Jayden's blood boiled. Of course. She wasn't offering mercy. She wanted to turn him into some kind of pet, but there was nothing he could do about it. Miss Kate was someone rumoured to be above level 50, which meant she was even stronger than the principal. Picking a fight with her would be suicide.
He clenched his fists in his pockets. He could still feel the raw rage simmering inside him. He wanted to refuse, but… There was no winning a fight against Miss Kate. It was practically impossible.
So he used the only card he had up his sleeve. Playing dumb.
"Miss Kate," Jayden said, keeping his tone light. "I don't know what you think you saw, but… everything that happened was just instinct. I don't remember..."
"Liar," she snapped.
Jayden flinched.
"I watched your body. Your breathing. Your reaction when I said it. You know it's true."
He panicked and opened his mouth to speak. "But..."
"Jayden!" she cut him off again.
"I won't ask again." Her voice was lower now. Colder. "Show me what you are."
Jayden's rage surged. His jaw tightened. She was toying with him. Pushing him. He hated it. He hated being treated like a weakling. He hated being weak.
But he refused to give in to her demands, he refused to get angry. He breathed in. Then out.
Miss Kate's eyes narrowed. She was not pleased. She knew that Jayden needed to get really angry before he could develop his 'Special' features. And seeing Jayden do the opposite of getting angry made her furious.
"I didn't think it'd to come to this," she sighed with a sadistic expression. "But... You've given me no choice,"
And then—
Boom.
She was in front of him. In a flash of movement, she closed the distance and slammed her fist into his jaw.
CRACK.
Jayden flew. Slammed against the wall hard enough to fracture it. Crumpled to the floor, coughing blood from his mouth, nose, and temple.
[-60 HP]
He gasped. That was barely even a serious hit... and yet, it took that much Hp.
His vision blurred for a moment, the room spinning. Pain bloomed through his head like a thunderclap.
Miss Kate stood in place, unshaken. Her hands still calm at her sides.
"That was a warning, Jayden," she said flatly. "I'm done being polite."
Jayden slowly pushed himself up from the cracked floor, spitting blood—and a tooth—onto the marble. His jaw was already snapping back into place with a faint crackle as his healing kicked in.
Miss Kate was still standing there, arms folded, lips curled ever so slightly in a frown. "Don't stain my office, Jayden," she said coolly. "Or I'll really discipline you."
Jayden's eyes twitched.
He couldn't take it anymore.
A low growl rumbled from his throat. His pupils dilated, then glowed. His fangs lengthened. Claws erupted from his fingers with a vicious snap and his back straightened, like a beast rising from a cage.
Miss Kate's frown broke into a twisted grin. "Finally," she purred. "Show me your rage, Jayden. Come on!"
She looked… giddy. Giddy like a child seeing fireworks. If anyone had walked in now, they'd never believe it. Miss Kate... the cold, commanding, professional juggernaut of authority was practically gleaming with excitement. It was unbelievable, giving the fact that she rarely smiled and never got excited over anything.
But right now, she was a completely different person. A lunatic. A battle maniac.
But Jayden didn't charge. He didn't move.
He just stood there, glowing eyes locked onto her like a predator calculating its chances.
Miss Kate tilted her head, her smile widening. "Don't just stand there. Fight me. I want to see it. How much stronger you are… as a beast."
Still, Jayden didn't move.
He wasn't stupid. She was taunting him, trying to get under his skin. He wouldn't let her win that way. And besides, a frontal assault would be suicide. He'd be back on the floor before he blinked.
But Miss Kate didn't like to be ignored.
She took a slow step forward. "What's wrong? You grow claws and fangs… and suddenly go shy?" She pouted mockingly. "That's not fair to me."
Jayden gritted his teeth... fangs, whatever. he was really furious with Miss Kate's words and expressions. She was acting like a sadist... No, a psychopath.
But he still didn't attack, he still couldn't bring himself to fight her. Because of he was weaker, yes. But also because he didn't believe Miss Kate would behave this way.
Jayden had always respected people like Miss Kate, they were powerful and had great strength but didn't abuse it. It was one of the reasons he liked and respected Tasha. And when he learnt all about Miss Kate and her... deeds, he began to respect her as well. But here she was, behaving like a bloodthirsty maniac.
"I won't be your punching bag," he growled
Miss Kate sighed. "Fine. Then you'll be my target dummy."
She raised her hand, a large amount of air gathering around it like pure energy. This was her ability. Wind control.
Then with a flick of her wrist, a sharp blade of wind sliced through the air.
SHHHRIP!
A deep cut opened across Jayden's right knee. He stumbled slightly, groaning.
Another flick.
SHRRIP!
His left knee this time.
Jayden dropped to his knees, teeth clenched, glowing eyes burning with rage and disbelief.
Miss Kate smiled like a satisfied painter adding strokes to her masterpiece. "Good… but not enough."
She sent more blades.. faster, sharper. They sliced through his elbows, shoulders, cheekbones.
Blood gushed. But Jayden's body was already working overtime, stitching itself back together.
Didn't matter.
Miss Kate just targeted the same spots again.
Over and over. Slashing him open and watching him heal.
Again. And again. And again.
And while doing it, she kept smiling and laughing. It was all a sport to her, and she seemed to be enjoying it very much.
Jayden groaned. His breathing ragged. Pain pulsing through every nerve. Still.. he refused to strike back.
Until...
She aimed higher.
A wind blade shot toward his head like a guillotine.
Jayden's eyes snapped wide. In one desperate lurch, he twisted, the blade whistling past his cheek and slamming into the wall behind him, carving into it like butter.
That was the final spark.
Something snapped inside him.
[Partial Transformation (Unknown) Activated]
Hair sprouted along his cheeks. His jaw cracked and shifted. His eyes blazed brighter than ever. His claws gleamed like polished bone and his fangs elongated. He grew fur on his forearms and face.
"You'll pay for that," Jayden growled, voice thick with rage and hunger.
Then he moved.
Faster than before. Stronger than before.
He lunged at Miss Kate, claws drawn and slicing the air with savage speed...
But she didn't flinch.
She just stood there with a victorious smile, watching as Jayden approached her with his claws heading straight for her neck.
Then Jayden striked, but Miss Kate still didn't react
Instead, she stepped to the side like it was a waltz. Twisted behind him. And grabbed his head.
Then...
WHAM!
She slammed his face into the ground.
"That's not how you speak to your elders," she muttered.
WHAM!
Another slam.
"I guess Aunt Cyllene didn't teach you any manners."
Jayden eyes widened at the mention of mother's name, he was shocked. But...
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
He had no time to process. He was getting his skull turned into a paintbrush on her floor.
Then she tossed him. Just… flung his body across the office like a bag of laundry.
Jayden hit the ground hard, groaning as he tried to rise... But before he could even blink, Miss Kate was already above him. She raised her hands and...
SLASH!
A clawed hand struck across his cheek. Five sharp lines tore through skin, leaving trails of blood.
Jayden froze.
Claws.
She had claws.
He looked up, dazed. Confused to even feel any pain.
First, he had partially transformed into the same creature he had turned into when he was dying in the claws of the Wolverine Stalker. But somehow, he was still in control.
Then, Miss Kate mentioned his Mother's name as if they were once acquaintance.
And now, the same Miss Kate had claws.
He didn't even understand what was happening anymore, but then he looked up at Miss Kate's face. And that's when he saw it...
Golden eyes shining brightly light the sun, a slightly elongated jaw laced with fangs, brown hair surrounding the sides of her face in a mutton chop. And finally, that deep primal hunger in her eyes.
Jayden immediately recognised it, but before he could process anything. He was lifted off the ground by the neck and slammed into the wall.
Miss Kate pinned him on the wall, baring her fangs and looking ferocious. Jayden could see her face clearly now, there was no mistaking it. Her features looked exactly like he's.
And then… she growled.
Low. Deep. A rumbling vibration that pulsed through his chest.
Jayden's body froze. His muscles relaxed. His transformation vanished. His instincts buckled. And he felt a strange urge to respect and trust Miss Kate.
The growl… it wasn't just noise.
It was command.
He recognized this feeling.
It was the same one the Howlers showed when the Winter Wolf appeared. The same the Wolverine Stalker gave off when Jayden transformed in the forest.
Submission.
He had submitted.
Miss Kate stepped back, calmly brushing imaginary dust off her coat.
Her features slowly shifted back. No claws. No glowing eyes. Just that classic indifferent stare.
She walked back to her seat, sat down, crossed her legs, and stared at him like a teacher asking for a late homework.
Jayden stood still, silent, shaken. His breathing had slowed, but his mind was spinning.
What just happened?
She… was like him.
She had the same traits. The same strength. The same beast beneath the skin.
"Y-You're a lycan," he finally said, taking a shaky step forward. "Like me…"
Miss Kate smirked. "I believe the modern term is... 'Werewolf."