The moment he tucks Nyra in, Adrian quickly storms back into the other room, just in time to catch them all gathered around a monitor.

"We’re about to check the CCTV," Jason calls out, trying to make peace.

Adrian makes a sound of acknowledgment, coming to stand behind them as Julian fast-forwards through the CCTV footage.

They see... a lot of things. Elena seems genuinely shocked, watching footage of different students being wild throughout the night.

At some point, Adrian moves away from the group, pacing near the door. He switches between checking on Nyra and coming back for updates.

Finally, they catch a glimpse of the two boys who attacked Nyra.

"There!" Julian says, pausing the video.

Adrian, of course, runs back in, pushing between Jason and Julian to get closer to the screen.

From the footage, it’s obvious the guys did not work alone. There are actually five figures huddled together behind the pool house earlier that night.

They look around for a few minutes, making sure they are alone, before one of them--the one wearing a hoodie--offers a bundle of cash to one of the guys.

The one Adrian beat to a bloody pulp, they all presume.

After they take the cash, the tallest one laughs and gestures toward the dance floor, where Nyra had been dancing with Elena.

"They paid them to do this," Julian mutters angrily under his breath. "This wasn’t random."

What’s worse is they can’t even see the faces of the other three. One person’s face is blocked by the hood, while the remaining two are hidden by the camera angle.

Only the two stupid fools, who were desperate to earn some cash, have their faces clearly visible.

Adrian doesn’t need to see more. He goes to drag the one conscious senior into the room. His hands have been tied behind his back, half of his face swollen from Adrian’s earlier punches.

They push him toward the monitor.

"Talk. Now. Or we call the police and let them handle it."

"Drugging and attempted sexual assault?" Jason adds. "My dad’s a cop. You’re done!"

The guy swallows hard, his eyes darting between them. "I really needed the money. I-we don’t know them well."

"And you had no other way to earn money than trying to sexually assault a defenseless girl? The Goddess-chosen Luna, nonetheless?"

The guy looks like he regrets every decision that has brought him here.

"Look, I’m really sorry. But I really don’t know anything else, okay?" He looks down at his hands. "Some guy from the rival Eastern Wolves-Adrian’s rival combat team--paid us. Said they would use it to mess with Adrian. I... they didn’t say anything about releasing the pictures."

God, how stupid are these boys?

Adrian looks ready to pounce again as the guy continues.

"They said some shit about getting back at him for beating their captain last season."

"And you went along with it!?" Julian barks. "Are you guys fucking stupid--?"

"I have a feeling someone else helped them," Adrian cuts Julian off with clenched fists. "They knew exactly what to say to get her to trust them. They couldn’t have acted alone."

The guy hesitates.

Jason steps forward threateningly. "Answer him."

The guy looks guilty.

"I- I... please don’t drag her into this mess. Oh God," the guy pleads quickly.

"Talk!"

"I-It’s my girlfriend, Claire. She’s in Nyra’s class, I think."

"Claire?" Adrian mumbles. Somehow, he isn’t even fucking surprised. The bitch would do anything just to get Anna’s attention.

She’s dating such a dumb guy? Really befitting. Adrian doesn’t need to hear more, he already knows she’s involved.

"Who are the other three?" His voice is eerily calm. "And I need names. Now!"

Julian pulls him back. "I saw them slip away two hours ago in the clip. We’ll need--"

Adrian yanks free. "I’m not fucking waiting. Tell me their names, and I’ll go find them myself. I have access to the list of all registered wolves in our pack."

The tied-up guy looks really scared now.

The door opens, cutting through the tension in the room.

Anna steps inside, her bikini now covered with Adrian’s leather jacket that reaches mid-thigh.

Her eyes scan the room--Adrian’s wild expression, the blood on his knuckles, the guy currently tied to a chair.

So the rumors are true. These guys locked everyone in just because of that defective witch...?

She crosses her arms, her voice whiny.

"Adrian, babe, what is going on? I’ve been looking everywhere for you." She glances at the tied-up boy, then back at him.

"So it’s true that she was really drugged?"

Adrian nods, expecting her to care."Yeah, babe. It’s just... it was so messed up what they did, and I got caught up--"

"But you’ve caught them?" she cuts him off.

"Yeah..." He side-eyes her. "...What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because I don’t think it’s that big of a deal," she says with a sigh, like it’s a nuisance to even talk about it.

"You caught them before anything actually happened. So calm down. Also, can you come take me home now? The party is ruined, and I’m cold."

The room goes silent.

Adrian blinks, stunned. He studies her face, praying to the Goddess that she’s joking.

"Did you just say it’s not that big of a deal?" His voice is dangerously low.

She shrugs, like it’s nothing.

"I mean... you said nothing happened, right? So that’s--"

"They drugged her, Anna. They had her half-naked on a bed, already filming her. And you’re standing there telling me it’s not a big deal?"

Anna’s eyes widen at his tone.

"Babe? Where’s this coming from?" She looks at Jason, expecting him to take her side. "I’m just saying you should stop overreacting! She’s fine now, right? You’re acting like she’s your--"

"Like she’s my what?" Adrian steps closer, his voice rising. "My mate? Because she is."

"You said you’d reject the bond!"

"So I should just let her get hurt? Can you hear yourself!?" He runs a hand through his hair, staring at Anna like he can’t believe he’d been with her at some point.

"Someone fucking targeted her--your own sister--to get me! And Claire helped set it up. Your little minion tried to get Nyra assaulted tonight."

Anna doesn’t flinch. "So what? You’re just gonna take her side now? What about me!?"

"This isn’t about sides!" Adrian explodes, years of suppressed frustration pouring out in front of everyone.

"You’re always acting so fucking selfish, and it’s so annoying. God!"

"S-selfish!?"

"Yes!" He bites out. "You did that stupid live even after I begged you to keep things private. You encouraged the bullying, and now you’re standing here acting like attempted rape is just a minor inconvenience because you’re cold? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

John and the rest of his friends run in, attracted by the shouting.

They take in the mess, the tension, and Adrian, who looks one beat away from jumping on Anna, who’s crying now.

Real tears.

"What’s going on?" John asks, stunned.

"You’ve changed, Adrian." Anna doesn’t respond to his question.

"Ever since that damned Moonbond, you’ve been different. Distant. Angry. Is this what you want? To throw us away for some defective--"

"Enough!" Adrian’s voice cuts through the room like a whip. "Don’t call her that again! Nyra is my mate. And right now, she’s hurt because of this toxic shit we’ve all been part of."

Anna stares at him, stunned.

Julian watches silently from the side, completely unimpressed with the entire drama.

Elena just shakes her head at Anna before slipping past them toward Nyra’s room, already done with the entire mess.

Adrian turns back to Julian, still breathing hard. "Find Claire," he tells him. "Jason and I will work with his dad to find the other culprits."

Then he walks out without another word to Anna, leaving her standing there with the stunned group.

Anna stands frozen for a second after Adrian walks out. The silence in the room feels humiliating.

The boys are all staring at her like she’s the biggest villain in this.

She wipes her tears, turning to John first--at least he’s always been on her side."Do you agree with him? Do you think I’m selfish too?"

John doesn’t respond, looking away.

Light bullying, maybe. But drugging someone? Assault?

That’s a line he’s not willing to cross.

"So that’s how it is..." Her jaw tightens. "If you all think Adrian is the saint here so badly, then I have no choice..."

"No choice to what?" Jason shoots her a warning look. "Anna, whatever you’re planning to do, don’t do it."

She scowls, completely unhinged through the tears. "Watch me!"

John reaches to grab her phone when he sees her typing, but it’s too late.

By the time he yanks it out of her hand, the screenshots have already been posted on the school platform.

Caption: The truth about their "perfect" mate bond.

John reads through the screenshotted text messages between her and Adrian that she has just posted, and his eyes widen.

Nah, this...

He shakes his head.

...Adrian’s fucked up so badly this time around.