CHAPTER 152: IDENTIFICATION/MARKS

Angela sat quietly in the back seat as they drove through the winding roads of Mistvale. She knew these streets well after going out with Taros twice. A soft smile touched her lips as the memories came back. She wished she could have more of those moments with him, moments that made her feel alive.

The car came to a sudden halt. She blinked and looked around, realizing they had reached the marketplace. The doors opened one after the other.

"Are you alright?" Stales asked, tapping her shoulder gently. Everyone else had stepped out except the two of them. She gave a small nod, but he studied her and said, "You don’t look too well."

Before she could speak, Hiro’s voice cut in. "Are the both of you going to come out, or do you need a special invitation?"

Angela let out a sigh and stepped down from the car, standing beside it. The air was heavy with evening sounds, and the glow of lanterns was already spreading as night crept closer. The town was just as lively as she remembered. The noise of cars, the laughter and chatter of people, the smell of food drifting through the air—it reminded her of how much she had missed the outside world.

The academy had kept her safe, but it had also kept her locked away. Out here, beyond those walls, the world felt vast and beautiful.

"Do I have to beg you to move too?" Hiro asked as he stood in front of her. To her surprise, he took the hoodie from her hands and helped her slip it on. Then he handed her a nose mask.

Angela wore it and gave him a questioning look. He smiled, and it made her brows draw together in confusion.

"You look disguised now. Your wannabe uncle might not recognize you," Hiro said lightly as he motioned for the others to move. "Let’s go."

"Are you talking about Marcus?" Angela asked as she followed.

"Yes. Of course."

Samuel gave a laugh and looked at her. "Don’t mind him. We’re not even sure that man is your uncle. All we know is he’s searching for you, and only the goddess knows why."

"She’s the hot cake," Hiro added, glancing at her with a teasing smile. "Everyone wants her. I know why. Maybe that crescent mark of yours holds strange powers, and Marcus wants you to unlock something for him."

Angela frowned, her chest tightening with unease. "Like what?"

"Like unlocking the tomb of some ancient Malynster family member."

The boys burst into laughter at his words, but Angela didn’t find it funny. She moved past Hiro, ignoring their amusement as they walked deeper into the market. Familiar stores passed by as they headed toward the meeting place. They were going to see an informant who supposedly had the answers they needed. Hiro claimed to know this person well.

"Your buddy seems to know this town better than I thought. Has she been here before?" Hiro asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Yes. She came... I think twice, with Alpha Taros," Stales replied, then smirked a little. "I think it was a date."

The smile that had been on Hiro’s face disappeared. He said nothing after that, keeping quiet until they reached the store of his friend.

His friend was a tall man with grey hair, and from the way he carried himself, Angela could tell he was a werewolf who should be in his late fifties. The moment he saw Hiro, a smile broke across his face and they hugged each other warmly.

Angela was surprised to see such closeness between them, especially with the big age difference.

"You don’t come around anymore. What happened?" the man asked as they pulled away from the hug. His eyes moved to the group standing behind Hiro. "You brought company. Is there a problem?"

"Unfortunately, trouble came to us," Hiro replied, his gaze shifting toward Angela for a moment. "But there’s nothing we can’t handle, Zane. I need your help. Can we go inside?"

"Of course," Zane said with a nod and led the way to the inner room.

Angela followed and looked around in surprise. The inner room felt like a different place altogether, nothing like the perfume shop they had just walked through. There was a table with chairs, but what caught her attention was what lay behind them. Racks and shelves filled with different kinds of weapons. Bullets, blades, guns, everything that screamed danger.

She tried not to stare for too long. She didn’t want Zane to feel uncomfortable. But in her heart, one question pressed hard—what was he doing with all of these?

"I sell them to werewolves who need them," Zane said suddenly.

Angela’s eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly. She hadn’t spoken her thoughts out loud, yet he answered them as though he had read her mind.

"Please, have a seat," he added calmly.

Angela sat beside Stales who was already seated. She realized she had been the only one left standing, and maybe that was why Zane was able to guess how uneasy she felt about the weapons hanging on the wall.

"Who are we dealing with?" the older man asked, his tone calm but sharp.

"Marcus," Hiro answered. Zane looked confused until he added, "Malynster."

Zane’s lips parted though no words came out. He stared at Hiro for a long moment before finally speaking. "What business do you have with the devil?"

"I thought he was a werewolf?" Angela asked, her brows pulling together in confusion.

"Keep quiet, Angel," Hiro said firmly before turning back to Zane. "I have no personal business with him. He came to our school searching for a girl with a mark."

"Then why is it your concern? Do you know this girl?" Zane asked, his eyes narrowing.

Hiro let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. "I only want to help Marcus find her because he is disturbing the peace of the school. Principal Valois does not want the board to hear about Marcus. She fears what might happen if they do."

Zane gave a short chuckle and shook his head. "That woman always thinks she can handle every situation." His eyes then softened with curiosity. "Can I see the mark?"

Angela reached into the pocket of her hood and brought out a folded paper. Alex had drawn the crescent moon mark and painted it in red. She passed it to Hiro who placed it on the table in front of Zane.

"Here," Hiro said. "We saw this on Marcus’ arm. But he said the girl carries it on her left breast. Have you ever seen it before?"

Zane leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the paper. His expression darkened with recognition. "Yes. This is an ancient mark. It was used to identify the original family of Mistvale. The girl belongs to the Malynster clan."