Echoes Of An Alpha

Chapter 41: A new plan in motion

Sunday came with an air of anticipation. The Alphas had been deliberating all night after I presented the evidence. When Mr. H called me into the study that morning, I braced myself for whatever decision they had made.

Mr. H was seated with the other Alphas and Professor Kumar. They looked tired but resolute.

“We’ve decided to send Alex with you to Lyterion High,” Mr. H said, his voice as serious as ever. “He’ll assist you and Selene in your mission while keeping a close eye on things. To avoid raising suspicion, two other staff members will be joining as additional teachers. Alex will be posing as the school’s new physical education instructor.”

Alex, standing to the side, crossed his arms but didn’t bother hiding the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Looks like I’ll be keeping you two out of trouble,” he said, his tone laced with amusement.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You sure you’re up for the challenge?”

He chuckled. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this. Don’t disappoint me, Zara.”

Selene, standing beside me, crossed her arms and huffed. “Just don’t get in our way, Alex. We’ve been managing fine without a babysitter.”

Alex’s smirk widened. “We’ll see about that.”

Despite my irritation with Alex’s cocky attitude, I couldn’t deny that having an extra pair of hands might actually help—if he didn’t get on my nerves first.

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Monday Morning: Back at Lyterion High

The bus ride back to school was a mix of nerves and exhaustion. By the time we arrived, I was ready to sink into my bed and pretend the world didn’t exist for a while.

Our roommates, Aaliyah and Kiera, greeted us warmly when we entered the dorm room. Aaliyah was as energetic as ever, chatting about everything we’d missed over the weekend, while Kiera kept things balanced with her calm demeanor.

“I heard there’s a new PE teacher,” Aaliyah said, plopping onto her bed. “Wonder if he’s hot.”

I exchanged a glance with Selene, who rolled her eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough,” Selene muttered.

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, I noticed Selene seemed more at ease. We even managed to laugh about something Aaliyah said, and for once, it felt like we were just two girls bonding, rather than two reluctant allies tied to a prophecy.

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Detention: Felix and I

By the time detention rolled around, I wasn’t surprised to see Felix waiting for me. It had become routine at this point—our shared punishment for various offenses. Mine were usually the result of sarcastic comments or skipping class to pursue leads on the mission. Felix’s reasons? Still a mystery.

I slid into the seat next to him, dropping my bag onto the desk. “Three times in a row. We’re officially detention buddies now.”

Felix glanced at me, his expression as stoic as ever. “Lucky me,” he said, his tone dry but not unkind.

I grinned. “Oh, come on. Don’t act like you don’t enjoy my company.”

He tilted his head slightly, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. “It’s… tolerable.”

Progress.

As we sat in silence, working on the pointless tasks we’d been assigned, I found myself glancing at him every now and then. Felix was calm, reserved, and had a certain chilliness about him that made him hard to read. But there was something else—a quiet intensity that intrigued me.

“So,” I said, breaking the silence, “what lands someone like you in detention?”

He didn’t look up from his paper. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“You first,” I challenged.

He finally set his pen down, meeting my gaze. “I don’t like being told what to do. Teachers don’t like that.”

“Fair enough.” I nodded, then smirked. “But you still haven’t explained the mystery of why you’re so… reserved.”

Felix leaned back in his chair, regarding me carefully. “Not much to explain. I don’t waste energy on things that don’t matter.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And yet, here you are, stuck with me.”

His lips twitched again, almost forming a real smile. “Maybe you’re an exception.”

Before I could respond, the detention supervisor cleared her throat, shooting us a warning glance. I bit back a laugh and returned to my work, feeling oddly at ease in Felix’s presence.

For someone so cold and distant, he was… interesting.

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Later That Night

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind drifted back to the writing on the walls, the vision, and the weight of what I might have to do. Erasing my friends’ memories seemed like the only way to ensure their safety, but it also felt like a betrayal.

And then there was Felix. He was a puzzle I hadn’t expected, a distraction I didn’t need. But for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way his guarded demeanor softened just a little when we talked.

I sighed, closing my eyes. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new secrets. And I needed to be ready.

For now, I just hoped I wasn’t making a mistake trusting Alex, the Alphas—or myself.