Chapter 4
1197 Words
Roxxane's POV
Fortunately, a staff member confirms that my dorm has been changed and a certain Jericho is called down to lead me to my dorm.
Throughout my whole life, I've never seen a male as chatty and jumpy as Jericho. Not especially from the royal bloodline, but well, that goes to show that Garrick is indeed packed with different species.
And it seems Jericho is or was the only friend of Ronan. He helps me get settled in the dorm while asking me questions about how I survived and where I've been. He barely gives me a chance to respond before he suddenly swings to the topic of a certain Canan.
"Damn, I heard you stood up to Canan today. Like talk about it—it's literally all over the place." He exclaims in total dismay, his attention shifting from the clothes he's folding over to me.
For a split second I'm confused about what he means until my memory rewinds to the earlier scenario of today. He's talking about the second male I stood up to. I heard that moron call him Canan.
Not knowing exactly how to respond, I just stare at Jericho.
Deep down I want to know more about Canan. His relationship with Ronan. In fact, I want to know exactly how Ronan's life was in this Academy. And Jericho seems to be in the perfect position to indulge, but I also know I'll be setting myself up if I do that.
"Well, someone had to." I draw out, not knowing if that's the right response. Is that the way Ronan would have responded?
Jericho's next reaction to my response gives me a subtle hint. A dazzled frown appears on his face.
"I can't be mistaken if I say you coming back here a third time isn't just to resume the Academy. You sure have some ace up your sleeves." Jericho's eyes study me before a mischievous smile creeps its way to his face.
"Why would you say that?" I ask, taking the opportunity to begin my findings.
"No one in this Academy, aside from Prince Karl, would dare to stand up to Canan. Especially not you. You let every prince poke fun at you and you were like a punching bag for Alpha Canan. Until now I still don't know why he despises you so much, but you could never dare to challenge him even though he was tossing you right into your grave."
I don't want to jump into quick conclusions, but with the piece from Jericho, it's obvious Canan was definitely one of Ronan's bullies.
Raw rage for Canan crosses through me, but I fight hard to push it back as my mind builds up a series of questions.
Was Canan the one who nearly devoured Ronan?
Did he bully Ronan into running away?
So far, from the way everyone has interacted with me, it's well proven that Ronan wasn't killed. He did escape for the second time.
As my mind cooks up these questions, I am unable to think of a better way to ask them, so I just say, "Well, I realize that if I must get through Garrick successfully, I'll have to learn to stand up to those dumbasses."
I expect everything but not a sudden frown from Jericho. "Where's that scar?" Jericho asks, his eyes searching my face.
"What scar?" My chest heaves silently, and I raise my hand to touch my face.
"Oh I…" I'm already prepared to tell him that whatever mark he's talking about, I got a strong doctor to clear it off.
But he beats me to it. "The mark Karl scribbled on you when he branded you as his puppet."
What? Who the heck is Karl?! Suddenly my brain recalls back to when he said only Karl dares to stand up to Canan. I don't know, but I feel like Karl is also a feared figure in this Academy just as Canan.
Since I can't directly ask who Karl is, I ask, "Is Karl still in this Academy?"
"Yes." Jericho affirms before returning back to the topic at hand.
Jericho lets me off the hook after I tell him I got a strong doctor to eradicate my scar. After arranging my stuff, the bell for dinner rings shortly after. Jericho and I go off to the dining room, which is a large spacious hall. I don't come across Canan nor Karl for the rest of the day. But I do come across several princes who all gawk at me and have Ronan's name on their lips. Thankfully none get in my way. Then night falls and I finally have the perfect chance to ingest my wolf bane.
Night blends into morning and the first activity of the day commences—combat training. Since I'm taking up where Ronan left off, I have to find my way to his rank, but just my luck, Jericho is in the same rank with him, so I have no trouble locating my rank.
The whole place is a bustle as everyone fits into their different ranks, the spacious training ground swallowing up myriads of Alphas-in-training and still having vast spaces left.
Standing in line with other males who are all snickering and bickering around me, I focus my attention on the instructor calling names and pairing them up for a fight.
Then just as he calls my name, a familiar voice grunts in from nowhere, "I'll take him."
It gets everyone's heads snapping towards the direction, including the instructor.
And our eyes halt on a tall brooding male at a near distance, who's walking towards our direction. Canan. His hideous dark eyes make him look just as fierce. He's clad in all black and his long hair is packed in a ponytail.
I'm consumed in our intense stare until the instructor's voice hacks in. "But…Canan, Ronan is way below your rank. You can't—"
"You heard me." Canan cuts him off, his sharp gaze locking on my glaring ones.
"With respect, Alpha, I can't allow—"
One swift gaze from Canan gets him shutting up. The scared look of a man as hefty as the instructor just proves that Canan is indeed feared in this Academy. Not like it unnerves me—it just fuels my ambition to crush him.
"Do you enjoy working here?" Canan asks the instructor calmly, obviously trying to threaten the poor man into giving in to his demands.
But what he doesn't know is that he doesn't need the threat. Tsk. I'm already prepping up to face him head on when someone whispers beside me.
"Run, Ronan." Jericho warns.
But I am already stepping forward. "It's fine. I'll take him on."
There's a sudden shift in the air as everyone has shock marring their faces as I walk towards Canan.
Jericho, however, grabs my sleeve. "Are you insane?"
Not looking back, I only grin before yanking myself from his grip.
Something like amusement shimmers in Canan's eyes as he watches me stand before him. It's as if he's staring down at his prey and I hate that look… terribly.
I f*****g can't wait to wipe it off.
- Writer
