Chapter 68 Falling for him.

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Falling for him.

Harold was the first to stop walking.

The expression on his face wasn’t merely one of confusion.

It was pure horror.

He stood frozen, staring at something ahead as though his mind was desperately trying to piece together what he was seeing.

Noah only found out why after Killian finally set him back on the ground. The four Alphas moved forward while Noah followed behind them.

The moment he looked up—

He froze.

Coffins.

They were everywhere.

The entire cemetery was littered with them.

Every single grave had been dug open, leaving gaping holes in the earth as if something beneath had clawed its way out.

"Okay... now this is seriously creepy." Noah swallowed.

"Why did I even agree to come here? This was such a stupid idea."

His eyes slowly wandered across the weathered coffins.

Sand clung to every surface, while long scratch marks covered the wooden lids.

They weren’t ordinary scratches.

Whatever had made them...

Had done so violently.

Noah wasn’t interested in finding out what kind of creature possessed claws capable of leaving marks like those.

"I’ve changed my mind."

Damian suddenly spoke, his enthusiasm disappearing faster than Noah had ever thought possible.

"I don’t think I want to investigate anymore."

Noah nearly burst into laughter.

The loudest supporter of exploring the cemetery was now the first person trying to back out.

"You’re scared?"

Noah grinned.

"For someone who was acting so brave earlier, what happened? You were the one insisting we come here."

Damian immediately moved closer.

Much closer.

At this rate he was only two minutes away from merging into Noah’s body.

"This place is weird."

His voice had noticeably dropped.

"Why are all the coffins dug up?"

Eugene frowned as he looked around.

Noah simply shrugged.

"Honestly... it isn’t our business."

He folded his arms.

"Sometimes it’s better to mind your own business instead of sticking your nose into everything. We might already be trespassing."

Noah had watched enough horror movies to know exactly how situations like this usually ended.

The curious people always died first.

Sometimes surviving simply meant walking away.

"If we leave everything like this," Harold finally said, "the students will discover it tomorrow morning. Panic will spread throughout the academy."

He slowly surveyed the ruined cemetery.

"We need to know what happened here before that."

Marcus nodded.

"So do I."

Noah still wasn’t convinced.

Every instinct inside him screamed that investigating this place was a terrible idea.

Yet everyone respected Harold’s judgment far more than his own.

Maybe it was because Harold was an ancient sorcerer.

Maybe it was simply because experience carried authority.

Whatever the reason...

Nobody argued with him.

"We’re together."

Marcus casually wrapped an arm around Noah’s shoulders.

"The important thing is that you’re with us, so there’s nothing to be afraid of."

Noah simply nodded.

There was no point arguing anymore.

If they refused to listen...

Then all he could do was watch.

He deliberately avoided touching anything.

The others carefully examined the coffins while Noah remained where he was, silently observing every movement around them.

His instincts hadn’t relaxed.

If anything...

They had grown even louder.

Slowly he reached over and gently touched Damian’s silver hair before resting a hand against his arm.

"Is something bothering you?"

He lowered his voice.

"Your curse?"

Damian blinked in surprise.

He hadn’t expected Noah to notice.

After a few seconds he finally answered.

"I don’t know how to explain it."

He looked toward the rows of opened graves.

"I just feel like... something connected to my curse is here."

Noah nodded.

"I understand."

Because strangely...

He felt something too.

Somewhere inside this cemetery...

The answers to every mystery surrounding Ashton seemed to be waiting.

But Noah had a feeling those answers came with a price.

A very deadly one.

Fortunately they didn’t move any deeper into the graveyard.

At least not yet.

Noah looked around once more.

Nothing.

Only endless rows of damaged coffins.

"Where’s the gardener?"

The mysterious silhouette had completely disappeared.

"I wonder..."

Marcus scratched his chin.

"Maybe the thing it was gardening all along... was coffins."

Noah slowly nodded.

Everything here had obviously been dug up by the same figure they had seen earlier.

But why?

That was the terrifying question.

"Well..."

Damian sighed.

"What a disappointment."

"The silhouette’s gone."

He shoved both hands into his pockets.

"Can we leave now? Staying here honestly feels like we’re desecrating a sacred place."

Harold remained silent.

He still hadn’t moved.

His eyes wandered across every grave as though searching for something specific.

Noah was beginning to lose his patience.

Whatever Harold was looking for...

He wished the older man would either find it already or give up.

Suddenly—

Harold stopped before one particular coffin.

His expression changed.

"This..."

His voice became unusually quiet.

"This coffin belongs to Lysander Valmont."

The name alone made Noah’s entire body stiffen.

A violent wave of goosebumps spread across his skin.

Lysander.

Just remembering him sent chills racing down his spine.

Then Noah remembered something else.

Lysander had once claimed Noah had released him.

But...

He couldn’t remember ever doing such a thing.

So where exactly had that madman come from?

"I can finally get my answers."

Harold stared at the coffin.

"If Lysander has truly returned... then every question we’ve been asking might finally have an answer."

Those words lingered heavily inside Noah’s mind.

Of course he wanted answers.

Who wouldn’t?

Anyone searching for their own identity naturally wanted the truth.

But...

Not here.

Not inside a cemetery that practically reeked of death.

"I’m sorry."

Noah suddenly stopped walking.

"I can’t go any farther."

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Every instinct inside him screamed that if they continued...

Someone was going to die.

Just then—

Out of the corner of his eye—

A figure silently drifted between the graves.

A woman.

She wore a deep crimson cloak.

Blood dripped slowly from the dagger hanging loosely in her hand.

Across the blade...

Words seemed to shimmer beneath the moonlight.

ALPHAS OUT.

That single warning was enough.

She wasn’t after him.

She wanted them.

"Boys."

Noah’s voice became unusually firm.

"Come back."

"Don’t go any farther."

"You’ll die."

The warning left his lips with complete certainty.

Immediately every Alpha stopped moving.

All four heads turned toward him.

"Are you really that scared?"

Killian asked gently.

Noah shook his head.

"I’m not scared for myself."

His eyes remained fixed on the crimson figure.

"I’m scared for you."

For some reason...

She felt familiar.

Like someone he had seen before.

Yet no matter how hard he tried...

He couldn’t remember where.

Killian immediately sighed.

"Then I’m not going either."

He stepped away from Harold.

"I don’t need answers that badly."

He casually walked back to Noah.

"Come on."

"If they want to stay, let them."

Damian didn’t hesitate either.

"I’m with Ash."

He quietly joined Noah’s side.

Only Marcus and Eugene remained beside Harold.

"If we leave now..."

Marcus hesitated.

"We might never get another chance to find the truth."

Noah slowly shook his head.

"It isn’t worth it."

Not if it meant losing them.

Deep inside...

He was convinced this was another trap laid by Lysander.

Tonight simply wasn’t the night to fall into it.

Harold watched the group in silence.

He still refused to move.

They waited.

They called for him.

Yet he remained standing before Lysander’s coffin.

Finally Marcus sighed.

"We can’t leave him here."

After a brief discussion, the four young men exchanged glances.

Then—

Damian quietly walked behind Harold.

One precise strike.

Harold collapsed unconscious.

"Sorry..."

Marcus muttered while catching him.

"But we’d rather have you angry than dead."

Together they carried Harold away from the cemetery.

As Noah glanced back one last time...

The crimson-cloaked woman was standing exactly where she had been before.

Completely motionless.

And beside her...

The shadowy gardener had returned.

Still digging.

As though none of them had ever been there.

After leaving Harold safely inside his quarters, Marcus stretched lazily.

"Let’s head back to the dorm."

"I seriously can’t stay around this place any longer."

Everyone immediately agreed.

Without realizing it...

Noah found himself following them.

The lodge they entered belonged to Marcus.

The moment the doors closed behind them—

Every single Alpha dramatically collapsed onto the enormous sofa lining the spacious lounge.

Noah barely managed to avoid getting crushed before someone quickly pulled him backward.

Before he could even regain his balance—

Marcus appeared behind him.

He rested his chin lightly against Noah’s shoulder.

Killian gently brushed a kiss against Noah’s temple.

Eugene took one of Noah’s hands, lightly pressing a soft kiss across his knuckles.

Damian simply leaned comfortably against his shoulder, wrapping both arms loosely around his waist.

"You sounded genuinely worried about us."

Eugene smiled.

"And surprisingly protective."

He looked into Noah’s eyes.

"Have you started falling for us?"

Noah remained quiet for a long moment before letting out a slow breath.

Then a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"I think I should be asking all of you that instead."

He glanced around at them.

"Are you the ones falling in love with me?"

This definitely wasn’t how he imagined tonight ending.

He thought everyone would return exhausted and immediately go to bed.

He had planned to spend the night trying to piece together fragments of his missing memories.

Instead...

Here they all were.

Surrounding him once again.

Killian chuckled softly.

"I was beginning to think you’d never ask."

Marcus smiled before quietly breathing in Noah’s familiar scent.

"So..."

His golden eyes curved with amusement.

"What do you think our intentions are?"

He tilted his head.

"I’m curious."

"What exactly is going through that beautiful little head of yours?"