Chapter 77 – The Morning After
The next morning, the academy gates opened as always, students streaming through in their neat uniforms, voices rising in the familiar hum of gossip and laughter.
Titus arrived first. He stood near the entrance, adjusting his new uniform—the one Sofia had bought him, the one that actually fit. He no longer looked like he was wearing borrowed clothes. He looked like he belonged.
Cristal and Sarah spotted him from across the courtyard and rushed toward him.
"Titus!" Sarah called, her voice bright.
Cristal said nothing, but her eyes lingered on him with a possessiveness she didn't bother to hide.
Damián joined them next, greeting Titus with a playful slap on the shoulder. "Looking sharp, King."
Titus winced. "Don't call me that."
Damián grinned. "Too late."
They walked as a group toward the building, the other students parting around them like water around stones. The Unwanted had become something more than a nickname. They were a presence.
Inside the classroom, Sofia Volkoff was already seated. Her silver hair glowed under the morning light, her posture perfect, her expression serene. She lifted her hand gracefully and waved at them with a soft, warm smile.
"Good morning," she said.
Titus tried to respond, but his voice caught in his throat for a moment. Something about the way she looked at him—calm, certain, as if she already knew her place in his life—made his pulse quicken.
They sat together, five of them now, waiting for class to officially begin. Other students came in, talking, laughing, moving between desks.
Then the room fell quiet.
Melanie stepped through the doorway.
Her long black hair shimmered under the fluorescent lights. She wore the school uniform, but her skirt was noticeably shorter, cut just above regulation length. Her presence turned heads instantly, but she didn't look at anyone. She was searching for one person.
Her eyes scanned the room. Then she saw him.
Her face softened into a small smile—something no one had ever seen from her. She walked straight toward Titus.
The entire classroom watched in disbelief.
She stopped in front of him, gently lifted his chin with a single finger.
"Hi, Titus," she said softly. "Thank you for yesterday."
She placed a chocolate bar in his hand.
Then she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Light. Soft. Unexpected.
Titus froze, completely stunned. Melanie stepped back, smiling at him for half a second before turning her eyes toward the other girls—Cristal, Sarah, and even Sofia. Her smile vanished. A silent warning flashed in her expression.
Then she walked away and sat in her seat as if nothing had happened.
The entire room stared.
Cristal's jaw tightened. Sarah's eyes narrowed. Sofia blinked twice, quietly confused.
Titus sat there holding the chocolate, utterly unaware that he had just started a war he didn't even know existed.
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Hook: But something in the darkness was already moving, ready to change everything…
Chapter 78 – The Rivalry Begins
The rest of the morning passed in a haze of whispered speculation and sidelong glances. Every time Titus looked up, he caught someone staring—some with envy, some with curiosity, some with barely concealed hostility.
Cristal sat rigid in her seat, her pen moving across her notebook but her eyes fixed on the back of Melanie's head. Sarah kept glancing at Titus, her expression caught between jealousy and something darker. Sofia, for her part, appeared composed, but her fingers tapped a slow, rhythmic pattern on her desk—a tell Titus had learned to recognize.
When the bell finally rang for lunch, the usual rush of students was slower than normal. People lingered, watching to see what would happen next.
Cristal stood first. She walked toward the door without looking at anyone, but her voice cut through the murmurs.
"Titus. Come with me."
It wasn't a request.
Titus rose, still holding the chocolate bar Melanie had given him. He shoved it into his pocket, feeling its weight like a small accusation.
Sarah stepped forward. "I'll come too."
"No," Cristal said flatly. "I need to talk to him alone."
The finality in her voice made Sarah hesitate. Sofia remained seated, her eyes tracking the exchange with a calm that was more unnerving than any outburst.
Titus followed Cristal into the hallway. She led him toward the back of the building, where the corridors were empty and the only sound was the distant hum of the cafeteria.
She stopped near a window that overlooked the courtyard. Sunlight slanted through the glass, catching the gold in her hair and turning her eyes into burning coins.
"You shouldn't have let her do that," Cristal said.
Titus blinked. "Do what?"
"Kiss you. In front of everyone." Her voice was low, controlled, but he could hear the tension coiling beneath it. "She's marking territory, Titus. And you let her."
"I didn't let her do anything," he said, confused. "She just—it happened."
Cristal turned to face him fully. "You don't understand what you're in the middle of. Melanie isn't just some girl with a crush. She's from the Clan of Shadows. Her grandfather is the Lord. And she's been watching you for months."
Titus frowned. "How do you know that?"
"Because I've been watching her." Cristal's gaze didn't waver. "And because she's not the only one who has plans for you."
The words hung in the air between them. Titus felt the familiar weight of things he didn't understand pressing down on his shoulders.
"What plans?" he asked quietly.
Cristal stepped closer. "There are forces moving, Titus. Clans that have been waiting for someone like you. My family. The Silver Wolves. The Shadows. Even the ones who haven't revealed themselves yet." She paused. "Melanie's kiss wasn't affection. It was a claim."
"A claim on what?"
"On you."
The simplicity of her answer made his chest tighten. He looked at her—really looked—and saw something he hadn't noticed before. Beneath the cold elegance, beneath the calculated composure, there was fear.
"Cristal…" he started.
"I was the first," she said, her voice softening. "I found you. I saved you. And I will not let her take what is mine."
She reached up and touched his cheek, her fingers cool against his skin.
"Be careful, Titus. The war you think hasn't started yet? It already has. And you're standing in the middle of it."
She dropped her hand and walked away, leaving him alone in the empty hallway.
Hook: But something in the darkness was already moving, ready to change everything…
Chapter 79 – The School Board
Titus and Damián walked through the main hallway of the academy, the usual noise of students moving between classes echoing around them. Posters and announcements covered the corkboard wall beside the cafeteria, but one caught Titus's eye—a large printed sheet taped in the center, bold letters calling for new candidates for the school's rugby team. He stopped walking and leaned closer to read it.
The rugby program was one of the academy's strongest points. For years they had dominated national leagues, and now the school was preparing to enter an international championship. But with Ken Cambiazo still not returning to school, the team had lost its captain and one of its strongest players. They needed new people. They needed replacements. They needed someone to step in.
Titus stared at the poster a long moment, thinking. He had never played a sport like that. Never done something extreme. The idea felt impossible and strange, and yet… something inside him tugged at the thought.
Damián stopped beside him. "You like rugby?" he asked.
Titus shrugged a little. "I don't know. I've never really tried anything like that."
Damián nodded. "Well, I know everything about it. Back in Scotland—in all the United Kingdom, really—we have a lot of rugby teams. Big ones. Strong ones. Some of the best in Europe." He glanced at the poster again. "You want me to teach you a bit?"
Titus hesitated. "I don't know… I'm not sure I could do it."
"You can," Damián said without hesitation. "But you can't use the strength of your eye. If you lose control, you'll end up hurting someone. Rugby is physical, but it's also about control. Discipline. Balance. I think it would be good for you. As training."
Titus didn't respond right away. He kept staring at the poster, the words "TRYOUT NEXT WEEK" standing bold across the page. Something about the idea scared him—but something else pushed him toward it. Maybe it was the thought of learning to control his strength. Maybe it was the chance to challenge himself in a new way. Maybe it was just the need to move forward.
Damián clapped him on the back lightly. "Think about it. You want to control your anger, your strength, your instincts? Then rugby is perfect. It'll force you to stay focused. It'll teach you how to use your body without losing control."
Titus let out a slow breath. "Maybe…"
"No maybe," Damián said with a grin. "Meet me later at the rugby field. Bring clothes you can move in. I'll teach you the basic rules, the basic movements, and then we'll do the tryout. Easy."
"Easy for you," Titus muttered.
Damian laughed. "Trust me. You'll be fine. And who knows? Maybe you'll end up liking it. Maybe you'll even make the team."
Titus looked at the poster one more time, feeling something shift inside him—uncertainty mixed with a strange excitement.
"Okay," he said quietly. "I'll see you later."
"Good," Damian replied. "And remember—no powers, no extra strength, no losing your temper. Just you. Just your body. Learn to control that, and the rest will follow."
Titus nodded slowly. Damian gave him one more encouraging look before stepping away and heading toward his next class. Titus stayed standing in front of the board for another few seconds, thinking about Ken Cambiazzo, the empty spot in the rugby team, the competition coming soon, and the possibility that he might actually have a place in all of it.
He finally turned and walked toward the hallway, his steps steady, his mind caught between fear and determination. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was choosing something—not because he was forced, not because he was cornered, but because maybe, just maybe, he wanted to.
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Titus and Damian walked together through the hallway after reading the rugby announcement on the school board. Their conversation still hung in Titus's mind—the idea of trying something completely new, something physically demanding, something that might actually help him learn control. As they stepped into the classroom, the bell rang right behind them.
Sarah, Cristal, and Sofia were already at their seats. The moment Titus and Damian sat down, the girls leaned toward them almost in perfect synchronization, curiosity written all over their faces.
Cristal was the first to speak, lowering her voice. "So? What were you two doing by the board? You looked serious."
Titus exhaled slowly. "There's a tryout for the rugby team. They're looking for new players."
All three girls froze for a second.
Sarah's eyes widened. "Wait—what? Rugby? Like… real rugby? The full‑contact kind?"
Sofia leaned in even closer. "Are you sure that's safe? Rugby is not a light sport."
Cristal raised an eyebrow. "And you? You actually want to try that? It's dangerous, Titus."
Titus felt his chest tighten under all the attention. He lifted a hand slightly, trying to calm them. "I'll be fine. Really. It's just a tryout. Damian knows the rules—he's going to teach me the basics after school. I'll control myself."