Chapter 66
“It is difficult to hate someone once you’ve been welcomed into their home p>
~ Rebel Beast
_______________
No wonder the beasts looked down on humans. If you lived in a place like this, it was easy to believe you were untouchable.
Wasn’t that exactly how Karen and the others treated people they believed were beneath them? Only this time, it wasn’t the rich against the poor.
It was the beasts against the humans.
Since it was already evening, classes had ended, and the grounds of House Therion were alive with activity. Beasts occupied the walkways in small groups, some talking, others returning from training, or simply enjoying the cool evening air.
But the moment they spotted the girls, the conversations gradually died away. Curious eyes followed them, some openly puzzled, others wearing unmistakable frowns.
“They don’t look very happy to see us,” Aria pointed out, suddenly wondering if coming here had been a terrible mistake.
“They’re surprised,” Dimitri corrected. “You’re the first humans to ever step foot inside House Therion. Naturally, you’re attracting attention p>
There wasn’t the slightest concern in his demeanor.
“As for the ones glaring, don’t pay them any mind. You don’t have to worry about them. No Therion beast is foolish enough to challenge Maverick’s decision p>
Aria shivered at the mention of his name.
Dimitri continued, “They may not like having humans here, but House Therion has always operated on one simple rule. When Maverick speaks, we listen p>
Aria merely nodded and looked away, though she remained painfully aware of every pair of eyes boring into her from behind.
“Come on,” Dimitri said, motioning for Alek, Brittney, and Trisha to stay close.
“What about our bags?” Brittney asked.
“They’ll be taken to your rooms,” Dimitri assured her. “You girls don’t have to worry about that. Until then, let’s properly welcome you to House Therion p>
Aria had no idea what Dimitri meant by “properly welcome,” yet she followed after him. There was no turning back now.
The girls climbed the broad staircase. However, the beasts’ stares only grew more intense. More Therion beasts emerged from inside the residence as though news of the humans’ arrival had spread throughout the entire house.
They lined the balconies, leaned against the railings, while others stopped along the staircase simply to watch. Perhaps it was those unwavering gazes that made Alek lose her footing, her foot catching the edge of a step.
“Oh p>
She pitched forward.
Before anyone else could react, Dimitri reached out on instinct. One arm circled her waist while the other caught her wrist, steadying her before she could hit the ground.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Alek found herself staring into his face from far closer than she’d expected. Strands of his wavy hair had fallen carelessly across his forehead. For the first time, she noticed how handsome he was.
“Are you alright?” Dimitri asked, noticing she’d gone completely still.
“Y-Yeah.” Alek blinked as if waking from a trance.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she quickly stepped out of his hold, though Dimitri kept his hand beneath her elbow until he was certain she had regained her balance.
“Thank you,” Alek said, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her clothes to hide her embarrassment. “That would’ve been really disastrous p>
“Yeah, it would’ve,” Dimitri answered almost absentmindedly, his gaze lingering on her a second longer than necessary.
Behind them, Aria lifted a brow while Brittney and Trisha exchanged identical looks. None of them missed the strange tension that had suddenly settled between the pair.
“I think we should keep moving,” Aria said, mercifully breaking the silence.
“Right.” Dimitri cleared his throat before gesturing toward the door. “This way p>
The moment they stepped through the enormous entrance doors, their jaws nearly dropped to the floor.
The foyer was unlike anything they had expected. White marble, threaded with blue-gray veins, stretched beneath their feet, reflecting the golden glow cast by elegant pendant lights suspended from the soaring ceiling.
A sweeping staircase curved toward the upper floors, while twin glass elevators glided effortlessly between each level. Murals of the land beasts adorned the walls, each one rendered with breathtaking detail.
At the center of the foyer stood a magnificent sculpture that immediately drew their attention. A wolf, lion, bull, stag, and bear spiraled around one another in perfect harmony, each figure flowing seamlessly into the next until it was impossible to tell where one beast ended and another began.
Resting atop the wolf’s head was a tiny rat. Though dwarfed by the giants beneath it, the little creature occupied the highest point of the sculpture, reminding everyone that greatness was never measured by size alone.
“I think we’ve been deceived all our lives,” Brittney muttered, unable to tear her eyes away. “This looks nothing like the den of savage beasts I’ve spent my entire life imagining p>
Dimitri replied, “That is because it’s far easier to convince people the beasts are monsters than admit they’re simply different p>
Beyond the foyer, an expansive common room opened before them. Plush sofas and armchairs were arranged in inviting circles around low wooden tables, while bookshelves lined one side of the room beside a crackling stone fireplace. Students occupied nearly every corner.
Perhaps because they were within the comfort of their own residence, many of the Therion students had allowed parts of their beast forms to surface. Some had glowing eyes, others absentmindedly flexed elongated claws against the arms of their chairs, while a few tails swayed lazily behind them as conversations carried on like nothing were unusual.
Then everything changed.
The moment the beasts noticed the human girls, claws receded, tails disappeared, and their unnatural eyes returned to ordinary human ones with effortless ease.
Murmurs broke out.
“Why are they here p>
“What are the humans doing in House Therion p>
“What’s Beta Dimitri doing with them p>
Dimitri seemed to have expected the reaction. He climbed several steps of the grand staircase overlooking both the foyer and the common room before turning to face the students.
“Everyone,” he called, his voice carrying effortlessly across the residence. “May I have your attention? I have an important announcement p>
Aria drew in a sharp breath.
Here we go.