish, but feminine now.

Standing before me now, was someone who looks like the White Wolf, the legendary Wolf, The one in my Mom's painting...

My breath caught.

“What are you?” I whispered, eyes wide. My voice came out lower than I expected.

His lips trembled. His eyes glistened. Panic carved his expression. “I… just leave me alone! This isn’t my real hair, I know you don't care about Omegas, so just….” he babbled, fingers shaking as they reached out, snatching the wig out of my hand like it was his last lifeline.

He tried turning away, again, always trying to run.

But I moved fast, stepping in front of him and blocking his path. “You’re right, I don’t usually care…” I murmured, eyes narrowing slightly, “but I have to admit….something about you makes me want to know more..... I'm interested in you.....very much Interested ”

My hand lifted toward his hair, curiosity pulling me closer, but he jerked away instantly, scrambling to run away again. My patience snapped.

“Where the heck do you think you’re going? We’re not done!” I barked, grabbing his collar before he could take another step.

Suddenly his fabric tore with a sharp, ripping sound.

His shoulder was exposed… skin marked with swirling silver ink. The pattern looked ancient, like it belonged to another lifetime, glowing faintly under the dim light.

My eyes widened, the Luna mark. The one I've been searching for? What?

Silence thickened the room instantly.

I just stared, pulse pounding in my ears like war drums. The Luna mark only meant one thing: my chosen mate, and it was right there, burned into his back.

My chest tightened. “N-no way,” I breathed, voice cracking. “You…”