Chapter 56: Chapter 56

My eyes flew wide open, and I found myself in the hostel, carefully draped with a blanket. Well, how I got here, I couldn't remember, but I knew it must be the handiwork of that stinky Oswald.

Oswald had fingered my core three times, and when I thought I was finally set free, he took out his huge monster and made me do the same thing.

Unfortunately for me, he had abnormal strength because even when my hand started aching, he didn't let go.

'This marks an official battle with Lorelei, you know that.' Maia suddenly articulated, her voice serious to me.

I closed my eyes and bit my lower lips distressed, knowing Maia was right, but I already had a plan in case anything had started to deviate toward the wrong path—an example is our current situation with Oswald.

'We won't. I've thought it through; we'll leave after we win the trial.' I replied in a feigned carefree tone; the mention of leave made my heart tighten in pain.

After the event with Oswald, I couldn't help feeling that we had a closeness together. And it made me excited and ashamed at the same time. I'm excited that I'm getting close to Oswald and ashamed. Well, I seemed to feel that I'd betrayed Wyatt.

One moment, I was after Wyatt, and another moment, I was in bed with Oswald, shouting his name.

If that's not shameful, what's? I simply had no face to see Wyatt again! 'Where to?' Maia inquired out of curiosity. Although she tried to make her voice calm, her voice was shaky at the thought of the separation.

'To Rex.' I calmly replied. I came to the Power Axis Pack to escape my uncle's sight and grow stronger, but now I feel that I'm getting into messier situations.

At this junction I'm currently at, I'd rather let it stop than get deep enough to be unable to entangle myself.

'Rex can get me protected. Can teach me how to fight and can get me the information I need. Rex was once a member of the Red Flame Pack, so he could get into the pack easily.' I explained in a blank tone and covered myself with a blanket.

'If we leave with Rex, that means we'll be becoming his woman; is that okay with you? Rex is interested in us, which means we might be getting married as soon as we arrive at the vampire clan.' Maia patiently explained.

The tightening pain I felt increased, and I had to clench my fist to calm down.

I slowly let out a deep breath to calm my taut nerves. 'Rex likes us, and we grew up together; it's fine…'

'Do you take me as stupid?' Maia seethed and scowled unhappily. 'Do you forget I understand your emotions and I know whatever you're thinking? I know you'd rather stay here than leave with Rex. You want Oswald or Wyatt; why can't you admit it? Even to me.' Maia seethed in a voice filled with heartbreak and sadness.

I felt so ashamed due to Maia's outburst. Maia is right; we only have each other, yet I'm keeping secrets that I should've shared with Maia to myself.

'It feels shameful, and it hurts to think about it.' I slowly explained in a shaky yet honest tone, shame gnawing me deep.

I knew I shouldn't be having a thought of staying in the Power Axis pack; I should be prepared to leave and break the relationship I have with anyone no matter what, but somehow I couldn't muster any strength.

'What's shameful about it? You're telling me alone. What? We can't tell each other secrets anymore.' Maia asked a question in a voice feigned with anger, and it made my sad mood clear a bit.

I found myself chortling silently at her tone. 'I'm wrong, my cute Maia.'

“Filippa, you're awake?” Arya's voice suddenly sounded next to my ears. My eyes flew wide open immediately.

“Arya,” I called and sat up.

Immediately, my head began to throb, so I rubbed my neck and closed my eyes for a few seconds before opening them.

“Maia. Uh?” A gasp fell from Arya's lips, and she pointed at my neck in shock. “You. I thought. You. You and brother Wyatt are mates, but you and the school principal are mates.” Arya yelled out and covered her lips with shock as if she couldn't believe what she had just seen.

My eyes widened, and my hands flew toward my neck in anger. That damn Oswald! I asked him not to leave marks because of this exact situation, but he had done the same thing I begged him not to. How can he be so… gosh!

I feigned a calm smile and quickly waved my hands in the air, trying to stay patient. “Arya, it's not the school head. I swear, it's not what you think.” I cried out honestly while hoping it would convince Arya.

Arya's face turned cold. “Maia, you're really lying to me. Are you taking me as a kid? Look, that's a hickey on your whole neck.” She pointed out with a displeased scowl. Her feet were tapping the floor rhythmically in anger.

My eyes widened in shock. “My neck?” I stuttered. I thought it was just a bit splashed on my neck. I didn't expect Oswald to have done so much when I slept off.

Arya grabbed my hands, and her eyes widened in shock. “Don't tell me the school head drugged you and did all those things to you. Was that the reason he had asked me not to come with you? I don't care if he's my school head or if he's old enough to be my dad; I'm going to beat him to death today.” My lips twitched as I watched her ramble.

The more everything is displayed, the more I'm going crazy. I can't lie, and I can't tell the truth either. What am I going to do now? Filippa, think. Think.

I grabbed Arya by the hand and wore the most fawning and patient smile I've ever worn. “Swear to the moon goddess; it's not the school head.” I patiently enunciated.

“It. It's not the school head?” Arya repeated and eyed me.

After a few seconds, she heaved a sigh of relief before plopping onto my bed. “Maia, you scared me. I was scared a lot. I thought it was him. If it wasn't him, then who's it?”

I facepalmed myself. “I'm embarrassed; can you not ask? Besides, it's meant to be a secret.” I uttered while feigning seriousness.

Arya's eyelids raised mischievously, and she reached out to grab my hand. “Okay. Okay. I'll wait for the secrets to unfold. But…” Her expression suddenly turned serious. “I need to know who dared steal you away…”

The sudden buzzing of our phones interrupted Arya's words.

“I think this is linked to the school forum; what could be so serious for so many messages?” Arya whispered, separated from me, and grabbed her still-buzzing phone, while I did the same thing immediately, inwardly relieved that Arya's mind had been taken away from the matter.

However, my eyes widened, and I froze for the next minute upon seeing the images uploaded.

A picture of me being bridal-carried by someone had been uploaded on the school forum, and coupled with the picture was a closer view of my hickey-riddled neck. The picture was captioned. 'Visiting the school head office.'

“Maia, did you just see what I just saw?” Arya asked me in a shaky tone. It was as if it were her who had been schemed against. “The hell! Who just did something