Chapter 1

"Did you know some of the most heinous acts are committed when sober, and the most heinous events began on a nice clear summer’s day like the gods wanted a perfect view of the exhibit.”

—Anonymous.

The imposing gates parted to reveal a sprawling stone building and grass that looked so green it could have been plastic. Here they were before them, maybe he should feel intimidated.

Yet all he felt was a faint frustration scratching at him. Why were they so loud and bright, daring to arouse him from his slumber.

If he had had the energy to open his eyes, he may have seen the faint smirk that had come onto Marx's vexing face. The brown haired, pale skinned alpha's grey eyes flickered with an excitement Mayo himself had no shame in not reciprocating.

The werewolf was to say the least, the bane of his existence. Mayo tried to give Marx his most menacing glare, yet his heavy lids protested at the exhausting act.

"Glad to see you're up," Marx's voice sounded, his gaze focused on the view ahead of him.

Mayo didn't respond. He wouldn't. The mere sound of his voice poured fuel to the near-dormant inferno residing within his chest. Had the thought of shooting up from his seat not been tiring, Marx's head would've already been in a choke hold and he'd never let go, no matter what spell their driver threw at him.

Marx ignored the sullen aura he radiated, permeating the car's interior like an uncomfortable statement that everyone would rather not address. Their driver's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

His lack of response seemed to be response enough for Marx. Assuming he was fine because he'd sensed the change in his breathing and the faint almost inaudible sound he'd make whenever he was startled awake. Marx had claimed that he could feel the sounds faint vibrations.

Alphas, always so sensitive, though Marx would prefer hyperaware, vigilant, omni-Then it hit him, the scent so thick and heavy it weighed on his shoulders. Mayo's nose twitched involuntarily, throat constricting, an audible gag fell from his lips.

"I know, right? I can smell them to," Marx spoke, taking an audible gulp. He sat on the front passenger seat, one hand placed on his lap, the other tightly gripping the cars leather seat.

Mayo could have sworn he heard the faint sounds of leather screaming for it's life, as a cruel Marx pulled at it. Marx ignored it, the exact way he ignored his blatant refusal to attend varsity in favor of a second gap year. But then again, Marx was rich, and rich people don't care about killing leather and dreams too.

Had the sun not been hitting him so well, maybe he be as engaged as Marx. Here he had thought the incessant humming was a problem... Now this?

"Vampires, witches, wizards, humans and... wolves," Their drive paused his incessant humming to bud in, sharing the useless information with a proud look.

A clear show of his lack of manners by interrupting his thoughts and their conversation. His name was... S- something...Solomon. Shameless Solomon had shared information that they already knew. The man had shared the same information with Marx's parents. Strathenberg was a well known diverse top university, one of the highest ranking in all the continents.

Marx nodded intrigued by the unfamiliar scent of every specie all at once. Their driver glanced at the rear view mirror, his brows furrowed slightly at Mayo's grimacing. Maybe the man had felt the incredulous look Mayo was giving him in his head.

Mayo's body was tensed, he never liked being inside cars. The motion itself would lull him to sleep, steady, constant. Yet, sometimes they had this smell, one he couldn't get used to. When they did, he'd only get more than very uncomfortable with each turn of the tires.

The school grounds were large and almost majestic with green sloping hills. Healthy, unbothered and well taken care of, not forced to go to places they didn't like. The car meandered around hills, climbed others and slipped through the rest, the dull throb in his brain grew heavy with each meander

It gradually came to a halt as the engine died. No slept, Mayo thought jaw tight and half dazed by sleep maybe he should be the sleeping engine. Nah, that's a lot of work... and ener-

A knock sounded on the rear passenger window, next to his head. Had their driver and Marx been in the car they would have felt the sudden change in air pressure. The car wheels quietly sank into the grovel ground.

They were now in front of a large castle built by large aged stone. Atop each corner and tower's peak sat a different type of stone golem, either humanoid or on all fours with large claws, and scowling faces that had jaws lined by sharp teeth.

A small group of five stood at its entrance. A lady in the middle stood in front and had approached Marx. He didn't care who she was. Though, when had the two left... the car? A loud knock landed on the window and the pounding in his head grew louder.

Marx glared at his tormentor.

The blond haired, red eyed girl flinched. "I, um- I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," the driver gently consoled her.

It wasn't, at all. Mayo thought.

Marx's external scoff at the red eyed blonde voiced his internal one. Turning to face the honey woman.

"Good day. I'm Mistress Alavanz." A tall lady with bright red eyes and skin like honey approached Marx, who offered his hand in return. She grabbed it, and he grimaced, as she pulled him close, bumping their shoulders.

Marx's back stiffened, he must've noticed that she had no pulse or heartbeat and her hand was cool to the touch. Mayo saw the nearly imperceptible tick on his jaw when he gritted his teeth. The lycan's gums must be tingling with the way his jaw was slowly pushing against his lips, his wolf wants to scan the threat. The honey lady's hand paused from tapping his back as she pulled away. Her eyes locked on the car's door as it slowly opened. Mayo coming out after a successful negotiation with his numb body and wobbly legs

"I hope my husband didn't cause you any trouble on the way here," She smiled at Marx, adding, "I'm your master."

Marx's brows rose nodding, his low voice came out slightly breathy and strained. The wiz- Sandesh was good company.

So his name wasn't Solomon? Turns out the wizard who had come to fetch them was mated to a vampire. But Mayo wholeheartedly disagreed Solomon wasn't good company. Who hums from Thatnmoor to Strathenberg? Across continents? A flabbergasted Marx was embarrassing him already. First time meeting a vampire and witnessing a mating between two different supernatural beings. Sandesh gave Marx a grimaced smile in return, looking dotingly at his undead wife.

Alavanz's eyes had left her husband, now locked on slouching from. Being an ebony giant with platinum blond hair didn't help his case. He kept his eyelids low, so low that his long, curly platinum lashes, almost white below the sun hid his eyes.

During the car ride, he told Marx that his mate had requested that he come and fetch them. So, he abandoned a mission in the Vampire Kingdom and gladly flew to an outer country in the Lycan Empire. All for two boys who had not come to the academy's orientation, the first school term and half of the second term.

She kept squinting at his face, as if trying to make out where the top row lashes began and the bottom row ended, and see the color of his eyes. Mayo's curtain bangs did little to assist her endeavor.

Mayo almost chuckled at Marx's palpable shock. He must have been thinking the person who'd fought for them to be accepted when the first terms syllabus was already completed was a vampire ,not a werewolf, not even a witch!?

She had requested to train both of them, but he'd rejected throwing her offer away with the other offer from different universities. He and Marx were a pair she must have known that, though currently their pair didn't share any ideals.

Since you both didn't make it to orientation. Alavanz pointed at the people standing behind her, including his tormentor who had knocked on the window. He could feel the throbbing in his head slowly overwhelm him as spiraling rhombus runes danced before his eyes.

"I organized a small welcome party. I'm sure you've already met Vanessa," The red eyed girl lowered her gaze, Alavanz added, "She'll be the one to guide you with our training sessions and help you catch up."

Marx stole a glance at him, brows risen, shoulders squared. Mayo would have returned a faint smirk, just to make the werewolf's day worse. Not that he could with the sweat beading on his forehead ever since he'd stood.

"Next to her, is Phineas, his the head of the sport society," Phineas stepped forward to shake Marx's hand. He tried to do the same with Mayo yet it wasn't reciprocated. Mayo only noted that Phineas had very large hands and a rune atop one.

"Next is Davin, he is one of the representatives of the building both of you will be residing in," Alavanz informed them.

Davin a werewolf, nodded at Marx as they clasped each other's hands hitting the other's chest, then their own right above the heart, before pulling apart and tapping each other's shoulders. Spotting Mayo's disinterest, Davin stepped back. A universal lycan formal greeting, a show of good intention. Yet, why did Davin have such a... large head? Isn't... it heavy?

"Last is Qi Lin she's an academic officer in the student council, she'll give you both a tour of the school and help you catch up on your school work," Qi Lin nodded at Marx. Who returned her nod.

School... work... catch up... they wouldn't have to do that if they'd taken another gap year. It's like Marx got physically offended by the words rest and relaxation.

Qi Lin was mid-nod at him when her brows rose. His large body shifted two steps behind Marx, followed by a choked grunt. A body dropped, and tumbled face first onto the stone pavement.

Ma

n... down, was Mayo's last thought as his vision darkened, the ground rose up to welcome him.