The next morning, Aiden moved through the hallways like a ghost. His muscles ached from last night's beating, ribs still sore, lips bruised. Every glance felt heavier than before — whispers followed him like a shadow.
Selene appeared across the cafeteria, her crimson eyes searching for him. She smiled faintly, trying to act normal. But when their eyes met, something unspoken passed between them.
Aiden looked away.
Not because he didn't want to see her — but because he blamed her.
He had been humiliated, beaten, and mocked. And he knew, in the pit of his gut, that Selene's presence — the aura she carried — had drawn attention. Drawn the bullies.
He wanted to run. To disappear.
"Hey, Aiden!" Noah waved from their table. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he muttered. He sat down quickly, keeping his head low.
Across the room, Selene's eyes lingered on him for a fraction too long. She wanted to approach, to ask if he was hurt, to reassure him. But he ignored her, and she felt the sting of rejection. Her mother's warning echoed in her mind: The Unknown Child is dangerous. Do not let anyone meddle.
Some students — those from hidden bloodlines — noticed the tension and grinned. The whispers grew louder. Selene's always with him. She smells of him. What's going on?
The rumors spread like wildfire. By the time classes started, Aiden found himself at the center of a storm, though he hadn't said a word.
And yet… he didn't know.
He didn't know that even after last night, even after the beatings, he was far stronger than any of them. His mark, his aura, and his blood pulsed with latent power that hadn't even begun to awaken. Every punch, every shove, every kick had done little more than irritate him.
But he couldn't see it. Not yet.
He could only see Selene.
And every time she approached, he flinched — torn between wanting her close and needing to protect her from the chaos surrounding him.
By the end of the day, Aiden had made his decision.
He would keep his distance.
Not because he didn't care, but because he feared that staying near Selene would only bring more trouble — trouble he didn't yet know he could handle.