The gym smelled of sweat and polished wood. Students were scattered across the court, dribbling balls, shouting, and showing off their skills. Aurelian Academy's PE classes were notorious — a place where strength, agility, and hidden abilities subtly clashed under the guise of a "normal" game.
Aiden tried to keep to himself, dribbling cautiously and avoiding confrontation. But rumors about him had already begun to swirl — Selene's scent on him, the bullies' whispers, and the strange aura that seemed to linger around him. All eyes, whether they knew it or not, were watching.
The tall werewolf boy, still simmering from the earlier dormitory incident, moved aggressively toward him during a fast break. "You don't belong here," he growled, his strength palpable even in human form.
Aiden's stomach tightened. He clenched the ball, preparing to dodge — but a strange surge ran through him. Without thinking, he shoved the werewolf boy aside.
The gym went silent.
The werewolf stumbled back in shock, eyes wide. No one had ever pushed him like that. Whispers erupted immediately. Some students stared in awe. Others exchanged nervous glances. Even hidden heirs — vampires, witches, elves — were stunned.
A few girls gasped from the stands. "Did he… just do that?" one whispered, her eyes glued to Aiden.
Selene, standing at the edge of the court, felt her heartbeat quicken. She could sense the raw power emanating from him — a strength that shouldn't exist in a simple scholarship student. But Aiden himself remained unaware, thinking it was just a lucky push, nothing more.
The teacher blew the whistle, ending the scrimmage, but the effect lingered. Eyes followed him wherever he went, curiosity and unease in equal measure. Some wanted to challenge him. Others wanted to be near him.
Aiden dribbled carefully for the remainder of the class, still confused by the incident but secretly aware that something within him had changed.
And as the final bell rang, Selene's crimson gaze lingered on him. The bond between them, unspoken and unbroken, pulsed stronger than ever.