Can't Lose You, Again.
771 Words
ZANE
I walked out of the building with my hand behind my neck, easing the soreness there as Coach Damien's words played in my head.
"You've improved a lot, and your episodes seem to have disappeared. You should start relying on yourself instead of that girl. You know your family won't be pleased if they find out about the new agreement the academy made," he had said.
I palmed my face in frustration. I could already imagine the rage in Father's eyes if he found out. I'd be labeled weak and might even be thrown out of the team.
"That's why I just need to get a grip on myself and never rely on her, no matter what... and also find a way to stabilize him."
I dug my hands into my pockets.
Speaking of him, my wolf had been awfully quiet throughout the day. There hadn't been any episodes or insanity, yes, but he always butted in with sarcastic remarks whenever I complained about my family or my life.
‘Yo, are you still alive?’ I called through the mind link, waiting for an answer, but there was none.
‘It can't be that you're dead, right?’
‘You will be the one who's dead,’ he snarled aggressively.
A chuckle left my lips.
"So you're alive. Why haven't you been answering?"
‘I don't want to hear anything. Just leave me alone,’ he cut in impatiently. I could almost picture him covering his ears with a frown on his face.
Silly.
I shrugged and began looking for Aurelia.
Where could she be?
I thought she had gone out to get some fresh air, but it had been hours. Practice was already over, and she still wasn't around.
It couldn't be that she had used getting fresh air as an excuse to escape.
I continued searching until the soft scent of rose drifted into my nostrils. At the same time, a cool breeze brushed against my face, and a silly smile spread across my lips as I immediately recognized it was her.
I spotted her walking out from somewhere, her attention fixed on the papers in her hand. Or was it a document?
Wait.
My heart stilled for a moment as my eyes shifted to the direction she had come from.
There was only one building there, and both students and staff were strictly forbidden from entering it.
"Relia."
I hurried toward her, my heart filled with unease.
"Where did you come from? Please don't tell me you came out of that building."
Her head snapped up, shock flashing across her face before it quickly disappeared.
"Zane, there's something I need to show you."
She hurried toward me, opening the file in her hands. The moment I saw its color and quality, I recognized it immediately.
It was the same file I had discovered.
Oh God.
"You shouldn't have found that." The words slipped out before I could stop them. Aurelia froze. A frown slowly settled on her face.
"You... know about this?"
I swallowed hard.
"Please, give me that, Aurelia. You're not supposed to take it outside. If anyone sees that file in your hands, you'll be in serious trouble." Before she could react, I gently took the file from her. I quickly unzipped my academy hockey jacket, slipped it inside, and zipped it back up.
When I looked at her again, all the color had drained from her face.
Slowly, her lips parted.
"You know?" she whispered. "You've known about everything that's been happening in this academy... and why your wolf has been acting that way... all this time?"
My chest tightened.
The realization spread across her face piece by piece, as though she was putting together a puzzle she never wanted to solve.
"Oh God..." She covered her mouth with a trembling hand. "I've been so stupid."
"No." I shook my head immediately. "Don't say that."
I stepped closer.
"You have to understand, Aurelia. This is something no one is supposed to find out. I don't know how or why you managed to get access to information this classified. Even the Headmaster doesn't know this is happening. No one at the top does."
I paused, giving her a moment to process my words before gently resting my hands on her shoulders.
"So please..." My voice softened. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about what you found."
I held her gaze.
"And I promise I'll answer every question in your heart."
She stared at me without saying a word.
Her eyes searched mine, torn between trusting me and demanding the truth.
I don't want to lose you again, Aurelia.
- Writer
