Chapter 3

Ashley snorted, letting out a cynical laugh when he heard the words of the young human. His eyebrows shot up to the side, not believing what he had just heard from the young human.

"Are you sure with everything you said just now?"

The young man unexpectedly responded to his question just now with a serious face, full of confidence and determination. It was as if he wanted to tell him that he would not go back on his words. 

His fists clenched tightly, while his heart was filled with annoyance mixed with irritation. It felt like the young human was trampling on his pride right now. As if this weirdo did not think that what he had just said to him was really serious.

It was as if the man was mocking him, treating him just like a child, when he said it. And the way the young human looked at him with such a calm, shady gaze, it seemed like he was laughing at him. 

It was as if that bastard was belittling him, and that reason alone was more than enough to irritate him even more.

"I don't mind if I have to take his place. As I told you just now." The man gave Ashley a small, gentle smile. The young man's expression was difficult for him to understand. "As long as you put this matter aside and will not bully other human students here, that will be fine for me."

After all, why did this stupid human even volunteer to replace Michael in the first place? 

There must be a problem with his brain or something to get him to do it, Ashley muttered to himself. Not only he, who felt awkward with the young human's words but also his three best friends, who invited him to communicate via telepathy.

"I think he has a problem with his brain," Sawyer said to him in a tone as irritated as he was.

"I mean, why would this weirdo be willing to offer himself just to be bullied by us? Don't tell me that because this idiot is attracted to Michael?" Gabriella said, as surprised as he was.

"I think so. Why don’t we just let him do it." Carl snorted in disgust as he expressed his mind about the new young human student. "Does he think we are going to let him wander off and be easy on him like he just thought after taking Michael's place? You also saw how shocked that idiot Michael was when he heard what this fucking young human said to us, right?"

"That young human did not mention anything about asking us to be easy on him, dude." Sawyer rolled his eyes as he said that.

"What? I am just stating the truth, duh!"

"Still, you make a good point. Although I doubt that the reason is as simple as that."

"All of you three. Can you stop bothering me?"

"I am sorry, Ashley," the three of them answered his question at the same time in a languid tone.

He looked around, enjoying the fear of the humans around him who were still looking down in fear because of his werewolf aura, before turning back to the young human figure who was still standing in front of him confidently and not losing his cool side in the slightest.

It was the thing he hated the most. If he could be honest, he found himself getting attracted to the young human figure, who, he had to admit, had a charm that was difficult to turn him away from.

If only the racial background of this young man did not get in the way. Maybe right now, he would have immediately asked him out on a date without hesitation in front of everyone.

"Suit yourself, human. What's your name?"

"Aiden." 

The young human named Aiden seemed relaxed in response to his curt question. The young human was introducing himself in such a casual way. As if Aiden thought what he was doing was right, he extended his hand towards Ashley in a friendly manner, hoping that Ashley would return it by shaking his hand warmly. 

"Whoops." Ashley quickly brushed off Aiden’s hand in a rude way. "Sorry, but I do not want to make contact with a human's hand like yours. It's too dirty."

Aiden gave Ashley a bright smile, showing him the neat, perfectly white row of his teeth with full confidence. Ashley even thought this young man did not feel offended by his words.

"I'm Aiden Connor, but you can call me Aiden or whichever suits you best. It is nice to meet you."

Ashley slapped the hand of the young man named Aiden Connor roughly until the young man was motionless on the spot because of his rude attitude.

"I don't ask for your full name, moron! And who allowed you to make yourself familiar with me?!"

"Oh, I am sorry. I thought it was okay for me to do that," Aiden looked surprised by his attitude just now. "Did I do something wrong—"

Before Aiden could finish his sentence, Ashley threw his backpack at him.

"Bring my bag. Didn't you tell me you volunteered yourself to be my errand boy?"

"I did say that. So sure." the young human's eyes blinked in surprise, staring at the backpack he had caught safely in his hand with amazement before looking up at him. "No problem. I will take care of it with all my heart."

"I am not asking you to exaggerate it, moron. But whatever. Suit yourself. Make sure you will not do any harm to my precious bag."

"Of course. You have already given me the first task, so why can't I do it to the fullest?"

"Oh, so you want to do your task to the fullest? Well, work for me. Then, do all my university assignments, too. Michael failed his work to do the assignment for me," he squinted at Michael, who hastily cowered in fear when he met his gaze. You have to make sure to complete all the assignments. And they must all get perfect scores!"

"I don't see any problem with that. For what course?"

"You don't need to know about it. But mostly, difficult stuff like Algebra 1–"

"Algebra 1? No problem. It is not a big deal to me—"

 "I didn't ask for your opinion, human!" Ashley sent a sharp glare and shouted so loudly that it echoed in the silent corridor due to the humans who were still frightened and did not dare to move from their places thanks to his werewolf aura.

Ashley dispelled his aura slowly, then twisted his body and turned his back to Aiden. "All you just need to do is do your job properly."

"Yes. I will."

"Do not regret your action for—"

"I won't. Take it easy. You do not even need to feel worried about whether I will regret my decision or not," Aiden answered with a smile that he had to admit was very bright, even for him. 

And strangely, it managed to make his heart beat loudly for a bit. 

"Besides, it will be an honor for me to serve you."

"I–I am not … urgh …"

Why in hell am I flustered just from hearing what he said? Ashley murmured to himself, cursing himself as he noticed his heart was beating nervously. It must be some little misunderstanding. It might be so.

The human's reassuring answer honestly scared him a little. Was that fucking human planning anything behind his back?

"What did you say? An honor?"

Aiden nodded quickly at his question.

"Yup."

He must be fucking out of his mind, Ashley murmured in his mind. 

His eyes glanced briefly at the young human, who was following behind him when his three friends were beside him, and at Aiden, who was smiling broadly at the backpack he had thrown at him. It was as if Aiden thought that Ashley's order was a noble one.

You must be out of your mind, moron, Ashley groaned inwardly, turning his attention elsewhere and walking towards the classroom, where his favorite subject, Introduction to Communication Studies.

Well, it was clearly not because he found the course he took interesting. Even though he did his best to master the subjects. Yet just reading them managed to make him vomit and feel dizzy.

But he decided to enroll in this course solely because of the lecturer. Professor Harold Garfield, a werewolf man whose aura alone always managed to calm his feelings anytime, anywhere.

That valid reason was more than enough to give him a reason to stay in the class without trying to replace it with another course.