I froze as Adam's eyes landed on mine.

"Avaline?"

My hand clenched around Leo's but I didn't back down or hide. Not anymore. Adam's eyes flickered with something as he looked at both of us. For a moment, I thought it was guilt but I knew better.

Adam never felt sorry.

Jacob's voice rang catching Adam's attention. "Daddy! That's him! He pushed me!"

Adams's eyes darted to him before meeting mine again.

"Who is he?" Adam asked, his face unreadable. "Is he your son?"

My wolf growled at his accusation. Everyone's eyes were on us, including Leo's. My lips parted as I wanted to deny it but then someone's voice stopped me.

"Babe, what's taking you so long? Where's Jacob?"

My stomach twisted painfully. That voice, I could never mistake it.

Olivia.

She walked in gracefully, her perfume flooding the room. Her long blond hair shimmering under the light as she wrapped her hand around Adam's. Her eyes widened as she saw me.

"Avaline," she whispered, her face pale as she stared at me. Then her face twisted.

Jacob's cry got louder.

Olivia hugged her son, trying to find out what happened. Jacob's hand darted out pointing to Leo. Her expression hardened as she stood up. Her eyes darted to Leo.

"This is unacceptable," she said coldly. "Your son attacked mine. Just look at his body. It's obvious that he is more animal than human. I mean, look at our son, Adam."

Leo shrank back, his small hand clutching mine tighter. His wolf energy stirred faintly beneath his skin, frightened, not defiant.

I clenched my hands angrily as my wolf growled.

I let out a bitter laugh. "You two must know a thing or two about acting like animals," I said, my voice sharp and steady. Then I turned to their son, Jacob. "Leo isn't violent. So why don't you tell the truth? What did you do to provoke him?"

"I can't believe this. Are you saying my son started the fight?" Olivia asked stunned.

"The truth," I said slowly, meeting her eyes, "is that your son might not be as innocent as you think."

A few gasps rippled through the room. Olivia's lips parted slightly looking around. Most of the parents were finally turning against her as they murmured. Her mouth closed, her face twisting in anger.

Adam stepped forward, his gaze flicking to Leo like he was something filthy. "Avaline, whatever you're trying to say, it doesn't change the fact that he attacked first. This is a highly prestigious Academy. No matter what, violence is never the answer."

I swallowed the rising anger in my throat. How dare he talk as if he was a saint when he was the devil himself?

Leo hid behind me, his body still tensed. Reaching for him, I carried him up in my arms.

"It's okay," I whispered, brushing his hair back gently. "You did nothing wrong."

Olivia scoffed, "Like mother like son. It's not surprising that you would support your Omega son. Today, if the principal doesn't kick this boy out, she will have to deal with us. My husband is now the Alpha of Duskpaw pack."

My colleagues exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, a woman with kind eyes, spoke softly. "Mr and Mrs. Rhineheart, perhaps we should let the principal handle this-"

"Yes, I agree. Let the principal handle this." A voice said making me turn.

Orion walked into the room, his wolf's dominance washing over everyone like a wave. Everyone's eyes turned to him. Adams's face became pale immediately as everyone fell to their knees.

"Greetings Wolf Lord," they greeted.

Orion walked over to me and Leo.

"I want to see if the principal will actually expel my son from the Academy." Orion said.

The color drained from Adam's face. "Your... your son?" he stammered, glancing between Orion and Leo like he couldn't process it. "Did you just say he's-"

"I expected better from you, Alpha Rhineheart," he said, his tone deceptively calm. "You judge without knowing the truth, threaten a child qnd allow your mate to disrespect my blood. Have you forgotten your place?"

Olivia swallowed trying to regain her composure, but the faint tremor in Adam's hand betrayed them "Lord Orion," she began carefully, her voice soft "there's been a misunderstanding. The boy, your son attacked mine. We were only discussing-"

"Discussing expulsion? You were ready to brand my son violent without hearing the facts." Orion said, his eyes darting to Adams.

Olivia' swallowed. Reaching down at her son, she shook him "Jacob, stop crying," she hissed. "You must be faking it. Why lie about your classmate? Apologize. Now."

My wolf growled at her act. It was a performance to protect Adam.

But why hadn't Orion noticed their forbidden bond yet?

Jacob's voice was small. "I'm sorry," he muttered as he ran over and took Leo's hand. Then for a second, he squeezed Leo's hand before Leo pushed him away.

I shook my head. He was indeed his mother's son. Both of them good at pretending

"Since he's apologized, I won't press this further," Orion said, sliding his hand into mine. "But you will apologize to Avaline as well. You insulted her."

A chill ran through me as the others gasped.

Olivia's jaw clenched. Her eyes bored into mine. My wolf growled at the victory.

"I smell magic," my wolf whispered.

My muscles coiled. Magic? Had she used a spell to hide her human scent?

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Louder," Orion ordered.

Olivia's lips trembled. She glanced at Adam, then met my eyes. "I said I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice breaking.

"Next time, think twice before speaking against my family," Orion said, his eyes hard as he stared both of them down.

The word family echoed in my mind, tangling with confusion and a strange heat that rushed through my chest. Family. He'd said it so easily as if it was true.

"Let's go," Orion commanded, looping his arm around my shoulders as he led me out.

I looked back at Adam and Olivia.

Good. I'd won this round. Now I had to reveal them and their bond. I would make them pay for what they did five years ago.

*****************************************

The house was hauntingly silent as I stepped out of Leo's room, softly shutting the door behind me. The hallway stretched long and bright, every step echoing against the silence.

I started toward the stairs when a deep guttural growl rolled through the air, freezing me in place. My gaze snapped toward the end of the corridor, Orion's private quarters. His last rule echoed in my head. No trespassing.

I almost turned away. Almost. But something in that sound, raw and pained, made my wolf stir uneasily inside me. Against every instinct, I walked to the door, turned the knob, and stepped in.

The room was swallowed in shadows, the only light coming from the moon spilling through the window. Then I saw him. Orion lay on the bed, his arms and legs chained to the wall, his skin glistening with sweat. My breath caught in my throat.

"Orion!" I rushed forward, grabbing at the chains, only to hiss in pain as a sharp burn shot through my fingers. Silver. My skin reddened where it touched.

Why would he tie himself with silver?

Before I could think, his eyes snapped open. Icy blue. Wild. His growl filled the room, low and animalistic. My heart slammed against my ribs as he rose, the air thick with his scent.

"Your scent..." His voice was rough, unsteady. He leaned closer until his breath brushed my neck. "Mate."

Then his fangs sank into my shoulder.

I gasped as fire tore through my veins. Pain and shock tangled inside me. With a desperate shove, I pushed him away, watching him collapse back onto the bed, panting, his wolf retreating beneath the surface.

My trembling hand rose to my neck, my fingers brushing the punctured skin.

Orion marked me.

The morning sunlight spilled through the windows, softly into the dining room. The smell of fresh bread, eggs and bitter coffee hung in the air. Orion sat at the far end of the table, dressed in black, his face unreadable. Leo sat between us, humming quietly as he spread jam on his toast.

I took my seat like nothing had happened. My neck still burned badly, the mark hidden by my hair. My wolf stirred, restlessly, calling his name over and over in my head but I ignored it.

If he didn't remember then neither did I.

I reached for the teapot. My fingers brushed his.

A spark shot through me. The mark throbbed once making me flinch for a second. I pulled back slowly, pouring the tea as if nothing happened. Leo laughed, smearing jam on his sleeve. I wiped it away, my movements steady. I didn't look at him. I didn't need to. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me for a single slip. Something that would expose that last night did happen.

But I wasn't going to let it slip.

After a while, Orion got up, his eyes lingering on me one last them before he left.

By midmorning, I was in the study with Leo helping him do his assignments. Leo was a smart kid, some times too smart and hardworking. I have never seen a kid like him that didn't like to play but rather wanted to do his assignments all day.

Leo frowned as he stared at the book in front of him. "What's the synonym for brave?"

I smiled, "Bold"

Leo nodded his head, his eyes returning back to his book. As he continued to stare at it, my eyes darted around to Orion outside. He was shirtless. His body glistening under the morning sun as he trained with the guards in the courtyard. Sweat rolled down his neck, tracing the sharp lines of muscle that flexed and coiled with each swing of his blade.

I tried not to look. Tried to focus on Leo's book, the scratch of his pencil but my traitorous eyes kept finding him.

Orion's blue eyes flicked up suddenly, catching mine through the glass. My breath hitched. He didn't stop moving, didn't even break rhythm, but I knew he'd seen me. Knew he was aware of the way I couldn't look away.

I forced myself to tear my gaze back to the table. "Alright, next question," I said, pretending my pulse wasn't pounding in my throat. "What's the opposite of fear?"

Leo thought for a moment. "Brave," he said finally.

My lips curved faintly. "That's right."

Outside, Orion's blade came to a stop. He stood tall, his chest rising and falling, eyes still fixed on the window. On me. All of a sudden, one of the guards almost caught him off guard. Although he recovered in time, his hand scrapped the ground and I groaned in pain. I clenched my hand in the other, staring at him.

Could it be.....

" Wolf Lord!" They called outside.

I turned away before Orion's eyes would notice anything. Seducing him was supposed to be easy. I had already planned everything in my head. But why did it seem like the entire universe was against me?

Leo looked up at me, puzzled. "Miss Ava? Are you okay?"

I forced a smile, hiding the tremor in my voice. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Just a paper cut." I waved it off, even though my palm still tingled from where his pain had seared through me.

It shouldn't have been possible. I had long heard about mates being able to feel each other's pain but it was only supposed to be fated mates. Although Orion had marked me, I had not yet accepted the bond. He couldn't be my fated mate, Adam was.

And he betrayed me for my best friend.

Leo blinked, accepting my answer, and bent back over his work. I, on the other hand, couldn't think straight. Every breath I took carried his scent. It clung to the air even from across the courtyard, making my wolf stir restlessly.

The sound of clashing blades stopped. I couldn't help it so I looked up again. Orion was standing with his sword hanging loosely at his side, his eyes fixed on the window. On us.

Our gazes locked. The world seemed to go silent for a second.

I dropped my eyes first, pretending to adjust Leo's paper. "You spelled fear wrong," I muttered.

"Did I?" Leo leaned closer, squinting. "Oh... you're right."

But I wasn't even looking at the page. My heart was beating too loud, my skin too hot. I needed air. Space. Anything that wasn't filled with him.

"Finish up the last two questions," I said softly, standing. "I'll be right back."

I stepped inside, grabbing the first aid kit before I stepped outside. The sunlight hitting me full in the face. The courtyard was empty now, except for Orion standing near the edge, his sword buried in the dirt beside him as he stared at his palm. The red injury marks glistened in the sun looking extremely painfully.

"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice calm.

He didn't even raise his head to stare at me.

I crossed my arms, tilting my chin up. "Neither should you. You're bleeding."

His brows drew together slightly as he glanced at his scraped hand. "It's nothing."

"Then why did it hurt so much?" I whispered under my breath.

Orion's eyes snapped to me. "What did you just say?"

I swallowed, trying hard to control myself. I couldn't let him find out the truth.

"I said, then why does it look like it hurts? You should get it treated immediately." I shoved the first aid kit into his arms before walking away.

My wolf growled at me as I walked back to the house, my pace fast as if I was running from the devil. Shutting the glass door behind me, I rushed to the kitchen and hid near the wall, away from his view.

Resting my head back, I closed my eyes.

"Holy moon goddess, this is not going to be easy," I whispered to myself.

******************************************

By evening, the house had grown quiet. The guards were gone, their clashing swords replaced by the soft crackle of the fire downstairs. I sat by my window, a book open on my lap, though I hadn't turned a page in minutes. My mind was elsewhere.

Suddenly, a gentle knock broke the silence.

I straightened quickly. "Come in," I said, hoping my voice sounded calm.

The door creaked open and Leo peeked in, his small face half-hidden behind the frame.

"Miss Ava?" he whispered.

"Yes, Leo?"

"Can you tuck me in tonight? Dad said he'll be back late."

My chest softened. "Of course."

I tucked him under the blanket and sat beside him for a moment, watching his lashes flutter as he drifted off. He looked so peaceful, so untouched by the weight the rest of us carried. For a moment, I envied that innocence.

When I finally stood and slipped out, I closed the door quietly behind me. A sigh escaped my lips before my eyes darted up. I froze.

Orion was there, leaning against the wall, arms folded, eyes locked on me. The bright light in the hallway made his gaze even more terrifying.

"You're back?" I managed, forcing a steady breath. "Leo said you'd be late. I made sure he ate and-"

"Tell me the truth," he cut in, his voice low, dangerous. He pushed away from the wall and took slow, deliberate steps toward me. Each one made my heart quicken.

Before I could speak, he reached out, grabbing the collar of my shirt and pulling it aside. My eyes widened.

His eyes widened as they fell on my bare neck. The mark, his mark, was gone.

"How" His voice faltered, confusion flashing across his face.

I backed up, covering my neck. "What are you doing?"

Before he could answer, footsteps echoed down the hallway.

"What's going on here?" a sharp voice demanded.

Orion stiffened and turned. I followed his gaze. An older woman stood behind him, regal and cold-eyed.

"Mother," he murmured, stunned.

My breath caught. His mother.