Chapter 52: Chapter 52

"I don't know, okay? So please teach me how to fight properly. I can't lose; I need to make Oswald pay for belittling me before breaking our bond." I implored Rex while feigning a pitiful look.

I knew I had overestimated my capabilities a lot, and if I was able to fight with this mid-level rogue, that meant it was luck, or I had expended myself to the end, so instead of pretending and wasting time, I decided to come clean with the only person who's wholly on my side and can't be bossed about by Oswald.

Rex's eyes darkened, and within the blink of an eye, he snuffed the life out of the mid-level rogue and threw it away.

Rex's eyes lit up, and he grabbed my hands with excitement. "Breaking your mate's bond, you said?" He inquired in a happy tone.

I bit my lips and forced myself to nod with a blasé. "He has a Luna; I can't keep sticking to him shamelessly," I replied casually while trying to suppress the pain that tore across my heart at the thought that I'd be separating from my mate.

Still, I tried to get used to it, knowing that'd be the fate of our bond. Oswald doesn't like me, and I don't have the intention of crossing paths with a crazy Lorelei.

Just the reminder of the meeting with Lorelei makes my ambition to get more powerful increase.

"Well. If that's it, I'll teach you." Rex asserted happily. It was as if he couldn't wait to see me break my bond with Oswald.

"Thank you." I appreciated it while giving him a tight-lipped smile. Although that person has been a jerk to me many times, why do I still feel hurt?

Rex's eyes suddenly turned sharp, and he let go of my hand. "As your training teacher, I'll be strict with you. I won't let you slack off, and within three days, you must be capable of fighting 20 mid-level rogues. Also, you werewolf doesn't need to sleep every night, so we'll be ditching that also," he pronounced coldly.

My eyes widened in disbelief, and the thoughts of Oswald disappeared from my mind.

"What? Can't dare?" Rex taunted with a sneer. His voice was cold, unlike earlier, which made me almost fall.

Of course! I protested inwardly with a huff.

Did I fail to appreciate Asher all along? Did I make a mistake by asking Rex for help? Why are they all getting worse than each other? Of course, only Wyatt is cool. My lips parted to give him a reply, but Rex cut in.

"Even if you can't, I'll make you. I can't wait to get you off this pack, so I mustn't make you fail." He declared domineeringly.

My lips twitched and parted slightly at his proud tone. Isn't this too much? However, I nodded bitterly because that's the only thing I can do. Also, apart from the competition, I want to get stronger.

Suddenly, I wanted to protest. When I was the master, I treated this brat better; how could he be so cruel to me?

I rubbed my nose pitifully and feigned a glare at Rex. "Rex, don't you think you're very cruel to this princess?"

"No, I think I'm pretty nice already." Rex cut in wickedly, which made my lips twitch.

I don't think so! But before I could say a thing, he continued. "Is this your way to make me soften? You failed. Come with me; we need to build your stamina." He declared, and before I could blink, he had disappeared from my sight.

.

.

I pitifully trudged to the dormitory while panting heavily. If Oswald really wants my life to be a living hell, then he won!

There's no bigger living hell than training under Rex. That person is really cruel. It's just how I willingly gave myself to him.

Ugh. The next week will really be hell let loose.

"Woah! Today's training seems to be worse." Arya gawked at me with surprise while wrapping herself in a towel.

Yeah, right? It's thanks to that jerk, Rex. I mean, since he can't wait to get me off the werewolf pack, naturally, he decided to make me bear the brunt.

"Are you sure you won't overtrain yourself to death at this rate?" She eyed me in concern. I could see that she thought I was the one in charge of my training.

I smacked my lips together and laughed dryly. "I have a competition to come; if I don't overtrain, how will I win?" I retorted

Arya nodded in agreement and tutted gently. "You're really pitiful." She said and shook her head with a sigh.

"I'm going to take my bath now." She announced, and I nodded to her before striding towards my closet to pick up a clean towel.

"By the way, what's that on your neck? Did you find a mate? Did he give you a temporary claim?" Arya suddenly retracted her steps and asked me. Before I could blink, she fussed over me with a gossipy smile. She sniffed, and her eyes lit up immediately. "In fact, your scent had changed; you smelled like..."

"You're thinking too much," I yelled out quickly and took a step back while trying to hide my fluster. That damn Rex! I thought he had simply bitten me; I didn't expect that he had given me a temporary claim instead. Gosh! How could he hide it from me?

I laughed loudly to fake my nervousness and fear. Although Oswald and I aren't together, he must not know, and Wyatt must not know either. Why do I feel like a cheating scum?

"What do you mean I've been claimed? My mate is dead, okay? I don't have anyone in mind. Besides, it was that stupid rogue. Yes! That stupid rogue that I was training with tried to bite my neck, but before he could, I kicked it away. I didn't expect that it would leave such deep marks." I quickly lied while laughing and covering the mark with my palm, doing my best not to curse Rex and praying to the moon goddess that Arya believed my lie.

Arya's brows knitted into a frown, and she pouted slightly. "But that doesn't seem like a rogue's..."

"Stop overthinking, okay? Have you been bitten by rogues? The bite is hurting so much, I'm sure a mate bite doesn't hurt." I yelled out while faking a painful expression.

Arya nodded immediately. "Yes, you're right. Just make sure you treat it well. I'll take my bath." She said and began to leave.

I sighed in relief and made a note to cover the mark with a concealer once I was leaving for class. "Arya, can you please not report me? I'm afraid that I'll be scolded for being careless." I tried to fake a sad gaze and followed after Arya.

Arya stopped in her tracks and pouted her lips with a difficult look. "I…"

I grabbed her hand anxiously. "Please, okay? I promise that I won't reveal it to them, and it'll be secret. Also, I will help you in the future."

"Okay, deal." After a few seconds of hesitation, Arya agreed.

______

I entered the classroom, concealer covering my temporary mark, just to see Nancy sitting on the chair beside mine.

I frowned slightly while trying to wonder what her reason must be since we both don't see eye to eye anymore. I wondered whether to send Nancy away or not, but I decided not to.

I don't know what she's up to, so I can't make any decisions yet. I casually strode towards my chair and sat down immediately without paying Nancy a glance.

I was about to remove my books when Nancy's hand reached out for mine. Without hesitation, I retracted my hand before staring at her coldly.

Nancy's face fell, and she let her hand drop next to her side as if she had been hurt by my actions.

"Maia, I'm sorry. Actually, I didn't know what happened to me that night. All I wanted was for us to be friends, but seeing you with Beta Wyatt after I confided in you made me feel bad, and I couldn't resist lashing out at you." Nancy apologized loudly while faking a sad tone, attracting everyone's attention.

I almost laughed, but I was quick to suppress it.

Interesting! Does Nancy think she can bait me with such acts? If she really wanted to apologize to me, why didn't she do so in secrecy? Why did she decide to apologize in class, especially with such a loud voice as if she wanted to let the whole world know that she was apologizing to me?

Despite all my thoughts, I managed to keep my expression calm. "Oh. Then why are you here?" Sitting calmly on my seat with your bag, as if you were my seat partner, after all, I was the one who made you feel 'bad'.

Nancy's expression changed, and her eyes flashed with hatred, but she suppressed it; instead, she stared at me with a smile. "To apologize." She declared loudly.

I crossed my arms, trying not to laugh due to the fake expression on Nancy's face. "Shouldn't that be the other way around?" I retorted boredly.

Nancy's face turned green in anger, but she clenched her fist and gritted her teeth before calmly replying. "I'd like to take the steps for us." She declared and raised her head proudly as if she were doing me a favor.

"If that's it, then you can sit next to me from now on." I declared in a gentle voice while hiding my smirk.

Nancy's face flashed with panic. She gritted her teeth and yelled. "Maia."

"What?" I interrupted while feigning an innocent look despite understanding what she wanted. I blinked at her and tilted my head innocently. "Do you expect me to throw a tantrum?" I blurted out, understanding that's what she meant.

Nancy's face reddened, but she quickly waved her hands and instead smiled at me. "No. No. No. Did you need notes to catch up in class? I'll give you."