Five

EVREN

I didn't move when Altair collapsed.

The other students ran towards him. Commander Stone barked orders for her to be taken to the medical unit. The burly guy who'd sat with him yesterday at dinner lifted him up, carrying him past me.

My eyes followed his frail hands, dangling as they carried him past me.

Thin wrists, very fair skin like milk, sharp doe eyes and a thin voice. Something about him…unsettled me.

“Evren.” Commander Stone's voice broke my thoughts and I turned to look at him.

He walked towards me, “Prepare for the prospect test tomorrow. Only two sets of students made it to Fang Rank. I'm pretty sure none of them would make it to the prospects level.”

“What do you think about Altair, sir?”

Commander Stone sighed, “He's just like any other person who's desperate to get into Storm Academy. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing.”

He shook his head, “But seeing how he fainted, maybe, he's not special after all. He's just like the others.”

“He carried someone twice his size.” I said, matter of fact. I took a glance at the boy Altair had carried and there was no mistaken.

“It's either he is skilled….or he is desperate. If he is special, he would make it to the prospect rank. Tomorrow would tell,” Commander Stone murmured, “He is your roommate right? So check him out at the medical unit.”

He grunted as he walked away from me, disappearing into the teacher's building.

I turned towards the direction of the medical unit, hearing footsteps behind me.

“What did you find?” I asked.

“Nothing,” the voice said. It's Rhythe, my beta. “No one knows anything about Altair or what pack she is from.”

I scoffed, his voice playing in my head.

Minor pack. Far east. Not one you would know. The lie.

I knew all the 33 packs in Verelan, and I knew their territories as well as notable families that lived within them.

There was only one Altair, who was an elder in the north west. And he had no children.

“If I may ask, Alpha Prince,” Rhythe said, “why are you interested in Altair?”

I stopped walking for a moment to think.

Because he knows me?

‘You are…..Evren?’ The look in his eyes tells me he had heard about me. He didn't give me the look those that knew me through my father did. He gave me the look of someone that should stay away from me. Someone who should be cautious.

Others were cautious….but not…not in that light. They always tried to suck up to me, win favour from my father through me. It was repulsive.

But Altair. He looked like someone who made up his mind to stay away from me.

So when the secretary asked,

‘What room should I place Kaelyn Altair?’

‘Dorm 17.’

He looked at me, ‘Your dorm? What about Kaiven?’

‘Till he is found.’

I replied.

“Evren?”

I answered his question without meeting his eyes. “I don't know.”

He blinked, but doesn't question me as I walked away. That's Rhythe.

He wouldn't speak unless it's absolutely necessary to. His family trained him to be a beta even before Storm Academy.

I liked him.

But he was distant.

He treated me like a master. Not a friend.

Only Kaiven treated me like a friend.

It seemed to me that Rhythe’s mind is made up to just be my hunting dog. That's the problem with trained betas. They obey too well.

I don't want that for him.

But there's nothing I can do.

I pushed the polished doors open and stepped into the medical unit. The nurse looked up at me,

“Alpha Evren, did you come to check up on the students?”

“On Altair.”

“Oh,” her lips curved, “He's on bed six. I think he really need rest. He looked exhausted.”

“I'll take care of him.” I replied.

She nodded and walked away briskly, while I walked towards the bed.

He looked pale. Face white, sweat escaping from his skin pores. From a view, it was obvious that he had never gone through that kind of challenge before.

It meant one thing. Altair was an average wolf. For an Alpha, it is easy to get through challenges like that, at least from my point of view.

He stirred in his sleep, his lips parting slightly. Soft, red lips.

What in the world was I thinking?

My throat tightened. Irritated, I stepped back. Almost crashing into the other bed behind me.

I turned, but his voice stopped me.

“Kai…ven.”

I froze, a thump in my heart.

How did Altair know Kaiven?

I turned away, walking out of the medical unit and towards my dorm. I walked towards Altair's wardrobe as I pulled it open.

It was an unspoken rule in Storm Academy to stay away from people's things. But I am the Student Council President, and such rules doesn't apply to me. Not when a student is under suspicions.

I grabbed the bag from the top of the wardrobe. It was light since all his clothes had been arranged carefully in the wardrobe.

Pulling the bag open, I stared at the content. A bottle of scent depressant pills. A lot of them.

This was something no one could easily lay hands on in Verelan.

I searched the bag properly, but there was nothing note worthy in it, not until….I fished out a paper from the inner part of the bag.

From Esme.

I read through the letter, my eyes stopping at a particular line.

I really hope you find Kaiven.

Kaiven?

Altair was here for Kaiven?

I placed the letter back the way I met it and arrsnged the bag carefully, before dropping it back in uts rightful position.

As I close the wardrobe, my eyes caught something at the far corner…. tucked in.

I pull it out.

White sheets.

Folded.

I gulped.

No.

This is impossible.

I won't believe it.

Not until I confirm.

I walked out of the dorm and back to the medical unit. Altair was awake already.

He stared at me slowly as he sat up, “What are you doing–”

I didn't let him finish. “Who are you?”

He stared at me. “Kaelyn Altair.”

That's a lie. And I had to know the truth.

I pulled out my sword and placed it at his neck.

“Say something else. The truth.”

He stared at the sword slowly, “Take it away.”

“Why should I do that?” I lowered the sword, to his collar, shifting it slightly.

Slender neck.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

My teeth gritted hardly as I lowered the sword and cut through the shirt.

His eyes widened as he gasped in shock.

I did too. As I stared at the white wraps underneath the cut.

“You….” My voice cracked. “You’re…a girl.”