Leaving the training field, the mocking laughter and Coach Sigurd's disappointed gaze behind me stabbed at my heart like knives.
My weak physical strength left my disguising Torian's strength in shambles, and the threat of the final term culling weighed on me so heavily I could hardly breathe.
Ethan's concern and Silas's scrutiny felt like invisible beams of light searing through my disguise.
I quickened my pace, desperate to find a place to hide.
Karen and Jasper quickly caught up with me. Karen's face was heavy with worry, while Jasper, as usual, tried to divert attention with his exaggerated antics.
"Young Master! Are you okay? That bunch sure has a poisonous tongue!" Jasper ran up to me, slinging an arm around my shoulders and giving me a hearty pat. "Don't pay attention to them! It's normal to not adjust right after arriving at the academy! Let's head to the cafeteria! A good meal will cheer you up!"
The mixture of sweat from Jasper's post-training body and my unstable scent from over-exertion instantly made my heart leap into my throat.
Damn it, the scent concealer's effect had weakened after intense activity!
I could faintly sense some passing Alphas twitching their noses ever so slightly, while some even looked over in confusion.
"Jasper, let go of me!" I lowered my voice, trying to suppress the urgency in my tone. "I don't feel well; I don't want to go to the cafeteria!"
"If you're not feeling well, you should eat and replenish your energy!" Jasper completely missed my hint, gripping me even tighter. "Come on, let's go! Today's roast is my favorite!"
He dragged me toward the cafeteria, completely ignoring my struggles and the odd stares from those around us.
Panic engulfed me like a tidal wave.
The wolf spirit within me grew restless due to exhaustion, anxiety, and the scent concealer losing its effect. That faint yet distinct feminine scent unique to Aurelia was starting to seep out from "Torian".
Passing Alphas either shot quizzical glances or subtly flared their nostrils, their expressions filled with confusion—why did the scent of the Vance Young Master seem so weak, and even... peculiar?
Just as I felt like I was about to break down, I saw Ethan and Silas.
They were also heading toward the cafeteria, accompanied by some classmates.
Ethan's face still carried traces of worry, his warm pinewood scent lingering like a shadow.
Silas, as usual, maintained a cold demeanor. The sharp metallic tang emanating from him seemed even more piercing after training.
As they approached, the resonance with my destined mates surged again. The wolf spirit within me whimpered, torn between the pull of their powerful scents, overwhelmed with yearning and anguish. My heartbeat raced like it was about to explode, my cheeks burned, my palms sweated, and my breathing turned rapid.
Silas's gaze suddenly swept our direction. His eyes paused briefly on Jasper and Karen before locking onto my face.
His brows furrowed ever so slightly, as though trying to sniff out something. The suspicion and scrutiny in his eyes were even sharper than earlier on the training field.
Ethan followed his gaze, his face marked with a trace of confusion.
Danger! My brain sounded the alarm. Physical exhaustion and mental tension—no doubt, the scent concealer had failed significantly!
Ethan and Silas's heightened senses would surely pick something up!
Especially Silas—he had been suspicious of my scent since enrollment! He must have smelled something!
While I stood frozen, my mind blank, a stronger presence, exuding Alpha Dignity, suddenly intervened.
"Jasper! What are you doing?!" Karen's voice carried a tinge of urgency. He hurried over, pulling me out of Jasper's grip while using his body to shield me from Silas and Ethan's line of sight. "Why are you dragging Torian off? After training, you're supposed to clean and rehydrate first! Heading straight to the cafeteria violates academy rules!"
Karen's movements were rough and swift, and his voice carried the gravity of Alpha Dignity. Although he was a Beta, at critical moments, he could exude the unique aura of his family, successfully drawing everyone's attention and covering up the embarrassing scene. He had used "Torian's" name, but the sternness in his tone made everyone turn their heads.
"Huh? Clean up? Oh, right!" Jasper was startled by Karen's abrupt shouting but quickly caught on that Karen was trying to help us out. He played along loudly, "Yeah, yeah! You're supposed to clean up after training! I forgot! Young Master, let's hurry up and go!"
Karen ignored Jasper, gripping my arm tightly and pulling me toward another direction. He leaned close to my ear and whispered urgently, his voice trembling imperceptibly, "Your scent... the concealer's effect has weakened! Silas caught a whiff! We need to clean up immediately, use the strongest cleaner, then head back to the dorm!"
My heart leaped into my throat.
As expected! Silas had caught onto it! His frown, his piercing gaze—they were all because of my scent!
Karen's timely intervention had saved my life.
"Damn it..." I cursed under my breath. The wolf spirit trembled in fear and anxiety.
"Don't talk! Don't draw attention!" Karen hissed, lowering his voice and pulling me even harder. "Move quickly!"
He almost dragged me away from the edge of the training field, heading toward the academy's public cleaning area.
Jasper trailed behind us, shouting, "Hey! Wait up for me! Let's clean up together! I heard the academy's cleaners are amazing—they can wash out any scent and keep you fresh!"
Wash out every scent? Stay fresh? That was exactly what we needed right now!
I glanced at Jasper. Though unreliable, his words and actions occasionally hit the mark during critical moments.
Entering the cleaning area, a sharp smell of disinfectant and various cleaning agents assaulted my nose.
The smell wasn't pleasant, but in my current state, it was like a symphony, concealing the dangerous scent leaking from me. Karen swiftly pulled me into a cubicle and handed me a new, stronger scent concealer crystal and a bottle of strong cleaner.
"Quick! Eat this! Then use this to clean!" Karen's tone was urgent, his eyes warily watching the cubicle entrance. "This concealer is more effective, but its side effects are more severe—don't use it frequently. The cleaner will temporarily erase your leaking scent."
Without hesitation, I took the crystal and placed it in my mouth. Its intense herbal taste was sharper than before, shooting straight to my head and making me dizzy. Then I quickly used the strong cleaner to wash my body, attempting to remove any lingering abnormal scent.
The icy water mixed with the pungent cleaner washed over my skin, carrying away sweat, dust, and the dangerous scent emanating from me.
Though I was cleaning, my heartbeat remained rapid, and my mind replayed Silas's earlier gaze and his comment: "Your scent... seems different." Had he already guessed the truth? Had he picked up traces of femininity in my scent? How close was I to being exposed? And what did Ethan's confusion and worry signify?
Karen stood guard outside the cubicle, while Jasper loudly chatted with anyone passing by, creating noise to cover for me.
I could sense their efforts to protect me.
After cleaning and changing into fresh clothes, I felt slightly better, though the stronger concealer's scent made me dizzy and even a bit nauseous.
As I stepped out of the cleaning area, Karen and Jasper approached me.
"How do you feel? Much better, right?" Jasper grinned, seeking credit.
"Yeah," I nodded, looking at Karen with gratitude in my eyes. "Thank you."
Karen's face still showed concern. "Be more careful next time. Your scent... it's more prone to leaking than I thought, especially when you're physically drained or emotionally agitated. Scent concealers are only a temporary fix. You need to find a more lasting way to hide yourself."
A more lasting way... I looked down at my hand. The wolf spirit inside me seemed to sense the danger as well, growing eerily quiet.
That power unlike Alpha power... That shadowy, elusive strength... Perhaps that was my hope.
I had to learn to control it, to use it to conceal or disguise my presence.