CHAPTER 94: WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE, ALPHA AUREN?

The pair continued down a stone path that wound its way toward the back of the academy grounds. Victoria’s eyes darted about curiously, her steps slowing the further they went. She had walked the academy grounds, yet she had never noticed another building hidden back here before.

Still, there it was....a large, magnificent structure just behind the main academy walls.

Darius did not hesitate. His expression remained unreadable as he pressed forward. Without so much as a pause, he reached the door and pushed it open with effortless strength.

The moment Victoria stepped inside, a strange sensation washed over her. Her skin prickled. She froze, her hand brushing against her chest instinctively.

Though she was certain she had never set foot in this place before, every corner carried a haunting familiarity. It was as though some forgotten piece of herself had once existed here.

The hallway stretched on endlessly before them. It was stripped of life....no furniture, no portraits, not even the smallest decoration. Only a bleak, barren passage lay ahead. Their footsteps echoed against the stone floor, amplifying the silence.

At last, Darius came to a stop before a massive wooden door at the far end of the hall. His hand rested on the iron handle for only a moment before he gave it a powerful push. The hinges groaned as the door swung open.

Victoria flinched slightly as a flood of sunlight spilled through the widening gap. The brightness washed over her face, forcing her eyes to adjust. She expected another room, another corridor.....but what lay beyond shattered every expectation.

Before her stretched a vast, thick forest, though it was no ordinary woodland.

Weapons of every kind surrounded the space. Swords, spears, and axes hung from racks mounted into stone walls. Rows of shields leaned neatly against heavy wooden tables where polished daggers and bows lay in careful arrangement.

But what unsettled her most were the figures. Scattered throughout the forest, in place of trees, stood soldiers, life-sized and fashioned entirely from straw. Their stiff, faceless bodies stood unnervingly still, yet they seemed to breathe with lifelikeness.

"Welcome to my training ground," Darius said at last. His voice broke the silence, low and edged with pride.

*****

Meanwhile, Jamaila was making her way toward Auren’s office. Her heart was heavy, and the weight of frustration pressed on her shoulders. When she reached the door, she knocked softly once, twice then waited.

Silence.

She knocked again, a little louder this time. Still, there was no answer. But she had learned her lesson already.

Her hand hovered over the handle, but she quickly pulled it back, her jaw tightening. The last time she had pushed open that door uninvited, she had walked straight into a sight that still burned in her mind, Auren and Nicole entangled in one another, shamelessly indulging in their heated activities right there in the office.

Never again, Jamaila thought bitterly. She would rather leave than subject herself to another humiliation like that.

Although her parents had placed so many hopes upon her. They wanted her to succeed, to excel, to come out of the academy with brilliance and flying colors. But Jamaila’s heart sank as reality weighed against those expectations. If things continued this way, she was certain she would fail Auren’s course.

It wasn’t that she lacked ability....no, she knew she was capable. But how could she perform well when she had no access to the textbooks or materials she desperately needed? The only way she could obtain them was if Auren himself handed them over to her, and he never bothered to do so.

Her fists clenched at her sides.

But just as she was about to leave.....

"Come in," came a masculine voice from inside, deep and commanding.

Jamaila froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. She didn’t need to be told whose voice that was. She knew.

Even before entering this academy, her parents had made certain she knew about the Alphas. They had forced her to watch them on television, to study their lifestyles, their speeches, even their smallest habits. Her parents had insisted she memorize every detail as though her future depended on it.

At the time, Jamaila had not understood. They had never told her why. They had never explained that the Alphas were the ones who decided who received scholarships, who rose, and who fell. They had never told her that her own mother had once worked for the Auren family, or that her admission into this academy was largely thanks to their influence.

Only now did she realize the truth. Her parents had not wanted her to merely succeed. They wanted her to worship the Alphas.....Auren, especially.

Her throat tightened. Jamaila swallowed hard, but the lump in her chest refused to go down. A hot tear slipped down her cheek, which she wiped away quickly with the back of her hand before she could lose her composure. Lowering her head, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She stood there for what felt like forever. The silence pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating. But as her ears strained, she realized there was no sound....no moans, no laughter, no sharp gasps of pleasure like before.

Confused, Jamaila dared to raise her gaze.

And there he was. Auren sat behind his desk, majestic and calm, his posture straight and commanding. Sunlight cut across his figure, glinting off his sharp features.

"You’re finally here," Auren greeted finally. His lips curved into a warm smile, one so disarming that it sent shivers racing down her spine. "I almost thought you wouldn’t come today."

The unexpected friendliness only made her tremble more. Her palms grew damp, her heart hammering painfully against her ribs.

"G...Good morning, Alpha Auren," Jamaila stammered, her voice trembling in spite of her attempt to steady it.

Auren’s eyes glinted with something unreadable as he leaned back in his chair. "As you already know, I teach instinct management and rage control. That includes meditation, breathwork, emotional regulation... and most importantly, how to avoid shifting when emotions surge out of control." He rose slowly from his chair, his voice lowering as he walked toward her. "If you lose control, you could hurt others or yourself."

Jamaila backed away instinctively, her feet dragging across the floor.

"But you," Auren continued, his steps unhurried yet predatory, "you’re not a werewolf... at least, not yet." His gaze darkened. "Still, there is nothing wrong with learning these lessons. They might serve you well one day."

Jamaila’s back hit the wall. She gasped, pressing her hands against the cold stone, but Auren did not stop. He leaned in, slamming his palms flat against the wall on either side of her head. The sound echoed through the office all while Jamaila’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

"We should go ahead and practice now," Auren murmured, his lips curling into a smirk. His gaze locked with hers, sharp and invasive, until he abruptly pulled back. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the door.

Jamaila gasped for breath all while relief washed over her....but it was short-lived.

At the door, Auren pulled it open, revealing the hallway beyond where students moved back and forth, laughing, talking, oblivious. He glanced at her over his shoulder. "Follow me."

And then he stepped out.

Is he trying to punish me somewhere? Jamaila’s mind raced as her heart pounded in her chest. I’m screwed.

Still, she had no choice. She hurried after him. Yet as they passed the entrance of her classroom, she slowed just enough to drop a tiny folded note onto Victoria’s table. She had shaped it like a small paper plane to make it look harmless, but inside were words written in haste.

If Auren really planned to purnish her, if this was the end, then at least once Victoria read the note she would know what happened. Maybe someone would be able to save her in time.

The two of them walked in silence until they reached the swimming pool center. The vast room was empty, quiet except for the distant murmur of voices in the halls and the faint ripple of water lapping at the pool’s edge.

It was the same pool where Victoria and Jamaila had once come to swim together. But this time, the air was heavy and suffocating for Jamaila.

Jamaila’s voice shook as she finally asked, "What are we doing here, Alpha Auren?"

"To train, of course," Auren replied smoothly. His tone was casual, as if nothing about the situation was unusual. Then, without warning, he began unbuttoning his shirt.

Jamaila’s stomach dropped. Her breath caught in her throat as sheer panic rushed through her veins.

"Just... what are you doing, Alpha Auren?" she demanded, her voice high and strained. She inched toward the pool door, but when she tried the handle, it wouldn’t budge. Her heart lurched in her chest. The door was locked. He had locked it the moment they came in.