Lena's fingers gently cleaned the cut on Asher's forehead, her touch sending shivers down his spine. They sat in the dimly lit detention room, the only sound the soft rustling of papers and the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights. Asher couldn't help but stare at Lena, mesmerized by the kindness in her eyes.
No one had ever shown him such compassion before. In his world, people didn't help others without expecting something in return. But Lena's selflessness touched a deep part of him.
As she worked on cleaning his wound, Asher felt his guard dropping. He couldn't explain why, but being around Lena made him feel...safe.
"Does it hurt?" Lena whispered, her voice barely audible over the buzz of the dying lights.
He lied smoothly. "No."
But it did. Fire licked through his veins where her fingers grazed his temple, a sweet agony that made his claws unsheathe beneath the desk. He focused on the freckle beneath her left eye, the one that disappeared when she frowned. *Look away*, he commanded himself. *Before she sees what you are.*
Across the room, Kaelin's chair screeched.
He watched the exchange, He didn't like the way Asher was looking at Lena, like he was under some kind of spell.
Kaelin saw as Lena tend to Asher's wound, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. He smoothed his hair, his movements deliberate, and then turned to Lena.
"Playing nurse, Lena? How touching," Kaelin drawled, his voice sharp enough to flay skin.
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Kaelin said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure Asher's just thrilled to have you fussing over him."
Lena's jaw tightened. "It's called
*compassion*,Kaelin. You should try it
sometime.
"Compassion?"
Lena's eyes flashed with irritation, her brow furrowing. "It's okay, Kaelin. I want to help," she said, her voice firm but polite.
Kaelin's laugh was ice cracking underfoot. He stood abruptly, his chair slamming to the floor. The room temperature plummeted. Frost spiderwebbed across the windows.
Asher surged to his feet, fangs glinting.
"Back. Off."
As Kaelin gazed at Lena, memories flooded his mind. He remembered the day Valentin had attacked him, and how Lena's presence had calmed him down. He recalled the feeling of being under control, of being safe, when Lena was near.
A pang of anger and possessiveness surged through Kaelin. He couldn't bear the thought of Asher experiencing the same calmness, the same safety, that he felt around Lena. It wasn't fair that Asher got to feel that way too.
Kaelin's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. He felt a growl rising in his throat, but he suppressed it. He didn't want to scare Lena or make a scene.
Instead, Kaelin stood up, his movements abrupt. "I need some air," he muttered, stalking out of the detention room.
Lena watched Kaelin go, concern etched on her face. "Kaelin, wait!" she called out, knowing he wasn't supposed to leave detention. Principal Johnson would return soon, and Kaelin's departure would only add to their troubles.
Asher's eyes followed Kaelin's departure, a mixture of confusion and curiosity on his face. As a werewolf, he could sense the tension between Kaelin and himself, like an undercurrent of hostility. But he didn't care; anything that annoyed Kaelin made him happy.
Lena turned to Asher, her eyes searching for answers. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, her voice soft.
Asher's expression turned sarcastic. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe Kaelin's just having a bad hair day... or a bad life." He chuckled, trying to downplay the tension.
Lena sighed, her eyes narrowing. "I think it has something to do with you, Asher."I think Kaelin feels threatened by you.
Asher raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What makes you say that?"
Lena's gaze locked onto his. "Can you tell me what really happened in the bathroom? Why were you and Kaelin fighting?"
Asher tried to remove his head from Lena's gentle touch, not wanting to relive the ordeal. "That's none of your business, Lyra," he said, using a fake name to deflect her curiosity.
As Kaelin stormed out of the detention room, his emotions in turmoil. He couldn't explain why, but being around Asher and Lena made him feel like he was losing control. As he walked down the hallway, his senses were heightened, and his mind was racing.
He thought about the tattoo on his wrist, the same tattoo Asher had. What did it mean? Why did they both have it?
Kaelin's thoughts drifted to his father, who had sent him to this school without explanation.
As he turned a corner, Kaelin's eyes fell on a poster advertising the school's annual Halloween party. It reminded him of Sophia, his witch friend from the supernatural school he used to attend. His forbidden love, He missed her dearly, and the pain of being separated from her still lingered.
Kaelin's fists clenched as he walked, his anger and frustration simmering just below the surface. He felt like he was trapped in a never-ending nightmare, with no escape.
Despite his turmoil, Kaelin kept his cool, maintaining the façade of a privileged student. He couldn't let anyone see the real him, the one who was struggling to keep his emotions in check.
As he walked, the hallway seemed to stretch on forever, a never-ending corridor of confusion, sadness, and anger. Kaelin felt lost, like he was wandering through a dark forest with no direction.
But he refused to give up. He would find a way to navigate this chaos, to uncover the secrets that haunted him. And he would start by confronting Asher, the key to unlocking his destiny.