Disguised Before The Alpha Prince

Chp 30

Demyan POV

I’ve never been drawn to any man before—not like this. Perin is different. Gentle yet strong, secretive but honest in ways that disarm me. And the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not watching—it unsettles something buried in my chest.

I sighed, stepping back into the cabin. The door creaked open.

There they were—Rowan, Killian, and Perin—sitting together, heads bent over their notes, talking quietly as they studied for the upcoming test.

But my eyes found him instantly.

Perin.

His lashes dipped low as he concentrated, one hand tapping against the page, the other clutching a pencil too tightly. He looked up when he sensed me, our gazes locking for a second that felt like an eternity.

And just like that… the confusion came crashing back.

I walked inside slowly, heart thudding, wondering if I would ever be able to look at him the same again.

Because even now—even now—I couldn't look away.

I sat back in my chair, trying to focus on the scroll in front of me, but my eyes kept darting over to Perin. He was sitting there, his brow furrowed in concentration, scribbling notes on his parchment. The way he bit his lip while thinking, the subtle way he shifted in his seat... It was all too much. It was hard not to notice him, and I couldn’t quite figure out why.

Rowan was beside me, flipping through his own scroll, and Killian, who had somehow already finished his work, leaned back lazily in his chair. It was just the four of us, and yet, despite the calm atmosphere, my attention was fixed on Perin.

"Perin," I called out casually, breaking the silence. My voice had a playful edge to it, though I didn't intend it to. "You look like you're about to solve the world's greatest mystery with that intense look on your face."

He glanced up, his cheeks tinging slightly as if he hadn’t realized how obvious his focus was. "I—I'm just trying to understand this better," he mumbled, looking down at his paper again.

I couldn't help but smile at the sight. There was something about his demeanor that made me want to tease him. Something about him that felt almost... endearing. It was an odd feeling, one I didn't quite understand, and yet, I couldn't stop myself.

"Well," I continued, leaning forward slightly, "if you're trying to solve a mystery, maybe I can help. I've solved plenty of mysteries in my day."

Rowan and Killian both looked up from their own work, sensing the shift in energy. Killian grinned as he glanced between Perin and me, his amusement evident. Rowan, as usual, was more reserved, but even he couldn't hide a small smirk.

Perin's eyes widened, and he straightened up, clearly uncomfortable with my attention. "I-I don't need help," he stammered, clearly flustered. "I’m fine on my own."

I leaned back, crossing my arms, and shot him a knowing look. "Are you sure? Because it looks like you could use a little... guidance." I let the words linger, letting him squirm just a bit more.

His reaction was priceless. He shifted uneasily, avoiding my gaze. The way he fidgeted with his papers and tucked a lock of hair behind his ear only made me want to tease him more. And, for some reason, I couldn’t quite stop myself. "You know," I continued, my voice dropping slightly, "it's not every day that we get a new student in our group. You've been keeping up well, though. Maybe you need a reward for all that hard work."

Perin looked up at me sharply, his expression a mix of embarrassment and confusion. "W-What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I smirked, leaning forward just a little too much, enjoying the way he stiffened. "You know, maybe a drink at the tavern later? We can celebrate your... academic accomplishments."

He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, Rowan jumped in with a chuckle. "Careful, Demyan. You're starting to make him blush." He winked at Perin, and that only made the poor guy turn even more red.

Perin shot a glare at both of us, his voice firm but still with a noticeable quiver, "I can handle myself. I don’t need any... celebrating."

I chuckled, though I couldn't help but notice the way his lips quivered ever so slightly. There was something about him that made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t quite understand. His stubbornness, his desire to keep his distance... it was frustrating, but it also intrigued me. Maybe that was why I teased him. To break through that carefully built wall of his, even if just a little.

"I guess we'll see if you're still so confident later, Perin," I said with a grin. "You might need someone to guide you after all."

The tension in the air thickened, and I found myself wondering whether I was pushing too far. But just as quickly as the thought crossed my mind, I pushed it away. Teasing him felt... right, in a way. And it kept me distracted from whatever it was I was really feeling.

*___*-----*___*

PEARL POV

I kept my distance from Demyan and Rowan. Something about the way they’d been acting lately made my skin crawl—but not in a bad way. It was the confusing kind of uncomfortable.

Rowan had become oddly gentle, too attentive, like I was made of glass. And Demyan? He was getting on my nerves in all the worst—and annoyingly best—ways. The way he kept teasing me, pulling at my legs, cracking sly jokes, leaning in too close when he spoke—it used to drive me mad. It still did. But now, every time his shoulder brushed mine or he caught my gaze for a second too long, something fluttered in my stomach.

Stupid butterflies.

I hated it.

No—scratch that. I hated him. That’s easier.

The only sane one among the three was Killian. He was quiet, polite, and didn’t treat me like I was going to fall apart or faint from a bit of eye contact. So when we were called to gather in the main hall for an extra point activity, I naturally stuck close to him.

The hall was massive, its stone walls echoing even the smallest sounds. The head scholar stood at the front, arms folded behind his back like a soldier at inspection. He looked to be in his forties, with a sharp jawline and heavy brows that made him look perpetually annoyed. His emerald green robe swept the floor as he paced slightly, the matching scholar’s hat perched stiffly on his head.

He looked like the type who hadn’t smiled in a decade.

“I have a task for all of you,” he began, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade. “You will be grouped in pairs of two. Each group will be given a scroll. Inside, you will find your task and the time within which it must be completed. Failure to do so will cost you points.”

The room remained deathly quiet. No one dared to breathe too loudly, let alone ask a question.

I exhaled slowly, standing a bit taller beside Killian. I noticed both Demyan and Rowan inching toward me like magnets drawn to a storm cloud. I casually stepped closer to Killian, silently daring them to try again.

I’m here to study, I reminded myself. Not to babysit egos or decode ridiculous mood swings.

Scrolls were handed out by the attendants, and names began to be called.

“Rowan,” the scholar announced, scanning the parchment in his hand, “and… Killian.”

Rowan blinked, clearly not expecting that. I caught the tiniest flicker of surprise on Killian’s face too, but he took it with his usual quiet grace. Rowan gave me a hopeful glance, as if silently asking me to swap. I ignored him completely.

“And finally…” The scholar’s eyes narrowed slightly as he read the last pair. “Perin and Demyan.”

My heart skipped.

No. No, no, no.

The universe had to be joking.

Demyan’s smug smirk said it all. He strolled toward me with that maddeningly confident stride, scroll in hand, like this was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“Well, well, Perin,” he said, stopping just a little too close. “Fate must really like watching you suffer.”

“You mean watching you suffer,” I shot back, snatching the scroll from his hand.

He laughed. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll make a great team. After all, we’ve already spent a night together, haven’t we?”

My cheeks burned, and I prayed no one around us had heard that.

This was going to be a disaster.

A very... frustrating one.

Demyan’s smirk widened as I glared at him, clutching the scroll like it might bite.

I broke the wax seal and unrolled it, hoping the task inside would be something simple, something that didn’t involve talking, cooperating, or breathing the same air as him for too long.

No such luck.

> Task: The Trust Trek

You and your partner must complete a short obstacle course located in the Scholar Woods. One of you will be blindfolded. The other will lead—without touching. Only verbal instructions are allowed.

Time limit: One hour.

Reward: 15 bonus points.

I slowly turned my head toward Demyan, scroll shaking just a little in my hand. He read the task over my shoulder, then leaned closer with a slow, wicked grin.

“I call blindfold,” he said.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Why not? You trust me, don’t you?”

I snorted. “Not even a little.”

He looked delighted by that. “Exactly. Makes it more fun.”

“You’ll trip and break your nose.”

“Then you’ll have to describe how the ground looks before I kiss it.”

I groaned. Loudly.

Killian and Rowan were already heading out, Rowan animatedly talking while Killian nodded along. I envied their normal energy.

Meanwhile, I was stuck with a smug wolf who was going to get us both disqualified or dragged into detention for laughing too loudly in a sacred forest.

As we walked toward the starting point, Demyan swung the blindfold casually around his finger like it was a ribbon. “Just imagine,” he mused aloud, “you’ll be guiding me with your voice. The great Perin Dale… my guiding light.”

“Keep talking like that and I will lead you into a tree.”

His grin only deepened.

Part of me wanted to punch him.

Another part of me was desperately trying not to smile.

This was going to be interesting.