CHAPTER 74: WHO ARE YOU, REDHEAD?

Theodora stood with Aurelius in the old archery range. It was a wide clearing surrounded by giant stone targets covered in moss. No one trained here anymore since wolves stopped using bows generations ago.

The wind was stronger here, and it was the path that led straight to the Cliff side.

"This seems like the perfect place to murder me, then toss my body off the cliff," She remarked playfully.

Aurelius wasn’t smiling this time. He had his arms crossed, looking at her like the difficult puzzle he’s been trying to put together had been finished.

"Why did you bring me here?" She asked, her tone serious.

"Because I’m curious about you, Redhead. I’m way too curious about you,"

"What would you like to know?"

"The Second-years ambushed you at the greenhouse, am I right?"

She controlled her breathing, "Who told you that?"

"Many, many witnesses, Redhead. Don’t try to deny it,"

She frowned, "And?"

"I saw a Silver-white wolf run into the forest not too long ago, and guess what I also heard? That it was the same wolf that had turned the tides on the ambush and left everyone wrecked,"

She swallowed tightly, "What’s your point, Aurelius?"

"You have a Silver wolf," He wasn’t asking, "No wonder you have this thing about you, like you’re on par with us or something. It makes so much sense now, it’s because of your wolf,"

Theo swallowed, "Do you have a problem with that?"

Aurelius leaned in closer, his aura pressing down on her, "What I have a problem with, Redhead, is why that Silver wolf of yours...has a feminine scent,"

Theo’s lungs shrank, and that was the exact moment she realised she had made a grave mistake by allowing Seraphina to emerge. She and her wolf had the same scent - overwhelming wolf Jasmine and a hint of pine. But with this new look of hers, the Jasmine scent is suppressed a lot, allowing the pine to take over.

But when Seraphina had stepped out, the scent had oozed out along with her. They were both so focused on the battle that they forgot the consequences it would bring.

*Oh, we are dead* Seraphina whispered inside of her.

*What do I do?* Theo whimpered.

*Deny it. You have to deny everything!* Seraphina insisted.

"Feminine scent?" Theo glared up at Aurelius, "That’s wild, Aurelius. How did you come to that conclusion?"

He grabbed her chin firmly, his expression hardened, "Do you think I’m stupid, Redhead?" He sounded angry and deadly, "Scents are one of the major ways Werewolves differentiate between a male and a female. It’s basic, there’s no arguing about that,"

She pushed his hand off, "You can’t just accuse me of being.. a female. I mean, you’re staring at me right now and I’m a guy. How does it make sense that I’m a woman?"

He stepped closer, "That is exactly what I’m about to figure out, Redhead,"

"You must have misread my scent,"

Aurelius laughed humorlessly, "I don’t misread anything, Redhead. Your scent overlapped with hers - pine and Jasmine. There’s no overlap unless the two wolves are..." He paused, and his brows drew together.

"Whatever you’re thinking right now, you’re wrong," She forced out.

He leaned back, and the smug look came back, "Then prove me wrong,"

Her breath hitched, "What?"

"Shift,"

Her heart thundered.

"Shift into your wolf, and let me see him. If he gives off your regular pine scent, not only will I drop all this, but I’ll even apologize to you," He sounded cool, then his tone changed into a cold and ruthless one, "But if you refuse to shift, not only will I conclude that you’re a woman, redhead, but I’ll walk straight to the Commandant’s office and I’ll tell him every single thing that I found today. I’ll take him to the greenhouse where your two scents still linger, and we’ll get more evidence of this from the numerous Second-years who you changed in front of. Once you’re cornered, you’ll have no choice. You’ll not only be expelled immediately but you’ll be severely punished for months, and I shouldn’t remind you just how heartless and cold those kinds of punishments can be,"

Theo’s world split open. She was backed against the wall, and her wolf was screaming inside of her. Her face tightened, and she hid her panic with every last shred of control she had.

"You’ll get nothing from me, Aurelius. I don’t have to transform to prove anything to you,"

Aurelius’s nose flared. Disbelief and a spark of something else flashed in his eyes, right before he shrugged, "The Commandant it is,"

He turned around and started to walk away.

For the briefest second, a part of her thoughts of actually killing and throwing his body off the cliff. It was the best way to get out of this and hide her secret.

But then, the guilt and pain would become her shadow for the rest of her life. Zeke was right - she was a goody-two-shoes. Others would have tried to rip Aurelius apart by now, but here she was, actually thinking of admitting the truth to him.

Taking another big risk.

She would do anything to keep herself at Gravemont, even if it was for another day.

Because something much worse awaited her outside these walls.

"Fine!" She called back at him, breathing hard.

*Don’t tell me...* Seraphina drawled.

*He’s given no other choice, Sera. We either choose him or we choose Cain. I’ll choose him a million times* She admitted, her fists tight.

Aurelius stopped, raising his head, "Fine...what?"

"Fine," She repeated and walked up to him, "I’ll tell you the truth, but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone,"

He turned around and faced her, his lips pursed, "Tell me first, then I’ll decide if I want to help you...or not,"

"You’re not making this easy for me," She groaned.

He crossed his arms again, "I’m waiting,"

His eyes burned into her as time stretched. Every second felt like an hour, and her hesitation as her lips quivered to say the words built even more tension.

Theo squeezed her eyes shut, her mind a mess. Her heart was pounding so loudly her head was beginning to hurt, and her palms were sweaty.

Very sweaty.

Her lips parted shakily and she looked up and met his gaze. If this was a dream, it would be the perfect time to wake up.

But it wasn’t. This was reality.

"Theodora Blackthorn," She said boldly, gritting her teeth through the confession, "I’m Alpha Darius’s Daughter, Theo."