<h4>Chapter 488: 488-Something Gentle</h4>


    <strong>Haiden:</strong>


    I could hear their conversation, and it did not seem like Ian was even trying to be sneaky. He did not care. I had barely ever seen Ian afraid of anything. It was as if he was always ready to fight. So when I turned around to face him, I saw him looking at me with clear interest.


    "I feel like someone has been talking to someone," I remarked, annoyed that he had probably spoken with Fauna and that she must have said something unnecessary.


    "Well, yes, we had a conversation. She was just telling me some casual things about how you two used to be very good friends," Ian replied, not hiding the truth.


    Troy looked shocked.


    "Dude, you said you never liked her," Troy pointed out quickly, calling me out on my lie.


    "Well, it does not matter anymore. The friendship was so long ago, when we were just kids, that I do not even remember it. See, that is how little the friendshipsted," I exined, making things up.


    That was not true at all. Our friendship hadsted a long time, and we had made good memories. She used to bring me food and save me from punishments sometimes, until things started to turn bitter between us.


    The truth was that I could tell from Ian’s eyes that she had told him more about us, maybe even that there was a short time when I liked her. That was before Clementine came into my life. When she arrived, everything changed. I used to bully Clementine. At first, I hated her, but then I grew attached to her.


    That was when Ipletely cut Fauna out of my life, partly because her father had started to push the idea that we should be together. I had a feeling that maybe she had something to do with it. Maybe she told her father that she liked me, and that was why he kept pressuring me about a rtionship.


    "Anyway, why are we even talking about it? I just need to find Clementine," I muttered, then paused.


    Once I thought about it, I did not even have a n. There was nothing I could do outside the Academy. My back had been stolen, and so had my mate.


    "You can take your pack back," Ian suggested, almost as if he had heard my thoughts.


    "What?" Troy and I asked at the same time.


    Ian gestured with his hand for us to move away from the hallway, to make sure no one could hear our conversation, and we followed. I needed to hear what he was nning. Knowing Ian, he would not say something like that without a reason. He had a clear n in mind.


    Once we were in therge hall, with no one near us and music filling the space, Ian began to speak.


    "The reason they are marrying Mariana to Messi is because they want an Alpha for the pack, so that his daughter’s husband will control it," Ian exined.


    The moment he started exining, I already understood where he was going with this.


    "No," I replied firmly.


    Both of them went silent. Troy tilted his head, and Ian leaned forward, squeezing his eyes shut and giving me a small shake of his head, as if asking me to exin.


    "If you are suggesting that I should marry Fauna for the pack, then you are wrong. I am not going to do that," I stated harshly, stopping their thoughts before they went any further.


    "Um, hello, Haiden?" Ian waved his hand in front of my face.


    "I was not going to say that. I do not know why you make up things in your head, but that is not what I was about to say," Ian added.


    His words made me clench my fists. Even Troy lifted his hand to his mouth to hide hisughter.


    "I do not have her in my mind. I was just letting you know because I thought maybe... Okay, whatever. So what were you saying?" I asked, feeling embarrassed and trying to move on.


    "Listen, since the marriage is not happening yet, that means Patrick is the Alpha, right?" Ian continued, and I nodded.


    "Well then, it is easy. Go ahead and challenge him for the crown," Ian finished, and my eyes widened.


    "Before, you were just a young guy who did not know if you could fight a seasoned Beta, Gamma, or whatever that man is. You were afraid that if he brought in Messi, you might not be able to win because Messi would have a team preparing him while you would have nothing. And then the fact that he had already signed you up for the academy. But now, you are a better fighter than anyone in the pack. You improved your skills in the North, Haiden. I am sure fighting one Alpha will be no big deal for you."


    Ian’s words made my shoulders straighten with pride. He was not wrong. I had learned a lot in the North. I gained strength and abilities I did not have before. It made sense.


    "You are right," I replied.


    "Yeah, let’s go for it," Troy said, patting my back.


    "What about you, Troy?" Ian asked.


    "What about me?" Troy replied quietly, looking down. I could tell he wanted to hear us praise him too.


    Ian and I looked at each other, then both shrugged.


    "Yeah, no, I do not think you can do it," we teased, and he scowled at us.


    "You are so mean. Just say something good about me," he insisted, making usugh.


    "Fine. I think you should fight too. You might get beaten a little, but in the end, I think you will earn yourself a royal Beta spot," I teased, and he rolled his eyes at me.


    "You know what? I will fight too. And I bet I will take back my crown as well," Troy dered.


    It was a happy moment for us. We were finally thinking about doing something with our lives outside the Academy.


    Then a thought hit me, and I said it out loud.


    "Um, this all sounds good, but do you not think we do not even know if the Academy will shut down properly?" I pointed out.