Six

KAELYN

“This is harassment!” The words came out from my lips faster than I could think.

Evren's eyes narrowed at me, anger obvious on his face. “Would you say the same thing when I hand you over to headmaster Thornhelm?” He asked.

My heart beat fast against my ribcage. I was warned, by our Alpha. By my father.

“How dare you try to fool Storm Academy by sneaking your way in here?”

I didn't give him a reply. My fingers simply curled around my torn shirt, revealing the wraps underneath. If anyone saw me, I'd be dead. I'll never make it back to the territory of Stormbound Highlands not to speak of the pack. Then what would happen to Kaiven?

Think, Kaelyn. Think.

Evren's sword grazed the side of my neck, making my head move backwards. Just one pull. I'd be six feet under.

“Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you right now?”

Think.

“Wouldn’t that mean you are not observant? Or meticulous in your duties?”

His face darkened, but I continued.

“You, Prime Alpha Prince of the continent of Virelia, welcomed a girl into Storm Academy. What does that say about your majesty?” I asked.

Power play, always tended to keep people under loops. If there was one thing Kaiven told me about Evren, was that Evren didn't like making mistakes. He was trained that way.

My eyes were sharp as I try to get away from the sword, but the move only made a trail of blood escaped down my neck.

“If I kill you here, no one would find out. Ever.”

“But they would ask!” Desperation hit me. So hard. I had to live. I barely gulped down as my breath raced. “The new petite guy who is making his way to prospect is missing. Everyone would wonder why. A dent on you still. I'm your roommate for crying out loud, what would everyone think?!”

“You are desperate,”

“I have to live.” Tears burned the back of my eyes. I came here for a purpose and it was not to die like a chicken.

He stared at me for a long time and then at the blood seeping into my torn cloth, before he removed the sword.

I caught my breath, my chest heaving up and down. In all of my life, a sword had never been this close to my neck, not even in my secret training with Kaiven.

“Why are you here?” He asked, sheathing the sword, “No lies.”

I bit my lips. Hoping, praying he doesn't use his powers on me and force me to speak the truth. Let's just…play that game. Please.

“I’m just a girl who wants to be as strong as students of Storm Academy. Is there any–”

“You don't value your life, do you?” He cut me off, “If you did, you won't dare lie to me.”

My stomach flipped.

“I'm sorry, prime prince. I can't say.” I confessed. I can't tell him that I'm Kaiven's sister, not when even him is not to be trusted.

“Who's Kaiven to you?”

“A friend of mine.” I muttered, “He comes to this school but I don't see him.”

Evren stared at me for a long time, “Kaelyn is not the name of the girl Kaiven liked.”

Kaiven had someone he liked?

Did he find his mate already?

How? When? The last vacation?

“I'm going to watch you, Altair. It's going to be fun pulling your secrets one after the other myself.”

He's threatening me.

I'm not wrong, because his eyes darkened. “Trust me. There's only so long you can last in here before I kill you.”

With that, he walked out.

I didn't breathe. Not for the next one minute. Not until my chest felt suffocated.

Even then, I only took shaky breaths till I felt satiated. Evren is not at all what he seemed to be.

And this was my roommate.

••••

“Sir!”

We all stood in front of Commander Stone the next day, hands against out head. Practice at Storm Academy felt like military training and I can tell it would be worse when we finally settle in our various ranks.

Four students including me made it into the fang rank. There is a possibility that only one of us will make it into the prospect or probably none at all. But I was willing to give it my all.

“Students. The prospect rank is extremely dangerous.” Commander Stone didn't mince words. I don't know if I liked him for that, but I don't think any one could be a better commander than he would.

If the pack had a war against each other, the pack commander Stone belonged to would most likely be the winner of the war.

“There are two classes in the prospect rank. Class A and B. No matter what happens, no matter how fast you are, or strong, you'd never make it in class A.”

What?

“It's given only to the the Alphas. If you are not one, get it out of your mind.” His eyes fell on me. As if saying, ‘There was no possible way you could be.’

Of course, from my registration, if I was an alpha, there would know about it. Doesn't matter if it's the lowest of the 33 packs in Virelia.

“You are to obey strictly and respect wholly the members of the Alpha Prospects, mostly especially the Prime Alpha. A single mistake could send your furs back to your parents in a shoe box.”

How do I tell Commander Stone tht I have already disobeyed and offended the Prime Alpha Prince? I would be deemed stupid to make such a comment.

“The Prime Alpha Prince is no other than Evren Vael, head of the student council committee and prefect of the prospects. Other students in the council committee are also expected to be obeyed and respected, whether they are alphas or not. Betas in the class B prospects are also to be spoken with softly, as getting on the wrong side of them, means getting on the dangerous side of the alpha.” Commander Stone stopped in front of me, eyes staring into mine. It took me everything to stand there and not look away, “Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.”

“To get into the prospect rank. You are going to fight with a fellow fang from last year's season.”

Trained fangs?

We are untrained and simply lucky, but these fangs have been from last year, ready to win us. They've been waiting for another moment to prove they could get into the prospect too. And we…the newbies are to fight with them, not against each other.

“If you try to win with strength, I congratulate you.”

I'm going to lose. I don't have strength against them.

“On your failure.”

Commander Stone’s words made me blink.

It's as clear as daylight. If you depend on strength, you'd lose.

Why is that an hint?

“How does the fight works sir?” I asked.

Everyone turned to look at me, including the other teachers who were watching from the podium above. I felt the eyes of everyone on me.

My toes curved in my boots, heat seering into my skin.

Stone looked at me, with eyes like he'd found a gem in me, or my question. “Bold.” He murmured.

“Good.” He smirked as he stepped backwards.

“The fight doesn't work anyway. Just fight. Till death or till you think you won.” He said.

His words stuck in my head. My breath in my throat.

“You have five minutes to prove yourself worthy of the fang rank.”

‘Stamina. Predictability. Speed. Agility.’ Kaiven had said, ‘Those are the qualities of people who look like they would make it for the prospects.’

‘How did you get to the top?’ I had asked, in one of our late nights training, during his semester breaks.

‘All these things are basics for an alpha. If you are an alpha going through the rank fights, there is a ninety percent chance to get into prospect. But if you will get out, that then depends on you.’

That meant not all of them could graduate from Storm Academy.

‘For a normal wolf, Kaelyn.’ He called.

Tears pricked my eyes. I miss you, Kaiven. Gosh, I miss you so bad.