Chapter 6: Who Are You?
1183 Words
I swallowed, frozen. His shoulder brushed mine as we separated into our respective corridors. Brief, deliberate, dismissive.
“V! Wait for me!”
Vicky’s voice sliced through the hall. She hurried after him and slammed into me on purpose, her shoulder striking mine just hard enough to sting.
Kiera’s growl was low and immediate. I felt it surge before I fully understood. Her wolf rising, coiled and ready.
“You need to be cautious,” she muttered. “And… angry sometimes.”
A soft laugh escaped me, surprising us both.
It felt good to be defended like that.
I’d never felt this before.
“Thanks. I’ll try. Well, technically, I was angry the whole time… I’m just being nice on the first day of school.”
Kiera laughed, and we went to our house side by side. It wasn’t far away, and we managed to arrive there on foot.
***
“Listen, Girls. One of us needs to go to Nightshade House to ask about tomorrow’s sparring match,” a girl said. “Any volunteers?”
The room fell silent.
“You’re not going,” Kiera said firmly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Huh?” I blinked, realizing I’d been thinking about Viper again.
“They’re asking for a volunteer,” she continued. “You’re not doing it.”
“I won’t,” I said quickly. “Of course I won’t.”
“Hi, Alina!”
Before I could react, the girl threw herself at my side, linking her arm with mine.
“Since no one’s volunteering,” she said brightly, “I signed you up. You don’t mind, right?”
“What? No!” I blurted. “Nightshade is… scary!”
She leaned closer, eyes gleaming. “But your fiancée’s there, right? The big boss himself.”
“M–my what?”
“Oh, don’t pretend,” she smirked. “I’ve heard the rumors. And after today? I believe them.”
My stomach dropped.
“No, it’s not like that,” I said weakly.
“Viper is your fiancée?” Kiera’s eyes popped out like she’d just heard breaking news about the prime minister finally building a werewolf sanctuary on Mars.
“No… well…”
“I know everything,” the girl blurted. I groaned.
“No. Really… it’s just a rumor.”
“Okay… okay, if you say so… but… please, okay? We don’t have another option.”
Before I could protest, she shoved me toward the door.
And just like that, I was being sent straight into Nightshade territory.
***
Nightshade House sat at the far end of the corridor, half-swallowed by shadow. The torches burned low here, their flames tinted violet, casting jagged shapes along the walls. The moment I stepped inside, everything smelled off.
Shirtless boys loitered everywhere, skin marked with scars, muscles flexing as they laughed too loudly. Their eyes glinting like predators sizing up unfamiliar prey.
I could feel their dark aura and everything that wasn’t nice.
Oh my. Why was I here?
As I stepped closer, conversations slowed.
Then stopped.
“Well,” a voice drawled, “did we scare Coven so badly they sent a girl?”
A ripple of laughter spread through the room.
I straightened my back, forcing myself to keep walking.
“I’m here to ask about tomorrow’s sparring match,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “Coven House needs confirmation on—”
“Wow,” another boy interrupted, eyes dragging over me without shame. “She talks like she belongs here.”
More laughter.
“Wrong wing, sweetheart,” someone added. “The library’s two halls down.”
“I’m not lost,” I said.
A taller boy stepped forward, blocking my path. “Nightshade business doesn’t concern healers.”
“I’m not here to fight,” I replied. “Just to ask who—”
“Who’s in charge?” he finished for me, smirking. “You don’t get to ask questions here.”
A few of them shifted closer, circling—not touching, but close enough that my skin prickled.
“So this is Coven’s standard now?” one muttered. “Sending someone who looks like she’d break in half.”
I clenched my fists at my sides.
“Relax,” another said lazily. “We’re just curious. Are you really a healer?”
“Yes.”
“Prove it.”
The word hit harder than I expected.
“I don’t need to,” I said quietly.
That only amused them.
“Oh, she’s got pride.”
“Cute.”
“Careful, she might cry.”
Heat crept up my neck, humiliation burning sharp and fast. I refused to lower my gaze, even as my heart pounded.
“I asked my question,” I said. “Be at the arena tomorrow. That’s all.”
Silence fell for half a second.
Then laughter. Louder this time.
“Did you hear that?”
“She’s giving orders now.”
The tall boy leaned in, his voice dropping. “You don’t belong here,” he said. “And walking into Nightshade alone like this? That’s stupid.”
I met his stare, even though my chest felt tight. “Noted.”
I stepped around him before he could stop me and headed for the exit. No one grabbed me. No one followed.
But their voices chased me anyway.
“Run back to Coven!”
“Stick to healing books!”
“Tomorrow’s going to be fun!”
“Don’t forget ….”
“We’ll be there,” another boy interrupted. “Wouldn’t miss seeing a Coven girl up close.”
Someone laughed behind me.
I turned sharply and headed for the door, my steps quick but controlled.
I refused to run.
But suddenly, I bumped into something—or… someone. I wasn’t quite sure. The corridor was dark again.
“Alina?” he spoke.
Of course. The boss.
Viper.
“Vi… Viper. Hello,” I replied awkwardly, stepping closer. “Sorry.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Hey, Boss! That chick is commanding us. What should we do with her?” one of the shirtless boys shouted.
Viper’s eyes narrowed, then he cornered me against the wall.
“Is that so? What command?”
“I didn’t,” I spat.
“Well. Repeat.”
“I… I just need confirmation for tomorrow’s sparring match.”
“Of course we’re going. Why bother coming here?” Viper hissed. His wolf rose, making Lila go fuzzy.
“O-Okay… thanks for the confirmation. I need to go back—”
“Not too soon, Princess…”
The boy from before stepped closer. No. He lunged, hissing. I sensed something dangerous was about to happen, but somehow… Viper blocked him by stepping directly in front of me.
“Calm down, Rick,” he warned. “You don’t mess with my prey,” he added.
Rick backed away instantly, clearly displeased. Angry, I supposed. But Viper didn’t care.
“So, Alina,” he said softly. “Tell me again.”
He leaned closer.
“Who you really are.”
- Writer
