CHAPTER 135: THE DEAD BODY.

Angela stood frozen, her mind wrestling with the shock. She could not believe her eyes. It was Evan—the same boy she once had a misunderstanding with—now lying lifeless on the cold ground. Her arms wrapped around herself as if to shield her from the truth, and she staggered back in disbelief.

"Are you okay?" Taros asked, his voice uncertain. He looked at her and then at the body, not knowing what to do first. She was still naked, trembling from more than just the night air, while he had nothing on but his trousers. He wanted to shield her, to take her away, but before he could move, Kaito appeared with Alex.

They must have been searching for them. From the look on their faces, it was not about chasing Angela anymore. Something heavier, something far more serious, weighed on them. Fear clenched Taros’s chest as he stepped in front of Angela, trying to hide her behind him, to protect her from their eyes.

Kaito was not surprised to see them together. When Hiro asked earlier about Taros, he had lied that Taros was injured and resting in his dorm. Hiro had not believed him, but he let it go. Now the truth stood before him.

"I’m not surprised to see you two together," Kaito said. His voice was tight, his anger and jealousy barely hidden, but even he knew this was not the moment to fight with Taros. He handed over the clothes Alex had brought for Angela.

Kaito had known she would be naked after transforming, but he had not expected to find her here with Taros. While everyone else had been worried about her, she had been in his arms. His chest tightened with bitter thoughts, but he pushed them away.

"Here, wear this," he said, forcing calm into his tone. "We need to think clearly, and I’m already losing my mind seeing you like this." Taros took the clothes from him and passed them to Angela. Alex turned away, giving her privacy while she dressed.

Kaito, however, did not look away. His eyes lingered on her, and no matter how much he tried, he could not stop the rush of desire that stirred inside him. This was not the first time he had seen her body, yet every time felt like the first. It was wrong to be thinking of her like this now, but he could not help himself. He shook the thought from his mind.

Angela dressed quickly and stepped forward, but her eyes never left Evan’s body. Her heart squeezed painfully as questions filled her head. What happened to him? How long had he been lying there? Did he die the very night he disappeared, or only today?

Kaito walked over and knelt beside the body. He studied Evan closely. His blue eyes, though dimmed, still seemed to hold a faint light, as if refusing to let go. But his body had already begun to decay, a sign that death had taken him the night he vanished.

Angela’s voice broke as she spoke. "What is going on? Is he really dead?" Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. A shiver ran down her spine when Kaito gave a silent nod. This was the first time she had ever seen death so close, so real, and it tore through her. "Is it our fault that he died? Is it... my fault?"

"No," Taros said firmly, his voice shaking with emotion. "Why would you think that?" He held her hand tightly, his gaze locking with hers. She was already breaking, and it made his chest ache. None of this was her fault. No one knew what had caused Evan’s death.

"So why is he here?" Angela whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her voice shook as she looked at Evan’s body. Before anyone could answer, Taros came rushing toward them, his steps heavy with urgency. He brought news with him, his face pale.

"The search teams are coming," he said quickly, then his eyes fell on the lifeless figure on the ground. He froze, his expression twisting. "What the hell... is that supposed to be Taros’ twin lying there?"

"Why would you even say that?" Taros snapped, his brows drawn tight. There was no humor in his voice, not even the faintest trace. He could not understand why Hiro would compare him to what lay before them. They didn’t even know for certain if it was Evan.

"He has your eyes," Hiro muttered as he crouched closer to where Kaito still knelt beside the body.

"I don’t think so," Taros answered sharply, refusing to accept it.

"I get it, man," Hiro said with a faint smile that felt out of place in the moment. He looked at Taros and added, "But your eyes are no longer unique. Someone else carried the same, maybe even better ones."

"He is dead, Hiro," Taros said in disbelief, staring at him. How could Hiro still speak as if Evan were alive? Did he not see the truth in front of him?

"I know," Hiro replied, his tone steady. "This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a dead body. I even held my parents after they died. This... this doesn’t shake me anymore."

Kaito stood slowly and placed a hand on Hiro’s arm, stopping him. "That’s enough," he said firmly. His gaze shifted to Angela, who stood pale and trembling. "She doesn’t look good. Take her away from here."

"What was she even doing here alone?" Hiro asked, his eyes narrowing on her as though expecting an answer.

Angela said nothing. Her voice caught in her throat and her gaze dropped to the ground. Hiro frowned, surprised, because Angela was never one to stay silent.

"Now is not the time," Kaito cut in, his voice sharp.

"They are coming this way," Hiro finally said, his tone turning serious.

"Take her away immediately. Do not take her to the West House," Kaito ordered firmly. His eyes were sharp and his voice left no room for argument. "It is not safe for now. And do not let her out of your sight."

"Of course. Why would I not protect her?" Hiro replied, stepping closer and waiting for Angela to move. She turned to Taros, her eyes searching his face. He gave her a small nod, a silent sign of approval, and only then did she take Hiro’s hand. With his primal powers guiding them, Hiro led her away through a hidden path that curved toward the South House.

The moment she was gone, Kaito released a long breath and turned back to Taros. "Here. Put this on." He stripped off his jacket and pushed it toward him. "We will have to cover the area with your scent before—"

He never finished his words. Bright light cut through the darkness and landed on them, harsh and blinding. The torch swayed in deliberate motions, making the beam dance annoyingly in their eyes.

Principal Valois stepped forward, the torch still in her hand. Kaito bit his lower lip as the weight of being caught settled heavily on his chest. This time there was no escaping. He glanced at Alex, whose face showed pure fear of what was to come.

"Mr. Kaito," Principal Valois called out, her voice laced with mockery. Behind her stood Mr. Slade, smiling with a wicked delight as though he had been waiting for this very moment. A handful of guards flanked them, but these were not ordinary guards. They were the kind only summoned when the Academy grounds faced a grave security threat.

"Where is the she-wolf?" Principal Valois demanded. Her tone was sharp and merciless, her gaze unyielding. "And do not even think of lying to me. I can smell her everywhere."