CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: AMUSEMENT VS BOREDOM.

"Do you have an extra pen?" Alaric asked, his tone light, too casual to be innocent.

He had one already; Armand knew that. But Alaric didn’t want the pen. He just wanted to hear her talk, to know what her voice sounded like, what tone it carried. Something in him wanted to draw it out, even if it meant pretending he’d lost something he didn’t need.

Armand’s eyes flickered toward him sharply. He didn’t say a word, but the glare he sent could’ve burned through the desk. When Alaric met it for half a second, he looked away on purpose, pretending not to notice.

Under the desk, Armand saw the pen Alaric had tucked away under the desk, and his expression hardened, his gaze going between the hidden pen and his brother like he had just lost his mind.

Athena turned slightly at the voice behind her. Just a glance over her shoulder, nothing too much, but the simple movement caught the light on her pale hair, a few white strands slipping down her face, softening her expression.

She nodded silently and reached into her bag. Without saying a word, she pulled out a pen and passed it back to him.

Theodore heard everything.

Every word. Every small sound. But he didn’t move. His posture stayed still, his hand resting on the desk, pretending to listen to the teacher, but his eyes were shadowed, unreadable.

Alaric took the pen from her, fingers brushing lightly against hers for the briefest moment. A grin touched his lips, but the silence from her made it fade almost immediately. He leaned back, twirling the pen between his fingers.

His voice came out smooth, effortless and low. "You’re quiet... even when you help someone. That’s rare."

Athena didn’t look back, just kept her eyes on her notebook.

Alaric tilted his head and lean in again, eyes running over her calmness before he added softly, "You know, you have a very gentle way of doing things... even your silence is kind of beautiful."

That caught her attention.

She turned her head slightly, a few strands of her white hair falling across her face as her green eyes met his. Her tone came out calm but sharp, "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Alaric chuckled quietly, the corner of his lips twitching. "Maybe," he said, eyes still locked on her. "But if it is, I hope I’m worth the pen then."

That made Athena’s lips curve just a little, barely a smile but it was there.

And that was when Theodore moved.

The sound of his pen hitting the desk made both of them look his way. His voice was calm, too calm but his eyes held something colder, darker.

"We’re in class," he said, not raising his tone, yet somehow his words sliced through the space between them.

He was looking at Athena when he said it, but the way those words hit, they were aimed straight at Alaric.

The room went quiet again, except for the teacher’s voice somewhere far away.

And for a second, neither of them moved.

Athena’s gaze lingered on Theodore for a moment longer.

Why was he suddenly acting strange? Not like, he was the type to follow rules and now he has a problem with talking in class.

She shifted, sighed quietly and turned back to the board. Her spine straightened, her expression neutral again, as if nothing had happened. But everyone near her could feel the shift.

Alaric, though, wasn’t the type to back down easily.

No,no,no. You can’t just aim words at him and expect silence afterwards.

He leaned back a little in his chair again his voice smooth but carrying an edge, "Didn’t know talking in class now needs permission from the most high."

Theo didn’t so much as flinch. His hand remained tucked neatly in his pocket, eyes still fixed ahead. When he finally spoke, his tone was calm, almost bored, but his words carried weight. "Some of us still understand what silence means. And we know when to shut the hell up."

It wasn’t loud, but the calm authority in his voice made it feel louder than it actually was. The kind that didn’t need shouting to be heard.

A few students shifted awkwardly in their seats. They did dare breathe out loud, they didn’t want to annoy frost.

Felicia, who sat at the back, blinked in confusion, sensing something off. She glanced between Athena, Theo, and the twins but couldn’t figure it out.

Alaric scoffed quietly, the sound breaking the brief silence. He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Typical wolves. Always smelling their own pride... sticks worse than wet fur."

He hadn’t meant for anyone to hear it, at least, not any of the wolves.

But the moment the words left his lips, the atmosphere in the room snapped.

The wolves heard. Every single one of them.

A low ripple of growls echoed faintly around the room. Some were barely audible, others too low for human ears, but they were there, warning sounds hidden beneath the teacher’s voice. A few wolf students shifted in their seats, their eyes flashing faintly for half a second before returning to normal.

Alaric stilled, realizing what he’d just done. He could practically feel the weight of the stares now fixed on him.

He didn’t even turn around. He didn’t have to. He could already feel the murdering gaze on him.

Yet instead of shrinking, he tilted his chin slightly and shut them all a glare over his shoulder. It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t dramatic, just a quiet, unbothered look that somehow screamed. Well fuck you too.

Armand almost laughed. Almost. His lips twitched, and he coughed lightly to cover it, pretending to adjust his sleeve. His twin was such an idiot,but a fearless one. And damn he admired every bit of it.

The tension thickened, heavy enough that even the humans could feel it but they don’t have an idea what’s going on.

The teacher’s voice became distant, muffled, as if drowned out by the quiet pressure filling the room. A few human students exchanged glances, uneasy but confused. They couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. They didn’t know why everyone seemed frozen for a heartbeat too long or why the air felt heavier than before.

Even Athena sensed it. Her pen paused mid-note, her brows drawing together slightly. She couldn’t tell what exactly had changed, but she could feel it, like the air had suddenly become thicker, harder to breathe. She turned her head a little, her blue eyes flicking to the side as if trying to read the invisible tension.

But everything seems normal and abnormal at the same time. Her eyes landed on Theodore, the muscles in his jaw clenched hard. She has never seen him like that before, he wasn’t the type to act on emotions.

Theo didn’t move, but his jaw still tightened. Armand’s gaze flickered to his brother’s hand under the desk and noticed how relaxed Alaric still was, like he hadn’t just stirred up half a class of wolves.

And for a second, just a brief, dangerous second, it felt like something unseen might snap.

The bell finally rang, sharp and sudden, slicing through the thick tension that had settled over the classroom.

Chairs scraped against the floor as students began gathering their books, whispering in relief that the strange heaviness was over. Some place their hand on chest like they’re about to die.

Theo didn’t move at first. He stood only after a few seconds, his movements calm, deliberate, like someone who wasn’t in any hurry, or maybe like someone who knew he didn’t need to be.

Without a glance at anyone, not even Athena, he slid his hands into his pockets and strode out of the classroom. Straight past the teacher, who was still collecting her papers. No greeting. No apology. No acknowledgment. His action was very dismissive.

He walked out like he owned the place.

Like he didn’t give a damn.

Athena’s gaze followed him without realizing it. There was something about his tensed shoulders, that made her chest tighten for reasons she couldn’t name.

When he disappeared through the door, she blinked, almost snapping herself back to reality, and quietly began packing her things.

The teacher left next, mumbling something about assignments before hurrying out. Most students followed in groups, their chatter loud and restless, trying to shake off whatever had just passed in that room.

Even Felicia and Athena were among the last few to leave.

Only when the room was nearly empty did Alaric finally push himself to his feet, stretching lazily like he hadn’t just provoked half a class of wolves minutes ago. Armand rose beside him, sliding his bag over one shoulder.

They barely made it to the door before four figures stepped into their path.

Wolves.

Their presence was unmistakable. The sharp scent that clung to them, the way they stood, spine straight, shoulders tense, eyes faintly glowing with restrained hostility.

The air thickened again.

Armand’s lips twitched into something dangerously close to amusement. Alaric, on the other hand, didn’t bother hiding his boredom.