Scarlet Moon: The Marked Heir

CHAPTER NINE

Aria's POV

My shoulder bones snapped, and pain surged through me. I squeezed my eyes tight, hoping it wasn't Rowan.

I had done something so that this time he would not consider sparing me. However, his cologne had a sharper scent. I immediately opened my eyes to see Lioran in front of me. His brow furrowed in anger, and his eyes appeared to glow slightly.

"Don’t play with me." He growled, slamming me harder against the wall, "Just because you're my f*****g mate, doesn't give you the balls to ignore my messages."

Huh?

"What messages?" I stuttered, my heart beating so fast that I could hear it from within. I patted my hands on my pockets and sighed, still wearing my pajamas.

He grunted and glared at me as if I were the source of his problem. It wasn't my fault that I had bonded with him. His grip pressed against my arm, "Why are you so soft?"

He leaned over and whispered, his minty breath fanning my face. "Or perhaps not."

I twitched, looking at the passageway, and then quickly broke his grip. Maybe this time I need to control how people can just come up and grab me. "Why are you bothered about my gender?"

I shrugged, my voice filled with panic. Lioran raised his brow, but no words escaped his lips. His eyes seemed to speak for themselves. He's so f*****g attractive, but unfortunately, their attitude was the opposite.

I need to leave this place; Rowan and his minions might be looking for me. But I was so hesitant that I couldn't return to that room. If they could break in without a lock, I wouldn't be surprised if they were waiting for me.

"Change into something lighter." His voice was authoritative, sending shivers down my spine. "Come to the training yard. Don't take long; I'm not a patient person."

What?...

Why does he need me to come to the training yard? What task does he intend to assign me?

If he tells me to fight, I'd rather run around this building ten times than do that, which would be extremely dangerous for me. I wasn't powerful enough to defeat even the weakest Omega here.

"But...I can't." He shot me, another glare, and I swallowed the remaining words before nodding.

"Before you come to the training yard, go to the cafeteria and get me two bottles of water and chewing gum."

He's not kidding, is he? Does he even realize what his actions have cost me here? My hand tightened into a hard fist.

He scoffed at my reaction, patted my shoulders, and walked away arrogantly, until his footsteps vanished. I sighed tiredly, cowered in fear, and dashed to my room.

I needed to find a good disguise because everyone is currently on my neck. I stood in front of my door and gently, slowly pushed the handle, making a "creak!"

Thankfully, it was empty. I sighed with relief and immediately opened the door wide, entered, and slammed it from behind, activating the lock. She sat on the floor, facing the ceiling.

Ting!

My phone vibrated, displaying a notification on the home screen. I grabbed the phone from the bed and slid it open. I haven't received any notifications from anyone in the past week. The only one I completed was for my app payment.

'Lyra sent a photo.'

"What does she still expect from me?" I groaned angrily and clicked the notification, which led me directly to the photo.

The moment I saw the photo, my breath stopped. It was the photo of her and Kael on the bed, both naked.

"Ughhh!" I screamed and slammed the phone against the bed. Falling to the floor once more. My vision blurred with tears, and I felt a pang in my chest.

I assumed that by now, I would be over them. But it was still eating me dry.

The photograph was like an open wound, triggering those memories, I tried forgetting. How Lyra would hug me and tell me that I and Kael were meant to be.

I grabbed my phone and deleted the contact. I wiped my face with the back of my arm. I am Arian, and things like this shouldn’t break me. I sighed and scrolled through my chats until I noticed Lioran's message.

'Come to the training yard; do not forget my message.'

Great!

Way to go, Lioran; thanks for making things worse. I gritted my teeth in anger and fear. Then something in the corner of the room blinked. I noticed a red light turning on and off at the corner.

"What is that?..." I sniffled and moved a few steps towards the light. I hoped it wasn't a bomb; I wasn't ready to die yet without fulfilling my final request. I looked around and grabbed my training stick. Although I had not used it for training, Dad had given it to me before he left.

I hit it with the stick and closed my eyes, expecting the worst. Then something fell. My heart skipped a beat, expecting a bomb or a mouse, but it wasn't anything small; I'm not sure what it was.

I squatted, took it into my hands, and turned to the other side. My finger shook because it felt foreign in my hands. The curiosity grows from within.

It was like a camera, and I hadn't noticed it before. "Who'd do this?"

What if the camera had not been here? They are watching me. What level of creep would that person be? Normally, I strip naked before taking a shower or changing.

What if this thing had captured every moment?

No, it can't be; if this happens, I'm screwed. I would be in more trouble than Rowan had put me through.

"Rowan! Is this why he was always curious about who I really was based on my appearance?”

That was an offense, and I was offended. One of my pet peeves was people invading my personal space without permission.

Part of me wanted to throw the camera down and crush it with my feet. However, if it was destroyed, the recording could be tampered with in some way.

With the camera still in my hand, I returned to the bed and tucked it into one of my jackets. I had to go meet Lioran and find out what had been recorded. No matter what, my secret must be kept hidden; if someone tries to expose who I am, even if I’m not strong enough to overpower or fight them, I will find a way to keep his or her mouth shut.

"Screw my life!"

I walked into my bathroom, removed my chest band, and gasped in delight. I massaged my tender boobs, which had been strapped for hours, with my hand.

This had to go on; even though it was uncomfortable, I would eventually get used to it.

I turned on the shower and let the water cascade down my back. Satisfied, I wrapped my body in a towel and grabbed my clothes from the bedroom.

I don't even trust what's in my room this time. Maybe I need to file complaints with the council. Or call my father and explain what's going on.

As if he cared. We haven't talked since the day he dumped me.

I took another clean, sweat-free chest band and strapped it around my chest, making it look almost flat. I wore a sleeveless tank top that my father had given me, as well as gray sweatpants.

I wore a large hoodie, a bucket hat, and a black face mask. I dashed towards the jacket; the camera was still there. I grabbed it and put it in my pocket, alongside my phone.

"Damn! Cafeteria comes first."

I sighed and opened the door, looking from both sides. I relaxed a little when I realized it was still empty. Then I locked the door with my key and ran away.

When I arrived at the cafe, it was as busy as usual. Students sit in groups of two or three at different tables. I kept my head low and dragged the mask upward until it reached the bridge of my nose. I couldn't see clearly because of the hat, but it was preferable to being caught.

I strode towards the vending machine and inserted a coin. Two water bottles fell out.

I smiled, grabbed the drink, and turned to leave. My body smashed into someone else's.

"Hey, watch it..."

The girl I'd gutted snapped and walked to the vending machine. Then some girls on the other end, along with some dudes, filled the hall with their voices.

"That new boy has some balls fluttering around with Lioran."

Murmurs filled the hallway.

"Did you also know Rowan was looking for him? That dude is dead meat."

"He doesn’t even appear masculine. Despite him being fine as hell, I believe he might be what humans call it."

"You mean for boys who were also interested in boys. Gay."

Laughter broke out, and whispers intensified. I need to get out of here.

"Goodness, Mia! You can't say such a word here. It feels like a taboo..."

I adjusted my hat and scurried away, unaware that there was a bigger problem ahead. My eyes were already drawn to a poster by the entrance. The one Rowan had taken.

"Find him, wherever you see him. And you'll have a date with one of Lioran's brothers.”