CHAPTER 56: STOP TESTING MY PATIENCE, YOUNG LADY.

The impact sent Darius staggering backward, his head snapping to the side. The onlookers gasped in collective shock, some stepping back while others stood frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Things are about to get rough, Victoria," Leo muttered, his hand instinctively covering his groin in sheer disbelief. "This can turn out really bad. Damien’s known for acting before thinking. His impulsiveness could actually ruin your entire family."

"What do we do? Talk to your brother!" Rose pleaded, her face contorted with worry as she clutched Victoria’s arm. "Him getting into a physical fight with an heir? That could destroy his future. Seriously!"

"Yeah," Joe whispered quietly into Victoria’s ear. "He was only given the chance to become an heir. He’s not like the others....he doesn’t come from any of the three Alpha families. He’s here purely because of his intelligence. If the students start filming and the news gets out... if the parents of the real heirs find out? It won’t just affect you, Victoria. It’ll drag Damien, your siblings, and your whole family down with it."

Darius straightened slowly, wiping the blood off the corner of his mouth. Then, with cold calculation in his eyes, he walked toward Damien and leaned in, whispering close to his ear....

"If you’re so scared I’ll fuck her or kill her... she’s free to leave the academy."

Then he stepped back, that same smug smirk plastered across his face as he raised his voice for everyone to hear.

"She can leave the academy entirely."

A chill swept over the crowd.

"Leave the academy?!" someone gasped, the words barely audible over the growing murmur.

Whispers began to spread even more.

"If she gets expelled from Lycan Academy... she’ll never be accepted into any other academy... never be chosen as a mate... never hold any respectable position in our pack or the others."

"That’s how serious this is," another voice added grimly. "Getting expelled is a death sentence in disguise."

"Fine!" Damien barked, grabbing Victoria’s hand tightly, his grip protective and unyielding. "Then our family will provide for her. She doesn’t need this academy. She doesn’t need to awaken her wolf. She can live a peaceful life at home!"

"I want to train under Alpha Darius, brother," Victoria said firmly, yanking her hand free with Leo’s help. "I already told you."

Damien’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you saying, Victoria?!" he exclaimed. "Can’t you see he’s just bringing up your wolf as an excuse to punish you? You’ll awaken your wolf naturally when the time is right...you don’t need him!"

He gently cupped her face, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. "I can’t just stand here and let you be humiliated and mistreated under him. I’d be a useless brother if I let that happen."

Victoria swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "You don’t have to worry about me, brother," she said softly. "I can handle this."

Damien’s jaw tightened. His voice dropped an octave, low and firm.

"You’re just trying to sound strong in front of me. But I don’t care what you say. One thing I know for certain is that you’re coming home with me. You’re not staying in this academy."

He grabbed her hand again, preparing to drag her away.

Victoria resisted, digging her heels into the ground. Her breathing was shallow and frantic.

’Damien is stubborn,’ she thought, panic rising in her chest. ’Once he makes up his mind, he won’t back down... But is he really willing to ruin his own future? Just to protect me?’

Her thoughts were spiraling now.

’This doesn’t feel like an act anymore. If it was, the other heirs wouldn’t be involved. This... this act of kindness....it’s starting to feel real. But I can’t let him do this. I can’t.’

With fierce determination, Victoria bit down hard on Damien’s hand, her teeth sinking deep enough to draw blood.

"Ah....!" Damien recoiled, his grip loosening as he stared at her in stunned confusion.

"Drop the damn phone or you’ll regret it!" Darius suddenly barked at a student who had been discreetly recording the scene. The boy jumped in fear and immediately dropped the phone, the clatter loud in the quiet tension.

Victoria, now free from Damien’s grip, panted heavily as she faced him.

"Are you trying to ruin our family, Damien?!" she yelled, her voice cracking under pressure. "Just stop it! If you really care about me...then let me train under Alpha Darius!"

The crowd fell silent, all eyes on the siblings.

"I can assure you, I won’t die!" Victoria continued, her voice steadier now, laced with seriousness. "They won’t kill me. Let me prove myself to you, okay? Please."

And before Damien could say another word, she stepped forward and made her way toward Darius.

"Thank you for accepting me, Alpha Darius," she said firmly, stopping before him.

Darius stood tall, a satisfied smirk plastered on his face as he looked down at her with amusement and possession in his eyes.

"This meeting is dismissed then," Darius announced, turning to the crowd. "You may now follow your assigned teachers. Take this time to become familiar with each other and with the rules of your respective training paths."

"Oh yeah. We can have more time to talk without worrying about anyone recording." Damien voiced out with anger laced in his tone and etched on his face.

Without wasting a moment, Auren turned sharply with a smirk plastered on his face, walking away with the students assigned to him. Zephyr followed suit, his group trailing closely behind. The field quickly began to empty.

As Blonde passed Victoria, she whispered under her breath, "Be careful, girl."

"Stay alive, okay?" Joe murmured as he passed her side, casting her one last, concerned glance before disappearing with the others.

Soon, only three figures remained on the meeting ground...Victoria, Darius, and Damien.

Damien stepped forward, his jaw clenched.

"Don’t do anything again brother. I said I’ll take care of myself. I still have your protection even if I’m training under Alpha Darius. I survived out there on my own before entering into the Ashford mansion. I can take care of myself. I’m not that fragile." Victoria voiced out immediately before Damien could grab Darius collar again.

The two men gave each other a hateful glare, promting Victoria to swallow hard as she remained standing in-between them.

"If anything happens to my sister... I swear by the Moon Goddess, I’ll destroy you and your entire bloodline." Damien voiced out after what seems like forever.

Darius gave a soft, mocking chuckle.

"Oh, I’m terrified, Damien," he said with a playful sneer. "Now get going. Your students are waiting. I promise your sister will stay alive... but I can’t guarantee she won’t be punished if she dares break the rules of my training."

"You...!" Damien began, stepping forward, but was quickly interrupted.

Victoria threw her arms around him, stopping him mid-motion. She pressed her head lightly against his chest.

"Just go now," she whispered. "If it makes you feel better, you can have your guards watch over me. That way, you can feel at ease."

She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, her expression calm but firm. They stared at each other in silent understanding. After a few seconds, Damien gave her a slow nod before turning and walking away...his fists clenched but his steps steady.

Now, only Victoria and Darius remained on the field.

Darius took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and challenge.

"Well then," he said with a grin, slowly circling her, "what now? You’re officially my student." His tone lowered. "And I assure you....if after all your training, you still refuse to kiss me willingly, just to confirm those revelations." He paused. "Then you might never stop training under me. No matter how well you perform. You might never get a real teacher again not even if you pass your first year."

Victoria met his gaze without flinching.

"Then you can continue to be my teacher," she replied, her voice sharp and laced with defiance. "I already planned to become your student. I was even willing to kiss you before...even if you hadn’t pulled this ridiculous trick, Alpha Darius. But now that you did, I can still be your student... but don’t ever expect a real kiss from me."

The confidence in her voice sent a visible jolt through Darius. His smirk twitched into a frown, fury flashing in his eyes. He closed the distance between them in a blink, his hand wrapping tightly around her neck, not to kill her .

"Stop testing my patience, young lady," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "If not for my wolf’s instinct to confirm the revelation, I wouldn’t even spare you a glance."

His grip tightened slightly. "I’m like a chameleon, Victoria....always changing colors. Don’t make me reveal my deadly side, or I swear you’ll regret it."

Suddenly....

TWACK!

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

An arrow shot between them, striking the ground with a vicious thud making Darius release Victoria immediately.