Her eyes snapped open, and the first thing she saw was him. Alpha Hiro, with the same calm, unreadable smile on his face like nothing ever shook him. Angela's head throbbed, a dull ache pressing behind her eyes. For a second, she wondered if she was dreaming. Why was he standing so close? Was he still watching her? Still mocking her in silence?
He had to be insane just like everyone said.
"Thank God you're awake," Stales said quickly, his voice laced with worry as he leaned closer. He looked genuinely scared, like he had been preparing to lose her forever.
Angela gave him a weak, painful smile, though her heart was anything but calm. Deep down, a part of her wished she had stayed unconscious. At least then, she wouldn't have to face Alpha Hiro again. She was sure he'd hurt her. Maybe not here, not now, but he'd come for her the way Renn did. There was no doubt about it.
But instead, Hiro simply walked past her. He said nothing. Just turned and strolled toward a group of boys dressed in black like him. That was it. No threats. No smirk. No revenge.
She blinked, confused.
"How long was I out?" she asked, turning to Stales.
"Since you stepped into this academy," he said dryly.
Angela rolled her eyes and tried to sit up. "No. I mean since I fainted."
Stales looked sheepish. "Oh. Right. Just a few minutes, I think. We used water to wake you." He pointed at the jar sitting beside her. It was nearly empty now.
That's when she noticed the cold creeping into her skin. Her clothes clung to her. Her hair felt heavy. They had poured water on her. Not a little splash...no, they soaked her like she was a dying plant. Seriously?
She shivered and frowned. Is this how boys did things? No gentleness, no care? Just dump a whole jar and hope for the best?
Then panic hit her like a slap. Her hair. Was it still in place? If it got too wet, too messy, someone would notice. Someone would figure it out.
Her hands flew to her head in a rush, trying to fix what she could. Her heart pounded hard in her chest. This school would destroy her. Mentally. Emotionally. Everything was already falling apart and it hadn't even been a full day.
"You looked cute though," Stales said suddenly, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he looked away, a little shy.
Instead of feeling flattered, Angela felt her stomach twist. That word cute was dangerous. Her mask was slipping, and if anyone noticed, it would all be over. They would know she wasn't a boy. They would know she didn't belong here. Fear flared in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm, even though her heart was racing.
"I'm not cute," she said sharply as she stood, brushing sand off her soaked clothes. Her voice came out harder than she meant, but she didn't care. Around them, the students were still laughing, still playing their ridiculous games like nothing had happened. Not one of them had checked on her when she fainted. She could have dropped dead and they wouldn't have blinked. That was the kind of place this was.
"There's nothing wrong with telling your fellow guy that he's cute," Stales said gently, watching her with those kind eyes of his. "I mean, you are."
Angela frowned. "That's gay," she mumbled. The words sounded strange coming out of her mouth, but she had heard them before...so many times. Back in her old school, the boys used that word like it was something bad. They didn't cry, didn't hug, didn't show anything soft, because softness meant weakness. Softness meant shame. But now that she thought about it, what was so wrong about it? Why did they make it sound like a curse?
But Stales didn't seem to care about any of that. And she had noticed how the boys here acted. They touched each other, joked, hugged without shame. There was no fear in their affection. Maybe this place was wild, but at least it wasn't fake.
"We're friends," Stales added. He stood too, holding the jar in one hand. "There's really nothing wrong with it. The boys here don't care. I don't care either. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I won't say it again."
Angela looked at him for a moment. Really looked. He was taller than her by at least three inches. His skin had a warm caramel glow under the firelight, and his eyes were soft, kind, honest. He was handsome too, but not in the dangerous way the Alphas were. Stales felt safe.
She looked away quickly. Her heart wasn't ready to trust anyone just yet.
"I want to know more about the Alphas," she said as they began walking toward the edge of the camp where they could sit and watch from a distance. Her eyes scanned across the field. All four Alphas were there, spread out but still somehow commanding the entire space. From this spot, she could see them clearly. And they could see her too.
Her gaze met Taros first. He caught her looking and winked. The simple gesture made her giggle before she could stop herself. It wasn't on purpose...he just had that effect. There was something soft in the way he acted around her. Maybe that was just who he was. Or maybe he saw something in her she didn't even know she was showing.
But when her eyes landed on Renn, the warmth vanished. His stare was sharp and bitter. It was like he wanted to rip her apart with just his gaze. A chill crept down her spine, and she had to look away. There was no softness in him. Only rage.
Then there was Hiro. That smile. That twisted, dangerous smile that never seemed to leave his face. He was looking straight at her, like he had been the whole time. Watching her. Studying her. And that look in his eyes—it wasn't playful. It was something else. Something dark and unpredictable. She didn't know what was going on in his mind, but whatever it was, it scared her.
Her gaze finally landed on Kaito.
He wasn't even looking at her.
His face was turned slightly, resting against his hand. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the arm of his seat, lost in thought. He looked cool and distant. Like someone had ruined his day. And Angela had a terrible feeling it was her fault.
Guilt twisted in her chest. He had stepped in for her when Renn attacked. He didn't have to, but he did. Why? Why did he help her? Was it just because they were roommates? Or was there something more? Could he already know who she was?
Was it possible he knew she was Angela, the same girl who was supposed to be his mating partner?
Angela swallowed hard and looked away. She shouldn't be letting these Alphas get under her skin. She had been through worse and survived. She was strong. She had to be. Crumbling now would mean everything she fought for was nothing.
"You wanted to know about the Alphas, right?" Stales spoke up again. He never stopped talking, always filling the silence with something.
"Yeah," Angela replied with a weak chuckle as her eyes drifted to the fire. It crackled quietly while four students took turns with bows and arrows, aiming at a board to show off their skills.
"Alpha Renn can shift into different forms like wolf, lion, fox, even a bird. He moves fast, adapts quickly, and can sneak past almost anyone without being seen."
Angela's lips parted slightly, but she didn't say a word. It all made sense now. That strength… that control. No wonder he had lifted her like she weighed nothing. If Kaito hadn't stepped in earlier, Renn might've crushed her just to prove a point. A knot formed in her stomach. She owed Kaito more than she could ever say.
"Taros has the healing power. He can accelerate healing factor that allows him to rapidly recover from injuries. He can withstand severe injuries, regenerate lost limbs and heal quickly from attacks as well heal others" Stales added.
Angela's face lit up before she could stop it. She smiled softly, thinking about the way Taros had looked at her earlier, how he had offered to take away her pain if she learned her lesson. He wasn't just powerful. He was kind… at least to her. A flutter rose in her chest and she bit her lip.
Stales noticed. His brow lifted and his voice dipped with curiosity. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Angela's cheeks warmed. She looked away. "I'm not smiling."
"Yes, you are," he grinned. "Don't fall too hard. None of the Alphas are gay, you know. It's a shame. I can see you falling for one of them already."
Angela groaned and rolled her eyes. "I'm not falling for anyone. And I'm not gay either."
"But it wouldn't be wrong if I was, right?" she added quietly.
Stales nodded. "Of course not. But just so you know… the Alphas definitely like girls. Especially Taros. You should see them when the girls' school visits. It's a different world."
Angela's smile dropped. That hit harder than she expected. Taros? A flirt? No. He didn't seem like the type. But then again, Nancy once told her the ones who smile the most are the biggest heartbreakers. Maybe she was being foolish again, letting the girl in her dream a little too much.
She sighed and asked, "What about Hiro?"
Stales blinked, then shook his head with a smirk. "Hiro's the lord of tricks. He has illusion powers. He reads and messes with your mind. Makes you see things that aren't even real."
A sharp wave of fear rushed through her. Her secret. Was it still safe? If Hiro could see through illusions… could he already know the truth? Could he have read her?
Stales noticed the look on her face and quickly added, "Relax. He doesn't use his powers unless he wants to mess with someone for fun. He likes getting reactions."
"That's even worse," Angela muttered, eyes wide. "That's terrifying."
"Yes. If you want to keep your secret safe from him, you need to stop thinking about it when he's around," Stales said, his voice low and serious. "Distract yourself. Think of anything else. But if you're not strong enough, he'll break into your mind and take what he wants."
Angela's eyes shifted toward the Alphas, her stomach tightening. "What about the illusion?" she asked quietly.
"You can't escape it," Stales replied, following her gaze. "None of the Alphas can."
Then his tone changed. Softer. Almost in awe. "But Kaito... he's different. I really admire him. You want to know why everyone's scared of him? Even the staff? Honestly, I think he's scared of himself too."
Angela held back a sigh. Of course Stales would get dramatic whenever Kaito came up. He always did. The boy practically worshiped her roommate, though she still couldn't understand why. To her, Kaito was cold, arrogant, and way too full of himself.
"Is Kaito your role model or something?" she asked, raising a brow. She already knew the answer because of the way Stales lit up gave it away.
"Of course! Who wouldn't want to be like him?" he said, grinning from ear to ear. "He can control the elements like wind, water, earth, even electricity. He can call on them during battle, build shields, change the ground beneath your feet. It's insane."
Angela's mouth parted slightly, her eyes drifting back to Kaito. He sat there like a king on his throne, calm, still, listening to nothing and no one. Like he was above it all. And maybe... he was.
Now it made sense. Why he acted like the world revolved around him. It kind of did.
She looked at him differently now. This guy...her roommate had the power to destroy or save the world with just a thought. No wonder people feared him. He wasn't just another Alpha. He was something more. Something dangerous.
"So... the lights in the cafeteria," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "That was him, wasn't it?"
Stales nodded, his expression dead serious now. "Yeah. That was nothing, too. Kaito can turn day into night and night into day."
Angela swallowed hard. A chill slid down her spine. She had to be more careful than ever around him.
"Hey, you two! Step forward!"
The sharp voice cut through her thoughts. She and Stales turned. One of the senior boys was pointing at them.
They were up next to participate in the games.
Angela's heart thumped. She didn't even know what the game was. She hadn't been paying attention.
Alpha Hiro rose from his seat slowly, eyes sharp as blades. He pointed straight at Stales. "Go back to your seat. I think the little boy will do just fine."
Angela's heart jumped. Her breath caught. Little boy? He still thought she was a little boy, but they never treated her like one. If they gave her a game that tested strength or power, how was she supposed to hide who she truly was?
"What kind of game am I supposed to play?" she asked, folding her arms, trying to look braver than she felt. Her voice came out steady, but her stomach twisted.
The atmosphere shifted. A hush fell over the crowd. Boys glanced at each other, clearly not expecting her to talk back. All except Stales. His eyes widened. His face said it all—Don't be stupid, Angel.
Hiro smiled. It wasn't warm. It wasn't kind. He strolled back and forth, hands buried deep in his suit pockets like he had all the time in the world. "Mind games," he said smoothly, then paused and turned to face her. "Are you ready?"
Angela looked around. Some of the boys wore broken, and haunted looks. Whatever this game was, it had shaken them. Her gaze found Taros, he was rubbing his forehead like he already pitied her. Renn looked pleased, like he was enjoying the show. And Kaito... his face gave away nothing. Cold. Distant. Empty.
Her chest tightened. She shouldn't care, but part of her did. What was wrong with him? Was he still upset about what happened in the hall?
"I see," Hiro's voice cut into her thoughts, a teasing edge in his tone. He rubbed his hands together like a man about to enjoy a show. "You're worried about Kaito."
Her heart dropped.
The whispering started.
Kaito turned to her, his unreadable eyes meeting hers.
She hadn't said anything out loud. Not a single word. But Hiro still knew.
Shit.
God damn fucking Hiro! He read her mind and she didn't even realize it. Stales warned her clearly, not to think about her secrets when this lunatic was around. But she slipped. One stupid thought and now the whole room knew what she was feeling.
She looked at him, heart pounding, and saw the way his brows lowered as he spoke. "Let's get to the game this lunatic has prepared for you."
She didn't even get the chance to say no.
The sky darkened in a blink, thick clouds crawling across it like a curse. The moon vanished, swallowed whole. Angela looked up and felt a wave of dread. Something was wrong. The clouds shifted like they were trying to open, but nothing changed. No stars. No light. Just that same cold, heavy gray...what the hell was happening?
A cold shiver ran down her spine. Her arms wrapped around herself without thinking. Fear clawed its way up her throat. She rubbed her palms against her sleeves, trying to fight the panic rising inside her.
Then the wind began to howl.
Before she could make sense of anything, a huge shadow tore through the sky. A monstrous bird dove from above, its wings wide, its eyes locked on her like she was dinner. It was fast. Too fast. If she didn't move, it would crush her.
Angela ran. Her legs moved on instinct, fast and wild. She screamed, called out, but no one came. No one heard her. The school was gone. Her world had vanished.
This wasn't reality. This was something else. Something worse.
This was Hiro's world.
He dragged her into it without warning. Twisted her thoughts into his own game.
He was definitely a mind fucker.