CHAPTER 69: _ AWAKENING CEREMONY (DARIEN’S TRUTH)

The headmaster clears his throat once more, puffing his chest like he’s about to deliver a proclamation that will echo through the centuries. In reality, the glass of water he almost knocks over again clinks, and the students on his side of the front row lean back in case he drenches them.

"Well," Halric says, hands fluttering nervously as though he’s shooing away invisible flies. "Word from the Alpha is clear. The young lady" ...he flings a jittery hand toward Heidi, who looks like she’d rather melt through the stage... "is to proceed to the labyrinth tomorrow. The ceremony must move forward, not dwaddle on distractions like a broken machine."

Gasps surge at that and whispers dart through the crowd like sparks leaping from dry kindling. Amias’s jaw tightens. Of course, his father would counter his order. Pfft... who is he kidding? Has he ever given orders ever since his mother’s stupid scandal?

Has his father ever granted him a single wish since that horrible year? Once, Amias overheard the maids gossiping about how "Alpha Tobias is punishing Luna Hazel by hating her son hard; he is no different from a lower-class member of the pack when he’s home."

Not that he wants or cares for anything he can not achieve himself, but seeing the rest of his siblings enjoy all the privileges he’s denied has been a dead punch to the gut. He knows that if it were Darien or the twins in this same spot he’s in, Tobias would have asked Halric why he made such an unjust decision to add her to the labyrinth list.

This countermand is not strategic, but personal. At least, that’s what Amias thinks.

Vark, purring in the back of his skull, chuckles darkly. "Told you. Daddy’s word is law. And you? You’re just the brood mare no one listens to."

Amias ignores him. Mostly. His nails bite into his palms in a reminder that he has a body he can still control. One he can choose to transfer all the pain to instead of internally feeling it.

Halric barrels on, desperate to sound authoritative: "That said, we need to proceed with the ceremony. Let the other Moon Blessed get tested in the other way even as it is more taxing, and then," he beams, entirely too pleased with this next part, "since your unmated wolves will be in heat, we should get down to the ball and begin the party! Yes, yes, a happy mate hunt to you all. And please..." he waggles a finger as though addressing toddlers "...use protection during your" a fake cough. "activities later tonight."

The hall explodes with laughter, shrieks, and groans at the mention of that. Finally, a topic the students are looking forward to. One that means they can goof the rest of the night off, go on a hunt for their wolves, and satisfy their fetishes no matter how crazy—all without restrictions.

Someone in the back howls, "Will the school be providing protection too, Headmaster?"

Another shouts, "Only if you want the Omega discount!"

Halric goes red, sputtering, waving his arms like he can erase the words he just spewed. Teachers are burying their faces in their hands. Even Darien smirks faintly, though his eyes are still sharp.

Amias’s gaze cuts to Heidi. She stands trembling, pale with the announcement of her proceeding to the labyrinth settling on her—especially since she must also think the machine was faulty. She turns her head, as though pulled by an invisible thread, and before Amias can blink away, her eyes find his.

For a moment—just a moment... the world stills. She’s doing it again – looking to him for solutions? Or a decision she doesn’t know how to make. Amias has no time to wonder why she keeps doing that, especially since they haven’t had the best of interactions, but he inclines his head and gives her the barest nod. It’s probably not what she needs right now, yet, it seems enough.

It is a gesture that says: You are not alone.

Her lips part, and he can see her swallow hard, steadying herself on that small gesture.

Vark growls. "Why? Why give her that? She’ll never see you, Amias. Not if you don’t do something about it."

Do something about it? Does he want to? That will cost him the secrecy he desires when it comes to her—at least, for now. Until she is all she needs to be. And letting his hawk of siblings figure out his intentions is a luxury he can not afford. Why? Because his siblings destroy everything good for him—consciously or not.

Amias forces himself to sit, though every tendon in his body feels strung too tight. The ceremony resumes. Heidi is moved from the lowly Omega line to stand with the strong Moon Blessed on stage. The whispers multiply; students nudge each other, speculating. She looks out of place, as if the very air around the powerful girls and boys rejects her, but she stands tall.

Amias can’t look away.

The next moment, Morgan and Grayson descend on him like mosquitoes with axes. "What was that?" Morgan hisses, leaning so close that Amias can smell the faint pepper of his cologne. "Standing up for Heidi? What in the goddess’s name was that?"

Grayson elbows in. "Yeah, are you trying to look noble or insane? Because you nailed both."

Then Daphne, sharp as broken glass, cuts in. "Of course, he did it. First it’s Darien, now it’s Amias. That girl has a plan, I swear. A plan to have all of my brothers under her fingers. She’s ready to use everything—even her body to get it!"

The words descend on him like an axe buried in wood. Amias stiffens. Heat roars up his spine. What does Daphne mean by ’First, it was Darien’? Amias’s suspicions are awakened, multiplied by Darien’s unusual, sudden interjection.

"Keep your mouth shut, Daphne!"

It’s funny how Darien has been so bloody silent. He made not even the singlest bit of sounds when that Alpha blood boy emerges or when Heidi broke that machine.

However, all of a sudden, shutting his sister off is a priority?