CHAPTER 58: YOU CAN ACTUALLY ENTER SOMEONE’S BODY?

And with that, he disappeared around the corner, leaving Victoria standing alone.

Just then, Callum, Theo, and Lucian emerged from the shadows, anger etched deeply into their expressions. Each of them clutched their bows and arrows, their presence crackling with tension and frustration.

Do they really have to go this far with their act...pretending to care, trying to win me over and earn my trust, only to betray me in the end? Victoria scoffed inwardly, folding her arms across her chest as her eyes met theirs.

"What exactly do you think you’re doing, brothers?" she finally asked, her voice cool and steady, though annoyance simmered beneath the surface.

"We should be the ones asking you that, Victoria," Theo shot back, his voice laced with restrained fury. "Did you really think we were afraid to protect you? We know it’s against school rules to fire weapons on the grounds, but there’s no one else around...just us, you, and Alpha Darius. He won’t have any evidence to use against us."

"And what the hell was that kiss about?" Callum added sharply, scoffing as he took a step forward. "I heard it’s supposed to bring him some kind of revelation. What revelation exactly? Huh?"

Of course, Victoria thought bitterly, her eyes narrowing. Theo and Lucian wouldn’t have dared to attack Darius unless Callum was involved. He’s the soldier among them....he’s wielded every weapon imaginable and isn’t afraid of anyone.

But despite knowing all this, Victoria couldn’t help the pang of guilt that settled in her chest. She hadn’t expected them to go to such lengths to show their supposed care, especially when it all felt like nothing but a well-orchestrated lie.

"I kissed him to save you," Victoria said, her voice quiet but heavy with emotion. "Isn’t that what you wanted?"

"Save us?" Theo barked a humorless laugh. "Who said we needed saving? You’re the one who needs to be saved, you dummy! You think kissing an Alpha is harmless? Do you even realize how dangerous that is?"

Lucian’s smirk slowly spread across his face as he folded his arms behind his back. "Yeah, Victoria. And what’s this about a revelation? Alpha Darius clearly mentioned it, and you didn’t seem surprised. In fact, you promised to kiss him again once he finishes teaching you everything you need to know. So, what’s really going on?"

Victoria’s lips parted to protest, but before she could form a full sentence, Callum stepped closer...so close she could feel the heat of his breath. His gaze was sharp, cutting through her defenses.

"You’re lying," he said quietly, the corners of his mouth twitching into a knowing smirk.

Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a jeweled dagger...the very one he had given her on her first day back home. The gems gleamed under the sunlight as he held it out toward her.

"But I won’t force the truth out of you," he said calmly. "Just take this. I told you....it should always be on your body."

"Oh... yes, Callum," Victoria murmured, her voice suddenly dry as she swallowed hard and accepted the dagger. "Thank you. I’ll... I’ll make sure to keep it with me from now on."

Before she could process anything else, a low voice whispered into her ear, sending a chill down her spine.

"You don’t even need weapons made on earth," Leo said, appearing beside her like a shadow. "You can create your own. But then...using one of those weapons on someone can kill them instantly. That’s why it’s safer to use earthly weapons instead."

Victoria turned to him, visibly confused. "I don’t understand. What do you mean?"

"I mean the weapons in your locket," Leo clarified, his tone grave. "They’re formed from your blood. Since the locket rests against your chest, your blood feeds it constantly. If you extract a weapon from it and use it....especially after dropping more of your blood onto it....it will be lethal. No matter how powerful your opponent is, they won’t survive it."

Her eyes widened in disbelief and awe, the magnitude of Leo’s words settling over her.

"But unless you’re facing a monstrous enemy," Leo added with a soft warning, "it’s better to leave those weapons untouched. Stick to the ones crafted here, where the rules of nature still apply."

Victoria nodded slowly, processing the implications. The idea that her own blood could create death with a single blow was both terrifying and empowering.

"It’s obvious Alpha Darius is planning to take you out of the school compound," Lucian muttered with a resigned sigh. "He’s probably taking you to his mansion. I heard his sister just returned to the pack. Since you’re now his student, it’s only natural that you follow him everywhere, especially since he’s an heir. I suppose you’ll only attend lessons with the rest of your classmates when you all have shared topics to cover."

"And I’m assigning you a bodyguard," Theo said firmly, his tone final. "He won’t be watching from his hiding place anymore. He’ll follow you openly....everywhere outside the school building."

As he spoke, a man stepped forward from behind the trees.

He wasn’t overly tall or bulky, but there was something dangerous in his stillness. His black silk hair gleamed under the sun, and he was dressed in a perfectly tailored office suit, guns holstered at his sides. A cold, unreadable expression was etched onto his face as he came to a stop beside Victoria.

"This is Eric," Theo introduced. "From now on, he’ll be your personal bodyguard. Alpha Darius will have no reason to object once you tell him. He’ll be with you wherever you go outside these walls."

Victoria looked from Theo to the stranger named Eric, then back at her brothers.

"Oh, I see... Thank you, brothers," Victoria replied with a warm but clearly forced smile. Her gaze lingered on them only for a moment before she added, "I’ll be leaving now. See you all at closing time."

With that, she turned on her heel and began walking away, never once glancing back. Her steps were graceful, measured but the weight of her thoughts made them feel heavier than usual. Eric, her newly assigned bodyguard, followed closely behind her with silent, professional strides.

When she reached the parking lot, her pace faltered slightly.

There, standing beside his sleek, obsidian-black car, was Darius.

His arms were folded across his chest, his jaw tight with irritation, and anger etched every sharp line of his face.

"You didn’t tell me you were actually planning to take a nap in the toilet," Darius said coldly, letting out a scoff as his piercing gaze fixed on her. "Tell me, Victoria....did you enjoy your nap, or would you prefer to go back and have a longer one?"

"I’m sorry about that," Victoria responded quickly, ignoring the sarcasm in his tone. She gestured to Eric, who stood silently at her side. "This is my new bodyguard. He’ll be accompanying me to any location outside the school compound. Once we’re back on school premises, he’ll stand down."

Her voice was composed, but there was a firmness to her words...a quiet declaration that she was no longer just some helpless student under Alpha Darius’s thumb.

"Oh, I see..." Darius murmured, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I guess that’s convenient. I no longer have to protect you from Auren or the rest of the spoiled brats running around this place."

With that, he opened the driver’s side door and got into the car, his tone clearly dismissive.

"You are still going to protect me," Victoria countered as she took a step toward the vehicle, her voice sharp with defiance. "That’s the deal...remember?"

Darius leaned his head back against the seat and let out a dry chuckle. "Oh, please. Now you want two bodyguards all to yourself? Maybe go ahead and recruit a third while you’re at it. I’m not anyone’s bodyguard or babysitter, Victoria. I’m only doing this for one reason and you know what that reason is."

He started the engine, the low growl of the car matching the tension in the air.

"Now get in with your bodyguard or do you need more time to waste?"

Victoria clenched her jaw tightly, biting back the insult that rose to her lips. Bastard, she cursed silently, glaring at him with barely restrained fury.

This Eric looks nice, though, came Leo’s voice suddenly, a mischievous whisper in her ear that made her flinch.

She blinked, startled. "Leo?"

How about I try entering his body? Leo continued casually. While you’re busy with your oh-so-important lessons with Darius, I can use Eric’s body to get some things done on the side. Explore places. Listen to secrets. Maybe even sneak into restricted areas.

"Really?!" Victoria whispered, her eyes lighting up with awe and excitement. "You can actually enter someone’s body? Like, for real?"

Yeah, Leo replied, his voice carrying a smug edge. As long as the person’s energy...what you’d call affinity aligns with mine. It’s draining, sure, but totally worth it. And once I’m visible to other werewolves, things will get a little trickier. But cameras still can’t capture me even if I’m inside a human body. So no one would know if I sneak into, let’s say, a few heavily monitored secret rooms.

Victoria couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across her face. Laughter bubbled up from her chest, light and spontaneous, her mood lifting despite Darius’s earlier attitude.

"You’re incredible," she whispered under her breath, her heart racing at the possibilities.