CHAPTER 80: THEIR MATE.

Angela’s mind was racing. She didn’t want to hurt Xavier, but it felt like the only way to escape this mess. If the Alphas saw her like this—with claws and hair on her hands—it would bring nothing but trouble.

She started moving slowly toward Xavier, hoping to find a way to stop him from saying anything. But before she could do anything, Renn’s voice echoed through the field. He sounded furious.

"Is he bothering you again?" Renn growled, walking toward Xavier with deadly steps. The energy around him changed. Angela felt it. He was using his primal power. Without thinking twice, Renn’s fist slammed into Xavier’s jaw. Before Xavier could fall, Renn grabbed his collar and pulled him back up. He wasn’t done yet.

Angela kept her hands hidden behind her back. Her body was shaking. There was no way she could stop Renn without risking everything. If she stepped in now, Xavier might open his mouth and say what he saw. That couldn’t happen.

"You need to be taught a lesson, and I’ll be glad to teach you myself," Renn said coldly, landing another punch.

Angela turned her head away. She couldn’t bear to watch. She had no idea what to do. And what scared her most was that Xavier wasn’t even defending himself. He wasn’t fighting back. He wasn’t saying anything. He just kept staring at her—like he had seen something unbelievable. Something he couldn’t forget.

"Stop, Renn. You’re hurting him... he’s just a kid," Angela said, her voice low at first.

Renn didn’t stop.

She raised her voice. "Please, stop! Look at him. Something is wrong."

Finally, Renn let go. Xavier dropped to the ground, but even then, his eyes didn’t move. They were still fixed on Angela. It was strange... and unsettling.

Renn turned back to her, but as he stepped forward, Angela took a step back.

"Don’t come close," she said quickly, her hands still hidden behind her. She wanted to disappear. She wished the ground would open up and take her away. Anything was better than this.

Renn and Hiro were staring at her. Confused. Worried. And that made it worse. They could tell something wasn’t right.

Hiro could smell the fear coming from her. If she didn’t act fast, the others would sense it too. Her other mates would come. She didn’t want that. Not now. Not like this.

Then, out of nowhere, an idea hit her.

"I want water," Angela told Hiro—but not with her voice. She used their mind-link. It was the perfect way to send him off without raising suspicion. She knew he would go. No matter how confused he still was about their bond, he cared for her. Deep down, they both did.

"Fine. I’ll get you water," Hiro replied aloud, glancing around. But there was none nearby. The only place he could find water was across the field where the other students were gathered. It would take him a while.

"When did Angel ask for that?" Renn asked, his voice filled with confusion. His eyes narrowed, clearly feeling something was off. Like she had tricked him. But Hiro didn’t respond. He turned and dashed off.

"Can you get my bag from the changing room?" Angela asked Renn next. Her voice trembled. Tears threatened to fall, but she held them back.

"Are you alright?" Renn’s voice softened. He looked worried. She could feel the fear building in him too.

"No. But just get the bag. I’ll explain everything when you come back," she said. He didn’t want to leave her side. She could tell. But he didn’t say no either.

As soon as Renn disappeared, Angela rushed to where Xavier lay on the ground. She shoved her hands deep into her pockets and leaned closer.

"If you dare say a word about what you saw, I swear I’ll rip your heart out," she whispered fiercely. "You won’t try me, will you?"

Xavier shook his head slowly. He didn’t say a word. He couldn’t. The look on his face showed he was still trying to understand what just happened.

Angela didn’t waste another second. She turned and ran, slipping out of the stadium before Renn or Hiro could return. They would come looking for her soon, but it was better this way—better than getting caught like that.

Her chest ached more than before. It felt like her heart was burning. Her senses were changing too. She could hear everything—the chirping birds, distant footsteps, voices, even the wind. The sounds were so loud she thought her ears might explode.

Even the noise from the stadium, far behind her, sounded as if it was right next to her. Her eyes were clearer. Every color, every shadow, every movement was more defined. And her legs—she was running faster than she ever had. What normally took her thirty minutes, she now covered in seconds.

There was only one explanation.

She was shifting. But it was too early.

This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. From what she’d heard, the first shift only happened under the full moon. It was tied to her eighteenth birthday.

But that was still days away.

Something was definitely wrong. Angela ran as fast as she could to the woods behind her dormitory. She couldn’t go back to her room. The Alphas might look for her there, and she couldn’t take that risk.

Her stomach burned with pain as she stepped into the trees. She made sure no one saw her slipping into the woods. She held on to a nearby tree to steady herself, but something strange happened. The tree began to shake—hard. Not because of the wind. It was her. Her strength was doing that.

Terrified, she let go quickly and moved deeper into the woods.

Meanwhile, Alex had been watching. He hadn’t been close enough to see her hands change, but he had seen enough to know that something was wrong with Angela.

Right after Renn and Hiro left her, he saw her speak to Xavier and then run off in a hurry. Alex rushed over to where Xavier was still lying on the ground.

He glanced around. Luckily, most of the students weren’t paying attention. Everyone seemed distracted with their own business. Alex let out a quiet breath.

"Where is he?" he asked Xavier, his brows drawn together. He already had a strong feeling Xavier had caused some kind of trouble. His face was bruised and swollen from the beating.

As Xavier tried to sit up, a small knife slipped from his pocket. Alex could feel his own anger building, pulling at the calm side of him he tried so hard to hold onto. There was no point in hitting Xavier—Renn had already done more than enough.

"You just can’t stay away from Angel, can you?" Alex muttered. "One day, you’ll lose your life just because you can’t stop messing with her."

But Xavier didn’t say a word. That was strange. He usually had a sharp tongue and always talked back. But now... silence.

Alex stepped back, studying him. Something wasn’t right. Yes, Renn had beaten him, but Xavier looked too shaken—like he’d seen something terrifying. He was trembling.

"What happened? Did you find her?" Stales asked as he walked over.

Alex shook his head. "I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve got a bad feeling."

"I think something bad has happened," Stales said quietly.

"I don’t know if it’s bad or good," Alex replied, scanning the field. Then he saw it—his Alpha, standing at a distance among some students, suddenly turned his glowing eyes toward the exit door. Then Taros, standing beside Hailey, did the same. Renn. Hiro. All of them.

Their eyes had started to glow. They had sensed something. And it was pulling them in one direction.

Alex’s heart skipped. He looked back at Xavier, who had suddenly begun to sob.

Then it all clicked.

The Alphas were being drawn to something. Or someone.

Everyone around them had started to notice. The shift in the atmosphere. The way the Alphas were reacting.

Alex pulled Stales aside quickly and whispered, "Don’t let them leave the stadium. Keep them here. I need to find Angela."

"Why?" Stales asked, confused.

Alex’s voice shook. "Don’t you get it? She’s their mate. All of them. And I don’t think she’s ready for this kind of chaos."

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