Chapter Five: Quiet Power
684 Words
The scent of pine and crushed leaves drifted through the courtyard behind Blue Moon High. The school bell had just rung, and most students were dragging themselves to their next obligations. Anya sat on the stone bench under the oldest oak, the one that had twisted branches like a wolf’s reaching claws. Ashton and Lucy flanked her on either side, both groaning dramatically.
“I swear,” Ashton huffed, rolling his shoulders. “If one more trainer makes us run uphill with weights, I’m shifting just to run away.”
Lucy giggled, brushing her braid over one shoulder. “Same. My legs feel like they’re going to fall off. You’re lucky, Anya. No combat drills. No drills at all.”
Anya smiled softly. “I do other things…”
“Yeah, like brewing tea for elders and reading books about wolf guts,” Ashton teased.
Anya nudged his arm. “Healing herbs, not guts.”
“You’re still the lucky one,” Lucy said with a sigh. “No Alpha sons yelling at you to ‘get up and do it again.’”
Anya’s smile faded slightly, but she didn’t correct them. They didn’t know the truth about her secret training with her father. Or about the long list of chores and assignments she did quietly for the twins. She didn’t want to burden them with it.
Their laughter died down when two tall shadows passed in front of them.
Damon and Ethan.
They didn’t stop or speak. Just walked right by, surrounded by the usual buzz of admiration and whispers. Ethan’s eyes briefly flicked toward Anya, unreadable. Damon didn’t look at her at all.
Once they were gone, Lucy muttered, “There go the crowned jerks.”
Anya said nothing.
~
Later that day, the halls had emptied. Anya was packing her books into her worn canvas bag when she sensed him before she saw him—Ethan, leaning against the doorframe of her classroom.
“Come with me,” he said.
Anya blinked. “What?”
“I said, come. I need your help.”
She hesitated.
He gave her a pointed look. “Now, Anya.”
She followed him in silence, her heart already heavy.
He led her to a sleek black car waiting in the lot. Without much choice, she climbed into the passenger seat. The ride was quiet except for the occasional sigh from Ethan as he tapped the wheel with one hand.
They arrived at the pack house, and Anya followed him up to one of the study rooms.
“I have a test tomorrow,” he said plainly, dropping into a chair. “History of Shifter Legislation. You’re going to tutor me.”
“Ethan…” she said softly, uncertain. “Why me?”
“You do my homework, don’t you?” he shrugged. “You clearly know this stuff better than I do. Just explain it.”
She didn’t argue. She couldn’t. She opened her notebook, took a breath, and began explaining the origins of wolf council law, tracing the evolution of pack treaties. At first, Ethan looked distracted. But as she spoke, her calm and clear voice soothed the chaos in his head.
He asked questions. She answered. He leaned forward, intrigued. He understood.
Two hours passed.
And for the first time, Ethan listened.
~
The next day, Ethan handed in his test with a rare sense of confidence. He didn’t say anything to Anya when he passed her in the hallway. He didn’t need to.
That afternoon, when test results came back, he stared at the high mark on the page for a long time.
Damon noticed.
“You actually passed?” Damon asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah,” Ethan said, lips twitching. “Guess I’m not as dumb as they think.”
Later that night, he pinned the test paper on the corkboard in his room. Just above his football medals. Just below a photo of him and Damon as pups.
He stared at it for a moment… and smiled.
He didn’t say it aloud, but in his mind, he thought:
Thanks, Anya.
- Writer
