Chapter 48 Compulsion

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Compulsion

A deadly silence swept across the field like an electric current, freezing everyone in place. The chants of "Burn him" died instantly, replaced by the weight of hundreds of eyes locking onto Noah. He stood firm near the stage, close enough to the pillar where Damian remained chained, his feet rooted to the ground with unyielding resolve.

"What is this, Mr. Lane? Move aside unless you want me to move you myself," Mr. Warwold barked. He was clearly in charge of the grim proceedings. Noah scanned the crowd, noting how their expressions had twisted into something primal. Their eyes gleamed with a hunger for blood, demanding immediate violence.

"Young man, move away. I said leave right now," commanded Mrs. Danielle as she strode onto the stage, her voice laced with authority.

"This is evil. You can’t hurt him," Noah shot back. "It’s not really him doing this—you have to see that. He’s been cursed." One glance at Damian sent a chill racing down his spine. The once-vibrant Alpha looked battered and broken. His striking blue eyes, though still beautiful, were dulled with exhaustion, and his silver hair had lost its luminous glow, now faded to a lifeless ash color.

"He killed people. Lots of them. Don’t you see it, Ash? He’s a murderer," Mrs. Danielle declared.

Noah let out a sharp laugh that made her frown in annoyance. To her left, the rest of the staff stood watching. Mr. Oliver shifted uncomfortably, already sensing that something was about to go terribly wrong. He had tried warning the Dean earlier that putting one of the Moonlight Alphas on trial like this was insane—it could spark a full-blown civil war within the school.

"Killed people? So now he’s suddenly responsible for all those murders?" Noah challenged. "What about the creatures in the woods? Why haven’t you handled them? Go on, Mrs. Danielle, since you clearly have so much to say." His bold words triggered immediate murmurs rippling through the students.

"Don’t test me," she warned, her eyes darkening with each syllable. "You don’t want to know what I can do. I can have you expelled—and worse."

Noah didn’t flinch or step back. Instead, he held his ground, his gaze steady.

"Are you afraid of something, Mrs. Danielle? Tell us. Because you hide in your office, warning everyone not to go out at night because of monsters. Yet the school stays silent while those same creatures kill people. Why make Damian the example?" His eyes burned with pure malice as he demanded answers.

"I’m sorry, kid, but I think there’s a misunderstanding here," Mr. Oliver interjected. "I don’t believe she’s trying to kill him for real." But the look the Dean gave him made Oliver freeze. They really intended to go through with it. This wasn’t just any student—they were targeting one of the Emperor candidates.

More Alphas pushed through the crowd at that moment. Killian and Eugene joined Noah, their presence adding a new layer of tension.

"We want answers, Mrs. Danielle," Killian said, his voice carrying heavy authority. "Unless you’re no longer capable of being Dean. In that case, we can request a change in leadership." The words hung in the air like a threat. Mrs. Danielle paused, studying Killian, but it was clear the young man wasn’t bluffing.

At the far edge of the assembly, Rose and Lamia stood together, clutching their chests in fear.

"One of these days, he might really get himself killed, Rose. I’m scared. Why did he have to say all that?" Lamia breathed hard, her voice shaky.

"I don’t know, Lamia. I told him to stay away from the Moonlight Alphas—they’re nothing but trouble. And now look. Although it’s strange... he’s not following them around like he usually does. But this feels even worse." Rose shook her head. "Speaking against the staff is one thing, but challenging the entire school? That’s a massive bomb he just dropped."

Lamia nodded in understanding. "But where has he been? He came out of nowhere into this gathering. Something isn’t right." Rose sighed deeply and continued praying silently that the confrontation would end without further chaos.

"Mr. Darwin," Mrs. Danielle continued, shifting tactics. "I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but this young man isn’t someone you should associate with. Don’t you know your mate is Sylvia already?" She pointed toward a silver-haired girl in the crowd who grinned at Noah expectantly. The sight irritated him deeply.

"Sorry, ma’am, but don’t change the subject," Noah replied coolly. "It’s 2026. They shouldn’t force people into marriages. Or do you still live in the Stone Age or something?" The tense atmosphere cracked as scattered laughter broke out among the students.

"Well, when you reach 2026, let us know. For now, it seems we left you behind." Noah’s face turned sour as Mrs. Danielle prepared to make a move.

"You don’t want to do that, ma’am. Especially not when your daughter just gave birth." The remark made her tremble visibly.

"How did you know that? Don’t you dare touch her—I warn you," she hissed.

Eugene smiled, but his expression twisted into something grim and wicked beneath the surface. "I’m certain you don’t want to see the other side of me. We all have skeletons in our closets. If I open mine right now, I’m not sure you’d survive. So... are you releasing him or not?" It wasn’t a request. It was a deadly command that silenced the entire field.

The students fell quiet. No one dared speak when the school president and one of the most powerful Alphas stood before them, delivering icy glares to anyone who might object.

"I can’t do otherwise. It’s an order," Mrs. Danielle insisted, though she was shivering uncontrollably. Deep down, she wanted to stop this, but something held her back.

Noah sighed in frustration. "Can’t orders be broken? Look at him right there. Please get him out while I’m still being nice. I don’t want to do anything stupid." Those were his final words before he fell silent, waiting.

Mrs. Danielle began trembling harder. "What’s wrong with her?" Mr. Oliver asked. The other staff members shrugged, equally confused. Mr. Warwold displayed the same unnatural behavior.

Noah approached the pillar and stretched out his hands. "Can someone hand me the keys to these chains right now?" He bent down, cupping Damian’s chin gently, and saw the weakened Alpha looking up at him with faint recognition.

"Is that you, Ash?" Damian asked, his voice husky and strained.

"It’s me, Damian. I’ll get you out." Noah had lost all interest in celebrating his birthday. All he wanted now was to end this nightmare and find somewhere to rest. The day’s stress had drained him completely.

"I won’t say it again, Ashton. Leave." But Noah ignored the warning. He searched desperately for a way to break the chains. Suddenly, a wave of fire rained down from above. To his dismay, an enormous silver dragon descended with Abigail riding on its back.

"Shit, what is she doing?" Killian muttered.

The massive beast covered nearly half the assembly area, its wings casting dark shadows. "It’s coming for Damian!" Eugene shouted. They rushed forward to intercept the creature and the fire building in its jaws.

Rose tried to push through to stop the madness, but Lamia pulled her back. "Look at her eyes. She’s being compelled—under some kind of spell. Same with Mrs. Danielle, Mr. Warwold, and many of the chanting students." Rose scanned the crowd in terror and realized someone powerful desperately wanted Damian eliminated. The question was, how strong must that person be to orchestrate something like this?

"Dragon fire—watch out!" Rose yelled. The compulsion shattered across the students, but the dragon fire continued its deadly path.

Eugene quickly circled the ground with his ice affinity, creating a frozen barrier to halt the flames. But this was no ordinary fire. The dragon’s power broke through, sending Eugene flying backward into a wall that shattered on impact.

Killian prepared to act when Noah’s eyes narrowed in focus. "Please... don’t forsake me now," he whispered. A gasp escaped him as a powerful wave erupted from his chest. It collided with the incoming dragon fire, forcing it back into the creature’s own mouth. Noah bent protectively over Damian, wrapping his arms tightly around him.

The chains snapped free with a metallic clang. Damian hugged Noah back fiercely. Without warning, he slammed his lips onto Noah’s in a hungry, devouring kiss that spoke of relief, desperation, and raw emotion.