Chapter 167 A Taste Of Bitterness
Chapter 167 A Taste Of Bitterness
TESSA
Lunar Instincts.
The class everyone dreaded because it was said to be the “real deal” of werewolf studies. If you compare it to another subject, it would be Differential Geometry, because it requires great instinct, as seen in the subject title itself, to be able to answer hypothetical questions.
I was determined today. I wouldn’t let Zaria burrow her presence into my mind. So, instead of arriving early, I disappeared into the sea of students like a regular, functional wolf.
However, that actually came with a price because I was the last one to enter. I scanned the rows quickly.
The back row was too far. My eyes weren’t that good, and I didn’t like wearing my glasses. First row–no thank you. Therefore, the middle row was perfect!
Except, of course, the perfect seat the classroom.
was right behind Rowan. And to my luck, t was the only available seat in
He was lounging, chair leaned back, while flirting shamelessly with two girls perched too close. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, yet he was still undeniably handsome.
I pursed my lips and marched to my seat. Don’t look at him. Don’t. Look. At. Him.
I looked.
What a sight.
However, before I could fall into his eyes again, the door opened and Zaria walked in.
The atmosphere instantly turned brighter. Light caught her hair in some ridiculous way like she’d bribed the sun itself, and every set of male eyes in that room snapped toward her. Girls, too, honestly.
Zaria, of course, thrived in it. She flashed them a bright smile, and I swore half of the room swooned at
-once.
She batted her lashes, and I wanted to disappear under my desk.
“Good day, everyone. I am Zaria Fen. You can call me by my real name because our ages? from each other, and I’ll be your teacher for this subject.”
aren’t too far
Before she could even start with the course requirements, a bold student raised his hand.
“Are you single, Miss?”
The room erupted into chuckles.
Zaria, too, giggled, enjoying the attention. “Yes,” she said, “but I am interested in someone.”
When she said those words, her eyes lingered on Rowan for just a fraction of a second. However, that was enough confirmation for me.
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Chapter 167 A Taste Of Bitterness
“Did you see that?”
“She looked at Rowan!”
“They were together yesterday!”
“No way really?!”
The whispers spread like wildfire.
I wanted to sink into the floor. I looked to the side, anywhere but him.
She cleared her throat with a smile. “Alright, let’s not discuss anything outside of the topic.
I pursed my lips. They had already been discussing it for a long time!
“Since this course is about instincts,” she started off, “let’s test yours. I will be asking you some questions, and answer them with what you know.”
The class groaned at the sudden announcement of a recitation.
“No worries,” she added. “These are all easy questions.”
“Let’s start.”
Vere.
She pointed to a student at the back. “If you by a rival pack, what’s your first move?”
The young man stood and stammered. “Uh–signal for my Alpha?”
“Correct!” she said cheerfully, and the guy practically melted into his seat.
The questions kept rolling, bouncing from one end of the class to another. Zaria paced lightly across the front, her heels clicking against the floor, like she was putting on a performance rather than teaching.
She called on another girl near the windows.
“If a wolf twice your size charges you head–on, what’s the first instinctual reaction?”
The girl hesitated, fingers twisting against her sleeve. “Um… step aside? Use speed?”
Zaria’s smile widened, perfect teeth glinting. “Excellent. Remember, strength doesn’t always win. Instinct is about survival. Think faster than your enemy.”
The class hummed in response.
I crossed my arms, willing myself invisible.
Then her eyes landed on me.
“Tessa.”
The air seemed to crackle. Rowan shifted in his seat ever so slightly, his broad shoulders brushing against the girl clinging to his arm. I ignored it, straightening.
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Chapter 167 A Taste Of Bitterness
“Yes?”
Zaria’s lips curved in a knowing expression. Those from the South who subtly knew about our relationship also focused their full attention on the scene, wanting to see how our interaction panned out.
“Miss Fen.” Zaria said. At that point, I knew she wasn’t going to ask me an easy question. “Why don’t you tell the class how the existence of rogue networks affects the stability of pack alliances, especially when dark magic is involved? Surely you’ve studied the impact of corrupted bloodlines on Lunar Instincts?”
The others were stunned by the sudden increase in difficulty. Some were amused because it wasn’t them who was called.
I tilted my head, pressing my lips together. I then tapped my chin with one finger, a little absent–minded gesture that probably made me look unassuming.
I could already see the triumph underneath Zaria’s eyes, so before she could open her mouth to interrupt me, I answered confidently.
“Well,” I began, “the problem with assuming every rogue is bad is that you end up miscalculating both threat levels and potential allies. Historically, rogue clusters–especially in the Western wildlands–formed because of exile, not malice. They lacked territory, protection, and structure. But once dark magic became an option, some groups turned to it for survival. Others resisted it.”
The class grew quieter.
“If you label them all as dangerous, you weaken diplomacy. But if you ignore the dark magic influence, you risk infiltration. The key lies in separating intent from corruption. A rogue born of exile could be an ally, whereas a rogue sustained by cursed blood inevitably becomes a threat to the balance of Fenra.”
“Additionally,” I added with a little smile, “rogues connected by blood rituals can destabilize entire packs if their magic is unchecked. It’s not just about violence–it’s about systemic collapse. A corrupted bond can spread like wildfire. That’s why instincts must be trained not to merely hunt, but to discern.”
It seemed Zaria wasn’t expecting my answer because the look in her eyes was long gone. She probably expected me still to be the dumb sister she always had. With that, I decided to throw the baton back to her. “I’m just curious,” I started off. “How about you, Miss Zaria? What would your answer be?”
Zaria’s smile froze. Then she smoothed it back into place. “Well,” she said lightly, “since you’ve already covered that, let’s move on to the next topic, shall we?”
She cleared her throat and didn’t dare meet my eyes anymore. I sat back down with a sigh of relief, watching as her hands trembled slightly.
A small smile appeared on my lips. Even if she presented herself as such, she truly didn’t know much.
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