Chapter Ten: Masks and Other Dangerous Things
We weren't supposed to be in the restricted archives.
So of course Luna picked the lock.
It creaked open, and we slipped inside like thieves, giggling under our breath and drunk on rebellion.
But the laughter stopped the moment the door slammed shut behind us.
And he was there.
Leaning lazily against the bookcase.
Half his face was hidden behind a dark mask—silver trimmed and sleek, just enough to keep his mouth a mystery.
But those eyes—
Blue like glacial fire. Unforgiving. Knowing.
And for a split second, I forgot to breathe.
"Ladies," he said smoothly, "I thought the rule was no breaking into ancient vaults before breakfast."
His voice?
It was the kind that made secrets want to confess themselves.
Deep. Smooth. Velvet layered over a blade.
Luna froze mid-step.
"I swear," she said quickly, "we were just—uh—just…"
"Curious?" he offered, stepping forward. "Curiosity is charming. Dangerous too. But charming."
His gaze slid to me.
"And you, Auriella."The way he said my name—it felt like silk and steel all at once." The Alpha's little lioness
"You didn't strike me as the type to sneak around after dark. At least not without claws."
I squared my shoulders. "And you didn't strike me as the type to stalk teenage girls in libraries. Here we are. and I'm not little"
A smirk danced in his eyes." I suppose nothing about you seems little."
Luna choked beside me. I kicked her under the bench.
I stared him down. "You're awfully flirty for someone who hasn't earned a damn thing."
He tilted his head. "And you're awfully sharp for someone who's never won a fight."
Touché.
Okay, so he had a point but how dare he?
> He's probably all talk. Definitely a peacock.
Before I could say more, another figure appeared behind him.
Principal Valen.
"Enough games," she said. "We need to talk. Privately."
The Office
I didn't like being boxed in, especially not between two people who looked like they shared secrets behind closed doors.
He still hadn't removed the mask.
But somehow, it didn't matter.
He acted like owned every room he entered. Not with loudness. Not with swagger.
With stillness.
With knowing.
With those damned eyes that stripped you bare.
"Who are you?" I asked, arms crossed.
He didn't answer right away.
Just looked at me like he was reading the pages I didn't even know I had written.
Valen stepped in.
"Leon is your new instructor," she said. "Get use to him,"
Leon? why do I feel like I've heard that name before but I can't place a face him.
Strange .
"Leon is from the Nightveil pack,he just moved in from the west with his mum and little sister, The Nightveil Alpha is a close friend of your father's so he recruited Leon as your trainer I think that about sums all what I came here for," Valen mutters." I'll speak to your father about you breaking into the Archive then we can decide the punishment for you and Luna," She turns to leave.
"She doesn't know the rest," he said stoping her on her strides.
"Then tell her," Valen said exhausted, then she turned and left.
Immediately she left and the door shut he began.
"There was more to your mother than what your father told you."
Old news.
"There are powers in you that haven't awakened yet."
Still vague.
"And the creature that came for you… it wasn't the last."
That one hurt.
But nothing he said gave me anything solid. No real truth to hold on to.
Just shadows shaped like answers.
He watched me take it all in. Watched my jaw tighten.
"You think we're all playing riddles," he said, voice quiet now, just for me. "But the truth is, some things aren't meant to be given. They're meant to be earned."
That struck.
I looked away.
Because I hated that it made sense.
"Tell me who you really are," I said.
Cause I knew he definitely was hiding something about his identity to me. I mean if the mask wasn't a give away I don't know what is
He stepped close—too close—and I could smell something clean and wild on him. Like cedar and midnight storms.
His voice dipped.
"Someone who's seen what happens when power wakes up too fast. And what it destroys when it isn't ready."
My breath caught.
He smiled, slow and maddening.
"And someone who's going to make sure you don't burn everything down before you figure out which side of the fire you're on."
"So what now?" I asked, arms crossed. "You give us a boring lecture on discipline and posture?"I asked.
His eyes glinted.
"I was thinking something more... practical."
I smiled sweetly.
"What"
He smiled." Follow me."
-The Arena-
Luna was waiting, pacing like she'd swallowed an energy drink and three secrets.
"Finally! What'd he say?" she rushed up to me.
"Nothing useful."
She frowned. "That's the worst kind of hot, my mum seemed furious I don't think we'll survive it"
Before I could answer, he appeared again—gliding across the stone floor like he owned time.
The mask still on.
The confidence even heavier.
And this time, he was armed.
Sword on his back. Gloves on. A quiet, dangerous smile behind his eyes.
"All that for little o- me,"
"Actually they are for you,"
Ten minutes later, Luna had already melted into a puddle of shameless admiration.
The bastard had this way of talking—smooth, precise, like he'd read a thousand books and seduced the authors too.
He complimented Luna's aura.
Commented on my "combat-ready rage."
But he also threw out lines about old spells, ancient combat styles, and mental conditioning like it was casual breakfast talk.
I hated that I was intrigued.
And annoyed that I wanted to know if those lips under the mask smirked the way his voice did.
"Ready for training?" he asked the group.
I crossed my arms. "What, no warm-up speech about destiny or how I'm going to bring the end of the world?"
He chuckled.
"Tempting. But I thought we'd start with something fun."
I raised a brow. "Like what?"
His eyes slid to me. "A match."
"With who?"
"You."
The crowd at the training ground gasped like someone had dropped a crown.
Luna actually whooped. "GET HIM, PRINCESS!"
I walked onto the circle, heartbeat steady, fists clenched.
He followed, slow and calm like the fight was already decided.
Probably thought it was.
I faced him.
I struck first.
A quick jab, just to gauge his reaction.
He dodged.
Not moved—flowed.
His body curved around my strike like air bent to him.
I went for a sweep—he spun.
I tried a high kick—he caught my ankle, twisted, and sent me crashing down.
"Sloppy," he said. "Pretty, but sloppy."
I growled and launched back up, fists blazing.
He let me strike.
Once.
Twice.
Then he was behind me.
His breath hit my neck.
"Fighting angry's cute. Fighting smart wins."
I spun, elbow aimed for his face.
He caught it with a palm. Then leaned close.
"If you want to win, Ella," he said, low and serious now, "you'll have to stop pretending you're angry at the world when you're really just angry at yourself."
That—
That hit.
F**k him how dare he act like he knew me and even to the extent of giving me a nickname?
Too close.
I froze for a fraction.
He stepped back.
"You think this'll be easy?" I asked.
He tilted his head.
"I think watching you try to prove yourself is the most entertaining thing I'll see all week."
That did it.
I attacked.
I didn't go easy.
I threw fists, kicks, spins, trying to knock him off his rhythm.
But he didn't flinch.
He moved like liquid shadow. Dodging. Deflecting.
He didn't fight me.
He watched me.
Then, in one flash move, he disarmed me and pinned me flat to the ground.
His hands never hurt. Never forced.
But he still won.
My breath heaved under him, skin burning.
His face hovered above mine.
Eyes locked.
"Not bad," he said softly. "But you're still pretending."
I hated how close he was.
Hated more how I didn't want to move.
"You don't know anything about me," I whispered.
His eyes glinted.
"Not yet."
Then he stood
Match over.
> And he let it be over.
I stood there, breathless, fists still raised.
He bowed again.
"Tomorrow," he said. "We begin real training."
Then he turned to leave.
But just before stepping out, he glanced back at me.
> "You've been sleepwalking through power your whole life, Ella. Let's wake you up."
He turned and Walked away.
Leaving me on the floor.
Breathless.
Beaten.
And utterly furious.
[TO BE CONTINUED..]