CHAPTER 5

TAE

“Fucking Ronan.”

I’m ripped out of the pages of the book I’m reading and glance up as Dorian slides into the seat in front of me. He’s scowling and staring behind him. And like the idiot that I am, I follow his line of sight and my eyes meet Ronan’s. I look away immediately.

After what happened between us a week ago, I’ve been avoiding him, and coincidentally, he’s kept his eyes away from me too. But now, it meant that the other alpha heirs saw me as fair game. I really didn’t enjoy hiding out in the restrooms constantly.

“That man has a death wish. He told my mom – “ He looks around the dining hall and leans into the table, whispering. “He told my mom to push the mating ceremony. Again. I swear, my sister is about to have her heart eaten by a shark.”

Dorian takes an angry bite of his bread and turns to look back at Ronan, muttering profanities under his breath.

Dorian is the son of Winona Cruz – President Cardenas' sister and the Alpha of the Legend pack, where Alpha court is located. It’s not a secret that his older sister is set to become the Luna of the Blackwood Pack. That is, if Ronan can stop postponing his ceremony.

“What does your Mom plan to do about it.”

Dorian sighs, leaning back against the seat and I watch as his anger slowly leaves him. “There’s nothing much she can do. The Blackwood pack is the biggest pack in all the territories combined and they boast a successful economy too. Ronan is set to inherit it all one day and my mom isn’t about to let anything stop her from having the greatest Alpha as her son-in-law. Just as long as Ronan eventually marks Sophia.”

My eyes automatically trail to the pretty girl sitting beside Ronan. Light almond skin similar to Dorian’s, her eyes are a complex mismatch of brown, green and amber highlights. Sofia Cruz has been dating Ronan for over five years now and there’s no one as desperate as she to see herself finally tied to Ronan. I look away quickly, before she can catch me looking.

“Do you know the weirdest thing happened yesterday.” Dorian starts, his eyes pinging between their table and me. “Sophia said that Ronan has some sort of hateful fixation on you. And I can’t even deny that. You still haven’t told me what you did to get him pissed at you. Orrr, why he’s been ignoring you for the past few days.”

“If I knew, I’ll have undid it.” My brows scrunch up. “At least, the hatred part, not the avoidance. I’m grateful for it.”

Dorian laughs at that, pulling my tray towards him. He’s managed to scarf down his food and never has a problem eating my halfway eaten leftovers.

“By the way, Cardenas is back and wants you in his office after advanced class.”

I get a whiplash from how fast I turn to look at Dorian. He laughs breezily, enjoying my dismay. “Cool it. He probably still needs your help with the books.”

Dorian thinks my constant inquiry on Cardenas is a kind of infatuation I’ve developed for my older, authority model, boss. He’s not aware of the kiss. No one is – despite Cardenas making a hasty departure from school after that – and I’ll love to keep it that way. I won’t be the one accused of foiling Cardenas' position.

“I’ll go see him now.”

“After advanced class, Taeyung. Don’t look too eager.” He says this with a laugh and goes back to eating, his gaze roving around the dining searching for gossip he can reel me in with.

The day goes by slowly and just as my classes are done, I’m out of the class, ignoring Dorian’s shout of being too obvious. Whatever. He can think what he wants of this situation, but I needed to know what he and Ronan had discussed. Why Ronan hasn’t told anyone about the kiss.

His assistant tells me that he’s in his research lab and tries to get me to wait for him as he’ll soon arrive, but I take in the two other students waiting for him and realize that I’m too impatient to wait for him.

I head to his research lab and just as I’m getting there, I hear a crash. I’m rushing into the room immediately, confused to see it empty. A bang comes from within the tiny office off to the side and with the knowledge that Cardenas never uses that space, I head there, worried at what I might find.

I stop, just before opening the door when I hear a voice I’ll recognise anytime. Even with my eyes closed. Ronan.

“Fuck you, Damon. Fuck you.”

There’s a rattle again, and I can sense that Ronan has pushed Cardenas. I want to go in there, but I also don’t know if it’ll help mine and Cardenas’ predicament.

“Yeah? Just like you fucked him? I wonder what your father would say about your expected fail. This is just like you.”

“You’re messed up. You’re sick in the head to have bugged my room with cameras. I want then gone, Damon. Don’t fucking test me.”

Confusion lines my face as I try to make sense of what they’re saying. Of what Ronan is accusing the President of doing. There’s no way...

“We needed to keep an eye on you. I knew you’d fuck up and I needed him to see it too.”

“I’m doing everything he asks!” Ronan shouts, surprising me. “You think I want to fucking touch him? I’m doing all these because of my pack. Sacrificing my life because of my father and the Lycan King’s mistake. We would break the easterner soon enough if you guys can just trust the way I’m doing things.”

What? – I'm the only easterner here, right?

“He doesn’t trust you. You’ve always been weak and he knows that you might bend to your nature. Stay away from Taeyung and let me continue.” Cardenas' voice is cold and devoid of the warmth I’ve come to associate with him.

My breath hitches as I stumble backward. Ronan and Damon are working together? To what, destroy me?

I’m rushing through the doors, focused on getting back to my dorm room. I immediately put a call to my uncle, Hyun, my limbs jittery as I wait for the call to be connected.

“Oh, my days, Hyun!”

“This better be good, Tae. Because I remember telling you not to call me except you’re dying.”

It’s something he’s always said and something that always had me laughing. He must feel the gravity of what I’m about to tell him because his sombre voice fills the line soon after.

“What is it?”

“I think the Blackwood pack knows that I’m the shadow beast.”