Chapter 11: Almost got Exposed

Elias POV

Avoiding Ronan sounded easy in theory. In practice, it felt impossible.

Everywhere I went, it was like the universe had decided to put him right in my path, in the halls, the training grounds, the damn cafeteria. And every time our eyes met, something inside me twisted like a wire pulled too tight.

I hadn’t forgotten what happened that night.

The way he looked at me. The sound of his voice when he told me to leave. The way my name had broken out of him like a plea.

I told myself it was just his Alpha instincts, a reaction, not a choice. But lying to yourself only works when your heart’s not in the way.

“Hey.”

Luca’s voice cut through my thoughts. He dropped his tray on the table across from me, leaning in. “You’re still zoning out. That’s, what, the third time today?”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, stabbing my food without appetite.

He raised a brow. “Fine? You look like you’ve seen a ghost every time Ronan walks into a room.”

I glared. “Luca….”

“Relax, I’m not judging,” he said, holding up his hands. “Just… you two have this weird tension thing going on. Everyone feels it.”

“Everyone?” I muttered.

“Yeah. Half the dorm thinks you’re secretly dating, and the other half thinks he’s about to murder anyone who talks to you.”

I choked on air. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Tell that to them,” he said with a half-smile. Then, softer, “Look, I don’t know what happened between you two, but if something’s off, maybe talk to him. Before it gets worse.”

Talk to him. Right. Like that wouldn’t end in disaster.

Before I could answer, the bell rang, resounding through the cafeteria. Night training.

Nice!!Perfect timing. I don't have an answer to his disturbing questions.

The moon was low when we reached the field, its silver light glinting off the wet grass. The instructors barked orders, and pairs started forming across the arena.

I tried to keep to the back, hoping to blend in, but of course….

“Elias,” Ronan’s voice came from behind me.

I turned slowly. He stood there, calm as ever, though his eyes looked darker than usual. “Partner up.”

I blinked. “What?”

He nodded once. “You heard me.”

There were a dozen other people he could’ve picked. But no… it had to be me. I thought about saying no, but the look on his face told me it wasn’t up for debate.

Fine. Just training. Just another drill.

We moved to the far end of the field, away from the others. The silence between us stretched thick, and awkward. The only sound was the murmuring of crickets and the shuffle of our boots.

He broke it first. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’ve been busy,” I said flatly.

He stepped closer. “Busy running the other way every time you see me?”

I exhaled sharply. “You scared me, Ronan.”

That made him stop. His jaw tightened. “I know.”

“I don’t even understand what happened,” I said. “One second you were fine, and then…”

“I wasn’t fine,” he cut in, voice low. “I haven’t been for a while.”

The honesty in his tone caught me off guard. I looked at him, and saw how tired he was. The lines under his eyes. The tremor in his hands he kept trying to hide.

“Then why push me away?” I asked quietly.

“Because I have to.”

He looked down, his voice rough. “Because if I don’t, I’ll hurt you.”

Something in my chest cracked. “You won’t.”

He didn’t answer, just turned away. “Let’s start.”

The exercise was simple; sparring under restraint. Suppressants active, minimal aggression, control over instinct. At least, that’s how it was supposed to go.

We circled each other. His movements were sharp but precise, always holding back, never too close. I mirrored him, trying to keep focus, but every time he moved, my pulse betrayed me.

“Eyes up,” he said.

I looked and that was a mistake. His gaze locked with mine, and suddenly everything else faded. The air grew heavy again, that same static buzz I remembered from before.

“Elias,” he said carefully, “you’re leaking pheromones.”

“What?” I blinked, startled.

He stepped forward, nostrils flaring slightly. “Your Al0ha suppressants… they’re wearing off.”

My stomach dropped. “That’s not… I took them this morning.”

I quickly said, before he said something else about how mine smell different.

“Well, they’re not working.”

I backed up fast, but he matched my step for step, not aggressive, just… drawn in. Like something invisible was pulling him closer.

“Ronan,” I whispered, “stop.”

He froze, chest rising and falling like he was fighting himself. “I can’t smell anything else.”

The air between us vibrated, faint but unmistakable. It was happening again, that dangerous buzz of instincts and tension neither of us asked for. My skin burned where his gaze landed.

He took another step, slower this time. “Elias…”

My heart raced. “Don’t.”

“I’m not…” He swallowed hard. “I’m not trying to.”

But the space between us closed anyway.

His hand brushed my arm barely — and the world tilted. It wasn’t just heat; it was recognition, like a wire snapping between two magnets that had been too close for too long. Every nerve in me screamed to pull away, but I didn’t.

The air thickened. I could hear his breathing. Feel it. My pulse matched it beat for beat.

He whispered, “This can’t happen again.”

“Then let go,” I said softly.

He did, but slowly, reluctantly, like every muscle in him resisted the order. When his touch left my skin, it felt colder.

We stood there, silent, staring at each other. Neither of us said what we were really thinking.

Luca’s voice broke the spell from across the field. “Hey! You two good over there?”

Ronan cleared his throat, stepping back fast. “Fine.”

I forced a nod. “Yeah. Fine.”

He turned away, barking orders at a few nearby trainees as if nothing happened. But I saw the way his hands trembled, the way his shoulders stayed tense. And I knew, neither of us was fine.

Training ended, and everyone drifted off. The field was quiet again, lit only by the soft glow of the lamps lining the path. I lingered, pretending to check my wristband while my heart still refused to slow down.

“You’re still shaking,” Luca’s voice said behind me.

I sighed. “I’m fine.”

He looked unconvinced. “You’re pale as hell. Did he….”

“No,” I said quickly. “It’s not that. I just…. I need air.”

He nodded slowly. “Alright. But… be careful, yeah? There’s something weird in the air tonight.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered.

He left after a few minutes, and I sat alone on the bench by the edge of the field, staring at the sky. The stars looked too calm for what was happening inside me.

The pull hadn’t faded. If anything, it was worse, stronger, deeper. Like something inside me recognized Ronan’s chaos and wanted to answer it.

And that terrified me.

I rubbed my arms, trying to shake the feeling off. That’s when I sensed some eyes on me.

I looked up sharply.

Near the far end of the field, under the shadow of the trees, someone stood watching.

Kael.

His posture was lazy, but his smile wasn’t friendly. It was sharp, knowing like he’d just caught me in something I didn’t even understand yet.

He tilted his head slightly, meeting my gaze across the distance. Then, with a smirk, he mouthed one word I couldn’t mistake.

“Interesting.”

My breath caught. Before I could move, he turned and vanished into the dark.