Chapter 8: The Boy Who Didn’t Want Anything

Dana’s POV

I didn’t cry again.

I wanted to. Goddess knows I wanted to. But after last night, the tears dried up sometime between my fourth scream into my pillow and the moment I realized there was no one to check on me.

Not even Taryn.

She’d gone quiet. Hurt. Just like me.

The bond had shattered—turn apart and tossed into the air like it meant nothing. Zade had ripped something holy out of me and the worst part? I didn’t even know why.

I sat by the window, knees pulled up to my chest, the moon now just a pale ghost in the daylight sky. My dorm was still cold, my uniform still wrinkled on the floor where I left it. I hadn’t moved much.

I didn't need to really. I just wanted to close my eyes and never wake up. I want to fall into an abyss where I would forget all my problems and hopefully forget all that I am.

But no.

No one came knocking. No one offered me any sympathy. Not that I needed it.

I wasn’t some omega waiting for comfort. I was Dana fucking Varynn.

And I’d die before I let this school—or any alpha— see me beg.

“Stupid.” I muttered, wiping the dry tear crust from my face. “So damn stupid.”

‘You’re not.’ Taryn said faintly.

‘You’re just quiet.’ I said bitterly. ‘Why?’

She didn’t answer. But instead, I felt her shift slightly in my chest. Her energy tangled in knots. She was hurt. Not by Zade. But by me.

Because I hadn’t protected her. I’d let someone touch us, bond with us, reject us.

Never again.

A soft knock echoed through the room. I tensed instantly, jumping to my feet, sniffing the air.

Not one of them.

The scent was…unfamiliar. Faint cinnamon. Ink. A little dust, maybe.

I opened the door, half an inch and peered through.

It was a boy I hadn’t seen before. Tallish. Pale. Dark curls and a sleepy almost bored expression. He wore a grey hoodie and jeans like he hadn’t even bothered to match and his shoes squeezed faintly against the hall tiles.

He raised his brows at me like I was the one disturbing him.

“You look like death.” He said.

“Thanks.” I said flatly. “And you look like a walking red flag.”

That got a twitch out of his lips. Or maybe a smirk. Maybe not. I couldn’t tell.

“I’m Marcus.” He said. “You’re Dana.”

“Not in the mood for a meet and greet.” I replied, and attempted to close the door.

He wedged his shoe in before I could shut it.

Ballsy.

“I’m not here to flirt.” He said. “The principal sent me here to check on you.”

My stomach turned. “Why?”

“Said your schedule hadn’t been touched and you missed a lot of training, PE, and lit.”

I blinked. Lit?

I hadn’t even been here two weeks and somehow I was already fucking uo my grades.

“You’re her little errand boy?” I asked.

“No,” he replied. “I’m her nephew.”

We’ll, that was unexpected. Principal Tricia didn’t seem like the family kind.

I hesitated. Then opened the door a little wider. Not because I trusted him—goodness no—but because I didn’t feel like arguing with a school admin in my pajamas.

He didn’t step in. Just leaned against the frame. His unbothered eyes, still on me.

“I don’t like being checked on.” I muttered with my arms folded.

“Cool.” He nodded. “I don’t like being sent on missions for emotionally unstable alphas, I’m a simple dorm attendant, but here we are.”

“You work here?” I asked.

He nodded.

I glared.

He didn’t flinch.

Something about him was…different. Not Alpha. Not Omega. Maybe a Beta, but not the fake loyal kind. He carried himself like someone who knew things but didn’t advertise it.

“You’re calm.” I said suspiciously. The only way I can put out what I think I was trying to convey.

“I’m observant.” He replied.

My brows dipped a bit. “And what exactly are you observing?”

“You.” He said without missing a beat.”

“Creep.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just the first person you’ve met who doesn’t want anything from you.”

That froze me.

Because he was right. People always looked at me like I was a puzzle piece they wanted to shove into the wrong picture. It made me paranoid about everything and everyone. They all wanted something out of me.

But this boy…Marcus. He didn’t seem to care who I was. Or wasn’t.

“You’re not scared of me?” I asked

“No.” He said. “Should I be?”

I tilted my head slightly. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

He smiled faintly, then tossed me something through the door. I caught it without thinking. It was a tiny black keycard. Very different from mine.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Key to the student gym.” He said. “I world there sometimes. If you want to beat someone up without getting expelled, it’s open twenty four seven.”

This surprised me. I stared at him, unsure whether I wanted to thank him or slam the door in his face.

“Why are you helping me?” I couldn’t help asking him.

He met my gaze. “Because you’re not broken. You’re just…paused.”

Then he turned and walked off without a reply. Just like that. No expectations. No threats. No power games.

I didn’t know if it was because I was used to toxicity, but it was jarring to meet someone like him. It didn’t make sense at all. Is this how normal people were?

Not competition. No cheating. Just real, unattached kindness.

Tyran stirred.

‘He’s strange.’ She said.

‘He didn’t want anything.’

‘That’s what makes him strange.’

I held the keycard tighter in my hands. Maybe I wasn’t ready to rejoin the world yet, but I still wanted to burn this whole school down and dance to its ashes. I won’t let it bring me down before it destroy it and have fun doing it.

But I could take a step back. Maybe one.

I shut the door, grabbed a hoodie, and tied my hair back.

It was time to hit something that wouldn’t cry afterward.