CHAPTER 89: KISSING BOY.

Angela didn’t say a word to her partner until they reached the Academy block. They checked if Mr. Slade was still in his office, and when they confirmed that he was, they turned around and walked back to the classroom area to wait. Since that was the path he would use to return to the hostel, it made more sense to wait there. That way, it wouldn’t raise any suspicion.

The silence between her and Hiro was heavy and suffocating. She could feel that he had a lot on his mind, but for some reason, he was holding it all in. And she didn’t understand why.

She watched him pace back and forth like someone carrying a load of unsolved problems. Every now and then, he would glance at her like he wanted to speak but stopped himself. It was getting on her nerves, and before she could stop herself, the words flew out of her mouth.

"Come on, Alpha Hiro. Just spit it out. Tell me what’s on your mind and stop acting like the father of twelve children."

Hiro stopped pacing. He looked like he wanted to respond, but then shook his head and kept pacing again. Then, without warning, he stopped and turned to her.

"Why did they pair us together?"

"Exactly my problem," Angela replied, almost immediately. That same question had been burning in her head for days, yet no one gave her a straight answer. Maybe Kaito would, eventually. "You could have switched partners with someone else."

"Look how ungrateful you just sounded," Hiro said, walking up to her. He stared directly into her eyes, and his voice dropped a little. "Why the fuck do you have such enemies in this Academy? What the hell are you hiding?"

Angela looked away. She didn’t want him staring at her too hard. She feared he might see what she didn’t want anyone to know.

"Everything about you screams trouble," Hiro went on. "You don’t even have to go looking for it—it finds you anyway. And this is what you get in return... more goddamn trouble."

Angela didn’t want to keep going down that path, so she changed the topic.

"How did you get shot?" she asked, not even sure where the question came from, but it was better than where the conversation was heading.

"Can’t remember," Hiro said with a shrug, looking up at the sky.

The moment shifted.

There was a strange stillness in the air. Then the power went out around the dormitory area. No light, no hum from the wires...just silence.

Hiro didn’t need anyone to explain what that meant.

He already knew what was coming next.

**

He quickly wrapped his hands around Angel and pulled the boy tightly into his arms, shielding him from the sudden crash of thunder and the fierce lightning that followed. Angel, being his usual stubborn self, tried to struggle free, but Hiro held him even tighter, refusing to let go. His voice dropped low as he whispered close to his ear, "Calm down... just trust me. You’ll see, everything will be fine."

To his surprise, Angel stilled. Just like that, he became calm. It shocked Hiro more than anything. That wild, loud-mouthed boy who never listened to anyone had gone quiet in his arms. Hiro didn’t want to let go. The warmth of Angel’s body against his made something stir deep inside him—something wild, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

He wasn’t confused anymore. He was in love with him. That stubborn, reckless, beautiful boy had crawled under his skin and made himself a home there. Hiro had tried to lie to himself for too long, telling himself there was no way he could be gay, that he only liked girls. He had never even fallen in love with them, so what the fuck was happening now?

Why did it feel so right to hold this boy?

Maybe that was why he had pushed Angel away so much. Maybe that’s why he had acted like an asshole because the feelings scared the hell out of him. But now, with Angel in his arms, trembling slightly from the fading storm, Hiro didn’t want to think anymore. He just wanted him.

The thunder cracked again. The earth shook. But Hiro didn’t move. His grip on Angel stayed firm. He wasn’t protecting him anymore. He was craving him. Needing him.

As the thunder faded and silence returned, Hiro finally looked down. Angel looked up at the same time. And then something snapped.

His lips crashed onto Angel’s.

There was no hesitation. No asking for permission. He kissed him like he had waited forever to do it. Deep and raw, tasting him slowly before his tongue slipped past his lips. Angel didn’t pull away. He didn’t fight him. That alone made Hiro’s heart race. The kiss deepened. What started soft turned desperate and hot, their tongues dancing, breaths getting heavier.

Angel’s hands moved on their own, flying to Hiro’s neck, holding him close like he never wanted him to stop.

Fuck.

This was real.

The heat was real.

The passion between them was burning too fast, too strong. Hiro couldn’t stop himself. He spun them around and pinned Angel to the wall in one swift move. Angel gasped, his back hitting the wall, and the sound he made—a soft, needy moan—went straight to Hiro’s head. That sound almost drove him insane. One more like that and he wouldn’t care where they were—he’d tear off his clothes and claim him right there.

His hands found Angel’s, pressing them to the wall. For the first time, Hiro noticed how soft they were. Small. Fragile. Almost... feminine. His heart skipped. Was his mind playing games again? Was it just because he wanted Angel to be a girl so bad?

No. It wasn’t just that.

It was him—the fire, the soul, the fight in his eyes. That was what Hiro wanted.

They were too lost in each other to notice someone approaching.

Angel suddenly shoved him back, breathing fast, eyes wide. The rush to stop what they both didn’t want to stop made the moment messy. Hiro’s teeth accidentally grazed his bottom lip, biting it hard.

"Shit..." Hiro cursed, seeing the tiny drop of blood.

**

"I-I... I’m fine," Angela whispered, holding her lower lip where the blood had started to dry. It wasn’t much, just a sting—but enough to remind her of the kiss they’d just shared. A kiss that messed with her head more than she wanted to admit.

They heard footsteps drawing closer and hurried off toward the class block. Without wasting time, they slipped inside one of the empty classrooms and crouched behind the door. The voices grew louder.

It was Principal Valois and Mr. Slade.

The storm must have caught their attention.

Angela and Hiro stayed completely still, listening closely.

"Have you found her?" Mr. Slade’s voice came first. Calm but firm.

"You mean the Promised she-wolf?" Principal Valois responded. After a short pause, she continued, "No. I’ve searched everywhere for her, but she’s not in Mistvale. It’s like she vanished."

Angela’s heart skipped a beat. Her breath caught in her throat.

They were talking about her.

Why now? Why were the two most powerful figures in the academy discussing her in secret? Was it about the Alphas? Stales had warned her—it was important she united with her mates before the full moon. But what if they found out the truth before then?

Her hands trembled slightly.

"Calm down... your heart is beating too loud," Hiro whispered close behind her, his breath warm against her neck. The heat from his body wrapped around her like a blanket. She didn’t want to think about the kiss—but it was still there, lingering on her lips like a brand.

She didn’t know why it happened. It shouldn’t have. But she liked it... and for that reason, she hated herself.

"I’m tempted to read your mind," he whispered again, teasing, but his voice had a darker undertone.

"Don’t you dare," Angela muttered back sharply, glancing at him. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, then back to his eyes. Dammit. That smile...those dimples. He was dangerous. One look at him and she wanted to kiss him all over again.

But now was not the time. She forced her focus back to the voices outside.

"We have to find her before the Alphas," Mr. Slade said quickly. He sounded tense. His eyes moved around, checking that no one was nearby. Then he added in a lower voice, "Before those other people find her as well."

"Oh please, Slade, don’t start with that drama of yours," Principal Valois said with a sigh as she began to walk away. But Mr. Slade’s next words made her stop in her tracks.

"They said she is in Mistvale. As the full moon comes, it draws her closer to her destiny and the Alphas. If we don’t find her and guide her, she will fall into the wrong hands. You and I both know what kind of damage her powers could cause if the enemies get to her first."

Principal Valois turned back and stared at him. Her face had changed. She didn’t speak for a moment, then finally said, "Let’s go and find out what is going on. But don’t lecture me on how to do my job."

Angela stood frozen. Her heart pounded so loud she could barely hear anything else. So the Alphas were not the only ones after her? There were others. But who were they? And why did they want her?

She turned slightly to whisper to Hiro. She wanted to tell him they needed to alert Kaito that the principal and Mr. Slade were heading toward them. But Hiro’s face stopped her.

He was staring at her with wide eyes, as if something had just clicked in his mind. His lips parted, but no words came at first.

Then he whispered, almost in shock, "Angela... that’s it. You are a girl. You were never a boy."