~ Three ~

Punch after punch was heard clearly from a fairly large room. The punches sounded loud and echoed in the room without stopping. Even though it had happened many times, the punches did not decrease or weaken. They became stronger and harder. His body was covered in sweat that was flowing profusely. He also kicked occasionally.

"How long are you going to do that? Isn't that too much?" Zaiden walked over. Lyall ignored him, he continued to hit the punching bag. "Exercise makes you healthy but too much makes you sick."

Lyall still ignored Zaiden. He continued to hit without stopping.

"Gosh, that kid, he really ignoring me," Zaiden grumbled softly, even though he knew Lyall heard it clearly, thanks to his werewolf's sharp hearing. "HEY..... HELLOOOOOO???!!"

Zaiden's shout made Lyall stop his punches. He took a deep breath and also rolled his eyes, but the next second, he returned to hitting the punching bag hanging in front of him. Zaiden snorted in annoyance. He threw the towel that landed right on Lyall's head and covered his face.

"Oops.. Sorry.." Zaiden pursed his lips, holding back his laughter.

Lyall snorted in annoyance and roughly removed the towel from his face and threw it anywhere. Without looking at Zaiden, Lyall hit the punching bag again.

"Did you forget you have to go to school? You'll be late."

Lyall ignored Zaiden's words, again. Zaiden snorted in annoyance.

"Okay, I understand. You ignored me. But I'm sure Luna will be happy to scold you." Zaiden grumbled then sat down on one of the benches. Lyall stopped his punches and took a deep breath then looked at Zaiden.

"I've told Mom. I won't go to school for whatever reason. So now stop whining! You're hurting my ears!"

"Me? Whining?" Zaiden stood up from his seat. He looked at Lyall with a look of disbelief. Lyall shook his head and then went back to practicing his punches. "I'm not whining, but agreeing with your mother's words. You should go to school and be a normal teenager, just like other kids your age.”

Bugh!

A hard punch landed on the punching bag. The punch was much harder than Lyall’s punches earlier. Lyall stared at Zaiden angrily.

“Normal you say? Do you think I’ve never tried? (walking closer to Zaiden) No matter how much I try to be normal, I won’t be able to be normal if this damn monster is still inside me!!”

“Whoah calm down, no need to shout. I understand all that but—”

“No.” Lyall interrupted quickly. “You won’t understand and you never will!”

Lyall took his backpack and water bottle and immediately left there. Zaiden took a deep breath and then followed Lyall. Lyall opened the door to the room. There were already two boys the same age as him waiting for him.

“Hey Ly, we have to go to school—“ one of the boys tried to talk to Lyall but Lyall just walked quickly past them without even looking at them. They both looked at each other confused.

“Just ignore him,” Zaiden said who had just come out of the room. “You guys go first. I don’t want you to be late.”

“But... Is he okay? He seems angry.” Asked one of them named Nathan.

Zaiden chuckled. “It wouldn’t be Lyall if he wasn’t angry. He’s always like that.”

The two teenagers nodded in unison. “Then we’ll go.”

“Be careful. Oh yeah tell Theon, meet me in the forest south of the city.”

“Are you guys going to train together again?” they looked enthusiastic. Zaiden laughed.

“No, there’s just something I have to talk to him about directly, and I know he didn't like to use the phone. You guys go. I have to go too.”

Zaiden left Nathan and Miro who were still staring at Zaiden’s departure.

***

“Everything is ready Luna,” Zaiden said when he arrived in the kitchen.

“Good, thank you. Let’s eat. After that please take Lycus and Lyall, can you?”

Zaiden smiled. “Of course Luna, you don’t need to ask.”

“Of course, I have to. You’re like my son. Sit down.” Stella put a pancake on a plate for Zaiden. True, after Zaiden’s mother died, Stella played the role of his mother. She took care of Zaiden like she was her child. Even Alpha Cyrus treated him like that. Zaiden sat down and started eating his pancake. Lyall came down the stairs lazily. He sighed several times. Lyall was wearing a white t-shirt paired with a light brown shirt and dark blue jeans. His brown hair was left messy. Lyall put his bag on the floor and sat on one of the chairs.

“Can’t you fix your hair? Use gel!” Stella started her morning nagging. Lyall just took a deep breath. “Eat and go or you’ll be late.”

“I’m not hungry,” Lyall answered shortly. He looked at his little brother who was now sticking his tongue out and making a mocking face at him. Lyall glared at him.

“Eat a little.” Stella cut a pancake and put it in her mouth. “And the school here doesn’t have a uniform. You must be happy. Don’t you always say.. Uhmm.. What is that..”

“School uniforms are the most childish thing,” Zaiden replied. Stella nodded quickly.

“Right! School uniforms are the most childish thing.”

Lyall spun his eyes ball and took a deep breath then grabbed his bag and stood up.

“I’m leaving.”

“Hey, hey you haven’t had breakfast. Zaiden hasn’t finished either!” his mother protested.

“Why do I care? I’m tired of hearing nonsense this early in the morning.” Lyall walked out of the house.

“Oh my god, that kid.”

“I’ll catch up with him Luna.” Zaiden got up from his seat.

“But you haven’t finished yet.”

“I’m done and full. Thank you for breakfast Luna. I’ll excuse myself.” Zaiden jogged after Lyall.

“That kid.” Stella sighed and looked at Lycal. “Looks like you’re going with Uncle Carl today.” Stella smiled at Lycal who was still busy eating his breakfast. Stella arranged some plates and took them to the dishwasher. She looked out the window in front of the dishwasher. In the backyard, she saw her brothers, Carl and Dal, talking outside. Unconsciously her tears flowed. She quickly wiped them away so that Lycal wouldn’t see them.

***

“Can’t we go slower?” This was the umpteenth time Zaiden asked and spoke to Lyall but not a single word came out of Lyall’s mouth. “It’s easier by car, why choose to walk? Usually, you always complain when have to walk or practice.” Zaiden grumbled, which, of course Lyall heard clearly.

The school wasn’t that far from their house. Only ten minutes by car. Walking sometimes took longer, but with the view of the forest on the left and right of the road, it looked very beautiful, and the air was also fresh. Lyall lived in a small town surrounded by forests and small rivers. The small town of Fortress Hill has a small pack, but they are known to be solid. Lyall's uncle's pack, Luna Stella's pack, Raclaw's pack.

"But I just noticed it, what's with the wounds on your forehead and neck?" Zaiden quickened his pace so he could walk parallel to Lyall. Lyall was a little surprised but he managed to hide it.

"As usual, injured during training." Lyall finally answered. Zaiden suddenly stopped in front of Lyall, blocking him from walking. Lyall also stopped his steps.

"It doesn't look like a training wound." Zaiden frowned. Lyall stared at Zaiden flatly then pushed him away and walked again.

"You're lying, right? I know you're lying (aligning himself with Lyall again). I know you very well, Ly."

Lyall stopped his steps suddenly and then looked at Zaiden.

"Why are you so interested in my life? Do you like me?"

Zaiden's expression turned pitiful. "You really hurt my heart. I thought you already knew that."

“Eww! You’re so disgusting!” Lyall walked away quickly, leaving Zaiden, who was laughing at Lyall’s reaction. Lyall touched the wound on his forehead. He didn't know why the wound not heal yet. This was all because of that girl.

***

“Have you taken your schedule and books?” asked a middle-aged man with a fat body and a thin head of hair on top.

“Yes." Lyall replied flatly, seeming not to care.

“Good, very good, and wow... You are really tall and very handsome one. I’m sure the girls here will like you.” The man teased but Lyall didn’t give any reaction. “Ahem... Okay. Let me take you to your class. Now you have... Uhmm history lesson. I will introduce you to your classmates.”

“Is that really have to?” Lyall hated the idea. “I can go to the class by myself.”

“No, no. I am your homeroom teacher, and I have to introduce the new kid to his friends. Let’s go.”

The man walked first to class. Lyall rolled his eyes and snorted in annoyance. He planned to skip school after finishing the administration at this school. The new kid entering during class time was really annoying. He thought public school would be different. The students would find their own class. But Lyall’s hopes were dashed just like that. Damn!

“Sorry to disturb your studies, children. I will introduce your new friend. Come in.”

No answer nor anyone was entering the class.

“Young man. Mr. Lycaros. You may enter now.”

With a heavy heart and annoyance inside him, Lyall entered the class. Noisy voices began to be heard from the female students. Not a few male students also commented. How could they not,? A new boy with a tall height, proportional body, hand, and some face with a firm jaw had just entered their class.

“Okay, children. Calm down. I know you can't wait to get to know him. Let him introduce himself. Please, Mr. Lycaros.”

Lyall just kept quiet and lowered his head. He hated this idea. But everyone was staring and waiting for him. He had to spoke so he can end this staring contest.

“Hi.” Lyall raised his head and looked at his classmate. “I'm Lyall.”

No more words came out of Lyall's mouth again. He didn't want to talk more than that. Moreover, his eyes were currently focused on one person in the class.

"Is that all?" The homeroom teacher waited for Lyall's answer. Lyall remained silent. "Okay. Then you can sit on the empty seat over there." The homeroom teacher left the class while Lyall did not move. His body froze, staring at one person in the class. The weird girl, Eira. Eira was also quite surprised to see Lyall and looked very displeased.

"Lyall!" the sound of his teacher's call interrupted his reverie. Lyall looked at his history teacher. "You can sit and I have to continue my lesson." Lyall nodded. "You can sit on the empty seat next to Eira."

Wait, what? Next to who?

"What are you waiting for? We can't wait you all day. Hurry up."

Arrgghhh this fucked up!