THE SHADOWED MATE

CHAPTER 4

The sound reached the academy before the vehicles did. At first, nobody paid much attention. Students were still settling into their classrooms while teachers prepared for the first lesson of the day. Conversations drifted through the corridors like every other morning. Then the sound grew louder. Every head turned toward the main gate.

"What is that?"

"I don't know."

"It sounds expensive."

Within seconds, students abandoned their conversations and rushed toward the classroom windows. Others stepped into the corridors, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever had caused such a commotion. Even the teachers stopped what they were doing. Now, even Aurora, who was halfway through copying yesterday's chemistry notes before the lesson started, was staring like the rest. The entourage was welcomed by the cheerleaders, who put on a whole performance, but this time, without the famous Aurora. Well, it was part of the school traditions to welcome new students. She wasn't about to lose another because everyone wanted to stare at expensive cars. "You seriously aren't going to look?" Rufus asked from the seat behind her.

"They're just people." Rufus smiled to himself.

"Rich people."

"They still breathe the same air,”

"You've become impossible, b***h please, could just stop being jealous and appreciate them at least." She laughed softly without looking back.

"I've become realistic." Outside, the roar of the engines finally faded as four black SUVs rolled through the massive iron gates of Elysian Elite Academy. The convoy moved slowly across the courtyard before stopping directly in front of the administration building.” OH! MY DAYS!” The girls screamed. The academy had welcomed ministers, governors, and celebrities before. None of them had arrived like this. The principal himself hurried down the front steps. Behind him walked senior teachers, department heads and members of the board. Students exchanged confused looks.

"When was the last time the principal came outside for transfer students?"

"Never."

"I've been here three years."

"So have I."

"This has never happened." The first SUV door opened. Three men dressed in black suits stepped out. Each wore a small communication device behind one ear. One scanned the academy grounds, as if there were goons or something, just before the other remained beside the vehicles. The third opened the rear passenger door. The school was watching all this as it unfolded like a movie. The courtyard became completely silent. Finally, a polished black shoe was seen first, then a second. Two young men stepped out one after the other. For a second... Nobody moved. Then chaos erupted.

"Oh, my DAYS!"

"They're twins!"

"They're actually identical!"

"They're so handsome! Babyyyyy! "

"I've never seen men like that before." Girls immediately began fixing their hair. Lip gloss appeared from handbags. They started unbuttoning their blouses, showing off their cleavage, tightening their bras to make sure their breasts were plump. One girl even borrowed another student's compact mirror. The boys weren't much better. Well, the gays watered their lips and adjusted their hair. Some folded their arms, others pretending not to care, while others simply stared. The twins looked almost identical, tall, aesthetic with curly hair and the other one with straight hair. Yet they carried themselves differently. The first twin had a quiet intensity about him. His face remained unreadable, almost cold, as if smiling was effortless. Now, the second twin wore the faintest smile, so they assumed that he was the HEARTLESS one but had a kind of confidence that came from someone who had never needed anyone's approval. They didn't wave. They didn't acknowledge the whispers, but they simply walked towards the principal’s office. Students stepped aside without being told to try to rub shoulders with each of them. Their perfumes were so strong they just left trails everywhere they went. Even teachers moved out of their path. Inside the classroom, nearly every student had abandoned their desks. Selene stood closest to the window.

"So that's them."

"They're unreal," Ivy whispered.

"They look like movie stars." Mia laughed nervously.

"I call the smiling one."

"You can dream," Selene replied.

"They'll obviously notice me first." The three girls burst into laughter.

“Poor Aurora, now she wouldn’t even be noticed; she’s such a loser now, who cares.” They said this so loudly that they made sure that the rest of the classmates would laugh about it.

Across the room, Aurora finally looked up. Only because everyone else had.

She glanced through the window again, for exactly two seconds. Then returned to her notebook. Rufus noticed. "That's all?" She shrugged.

"What?"

"You looked at them for two seconds."

"I saw two transfer students."

"That's it?"

"What else am I supposed to see?"

"The entire school is losing its mind."

“ I have already lost my spark, Rufus. I can’t do this anymore. They won’t even notice me, not even a tiny little second.” Aurora closed her notebook.

"Also, They'll calm down tomorrow."

"You really don't care?" She smiled faintly.

"I have enough problems already." Rufus looked away before she noticed the concern in his eyes. She had no idea of how much he knew, and that’s why he tried so hard to bring her interests towards them. If she knew who those two young men really were... She wouldn't have been sitting so calmly. Outside, the principal welcomed the brothers personally.

"It is an honor to receive the Nightshade heirs." The quieter twin offered a polite nod.

The honor is ours, Principal." His voice was calm. Every word sounded so practiced; he even lost his voice for a second. The principal smiled nervously.

"I hope your journey wasn't too tiring."

"It was comfortable." The second twin remained silent. Instead... His eyes wandered across the academy grounds as though something about this place felt familiar. He couldn't explain it, not yet. Standing several meters away, Dr. White watched the twins carefully. His face remained expressionless. Only his clenched jaw betrayed him.

"So..."

The smiling twin finally spoke, turning toward him.

"We meet again," Dr. White answered quietly.

"I hoped we wouldn't." The principal looked between them.

"You already know one another?" Dr. White forced a smile to avoid the explanations.

"Our families crossed paths many years ago." It wasn't the truth, but it wasn't a complete lie either. Neither twin corrected him. They just played everything along. Across the courtyard, Rufus had quietly left the classroom. Aurora didn't notice; he stood beneath the covered walkway, hidden from the crowd. His eyes never left the Nightshade brothers.

"So they've finally come." His voice barely rose in a whisper.

"I hoped we'd have more time." Neither Kaiden nor Damon saw him. But they both felt it. A strange pull and a presence they hadn't felt in years. All they were feeling remained under their skins. Neither brother understood why their wolves had suddenly become restless the moment they stepped onto Elysian grounds. The feeling only grew stronger every time they walked deeper inside the school. Kaiden frowned slightly. "You feel it too, don’t you ?" Damon nodded.

"I've been feeling it since we entered the gates."

"It's close." Neither of them knew what they were searching for. Only that something... Or someone... Was waiting for them inside the academy. Back in Class 3B, Aurora zipped her backpack shut just as the classroom door opened. The principal stepped inside with Mr. White beside him. Every student immediately stood; the principal smiled warmly. "Class, I'd like you to welcome our newest students." The room held its breath immediately as the Nightshade twins walked in. Gasps filled the classroom as the girls straightened in their seats. Several smiled so hard their cheeks hurt. Selene tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before flashing the smile that had won over her secret admirers. She was certain this would be another easy victory.

After all...

“Hey...” She dragged her words as she bit her lower lip, trying to seduce her new lovers. She had always been the girl everyone noticed first.

“Now all of you behave; make sure to make your new students feel at home, okay,” the principal said.

The two boys standing at the front of the classroom would choose the one girl who hadn't even tried to impress them.