Chapter 40 Chapter 40

Chapter 40 Chapter 40
Chapter 40: Power Revealed

Stan’s

I leaned against the wall by the school cafeteria, my arms crossed tightly, my eyes locked on Noah as he walked out. His backpack was slung over one shoulder, and his head was down, as if he thought he could avoid me entirely. My wolf growled low in my chest, my blood hot with focused anger. Not today, human. You’re not slipping away from me.

“Noah!” I called out, my voice sharp and loud, cutting straight through the chatter of the other students. “Hold up right there! We definitely need to talk now!”

He stopped, turning slowly toward me, his eyes narrowing with immediate anger, his jaw tight. “What exactly do you want now, Stan?” he said, his voice low and biting. “I have absolutely nothing to say to you. Just leave me alone completely.”

I smirked, stepping closer to him, my heart pounding with the thrilling anticipation of what I was about to do next. “Come on, Noah,” I said, my voice smooth and taunting. “Don’t be like that toward me. I just want a quick chat in private. You can spare me one minute, can’t you?”

He crossed his arms, his eyes flashing with defiance. “A chat?” he said, his voice sharp. “After what you and Dean pulled in class? You truly think I’m stupid enough to trust anything you say? Say what you want to say right here and then get lost.”

I chuckled, leaning in closer, my voice dropping to a persuasive tone. “I’m actually trying to apologize to you,” I said, expertly lying through my teeth. “That day with Dean, I didn’t mean for things to go that far. I was just backing my mate, as any good mate should do. You understand that, don’t you? I’m honestly trying to make this whole situation right between us.”

Noah laughed, a sound short and bitter, his eyes hardening with suspicion. “Apologize?” he said, stepping back quickly. “You think I believe that pathetic lie? You and Dean almost got me killed, Stan. You expect me to just forgive you instantly? Stay far away from me, or I’ll immediately tell Enzo everything.”

“Tell Enzo?” I said, my smile widening into a victorious grin, my wolf snarling in excitement. “Go ahead, run right to your Alpha for protection. But before you do that, answer me this one question—do you even know that you’re a Vengas?”

Noah froze completely, his face paling instantly, his hands clenching into tight fists. “A what?” he said, his voice shaking with confusion. “What the hell is a Vengas? What kind of ridiculous game are you trying to play with me now?”

I stepped closer, my voice a chilling whisper, my eyes locked on his face. “You really don’t know anything about it?” I said, my tone dripping with mocking disbelief. “You truly think you’re just some ordinary human, Noah? If you want to know the terrifying truth, follow me right now. I’ll show you something you absolutely need to see with your own eyes.”

He shook his head rapidly, his voice rising in fear. “Why should I trust a word you say?” he said. “You’re Dean’s mate, Stan. You’re probably setting me up in a trap right now. Give me one good, honest reason to go anywhere private with you.”

“Maybe I am setting you up for a trap,” I said, smirking knowingly, my heart racing with adrenaline. “But you are clearly curious now, aren’t you? You desperately want to know what a Vengas truly is. You want to know why I’m calling you out on it. Come with me now, Noah, or you’ll spend the rest of your short life wondering about the truth.”

Noah glared at me intensely, his hands shaking slightly, but he didn’t move an inch. “You’re full of it, Stan,” he said, his voice low and defiant. “This is just another pathetic trick from you. I’m not following you anywhere you lead me.”

“Suit yourself then,” I said, turning abruptly toward the school basement door, my voice deliberately casual. “But you’ll seriously regret that decision, Noah. The truth is waiting just down there, and you’re clearly too scared to face it alone.”

I walked away immediately, my triumphant smile growing as I heard his footsteps behind me, hesitant at first but definitely following me down the hallway. Got you, I thought, my wolf purring loudly with complete satisfaction.

I reached the dark basement, the air immediately cold and damp, the shadows thick and unsettling. I turned to face him, seeing Noah standing there, his eyes wary and cautious, his body tense. “Well, damn,” I said, chuckling with amusement. “You actually followed me down here. I truly didn’t think you had that kind of courage in you, human.”

“Cut the crap now, Stan,” he said, his voice sharp and demanding, his hands clenched tightly. “What the hell is a Vengas? Why did you bring me all the way down here? If this is a trap, I’m absolutely not playing your ridiculous game.”

I laughed, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a low, cold warning. “You are so incredibly clueless about yourself,” I said, my tone mocking his ignorance. “You think you know exactly who you are, Noah? You don’t know anything. A Vengas is not a human being. They are terrifyingly dangerous, capable of stealing a wolf’s entire power with a single touch. And you? You are officially one of them.”

Noah’s eyes widened completely in terror, his voice shaking violently. “You’re lying to me,” he said, stepping backward quickly. “I’m human, Stan. I truly don’t know what in the hell you’re talking about now. You’re just desperately trying to mess with my head.”

“Mess with you?” I said, my smile cold and cruel. “I’m telling you the straight truth, Noah. You’re a major threat—to Enzo, to the entire pack, to everyone alive. That is exactly why you are not leaving this dark basement alive.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but he gasped instead, clutching his head, and suddenly fell down hard onto his knees. I turned my head quickly, seeing Eric step out of the deep shadows, his smirk wide and victorious, his dark eyes glinting with pure malice. “Nice work, Stan,” he said, his voice smooth and taunting. “You got him exactly right where we want him to be. Easy prey for the taking.”

Noah looked up at me, his eyes wide and terrified, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “What are you doing to me, Stan?” he said, struggling desperately to stand back up. “What is going on? What exactly did you just do to me?”

I smiled cruelly, stepping closer. My wolf was snarling, ready for the kill. “It’s a real pity,” I said, my voice cold and emotionless. “You’ll never get the chance to know what a Vengas truly is, Noah. Because your time is officially done.”

Eric laughed loudly, moving quickly closer to Noah. “Just look at him,” he said, his voice mocking. “Poor little confused human, completely clueless. You genuinely don’t know what you are, do you, boy?”

“Shut up right now,” Noah snapped, his voice shaking but still defiant. “Both of you just stop talking. I’m not whatever monster you’re saying I am. Let me go immediately, or Enzo will—”

“Enzo?” I cut him off with a scornful laugh. “Enzo’s not here right now, Noah. It’s just you, me, and Eric. No one is coming down here to save your life.”

I raised my fist high in the air, ready to strike the killing blow, but Noah suddenly grabbed my arm tightly. His grip was surprisingly hard, and his eyes were blazing with intense, focused anger. “You think I’m just going to passively let you kill me?” he said, his voice low and fiercely determined. “I might be human, but I’m definitely not dying alone in this place.”

I laughed nervously, trying desperately to pull my arm free, but my arm felt incredibly heavy, and my strength was rapidly draining away. “Get off me right now!” I said, my voice sharp, panic instantly creeping into my tone. “What in the hell are you doing to me?”

Noah’s grip tightened even more, and his eyes flickered yellow for a split second, sending a horrifying jolt of pure fear right through me. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Stan,” he said, his voice hard and steady. “But you are absolutely not touching me again. Not today, not ever.”

My legs wobbled dangerously, my inner wolf whimpering in distress, my entire body feeling weak and drained. Was Eric right all along? Was Noah actually a Vengas?

Loud, fast footsteps echoed suddenly down the concrete stairs, and I turned, my vision already blurry. Dean burst into the basement, his eyes wide with shock, with Enzo right behind him, his face twisted in blinding rage. “Stan!” Dean shouted, his voice sharp and terrified. “What the hell are you doing down here? Get away from him immediately!”

Enzo growled a deadly warning, his eyes glowing a fierce, solid red. “Touch him one more time, Stan, and you are instantly dead,” he said, his voice low and menacingly cold. “Step back right now. Do it!”

I tried to speak a defense, but my body suddenly gave out completely, and my knees buckled. Noah immediately let go of my arm, and I fell hard to the floor, darkness instantly closing in on my vision. A strong hand caught me before I hit the ground, and I looked up weakly, seeing Dean’s panicked face, his eyes flashing green with confusion, his voice urgent and pleading. “Stan, stay awake and talk to me,” he said, his voice shaking badly. “What did he do to you? What is happening to your body?”

I opened my mouth to tell him the truth, but the words refused to come out.
The world faded rapidly around me, and everything quickly went black.