Jayden stood there with a conflicted look, lost in thought. His mind was a storm, what Miss Kate had just revealed left him reeling. He was in shock, trying to wrap his head around it. The fact that he could become a murderous, rampaging lycan if he ever lost control.

But there was something else, something tugging at his memory. And suddenly, it struck him. His eyes widened as the pieces clicked. He turned to Miss Kate hastily.

"Wait… but on the night of my first transformation, I went straight for the forest to fight beasts. Not humans." he claimed.

Miss Kate exhaled softly, her expression tinged with that knowing look she always carried, like she had seen this puzzle before and already solved it. "Well," she began gently, "Earlier that day, didn't you have a scuffle with that boy in the school bathroom?"

Jayden froze. His heart skipped.

His eyes widened in realization…Brandon. That day he had fought Brandon, but it wasn't just him. He also remembered those thugs who had cornered him in the alley, fists and adrenaline flying.

Jayden sighed, shoulders heavy. "Yes. I did," he admitted, already knowing the implication of what he had done.

Miss Kate tilted her head, almost in sympathy. "And because of that… after you shifted, your first primal instinct was to go for the opposite. Beasts."

The words hit him like a stone to the chest. Jayden inhaled sharply, a troubled frown forming on his face. He didn't like this. Not at all. His jaw clenched. He wasn't planning on losing control ever again, but if he did, and if his instincts could turn against humans instead… then it wouldn't just be bad. It would be catastrophic. For him. And for everyone around him.

Miss Kate saw the storm darken across his expression. Her lips softened into a wry smile, faint but reassuring. "Though.. there's a way to modify the instinct," she offered.

Jayden looked up, hopeful but wary. "How?"

Miss Kate sipped from her glass before answering. "To ensure your primal instinct always leans toward beasts, you have to condition it. And the only way to do that… is to go for the opposite. You need to fight humans more."

Jayden blinked, stunned. For a moment he thought she was joking. Then he realized she wasn't. His lips parted in shock.

"What?"

Her gaze didn't waver. She was serious.

Jayden leaned back, trying to process. At first, the thought unsettled him… fighting more humans, deliberately pushing himself into that space. But as he thought deeper, the logic was there. It was the only plausible solution. His instincts would mirror his training.

Finally, he let out a rough sigh. "Fine. It's a good thing there are lots of thugs out there."

Miss Kate chuckled, amused. "Good. For a second there I thought you'd hesitate."

Jayden scoffed, smirking faintly. "Why would I? I'm not some kind of goody two-shoes that'll be scared of hurting people. I've hurt lots of humans these past few days, and I won't hesitate to do it again if need be."

Miss Kate's lips curved into a smile at that, almost proud of his answer. She poured herself another glass of wine, swirling the crimson liquid. "So… anything else?"

Jayden raised a brow, caught off guard. "Huh?"

Miss Kate glanced at him sideways as she sipped. "I believe you had some questions you were going to ask me?"

Jayden blinked, his mind snapping back into gear. "Oh. Right. Questions. Yes, I have some," he swallowed, quickly putting together the list of questions he'd planned to ask if he ever saw her again. The same ones that had been burning holes in his heart for months.

But a moment, hesitation gripped him. He was excited, yes, but fear threaded through that excitement like cold steel. He was finally going to get answers.. the truth he had begged the universe for. Answers that could either ease the weight on his chest or crush him under it. He didn't know if he'd be able to handle the truth. And he didn't know if Miss Kate could even give it.

But there was only one way to find out.

Finally, he spoke, his voice lower than before, careful as he asked the very first on his mind.

"Are we… related?"

Miss Kate's brows lifted slightly. Amused. A little surprised, but not shocked. Her smirk softened into something almost playful. "We are," she admitted simply. "But it's not on the nuclear level like you'd think."

Jayden tilted his head, brow furrowed. "So, like a distant relative?"

Miss Kate smirked wider. "Not quite. But let's just say your mum and I were cousins."

Jayden's breath caught. His heart skipped again. He had his suspicions about Kate being related to him, but to actually hear it…

He stared at her, stunned, but she wasn't done.

"To be honest," Miss Kate continued, her voice softening, tinged with something more vulnerable, "Your mum was more than a cousin to me. She was like the big sister I never had. The best friend I never thought I'd lose."

Her tone dropped into a whisper, her silver eyes misty with memory. "After my mum… left. Cyllene was there for me through it all. She would cheer me up and tell me everything was going to be okay."

Jayden's lips curved faintly, warmth breaking through his stunned silence. "Yeah. That sounds a lot like mum."

Miss Kate chuckled softly, her gaze distant. "She was my favorite person in the whole world, and I…" Her voice broke. She paused, her throat tightening. "I wasn't there for her when she needed me."

Pain laced her words. Guilt. Regret.

Jayden's chest tightened watching her. He wanted to say something.. anything to ease her torment, but she spoke first.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there that night, Jayden." Her eyes finally turned to him, shimmering with sorrow. "It haunts me every day to know that Cyllene wouldn't have died if I was there to help her."

Jayden's heart clenched. He shook his head firmly. "You don't know that. What happened… it wasn't your fault. And even if you were there, maybe you wouldn't have been able to change it. You shouldn't carry that on yourself."

He exhaled slowly, voice gentler. "I can see how much you cared about her. And I'm glad someone remembers my mother's kindness. But don't blame yourself for anything. Everything that happened… it had a reason. And she would have agreed with that."

Miss Kate stared at him for a beat, then smiled faintly. The kind of smile that carried both sorrow and gratitude. She nodded slowly. "Yeah… I guess she would have."

Silence hung between them then. Heavy, but not suffocating. Almost reverent.. as if both were giving Cyllene her moment of respect.

After a while, Miss Kate cleared her throat, breaking the stillness. She raised her glass, took another sip, and glanced sideways at him. "So, what's your next question?"

Jayden inhaled, bracing himself. His voice was cautious. He had already prepared the next question, one that had been bugging him for years.

"Do you know where Jasmine is?" he asked.

Miss Kate's eyes widened instantly. She hadn't expected that. Her grip on her glass faltered and she set it down slowly, deliberately. Her voice was low, careful. "No. I don't."

Jayden sighed. He was not upset. Not disappointed.. at least, not more than he was used to. He'd heard this countless times already. He had lived with this empty answer for too long. Still, a small part of him had hoped… that she knew.

He was about to move on when Kate spoke again.

"But…" Her voice carried weight. "She's alive."

Jayden's head snapped toward her, brows shooting up.

Miss Kate's eyes didn't waver. "I'm sure of it."

Jayden's breath caught, his pulse quickening. Before he could speak, she continued.

"Before I came to start a life on Alpha, my only goal was to find and take care of you and your sister." Her tone grew firmer, the conviction clear. "But then I was told someone else had adopted you… and that your sister was with the EVA."

Jayden's jaw tightened at that name, but he said nothing.

"I argued. I begged," Miss Kate went on, her voice tinged with old frustration. "I said you were both better off with me… with us. With your real family. But all my pleas fell on deaf ears. There was nothing I could do at the time. I was still just a fresh graduate of the university in Beta. I had no power to change anything."

Her eyes softened then. "And along the years, I came to know about the family that took you in. I got acquainted with them. I even gave Jessica a few lessons after she got her powers. She was a quick learner… though her problem was the learning part." She chuckled.

Jayden chuckled too, shaking his head. "Yeah, she doesn't really like to learn. At all."

Miss Kate smirked knowingly. "I used to be like that. I never cared about power or getting strong. But then I realized… power is everything in this world. And unless you have it, you'll always be powerless against its oppressions."

Jayden stared at her almost like she was a sage unraveling truths.

But she waved her hand lightly, circling back. "Anyway… my point is, I wanted to be part of your life. Which is why after you came back from rehab, I always kept an eye on you. And when I saw how much you were struggling with your… first shift…" She looked away, lips pressing thin. "I went against the rules and made sure to help you. No matter the consequences."

Jayden was moved, his chest tightening with respect, gratitude, guilt, all mixing together. He nodded firmly. "I'm grateful for everything you did for me, Miss Kate. Thank you."

Miss Kate chuckled, amused. "You can call me aunt. And you don't have to be grateful for anything. I was only doing what anyone else would have." she said, her voice soft as ever. "Besides… you're my family, Jayden. I won't just watch while something bad happens to you."

Jayden smiled, warmth in his chest. "Thank you, Miss… I mean, Aunt Kate. I really appreciate you caring about me. But…" His expression turned serious. "How are you certain that Jasmine is alive?"

Miss Kate sighed, then slowly turned toward him. Her silver eyes bore into his with weight. "Because just like you…" Her voice dropped, calm but firm. "I have also been trying to find her."

Jayden's eyes widened. Not just at the revelation itself… but at something else.

He wasn't surprised because she was also searching for Jasmine.

But rather because—

"How did she know… that I've been looking for Jasmine?"