Chapter 25: The trio

Detention was tense but wasn't boring. Damien and Jack sat beside each other at the back of the classroom, nursing their bruises but still burning with anger. Across the room, Bryce and Nate smirked, clearly not done with their game.

Bryce leaned over to Nate, loud enough for Jack to hear, “Thought you two tough guys would be scared to show up.”

Nate added, “Looks like the ‘team players’ are just big talk.”

Jack’s hands clenched into fists, but Damien put a hand on his shoulder, warning him to stay calm.

Bryce kept taunting, “You’re lucky we don’t press charges or maybe we should.”

The teacher finally slammed his hand on the desk, cutting through the tension. “Enough! I will not tolerate this disrespect.”

He walked over and stood between the two groups. “Bryce, Nate, you’re moving to the front. Damien and Jack, stay where you are.”

The room fell silent, Bryce and Nate exchanged glances but obeyed.

Jack let out a slow breath and Damien gave a small nod.

The teacher’s eyes swept the room. “If there’s more trouble, you’ll all be suspended.”

The two sides sat apart now, the fight paused but the air still filled with whispers of unspoken threats.

Jack rubbed his bruised jaw, still annoyed. “Why do those guys even hate us? We don’t even know them.”

Damien shook his head, his eyes sharp, glancing around the room.“It’s not just random, Jack. Those guys? They’re werewolves.”

Jack blinked, surprised. “Werewolves? Seriously?”

Damien nodded. “Yeah, and not just any werewolves. They’re alphas and they are very strong.”

Jack looked around, lowering his voice. “How do you know?”

Damien sniffed the air quietly. “From their scent, there’s more than just those two. I think there are three of them here.”

Jack frowned. “Three? Why would alphas come after us? We’re not in their pack.”

Damien leaned closer. “Exactly, they don’t like outsiders, especially ones who are gaining power.”

Jack’s heart beat faster. “So this is more than just a fight in school?”

Damien’s eyes darkened. “Way more, we need to be ready, I don't think they are done with us.”

Jack swallowed hard. “What do we do now?”

Damien’s lips curled into a small, serious smile. “We watch our backs... and find out what they want before it’s too late.”

Jack nodded, his mind racing. “This is serious, we can’t just ignore it.”

Damien’s eyes scanned the hallway. “No. They’re testing us, they are trying to see how far they can push.”

Jack clenched his fists. “We need to stay strong, they need to see how strong our pack is.”

Damien agreed. “Exactly and we need to warn the others, this isn’t just about us.”

Jack looked at him, his determination growing. “Then let’s get ready. Whatever’s coming, we won’t back down.”

As they turned to leave, a shadow moved quickly across the corridor watching them leave.

Neither of them noticed the quiet voice behind them whisper, “They don’t know what’s coming next.”

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of detention. Jack and Damien stretched and stepped outside, relieved to be free. Waiting for them were Lyra and Lydia, their faces serious.

“You guys okay?” Lyra asked, with concern in her voice.

Jack nodded. “Yeah, but those guys… they’re not just troublemakers. Damien thinks they’re werewolves.”

Lydia’s eyes widened. “Werewolves? Three of them, right?”

Damien stepped forward. “From what I smelled, they’re alphas and they are not here to play.”

Lyra frowned. “Alphas in our school? That’s dangerous, they could bring a lot of chaos.”

Jack looked around cautiously. “They don’t know we’re onto them yet but they’re watching, waiting for the perfect time to strike.”

Lydia crossed her arms. “We need to be ready. If they’re here to challenge us, we can’t let our guard down.”

Damien nodded. “Agreed. This is more than just a fight at school, it’s a war waiting to happen.”

Lyra’s eyes darkened. “Then we better stick together because things are about to get worse.”

They all walked away, heading to meet Maya.

“Maya." Jack called, he swung the door open and it let out a creak.

“Maya," Damien shouted. “Who are you?

Maya let out a cough." It's p..peter," she stammered, unable to speak.

Lydia turned to him.”Peter Hayes?".

“Yes, that's me." He smirked, urning his gaze to Damien.

Damien’s eyes burned with fury as he stepped forward, but Peter tightened his grip on Maya’s neck, warning him not to move. Maya struggled to catch her breath, her face pale as sweat rolled down from her forehead

“You’re making a mistake, Peter,” Damien said, his voice low but firm. “This won’t end the way you think.”

Peter laughed darkly, his eyes flickering with cruel amusement. “I don’t care about endings, I want what’s mine.”

Lyra moved closer, her voice trembling but strong. “Let her go peter.”

Peter’s claw dug a little deeper into Maya’s skin, making her wince. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

Jack’s fists clenched at his sides, ready to leap in. Lydia stood protectively beside Maya, trying to calm her friend.

Damien’s mind raced. He knew Peter’s hunger for power was dangerous, but giving in wasn’t an option. He needed a plan fast.

Damien lunged at Peter with a roar, tackling him to the ground. They crashed into a table, splinters flying across the room. Peter growled, his claws slashing across Damien’s side. Damien gritted his teeth through the pain and punched him hard in the jaw, sending Peter stumbling back but Peter recovered quickly.

He launched forward with terrifying speed, slamming Damien against the wall. The air was knocked from Damien’s lungs. Peter didn’t stop, he punched, clawed, and kicked with wild strength. Damien tried to fight back, landing a few solid blows, but Peter was too strong and too fast.

Blood dripped from Damien’s lip as he fell to his knees, breathing hard. His vision blurred.

“You’re not ready to face me,” Peter growled, grabbing Damien by the shirt and lifting him effortlessly off the floor. “You’re just a weak little wolf playing alpha.”

“Stop!” Maya screamed, but Peter tossed Damien aside like a ragdoll, he hit the ground with a painful thud.

Peter turned slowly toward the others, eyes glowing red. “Next time, I won’t be so gentle.”

Peter charged at Damien again, his claws out and his eyes burning with angee. Damien barely dodged, rolling across the floor as Peter’s claws scraped the wooden tiles. He sprang back up and punched Peter in the ribs, but it barely fazed him. Peter grabbed Damien by the throat, slamming him against the wall.

“Damien!” Lyra screamed.

Lydia didn’t waste a second. She pulled a small pouch from her jacket and threw the silver-infused powder directly at Peter. The powder exploded in a faint silver cloud, covering his face and chest. Peter screamed in rage, stumbling backward, the powder burned his skin.

“What did you do?!” he growled.

Damien fell to the floor gasping for air. Jack and Maya rushed to his side, helping him up.

Peter’s eyes burned with pain, but his body weakened fast. He staggered back holding his head, then let out a low growl. “This isn’t over.”