Chapter 97 – Test
–LIA’S POV–
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I rechecked my quiz one last time, making sure my writing was all legible, and I couldn’t spot any mistakes. This was a fairly easy one, so I had to make sure I scored full marks. It would be downright embarrassing if I didn’t.
“Pens down,” Ms. Gwen announced, and I obliged immediately.
I turned my head to
glance at Zane and the rest of the Hounds. Ajax leaned back in his chair like he hadn’t written more than his name. Warner looked like he might start snoring any minute. Sheila and Aaron exchanged a look, both of them silently laughing. Zane just looked calm—completely unfazed. He caught my eye, and then gave me a huge grin. I suppressed my own and turned away again.
It all made sense now, why they never seemed the tiniest bit bothered for their academic results. They never seemed to care, and I’d always wondered how they intended to succeed in their careers with that kind of an attitude. Previously, I just assumed they were rich and spoilt, and planned on living off their parents‘ money their entire lives.
Now that I knew what they were, I finally understood the true reason for their lack of care.
They had much bigger things going on. Their world was
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different. Bigger. Scarier.
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How could anyone care about equations and historical dates when there were werewolf politics, hunters like The Order, and rival packs to worry about?
Zane had a whole pack to lead. And his Hounds were his
strongest supporters.
Ms. Gwen began collecting our papers, heels echoing sharply across the tiled floor. Once she had gathered them all, she returned to her desk and counted them. “Before you all leave,” she said, looking up from her stack of quizzes, “has anyone seen Blake Walker recently?”
My entire body froze, the name spreading a bitter taste in my mouth.
Zane’s hand immediately found mine under the desk, sending comforting sparks through my body.
I released a slow breath.
I didn’t want to see, talk to, or even think about Blake anymore. After what he had done, just the thought of him made me uncomfortable. I could still feel the roughness of his hold, the way he’d grabbed me, the way he’d tried to bite my neck and mark me without my permission. The way he’d tried to silence my cries for help.
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A part of me still couldn’t believe this was the same boy I’d met a few months ago… the one who stood up for me against my ex bullies and protected mc.
Now, those bullies were practically my fiercest protectors, and Blake was the one trying to hurt me.
Life was unpredictable.
The silence in the room stretched long.
Ms. Gwen’s gaze swept over the classroom. “He hasn’t been to school, and the administration hasn’t been able to reach his family. If anyone knows where he is or has spoken to him recently, you need to let the office know.”
Still, no one said a word.
Why would anyone? He hadn’t befriended anyone but me. Because I was his only reason to be here at all.
Ms. Gwen let out a long sigh. “Alright. You’re dismissed.”
Chairs scraped back. Backpacks zipped. Everyone started shuffling out. But the moment we were out the door, the energy between us shifted. Zane wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to himself, dipping his head to place a kiss on
mine.
A smile crept onto my face just like that..
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Ajax and Warner flanked us as we walked towards the lockers, while Sheila and Aaron followed close behind, too lost in their own little world.
“You good?” Zane asked softly.
“Yes,” I replied.
“What happened to Blake, by the way?” Warner asked. “Where did he go?”
“Nowhere,” Zane replied. “He showed up to her house that night. All healed up.”
“That quick?” Ajax frowned.
“Yeah,” Zane answered. “He probably has his own healer here.”
“That’s fine, we can break his bones again,” Warner said.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I muttered.
“Whatever you say, Luna,” Warner replied.
My cheeks heated up.
Zane chuckled at my reaction. “Why are you blushing?”
I clicked my tongue. “I’m not. It’s just weird to be called that.
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I’m no Luna. And it’s especially weird to be addressed with so much respect by Warner.”
Zane laughed, while Warner simply lowered his gaze. “I know I haven’t been the best in the past, but I didn’t know who you were,” he said softly.
“I know, Warner, you’ve apologised already. And you’ve helped. save my life multiple times. So it’s all forgiven and forgotten, alright? I’m just saying it’s a little weird to be called Luna by you after all these years of horrible nicknames.”
Ajax snorted, and Zane shot him a look.
“Let them be,” I said to Zane, lightly bumping my shoulder into
him.
“Okay, if you say so.”
We reached the lockers, and Zane opened mine for me, putting my bag inside. For some reason, he acted like I couldn’t even handle these basic, human tasks myself anymore. But it was endearing, so I wasn’t complaining.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria?” Zane asked. “I’m hungry.”
“You’re hungry way too often, don’t you think?” I said, and as though on cue, my stomach grumbled.
I pursed my lips, closing my eyes, aware that all five of them had
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heard it.
They all held back their laughs, but Zane let his out.
“You were saying?” he teased.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
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“Okay.” Zane grinned. “You guys go first, we’re following,” he told the Hounds.
They nodded, leaving us.
“Why did you send them separately?” I asked.
Zane shrugged, smiling at me. “Just like that? Maybe I want some private time with my mate, without their judging eyes?”
I smiled back. “They could never judge you. Aaron and Sheila are too lost in each other all the time, while Ajax and Warner are scared of you.”
Zane frowned. “No. Aaron and Sheila are also scared of me.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “What pleasure does scaring people bring you guys?”
Zane grinned. It was adorable. I’d never seen him smile so much before we started… well, dating.
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“It’s just fun,” he said.
“It’s not, it’s mean.”
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“I stopped scaring humans for you, Lia. I turned into a ball of sunshine when I’m with you. You can’t expect me to give up my authority over my Hounds.”
I chuckled, throwing my arms around his neck. “Okay, you may scare them as much as you want. Idiot.”
“I love you,” he whispered, leaning down and pulling me into a kiss.
I smiled, kissing him back.
“I love you too,” I said when he pulled away. “Let’s go to the cafeteria. I’m starving.”
“Okay.”
We made our way to the cafeteria, ignoring all the stares we were still getting from everyone we passed by.
It was weird for everybody, I guess.
No one could have expected us to date.
I could bet all of them were waiting for Zane to announce it was
a prank. Or for him to cheat on me or make a fool out of me.
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But they could all keep wishing.
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Zane Adams was mine. I was his mate. I was the one chosen for him by the Goddess herself.
Wow, I’d gotten proud.
“What are you thinking?” Zane asked as we neared the cafeteria.
“Nothing. Just how lucky I am to have you,” I replied.
Zane froze, his body stiffening up.
We stopped outside the cafeteria.
I frowned. “What? What did I say?”
He looked at the cafeteria, his jaw clenching. “Blake’s inside. I just got a whiff of his scent.”
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