The moment Aiden stepped into his room, Jackson trailing closely behind, he nearly changed his mind about opening up.
Doubt crept in. How would Jackson react? What if he told the Alpha? What if he judged him?
So, instead, Aiden grabbed his books, pretending to be focused on the algebra excuse he had made up.
But Jackson wasn't fooled. He snatched the books from Aiden's hands and tossed them back onto the desk.
"Did you seriously call me here because of algebra?" Jackson asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes. What else? Didn't I make it clear that I wanted your help?" Aiden muttered, avoiding Jackson's eyes.
Jackson narrowed his gaze. "No, you didn't. You didn't call me here for algebra. Talk to me, Aiden. What's wrong? Did Lucian say something to you that hurt you?"
The moment Lucian's name left Jackson's lips, Aiden's body tensed. It wasn't subtle, his whole demeanor shifted.
His fingers curled slightly, his jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered with something Jackson couldn't quite place. But Aiden remained silent.
"It's about Lucian, isn't it?" Jackson pressed.
Aiden hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Can I ask you something?"
Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Sure."
"I know we wolves always have our mates, the ones the Moon Goddess binds us to. And since we're not eighteen yet, we can't tell who they are. But even at school, in the pack… have you ever had a girlfriend or thought you had a crush on someone?"
Jackson was caught off guard. Normally, he would have laughed and teased Aiden for asking something like that.
But tonight, something about Aiden felt... off. There was a rawness in his voice that Jackson had never heard before.
"Mmmh… actually, yeah," Jackson admitted.
Aiden's face lit up slightly, a flicker of urgency in his eyes. "How do you feel about that person?" he asked, anticipation thick in his voice.
Jackson squinted. "Why are you asking?"
"Because I want to confirm something," Aiden said quickly. "I want to know if what I'm feeling is real, or if I'm just overreacting… or overthinking."
Jackson let out a small chuckle. "Oh, boy…" He rubbed the back of his neck before answering. "Well, you think about them all the damn time. When you're around them, you feel nervous, your heart races. And, of course, you crave being close to them. You want to touch them, kiss them, all that stuff. I know you know."
Aiden's breath hitched.
That was exactly how he felt about Lucian.
But why?
Why was he feeling this way toward Lucian? A man. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He should be feeling this toward a girl. So why was it Lucian?
"Aiden? Hey, Aiden!" Jackson's voice pulled him out of his spiraling thoughts.
But Aiden couldn't shake the realization. Lucian felt it too, he had to. If he didn't, then why hadn't he immediately moved away that day? Why had he hesitated? Why had he looked at him like that?
Jackson grabbed his shoulder, shaking him slightly. "Hey! What's going on? You're making me really curious now. Who's this girl?"
Jackson was certain-- if Aiden was in love, then it had to be with a girl. That was how things were. That was how they were supposed to be.
Even mating bonds were between male and female.
No other way.
"Aiden…"
"No, never mind." Aiden shook his head, but Jackson wasn't letting this go.
He saw the way Aiden's eyes glistened, the way his hands trembled ever so slightly.
"Aiden, talk to me. Don't you trust me? I can help you with whatever's bothering you."
Aiden scoffed bitterly. "No, you can't. You don't get it."
"Then explain it to me! Let me understand, and we'll figure it out together," Jackson insisted.
"Fine! Okay! Do you think it's possible for a boy to fall in love with another boy?"
The room fell into silence.
Jackson froze.
His mouth parted slightly, but no words came. He wasn't just shocked that Aiden asked something like that, he was completely at a loss.
Because that didn't exist.
That kind of love, he had never heard of it.
"No," he finally answered, trying to sound firm. "Not just that I don't think it's possible. It's not possible. Never has it been."
Aiden let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Well, surprise! I'm in love. And it's not with a girl."
Jackson blinked, unable to process what he was hearing.
"The way I feel about him- it's exactly what you described. And even more than that." Aiden's voice was shaking now, his emotions bubbling over.
"No, Aiden, that's not possible. Maybe you're just... misunderstanding your feelings."
That was all it took.
Aiden snapped.
"Misunderstanding?!" His voice cracked with raw frustration. "How the hell do you know that? Huh? I'm the one suffering here! I'm the one dealing with these goddamn feelings- not you! So don't you dare tell me I'm misunderstanding my own emotions!"
His chest heaved. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"I know he feels it too!" Aiden continued, his voice shaking with rage and desperation. "If he didn't, then why did he look at me like that? Why did he hesitate? Why did he stare at my lips like he wanted to kiss me? And now, why the hell is he pretending nothing happened?!"
He paced furiously, knocking things off his desk, his emotions unraveling.
Jackson stood there, stunned. But everything was starting to make sense now.
Lucian.
Lucian had been acting strange. The way he had been distracted all week. The way he reacted when Aiden wasn't giving him attention anymore.
Could it be?
Jackson had always wondered why Lucian seemed irritated when Aiden started gaining attention. But now, it was clear.
Lucian hadn't been jealous of Aiden's popularity.
He had been jealous of the people Aiden was giving attention to.
The realization hit Jackson hard.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
How did this even happen? How did two people who couldn't stand each other end up wanting each other this way?
"Aiden…" Jackson finally managed.
Aiden wiped his tears and let out a shaky breath. "You still think I'm misunderstanding my feelings?" His voice was quieter now, but no less desperate.
"I'm telling you... I think I'm in love with Lucian."
The confession hung thick in the air.
"And he is avoiding me because he knows. He knows something is happening between us, I know he doesn't want to admit it. I know he felt it too, that day in the training field. He fell on top of me, and instead of moving away, he just… stayed there. He stared at me, at my lips. His eyes weren't cold like they usually are. They were soft… intense. He leaned in. I know what I saw."
Aiden's voice dropped even lower, his words trembling. "And I know what I feel. And it didn't just start after that moment at the training field. Before that, I felt something towards him, and I thought I had just started to admire him, maybe wanted to be like him, but now I realise that was not it."
He wiped his tears one last time, then met Jackson's eyes. "I know this isn't right. But I want it. I want him. You said you'll help me, so help me."
Jackson still had no words.
Aiden stood up abruptly.
"Never mind," he muttered. "I'm going to talk to him myself. Right now."
And before Jackson could stop him, Aiden stormed out the door.