Chapter 214

[ 1,223 words ]

Try Being Normal.

I should have known Dean wouldn’t let the day end quietly. The bell for next period rang, but instead of heading for class,

he lingered near the lockers, leaning back against the wall like he was waiting for me on purpose.

“Come on,” he said when I stopped beside him. “You look like you’re running on fumes p>

I frowned, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “Thanks, I guess p>

He grinned. “I mean it. You’ve got that ‘I might fall asleep standing up’ look going on. You deserve a break p>

“I have class p>

He tilted his head, eyes glinting with mischief. “Normal kids skip class sometimes p>

“I’m not normal,” I muttered before I could stop myself.

Dean smirked. “Exactly. So maybe you should try it for once p>

I should’ve said no. I really should have. But something about the way he said it, like the world wouldn’t end if I just

breathed for a second, made it hard to argue. Five minutes later, I was following him out the back gates of the school, the

sun warm on my shoulders and a knot of guilt tightening somewhere in my stomach.

The woods behind the school were quiet, full of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. The air smelled like moss and

wildflowers. I hadn’t realised how much I needed the stillness until we were already halfway down the trail. Dean walked

beside me, hands in his pockets, humming some tune under his breath.

“See?” he said finally. “Way better than sitting at a desk pretending to care about algebra p>

I laughed softly. “You really have a gift for peer pressure p>

He glanced sideways at me, grin softening. “Nah. I just think everyone deserves a minute to feel human p>

We walked for a while in comfortable silence until he veered off the path and crouched down, plucking a few small white

flowers growing at the edge of the trail. He straightened and, before I could ask what he was doing, tucked one gently

behind my ear.

“There,” he said. “Now you look like you belong out here p>

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks betrayed me. “You’re ridiculous p>

“Maybe,” he said, “but I’m right p>

34 pm

Try Being Northal

We Found a fallen log and sat for a bit, sunlight spilling through the trees. When I asked him how he’d ended up here, his

-usual grin faltered, just for a heartbeat.

“My parents move a lot, he said after a moment. “They like to travel. I’ve been in… I don’t even know how many schools

now. Never stayed long enough to keep count p>

“That sounds exhausting p>

He shrugged. “It’s just how it is. I got used to being the new kid. Figured out early on that people like confidence, even if

it’s fake. So I built a version of me they’d like p>

His tone wasn’t sad exactly, but it carried something underneath, something that sounded like truth.

*You got tired of being the odd one out,” I said quietly.

He looked at me then, really looked, and nodded once. “Yeah p>

I hesitated. “I know what that’s like p>

Dean raised an eyebrow. “You? You’re basically royalty around here p>

I let out a small laugh, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Exactly. Royalty that doesn’t fit. Everyone here belongs to

something, by blood, by legacy. I’m… adopted. And not just into one world p>

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, listening.

“My brothers, my sister, they all have this connection. To the Underworld, to the pack. Even Elliot and Elias have their birth parents here, so they fit in somewhere. Me?” I picked at the bark beside me. “I’m just… borrowed. A piece that

doesn’t match the puzzle p>

Then Dean said quietly, “Maybe we’re just not meant to fit. Maybe that’s not a bad thing p>

I looked up, meeting his eyes. There was no teasing in them now, just understanding. And in that quiet, the weight

between us shifted. Not heavy. Not uncomfortable. Just… real.

He stood, brushing off his jeans. “Come on, rebel. If we’re caught skipping, I’m blaming you p>

“You talked me into it!” I laughed, standing too.

“Exactly,” he said with a grin. “You’re a terrible influence p>

We started back toward the school, the sunlight flickering behind the trees, and I couldn’t help thinking that maybe being

a little reckless had been worth it. Because for the first time in a long time, someone saw me not as an Alpha’s daughter. of a goddess’s heir, or a girl with impossible expectations… Just as Macey.

5:34 pm

PP

Try Being Normal.

By the time the school came back into view, I was already rehearsing excuses in my head. Dean, however, looked

infuriatingly pleased with himself, hands in his pockets, hair tousled from the wind, that smug little smirk still curling at

the corner of his mouth.

“Relax,” he said, bumping my shoulder as we walked through the side gate. “We were barely gone an hour p>

“An hour is all it takes to ruin my life,” I hissed. If word gets back to my parents p>

“Miss Rivers. Mr Blackmore p>

We froze. Mr Graves stood at the end of the hall, arms folded, expression grim enough to make even Dean’s grin falter.

“Care to explain why you’ve missed two classes and were seen returning through the back gates p>

Dean opened his mouth, but I elbowed him before he could make things worse. “We–uh p>

Mr Graves interrupted sharply. “Principal’s office. Now p>

The entire walk there was silent. Dean still looked annoyingly calm, like this was just another adventure. Meanwhile, I was

already imagining the lecture, the disappointed looks, the “you’re a leader, Macey, act like it” speech.

The door opened, and Principal Hammond gave us both that weary, world-weary sigh only teachers of supernatural

teenagers seem capable of.

“Skipping class,” he said, shaking his head. “I expected better from the Alphas and Luna’s daughter p>

I winced.

“It was my fault,” Dean offered quickly, hands up. “I talked her into it p>

Mr Hammond eyed him, unimpressed. “You’ll both have detention this week. But before we discuss consequences, I’ll be

calling your parents p>

Principal Hammond made the call while we sat outside on the bench. Every tick of the clock on the wall sounded like a

countdown to my doom. After a while, footsteps echoed down the hall. I turned toward the sound, expecting one of my

dads or mum. But It was Elliot.

My heart stuttered. He looked impossibly composed in his dark clothes, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.

Dean glanced between us, his brow lifting. “This your brother p>

I swallowed hard, standing. “Yeah.” My voice came out smaller than I meant it to. “That’s my… Elliot p>

Elliot’s gaze flicked briefly to Dean, then to me. “Macey.” His tone was calm, too calm. “Principal called. Said you got into

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5:34 pm

ppp

Try Being Normal.

some trouble p>

Dean shifted, clearly sensing the tension but still managing a crooked grin. “Nothing serious. Just a bit of class skipping.

My idea, really p>

Elliot’s eyes cut to him like twin blades of ice. “Oh, I’m sure it was p>

I stepped in quickly, desperate to keep this from spiraling. “It’s fine. We just lost track of time, that’s all p>

“Uh-huh.” Elliot didn’t sound convinced.

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6:34 pm

Goddess Of The Underworld

Juliet Zvayi

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