Into Aiden's Room.

A firm knock echoed through Aiden's quiet room.

Aiden barely lifted his head from where he lay sprawled on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His voice came out lazy, tinged with irritation.

"Jacky Jacks... I told you I'm fine. I swear, if you come in here one more time, I'm going to ban you from..."

He opened the door before he could finish saying what he was saying, and the words died in his throat.

It wasn't Jackson.

Lucian stood at the doorway, framed by the dim corridor light.

Aiden's heart skipped a beat. He was caught entirely off guard, and for a moment, he didn't know how to react.

First, because he had been having some really weird thoughts about Lucian lately, thoughts like how he thought he had started admiring Lucian,

Second, because he was still mad at him for dismissing him like that.

Third, because, he had been feeling really low emotionally, and it was because Lucian.

Fourth, because never, never in a million years had he expected Lucian to step foot near his door.

And, above all, he didn't even know Lucian knew where his room was.

Aiden's mind scrambled to adjust, but his expression was the first thing he controlled. Almost instinctively, he threw on a smirk, masking his emotions behind sarcasm.

"Gosh, you must be drunk to find yourself here," he drawled, pushing himself up on his elbows. "No, wait, scratch that. I don't think even in your drunkest state you'd come toward my room."

Lucian didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on Aiden longer than it should have, like he was seeing something he had missed.

The room was dim, but even in the faint morning light slipping through the curtains, Lucian could see the difference.

Aiden wasn't his usual self.

He wasn't bouncing around, wasn't talking a mile a minute, wasn't radiating the irritating, relentless energy that had become so normal over the past months.

But instead of addressing it, he got straight to the point. "If you're still interested in the competition, then come with me." His voice was firm, but compared to his usual clipped tone, this was him trying to be polite. That was his absolute best.

Aiden's face twisted dramatically. He let out an exaggerated sigh, turning his head away.

"No, I'm not interested anymore," he said, voice laced with mock indifference. "I haven't done anything to improve myself since yesterday when you decided I was still pathetic. Besides, I'm kinda busy playing with dolls."

He didn't mean for the words to sting, but saying them himself hurt more than hearing them from Lucian.

Before his emotions betrayed him further, he reached for the door to push it shut.

Lucian stopped it effortlessly.

"It's important that you come," Lucian said, his voice quieter this time.

Aiden's fingers curled against the doorframe. He didn't move.

"Is it important that I come," he asked, his voice softer, almost hesitant, "or am I important?"

Lucian's jaw tensed.

For a moment, the silence stretched between them. Aiden was just trying to be stubborn, to irritate Lucian, but above all, he knew how much he wanted to hear that from Lucian.

And Lucian also knew what Aiden wanted to hear. He could see it in his eyes, the rare vulnerability he rarely let slip past his usual mask of sarcasm.

He could tell easily that Aiden was mad because of what had happened the day before, and he knew Aiden was trying to hide that fact from him.

For some reasons, the unsettlement that bothered him last night crept into him again.

And it made him realize just how much of effect his words had on Aiden. Just how much Aiden had wanted his approval. And worse…

How much Lucian's words had hurt him.

"Either way, does it matter?" Lucian finally said, deflecting.

"I'm not going." Aiden exhaled sharply and tried to close the door again.

Lucian didn't move.

He hesitated for a second, just a second

,before finally relenting.

"Okay. If that's what you want to hear, then fine. You're important." He said. He made it seem like he didn't mean it, but those words came right from his heart, and he would never admit it even if he knew.

Those words got Aiden off guard, slamming into him leaving him frozen-- he actually said it, yeah, it's forced, but he said it. Aiden's mind raced.

But still… he wasn't going to let Lucian off that easy.

With an overly serious expression, he tilted his head and asked, "So, am I good enough?"

Lucian sighed, patience thinning. "Are you coming or not?"

"Well," Aiden mused, tapping his chin dramatically. "I don't think I can fight well if all that will be in my head is, 'You're new, young, and not good enough yet!'" He said, mimicking Lucian's voice, and he got it really perfectly.

Even for a moment, Lucian almost laughed to that, but he couldn't afford to. To keep himself intact, he didn't let the conversation spiral further.

"You are."

Two words. Simple. Clear.

Aiden blinked. A smirk playing on his lips.

For a second, something wavered in his expression. The walls he always kept up, his sharp tongue, his dramatic reactions, his exaggerated indifference, all of it faltered.

He needed to hear that, even though it was forced, but he made that rigid guy say Something he hated to say.

Aiden didn't try to be stubborn anymore, he knew Lucian too well, the guy was unpredictable.

He knew Lucian could change his mind any Second. So quickly that the conversation they had just had would feel like a mere dream.

And Aiden could afford to loose the opportunity, he needed that chance, to prove Lucian wrong, to make him stop treating him like some weakling.

Also, the Luna, he wishes to smile sarcastically, right before her, after winning that competition.

So Aiden started walking out without saying anymore words, Lucian followed.

Unfortunately, Aiden didn't know he was going to fight with a really experienced wolf , more of a leader.

But it didn't matter whoever the person was, Aiden was determined to make it either way.