CHAPTER 68: A FUCKED UP SITUATION.

Their lips parted, but no words came out. They just stared at each other in disbelief. Angela sat back, trying so hard not to laugh. She thought they would realize it was a joke, but they looked too shocked to even blink. It took almost three minutes before anyone could say something.

"You’re still joking," Stales finally said, squinting at her.

"I’m serious. I have Alex and Stales as my mates. Isn’t that a good thing?" Angela said with a straight face, but she couldn’t hold it in for long. Her laughter broke out loud and clear.

"You almost got me," Stales said, slapping his palm against the desk. He leaned back in his chair and let out a small laugh of frustration.

"I knew you were lying. If you were my mate, I’d have sensed it immediately," Alex added with a playful smile. He turned to Stales and added, "She got only you. I snapped out of it just in time."

"That’s not even funny," Stales said with a pout, turning his back to them as he opened his book to read. Clearly, he was done with the joke.

Angela reached over and patted his back gently. "Sorry, Stales. It was just a joke." She was still giggling, especially now that Alex had joined her in laughter. They had really thrown Stales off for a moment.

"I’m not falling for that again. Let’s just read in peace," Stales muttered without looking at them.

Angela shook her head, still smiling, and turned to Alex. "I hope you’re not offended."

"No. It was just a harmless joke," Alex replied. "He’s only upset because he didn’t see it coming. Don’t worry, he’ll come around."

Angela nodded and turned her attention back to her book. It still felt strange. Reading had never really been her thing. Back at home, she never studied. She would walk into the exam hall blindly and somehow still manage to pass...but with an E. She always hated reading but still survived.

But here at the Alpha Academy, everything was different. It wasn’t about just surviving anymore. It was about being smart, sharp, and outstanding. She had no choice. She had to work harder than ever before.

Angela read in silence, though the words weren’t always easy to grasp. And anytime something confused her or looked too complex, Alex would explain. He didn’t just give answers—he broke things down, gave examples, made it easier for her to understand. His patience surprised her.

Now she understood why he was always at the top of the class ranking board. He wasn’t just lucky. He was brilliant.

"Logic classes aren’t difficult. The real challenge is the tests," Alex said, gently tapping his pen on the book. "You have to be smart. Don’t rush. Don’t jump to conclusions. Think before you answer. That’s how to win."

Angela nodded slowly, listening carefully.

"It’s the same thing with political science," he continued. "Once you understand how the werewolf kingdom works, just apply logic, and you’ll get it. That’s how to make an A."

"See how you’re saying it like it’s easy," Angela mumbled, forcing a smile before she frowned. "Everything still feels strange to me. I’m trying, but some of the things you’re explaining just won’t stay in my head."

"No one expects you to know all of this in one day," Alex said gently as he closed his book and turned to her. His tone was calm, but sincere. He could tell she was trying, and she really needed help. "It might feel strange now, but that’s how it starts. I’ll keep explaining, and if you keep reading before the tests or exams come, you’ll know this book like the back of your hand," he said, pointing to the textbook on her desk. "Even if you don’t remember every single detail, I promise, you’ll remember most of it."

Angela nodded slowly. She was going to follow his advice. Maybe that was the secret to how he always did well.

"You can do better. I trust you," Alex added in a soft voice.

"I do too," Stales said from the other side, not even turning around. She was about to thank him when he faced his book again like nothing had happened.

"He’s not going to let it go so easily," Alex whispered.

"He won’t," Angela agreed, shaking her head slightly. Still, it made her smile. Then they returned to their reading.

It took her nearly four hours to understand just one topic, but she didn’t give up. She pushed herself to focus, even though her head began to throb from all the information. Alex encouraged her, saying it was good progress.

But Angela didn’t feel proud yet. She felt like she was still lagging behind. She didn’t want to just pass—she wanted to prove she belonged here. She was going to work harder and challenge herself.

By two in the afternoon, Alex suggested they take a break and go to the minimart for lunch. Stales joined them, and together they walked there. Over their meal, the conversation took another turn.

"What do you think about Mr. Anonymous?" Alex asked, picking up his drink. "Who do you think it might be?"

Angela raised her brow. She hadn’t thought about that in a while. It was a strange topic, but she was curious too.

"If you ask me, it’s hard to say," Stales said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Everyone’s always on their phone during classes. It’s hard to tell who’s doing what, unless the teacher collects the phones."

"I don’t suspect anyone yet," Angela said, shaking her head. "Do you?"

"Not exactly," Alex replied. "But I have a feeling. Whoever it is, I think they’re from the Central pack."

"Why do you think that?" Angela asked.

"Because he used Evan to play us and then sent threats afterward," Alex explained, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It means he’s been watching us for a while. He knew what we were doing."

"You have a point," Stales said, placing his drink aside. He looked thoughtful. "It’s either he’s from the Central pack or he was in the Central dorm at the time we went there. He was definitely close by when it happened."

"Who is Evan Thatcher’s roommate?" Angela asked. The question hit her hard. They didn’t bother to check yesterday, but now, it seemed so important. "He could be the one behind that fake account. He would easily have access to Evan’s information."

"They are four in that room. It could be any of the other three," Stales replied without hesitation.

"Four? I thought it was only one roommate per student. Like two people in one room," she frowned, confused as her gaze shifted from Stales to Alex.

"You forgot the rules of the Academy because you’re enjoying special treatment with Kaito," Alex sighed and leaned back into his chair. "Only Alphas are given the privilege of having one roommate. Some don’t even have any, like Kaito, until you came. I have two roommates because I’m his Beta. Stales has three because he’s a Delta. That’s how the system works here."

Angela gave a small nod and picked up her drink. She gulped it down in one go, not because she was thirsty, but because her mind was overwhelmed by what they had just said. She had been given those comforts and had never questioned them. Now she understood—she had Kaito to thank for that. More reason to feel indebted to him.

"We should speak to Mr. Slade. He might be able to help," Alex said as he stood up. He hadn’t finished his meal, but this felt more important now.

"Who’s that?" Angela asked. The name didn’t ring a bell at all.

"He teaches the Apex class," Stales explained. "He’s also the house master of Central House since they don’t have an Alpha. And... he’s a tech guy. If anyone can trace something like that fake account, it’s him."

"Oh," Angela murmured, standing up as well and quietly following behind them. She didn’t even know where Mr. Slade’s office was.

When they got to the Academy building, the boys led her through the main hallway, turned right, and took the stairs. She said nothing, just watched their backs and walked silently. They stopped in front of the second office on the left. There was a name tag on the door that read: Mr. S. Slade in bold letters.

Alex knocked once. A few seconds passed before the door slowly opened.

Angela blinked in surprise. Standing at the doorway was a tall, blond man who looked far too young to be called "Mister." She had imagined someone older, maybe in his forties or fifties, with glasses and a bald spot.

But the man in front of her looked like he couldn’t be more than a few years older than the Alphas. His face was calm, his expression unreadable, and yet he looked sharp—like someone who saw through people without even trying.

"Come in," Mr. Slade said as he opened the door wide for them to enter. He returned to his seat like a king taking his throne. "You may sit."

"Thank you, sir," their voices echoed as they took their seats. He didn’t ask the usual question—how may I help you? He just sat there, watching them.

Stales was the first to speak since silence dragged on too long. "Sir, we came because—"

"The video, right?" Mr. Slade cut in.

They were stunned. So he already knew?

They nodded slowly, not sure what else to say.

"I’ve already made a decision about it," Mr. Slade said, his voice sharp. "How could you be so heartless? He was just a small boy."

Angela blinked. Her brows pulled together in confusion. Was he talking about her? Alex turned to look at her too. It was clear he was just as confused.

"You harassed him. Why?"

"Sir, we did not harass anyone," Alex said, trying to explain. "We came to report that someone’s been making fake videos. The one involving my friend, Angel, is fake."

Mr. Slade’s tone darkened. "You mean the video circulating this afternoon is fake?"

He pulled out his phone and played something on it. "Look there."

Angela’s heart dropped. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched the video play on his screen. It was a clip of her and her friend in Evan’s room. The angle and the edits made it look like they had ganged up on him. A text flashed across the screen: Harassment of a weak central student by West/East Housemates.

Her chest tightened. She was frozen, unable to breathe or speak. The whole thing had been twisted. It looked so wrong.

She had once been bullied by Alphas herself, yet no one ever made a headline out of it. But now, one misleading video, and she was suddenly the villain.

Mr. Slade stopped the video and dropped the phone on the table like it disgusted him. "I thought you came to apologize. But clearly, I was wrong."

"We didn’t do anything wrong," Alex said, his voice barely holding itself together. If he had seen that video before coming here, he might have thought twice about walking into this office.

"That’s exactly what I thought you’d say," Mr. Slade replied. "Which is why I sent for your Alphas. They’ll be here any..."

He didn’t finish. A knock came at the door.

He smirked, stood up, and walked over to open it.

Standing outside were Kaito and Renn.

Angela’s whole body tensed. Her hands trembled slightly under the desk. Shame washed over her like a wave. She wished the floor would just crack open and swallow her whole.

But it didn’t.

It never did, when she needed it the most.