CHAPTER 35: THE FULL MOON-TAROS

Since Taros’s beta wasn’t in school, Stales was the one who took food to him. He hadn’t planned to do it, but Alex had brought it up while they were heading to the cafeteria. He suggested they help Taros, reminding Stales that Taros was Kaito’s best friend and, more importantly, Angel’s favorite Alpha. Taros and Angel had been getting along very well lately. That mattered to Stales.

So he agreed. Maybe it was a way to show a little kindness on Kaito’s behalf. Maybe it was just something small to make Angel happy. Either way, Stales convinced himself it was a good thing to do. Some students saw it as a great honor to be chosen to go down to the Alpha’s PIT. It was off-limits, a forbidden place, and in all the years he had spent in the Academy, Stales had never been close to it. Not once. Not even by accident.

When he finally stepped into the area that belonged to Alpha Taros, he was struck by how quiet it was. No sounds at all. Just silence. Since Taros wasn’t his Alpha, Stales didn’t feel any bond or pressure. He just had to be careful and respectful. He made his way down the stairs slowly, trying to stay calm. The air was heavy, and he could already smell the Alpha before he even reached the end of the steps.

Taros must have noticed someone coming. He turned on the light from his phone and moved closer. Stales froze the moment he saw him. His breath caught in his chest. Taros looked terrible. His body was covered in wounds, his chest, arms, and legs all marked by fresh, painful cuts. Stales almost turned and ran. He had never seen anything like it. He had to remind himself why he was here in the first place.

"Who is it? What’s your name?" Taros asked. His voice was rough, strained by pain.

"Stales... it’s me. Since Xavier, your beta, isn’t around... I volunteered to come instead of someone from your pack," he said, stuttering a little. He was nervous. He didn’t know how Taros would react. He wasn’t from his pack, and maybe he wasn’t supposed to be there. But Taros didn’t snap at him. He didn’t have the strength to. At that moment, he didn’t even care.

"It’s okay. You brought food?" Taros asked weakly. His face, usually so calm and handsome, was tight with pain. His lips were bruised, and his eyes looked tired and dark.

"Yes, Alpha," Stales replied quickly. He opened his bag and pulled out the food, getting ready to place it near him.

But Taros stopped him.

"No. There’s no need. I won’t be eating," Taros said quietly.

Stales looked at him with surprise. Someone in that kind of pain would usually want food. He couldn’t understand how Taros could refuse it.

"Are you in pain, Alpha?"

"Are you asking?" Taros tried to smile, but his face didn’t follow through. His body was too sore to show any expression. Then suddenly, Stales saw something strange. Taros’s wounds began to close. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as his muscles tensed. He bit down on his lower lip as the skin around his chest and arms pulled together. The injuries were healing.

Normally, Taros healed without much pain, but the full moon made everything worse. He couldn’t control his powers tonight. The harder his body tried to fix itself, the more the skin tore apart. Wounds reopened. New ones appeared. Then it started all over again. His body kept breaking and healing in a never-ending cycle. It was painful to watch. Even worse to feel.

"When will it stop?" Stales asked, his voice filled with pity. He couldn’t help but think of Kaito. If this was what Taros was going through, then what about the others?

"After I transform," Taros said, his voice low.

"So this happens all the time? I mean... every full moon?"

"Yes."

Stales hesitated, then asked, "When is it going to stop? I mean... forever?"

Taros gave a bitter laugh, one that was full of pain. His skin tore again and he groaned, breathing through the sharp sting. "When I finally meet my mate. She’s the one who can stop all of this. I need to find her as fast as I can. She’s the end to everything I’m suffering."

"B-but... aren’t you supposed to share her with the other Alphas?" Stales asked. He had heard the stories, the prophecy, but it was still hard to understand.

"Yes... that’s what the prophecy says," Taros replied, his eyes turning toward the small window above. The light was starting to change. The moon was almost out. "But we all want something different. We want a change."

"I... I see..."

Before Taros could say another word, his bones began to crack. Loud, sharp sounds filled the room. Stales felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t need anyone to tell him—it was time to go. His heart jumped. Without even realizing it, he turned and bolted out of the cell. His feet moved faster than ever. Somehow, he managed to shut the door behind him, though he couldn’t remember doing it. He was already far from the PIT when he stopped to catch his breath.

His chest rose and fell fast. Alex had warned him not to stay close when the transformation began. He had forgotten that warning in the middle of their talk. Now, he was just grateful he had escaped in time.

After his transformation, Stales wanted to go back and watch Taros come out, just for a moment. But before he could, his Alpha—Renn sired him. The bond pulled him, and he had no choice. He had to go. His pack was waiting.

Meanwhile, inside the pit, Taros had finished his shift. His transformation had always been the fastest among the Alphas. He had trained himself, pushed his body to adjust. It was getting easier, bit by bit. But that didn’t erase the pain or the anger that came with it. The wounds might close, the bones might settle, but the fire inside him still burned.

Now in his full wolf form, large and powerful, he raced to find his pack. They hunted as one under the glowing moon. But just as things seemed to settle, something reached him. A scent. Strong. Sweet. Unmistakable.

His mate.

He could feel her presence from far away. It wasn’t just a pull—it was a calling. Without delay, he turned away from the others. He didn’t even explain. He didn’t have to.

He left the pack behind and ran straight for her.