Chapter 37: FORCED PARTNERSHIP

ASHER

I was late to the assembly because every cell in my body refused to cooperate with me because after everything that happened over the weekend, the videos, the messages, the entire Academy watching my humiliation on repeat, the isolation and even those I thought would be by me, even with Reed’s threat were gone and I was all alone to face my cross.

I’d considered skipping altogether but missing a mandatory Dean’s assembly would only give Reed more upper hand over me and a punishment from the Dean and which Reed won’t hesitate to be in charge of.

So I slipped into the back of the auditorium, keeping my head down, praying no one would notice me, and I was wrong, they all noticed the moment I walked in.

Whispers erupted the moment I walked through the door, heads turned, and phones lifted up to take pictures or videos of me.

I thought of turning back, but the thought of punishment got me kept walking even though I wished for the ground to open up and swallow me, I found a seat in the last row, and sat down.

I wasn’t surprised when the seat next to me stayed empty, and so did the one on my other side, and the one in front of me because Reed’s declaration had worked, everyone was scared of Reed and I was now radioactive and untouchable.

“Settle down,” the Dean’s voice cut through the auditorium like a blade snapping me out of my thoughts, and the whispers died instantly.

The Dean stood at the podium, his expression grim. He was an older Alpha, probably in his sixties, with silver hair and eyes that could strip the skin off your bones with a look.

“We have a situation,” he said. “And it requires immediate action.”

The auditorium went silent.

“As many of you know, there’s been increased activity in the contested territories bordering our lands. Rogue packs have been encroaching on Academy property. Last week, two of our patrols were ambushed.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“One patrol made it back but the other did not.”

The murmurs turned to shocked gasps, and my stomach dropped. Students had died? This wasn’t what I had in mind when I decided to enrol, things were going beyond what I imagined.

“The Board has authorized a training mission,” the Dean continued. “Senior students will be deployed to the contested territories to track and eliminate the rogue threat.”

The auditorium erupted into protest murmurs with students against it.

“This is insane—”

“We’re not soldiers—”

“People died out there—”

“SILENCE.” The Dean yelled as his Alpha command slammed into the room like a physical force, and everyone shut up immediately.

“This is not optional,” the Dean said. “This is a required component of your Alpha Dynamics curriculum. You will be divided into pairs, you will be given a sector to patrol. You will track, engage, and neutralize any rogue pack activity in your assigned area.”

My heart was pounding, this was suicide. Sending students into contested territory against rogue packs was insane because most of us had no training or what it takes to fight against rogues. Sending us out there means we are going to die, well technically some of us.

“Your survival rate, historically speaking, is approximately sixty percent.”

The auditorium went dead silent. Sixty fucking percent that meant forty percent of us wouldn’t come back. This was crazy.

“Partnerships have already been assigned,” the Dean continued. “Your partner is non-negotiable. You will work together, or you will fail, and failure in the contested territories means death.”

A screen behind him lit up with a list of names, and students started scanning the list frantically, searching for their names. Then I found mine halfway down.

Sector 7: Asher Graham & Reed Jackson

No. No, no, no. This had to be a fuckjng mistake. It seems the universe was playing a huge joke on me or someone has gone behind me to make sure that we were both paired together.

Was this Reed’s idea, was this his plan he had for me to finally end me without no one being present or was this the Dean idea or was the Moon Goddess testing me and making a death wish game for me.

“As you can see,” the Dean said, and I swear his eyes found mine in the back row, “partnerships have been strategically assigned to maximize survival probability and force cooperation between students who might otherwise avoid each other.”

My stomach churned, this wasn’t random, this was intentional and his words just confirmed it. The Dean had paired me with Reed on purpose.

“You have forty-eight hours to prepare,” the Dean said. “Mission briefing will take place Wednesday morning at oh-six-hundred. Deployment begins immediately after. You are dismissed.”

The auditorium erupted into chaos.

Some students were shouting, arguing while some demanding to change partners. I sat frozen in my seat, staring at the screen.

Sector 7: Asher Graham & Reed Jackson.

I was going into contested territory with the one person who wanted me dead.

“Asher.”

I looked up to see Scott was standing in the aisle, his expression furious. “This is insane. You can’t go out there with him.”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Then talk to the Dean. Request a partner change. Explain what happened—”

“And say what, exactly?” I stood up, keeping my voice low. “That Reed kissed me at a party? That he declared war on me? The Dean doesn’t care about Academy drama, Scott. He cares about survival rates.”

“Reed threatened you—”

“And the Dean just paired us together anyway.” I grabbed my bag. “Which means either he doesn’t know, or he doesn’t care.”

“Or,” a voice said from behind me, “he thinks forcing you two together is the only way to keep you both alive.”

I turned and saw Marcus standing there, his expression serious.

“The Dean knows about the war,” Marcus said quietly. “Everyone knows. The videos are everywhere and he still paired you with Reed.”

“Why would he do that?” Scott demanded.

“Because Reed is the best tracker at this Academy,” Marcus said. “And Asher is the most stubborn bastard any of us have ever met. Separately, they’d both get themselves killed trying to prove something. Together?” He shrugged. “Maybe they’ll be too busy hating each other to die.”

“That’s insane logic,” Scott said.

“Welcome to Stone Claw Academy.” Marcus looked at me. “Reed’s pissed, by the way. He tried to get the Dean to change the assignment. He got shut down immediately.”

Good, at least Reed was just as miserable about this as I was.

“When’s the briefing?” I asked again, totally forgetting everything.

“Wednesday, six AM. Main hall. Don’t be late.” Marcus hesitated. “And Asher? Watch your back out there. The rogues aren’t the only thing you need to worry about.”

He walked away before I could respond. I was about to walk away when Scott grabbed my arm. “You can’t do this. Reed could kill you out there and blame it on the rogues. No witnesses, and no proof.”

“I know.” I answered flatly.

“Then why are you going?” He asked

“Because if I refuse, I fail,” I said. “And if I fail, I get expelled, and if I get expelled, I lose everything.”

My scholarship, my future, the only hope to keep my mum safe and alive. Everything I’d worked for will go under the drain.

“So I’m going,” I continued. “And I’m going to survive with or without Reed’s cooperation.”

Scott looked like he wanted to argue, but he stayed silent. I walked out of the auditorium, ignoring the stares, ignoring the whispers, and ignoring the phones recording me. I made it halfway across campus before I felt it, that prickling sensation on the back of my neck.

Someone was following me, and I turned around immediately.

Reed was leaning against a tree about twenty feet away, arms crossed, watching me with those cold gray eyes.

How long had he been there? He pushed off the tree and started walking towards me. My body went rigid, every instinct was screaming at me to run, but I forced myself to stay still.

Reed stopped a few feet away, and we both stared at each other in silence.

“So,” Reed said finally. “Looks like we’re partners.”

“Looks like it.” I answered without invading his gaze.

“I tried to get it changed.”

“I heard.”

“The Dean said no.” Reed’s jaw clenched. “Said this assignment was non-negotiable.”

“Great, we will both be at each other’s hair.” I told him and he scoffed.

“I want to make something very clear,” Reed said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “When we’re out there in the contested territories, I will keep you alive, not because I care about you but because if you die, it reflects poorly on me.”

“How noble.”

“But,” Reed continued, taking a step closer, “if you die out there, it won’t be the rogues who kill you.”

My blood ran cold.

Reed leaned in, his voice dropping even lower.

“It’ll be me.”

He pulled back, his gray eyes boring into mine.

“See you Wednesday, partner.”

Then he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there in the middle of campus, my heart pounding, and my hands shaking.

I was going into contested territory with Reed Jackson. The same Reed Jackson who’d just threatened to kill me. This was going to end badly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep