CHAPTER 147: THE BATTLE LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN

Andria’s POV

I felt the duel hall was the quietest place in the school apart from the library. Didn’t go to the library because I wouldn’t be so free to cry my heart out there.

But the duel hall was silent; you could hear a pin drop. Except for the hours when we had combat classes, the hall was quiet at other times.

I rushed to the corner of the hall and started to cry my eyes out. Everything that has been happening of late made me think that my fate was intertwined with my past; otherwise, why do I keep losing friends to the mate bond quest?

Is this what Ashwood is all about? I thought the academy was instituted to train future pack leaders, Alpha males, and Alpha Lunas.

And here they are beating themselves up after Alpha males who could be stripped of their title at any time if they offended the wolf kingdom.

I couldn’t believe Liara, whom I held in high esteem, could fall so low as to choose that rogue prince, a vagabond as her mate, when she had an option of having a false mate, knowing she is royalty.

Tears fell from my eyes as I remembered Lena making my friends turn against me. There was no Lena now, but these things keep happening; I guess that is my fate after all.

"Ari," Zade called, and I immediately realized where I was. This was Zade’s favorite place in this academy; how could I have mistakenly stumbled in here?

I wiped my tears and composed myself before lifting my head. "What is it, Zade?"

He sat down beside me, studying me carefully. "Ari, what is the matter? You don’t look good?"

I was silent for a while; I didn’t want to talk. In this moment, the good times I spent with Zade flashed in my eyes, the days I cried alone in the classroom when every student had gone for lunch, including Lena, but I couldn’t because I had no lunch.

Zade, this silly, nice-looking male wolf will always sit beside me to comfort me and hand over part of his lunch to me.

He had his good times, but his betrayal still stung, watching him distrust me without giving me even the slightest benefit of doubt, watching him join Lena in maltreating me, and disappearing the moment I needed him the most.

"I’m good, Zade, just another bad day with friends," I replied, trying hard to avoid eye contact.

"Yeah, I heard about your little banter with the princess. I think it’s quite overwhelming losing a bosom friend to a notorious wolf," Zade said, sounding thoughtful just the way he always sounded, before he wraps you under him, manipulates you, and makes you fight for your mental health back.

The worst part of this whole thing is that I didn’t lose her to a good mate; Jackson wasn’t good in any way.

I feared for Liara, Jackson would use her to get what he wants while pretending to help her, and at the end of the day, drop her or kill her.

I doubt his wolf feels; his wolf is probably as heartless as he is.

"Exactly my point. I just fear for her and that’s all," I added, looking up at him, and our eyes locked.

I averted my eyes, suddenly becoming uncomfortable. I didn’t want this proximity to Zade. "I will be good. I think I have to leave now."

Athena was already getting excited, being too close with her mate, and I can’t control my residual feelings, so I just have to leave.

Maybe my true sanctuary was my room after all.

"So soon, Ari. Are you sure you are going to be fine?" He asked with concern etched on his face.

"Yes, I’ll. Thanks for your time," I said before walking briskly towards the door. The words thank you to Zade sounded foreign to me; I didn’t feel Zade deserved a thank you of any sort.

But on a second thought, he did at least care. Maybe if he had known me well when he was younger, he wouldn’t have been so bad to me.

Maybe it was Lena’s poisonous words against me that stirred his heart, that turned the one who once came to rescue me, the one who promised to protect me, into the demon I feared.

But as I got to the door, just then, Sir Kaelric entered. My wolf’s bond snapped immediately, sending a delicious sensation through my whole frame.

Was this how you feel after mating with your mate?

I didn’t want my eyes to meet his, so I focused my eyes on nowhere in particular.

"Are you avoiding looking at me?" Sir Kaelric asked. "You seemed to enjoy every bit of the process during the weekend, and even now, I could feel your wolf beckoning my wolf."

He paused and studied me carefully, "You are not good, who upset you?" he asked, gritting his jaw, anger flashing across his features.

"I’m just simply scared for Lia, and that’s all," I answered.

"Lia?" he furrowed his eyebrow. "What is wrong with Lia that upset you this much?"

Does it mean that Sir Kaelric, who seemed to know almost everything, didn’t know anything about the news involving his blood?

"Lia has a mate, and her mate isn’t a good one," I swallowed and continued. "She is mates with the rogue prince Jackson."

His expression fell, "No, that can’t be."

These were the only words that came off his mouth, but I knew he knew who the rogue prince was.

He knew that the rogue prince had come to contend for his uncle’s throne. If for no other reason, even if it’s not for Lia, he should do it for the throne.

"Promise me that you will talk Liara out of consummating the mate bond, and you will make sure she breaks the bond," I pleaded.

He looked at me, his expression dead serious. "What you are asking me is a hard task. It’s tough to talk any wolf out of their mate, and when it comes to Lia, I’ve known Lia since childhood; she is not one to easily give up what she wants."

Even Sir Kaelric, who acts so much in control, couldn’t control Liara. I guess the battle line between me and Liara has been drawn.