Fourteen hours earlier…
After Kaito and Taros left with Angel, Hiro couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right. There was something strange about the new boy—something that had been bothering him from the moment they crossed paths.
It started in the behind the halls.
He'd caught a scent—sweet, sharp, familiar yet unfamiliar. It pulled him like a rope wrapped around his chest, dragging him across the hallways. He followed it, thinking it was a girl. He even smiled to himself, certain it was a sign. Maybe the Moon Goddess was finally guiding him to his mate.
But then he saw him.
Angel.
A boy.
And his world didn't just tilt—it cracked.
His wolf had reacted instantly, growling in excitement. But Hiro? He was nothing but stunned. Confused. And more than anything, disappointed. That wasn't what he expected. That wasn't what he wanted.
Still, he tried to show a little kindness, maybe just out of curiosity. But Angel didn't return the energy. No gratitude. No respect. Just attitude. Hiro could still feel the sting from those sharp words. The boy didn't just irritate him—he insulted him. Right there. Like he had the right to talk back.
And that's why Hiro had wanted to put him in his place.
This wasn't just a school. It was the Alpha Academy. A place where only the strong had a voice, and only Alphas wore crowns. Angel walked in like he had horns already. Hiro's job was to cut them off before they grew too high.
"What do you think about this?" Renn asked. They were seated on the Initiation grounds, the place where everything had almost started… until Kaito showed up and ruined it.
"I don't know," Hiro replied, still staring ahead. "This isn't like Kaito. He's never cared about anyone."
And that was the truth.
He'd known Kaito since their first year. Cold, distant, always putting himself first. He never lifted a finger unless it benefited him. Seeing him go soft for a newbie? That wasn't just strange—it was suspicious.
Hiro's jaw tightened as the question echoed in his mind.
What was Kaito hiding?
"You think he's his brother?" Renn asked, even though the question felt strange in his mouth. A human—related to Kaito? That didn't make any sense.
Kaito came from a pure line of powerful wolves. No outsiders. No humans. His family didn't mix blood. They married within the wolf kind, and everyone knew that. The West Pack was known for many things—but being open wasn't one of them. They kept their secrets buried deep, and no one dared to dig too close.
"No. I don't think so either," Hiro said as he leaned back on the cold throne. "There's no bond. We all don't have siblings, remember?"
He would've read Kaito's mind if it were that easy. But it wasn't.
He had tried once. Maybe twice. It left him dizzy, sick… like falling through a storm you couldn't escape. Kaito's mind wasn't just guarded—it was dangerous. A trap that pushed you out with scars.
And Taros? That one was even trickier. Too clever. All Hiro ever picked up from his thoughts were random memories of girls and reckless nights. Nothing useful.
"Kaito's hiding something. It's about that boy," Renn muttered, his voice tired. He emptied his cup and sighed. "This is just day one and I'm already losing my mind over a roommate. That boy… he's not ordinary. He feels too important to be just anyone. Maybe he is family. That would explain it."
Hiro wasn't so sure.
Something didn't add up. There was a deeper reason, and it wasn't just blood. He could feel it. Whatever it was, Kaito was holding onto it like it mattered more than anything.
"I'm going to find out," Hiro said, his voice low but steady. "I'll talk to him again. Get close. Read him."
He stood up, his mind already racing. If Angel had a past that tied him to Kaito, Hiro was going to uncover it—piece by piece.
"For now," he added with a smirk, "we play along."
He left the hall and returned to his dormitory. Being head of house came with duties—checking rooms, lights out, making sure everything was in order. But his mind wasn't on any of that.
Hiro lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, eyes wide open. No matter how hard he tried, sleep wouldn't come. His mind kept going back to Angel. The scent. The voice. The cry for help that had pierced through him like a blade.
He'd felt it after the cafeteria fight with Renn. And again, during the mind game—when Angel called out for Kaito.
That name. Of all people.
It stung.
He hated that it stung.
He told himself it was nothing. Just a reaction. Jealousy wasn't part of the plan. He wasn't soft. And he wasn't gay. So why the hell did it get to him that Angel called on Kaito instead of him?
He shoved the thought away, but it clung to him like smoke.
Eventually, he managed to close his eyes for a bit. Maybe an hour of rest. It wasn't enough, but it had to do. The early morning roadwork came and went, and once it was over, he went back to his room and got dressed for class.
He could have followed the rest to the cafeteria, but something in him shifted. He needed to see Angel.
Sitting on his bed, Hiro closed his eyes and focused. He let his mind wander, reaching out like a wave. For a moment, there was silence. Then he saw it—Angel walking alone toward class while everyone else was still eating.
He opened his eyes and frowned.
Why was he always doing something different?
What kind of student skips breakfast on the first day just to get to class early?
Hiro stood quickly. His roommate was gone, so he locked the door behind him and moved fast. He had to get to the classroom before the others returned. This was the only time he could speak to Angel without interruptions. Without eyes watching.
The closer he got, the more the scent filled him again. It wrapped around him, pulling at something deep in his chest.
Go to him, his wolf whispered, full of excitement.
Hiro clenched his jaw. This wasn't about mates. It wasn't love. It was something twisted and confusing and he needed answers before it drove him mad.
Whatever it was about Angel, it had to be solved. Before it ruined everything.