CHAPTER 66: HIS CRAZY LOVER.

"What if I like someone else?" Angela asked quietly, her eyes locked on his face.

Renn’s expression changed instantly. His jaw tightened, his brows dropped, and for a moment, he looked like he might lose control.

"I’ll send him to the Alphas’ PIT on a full moon," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Angela froze. She didn’t know what the Alphas’ PIT was, but from the way he said it, she could tell it wasn’t a place anyone returned from smiling. Just the sound of it was terrifying.

"I’m sure you don’t want anyone to go through that, right?" he added.

"What if... that person is an Alpha?" she asked, her voice shaking a little. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked away.

"If he’s an Alpha, then he’s my brother," Renn replied, softer this time. He lifted her hand again and kissed her knuckles, one kiss after another. "I won’t fight my brother twice because of a woman."

"You fought once?" she asked, trying to pull her hand back, but he didn’t let go. He held it gently but firmly. She could see the amusement in his eyes. Then, just like that, he released her.

"I love your jealousy," he said, laughing lightly. "You’re going to be one crazy lover, Angela."

Angela frowned, annoyed by his teasing. She picked up the rose and card from the desk. She placed the card in her bag but held the rose in her hand, staring at it like it might give her answers.

"So... you’ve been joking all this while?" she asked, not looking at him.

"No, babe," Renn said. He rested his arms on the desk and dropped his head on them. Then he just stared at her, like she was the only thing in the world worth looking at.

Angela tried not to glance at him, but she did. Again and again. He looked too calm. Too peaceful. Like he had found something he never wanted to lose.

"What are you doing?" she finally asked.

"You weren’t in my dream last night," Renn whispered. "Why not? Were you scared of what might happen?"

"I didn’t even dream at all," Angela replied, lifting the rose to her nose. The scent brought memories she didn’t want to think about.

"What are you doing to me, Angela?" Renn asked again, his voice thick with emotion.

She looked at him. Confused. Unsure of what he meant.

"I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t want to leave this classroom. I know your friends will show up soon. I know you came here to study, but I just want to stay here. Right here. With you."

Angela didn’t say anything. She had no words to give him because she knew what he was feeling. She understood it more than he did.

They were mates.

Everything happening between them wasn’t ordinary. It wasn’t just random attraction or teenage feelings. It was nature. It was fate. Their bond was calling out, tugging them closer with every breath.

But he had no idea.

Angela looked at him, her heart heavy.

When he finally finds out, she thought to herself, I’ll deny it. I’ll deny it all. I’ll lie and say I’m not a werewolf. I’ll lie to his face... because I have to.

Renn was about to say something, but he stopped and sat up straight, suddenly alert. Angela didn’t need anyone to tell her that he had sensed something. The room felt different.

Then her wolf, Mighty-storm, screamed inside her.

"Another mate approaching."

Her voice rang like a warning bell through Angela’s chest. For once, the stubborn wolf was trying to help.

Angela’s heart sank.

She hadn’t even hidden the rose when Taros and Alex appeared at the entrance of the classroom. Her fingers gripped the edge of the desk. Her stomach twisted.

The Moon Goddess must have been playing with her life for sport. Just when she thought one problem was enough, another one came crashing in. It was already hard enough pretending. Hiding her identity. Hiding her bond. Hiding the truth.

She slowly dropped the rose on the desk and tried to keep calm.

When her wolf warned her about another mate, Angela never imagined it would be Taros. Why him? Why now? What if he looked at her long enough and figured it out? What if he sensed her connection to Renn?

"You’re not doing anything wrong," Mighty-storm said softly inside her. "They’re both your mates. The only wrong here is that you’ve been lying to Taros."

Angela swallowed hard and glanced at Renn. He was watching her with a strange look, as if trying to understand what had just changed in her. She could feel the shift in his energy.

"I’ll come back later," Alex said suddenly and turned around to leave.

Angela nearly slammed her head on the desk.

Why did he have to say it like that? The last time he saw her alone in class, it was with Hiro, and he’d acted like something was going on. Now this.

"Hello, bro," Renn said to Taros, standing from his seat.

"How’s Hiro?" he asked as he walked toward the door, casually.

"Better than yesterday," Taros replied. "He won’t stop complaining about the scar I left on his chest."

He laughed a little as he spoke, and it brought a bit of comfort to Angela. Maybe... just maybe, he didn’t notice anything strange. Maybe he wasn’t here to make her heart race or her secrets explode.

That was Taros for you—always calm. Always kind.

"Did he say where or how he got the bullet?" Renn asked, leaning a little toward him.

"He didn’t tell me or Kaito," Taros said. "But since the two of you are closer, maybe he’ll talk. I think you should ask him. I’m honestly worried."

"I’ll do that," Renn nodded.

"I came to see my friend," Taros said, pointing at her. "Are you done talking?"

"Yes, bro," Renn replied, glancing at Angela. He gave her a look that clearly asked, "Does he know?" She quickly shook her head. Renn smirked and winked at her. "Bye."

As soon as he walked out, Angela sighed and buried her face in her palms. She didn’t know how to face Taros. Not with everything going on.

"Hey," Taros sat on the edge of her desk, looking at her carefully. "Did he come to bother you?"

"N-no..." Angela stuttered. The last thing she wanted was a fight between the two of them. "Renn just came to apologize. About what happened on initiation night."

Taros raised a brow. "That’s not true."

"It is," she insisted. "I’m serious."

His mouth opened slightly, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned to look at the door, confused. "Did he hit his head somewhere?"

Angela burst into laughter, a little too loudly. It slipped out before she could stop it—and this time, her laugh sounded too much like a girl’s. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

"I don’t know," she mumbled behind her fingers. "But it’s obvious something changed."

"It’s good that he apologized, even if it sounds like a dream," Taros said with a small smile. Then his expression softened even more. "I’ve been with Hiro. I didn’t check up on you. Hope you’re okay."

"I... I forgot about him too," Angela admitted, guilt creeping up her throat. She hadn’t even asked about Hiro. She was too wrapped up in her own mess.

"You don’t have to feel bad," Taros reassured her. "He only just woke up a few minutes ago. That’s why I came here. Even if you were there yesterday, I wouldn’t have allowed it. He needed rest."

"Oh, I see..."

"But you can check on him later. When you’re done studying," he added with a gentle tone. "Don’t neglect your studies for anything, okay?"

She nodded. Her eyes lingered on his face. Why was he always like this? So calm, so kind, so unlike the rest of the Alphas? Taros had something about him that made her feel... safe.

"I want us to talk later," he said. "Maybe spend some time together, just you and I."

"Are we going out of the Academy again?"

"Yes," he smiled, watching her expression light up. "You’ll love it more this time."

Angela’s heart skipped with joy. But then Taros tilted his head slightly and asked, "Who gave you the rose?"

Her breath caught. She gripped the desk slightly. "I... I picked it from Alex’s desk. Was going to ask him the same question."

She didn’t like how that lie felt on her tongue. It was bitter. Taros had done nothing but be good to her, and here she was, stacking lies.

Maybe she should just tell him. Renn knew the truth. What harm would it do if Taros knew too?