97 Chapter 96: A well deserved punch

"I heard that you broke up with Nina!" Lang Jin exclaimed.

Zack grabbed his face and pushed him away playfully. Lang Jin was surprised at the sudden move, and couldn't duck in time. He landed harshly against the wall, making cracks around where his body hit the surface.

"Oww!!" Lang Jin complained, laughing.

"Jin!" Eun Ae exclaimed in shock, looking at Zack wide eyed. "You're not kids anymore!"

Lang Jin's arm seemed to be dislocated, something that usually happened to one of them when they were together. Zack chuckled, and kept walking, waving towards his cousin to catch up. Lang Jin quickly pushed his dislocated arm back into its socket and turned towards Eun Ae with a pout.

"Eun Aeee! Won't you hit him for me?" He whined, pointing towards Zack's back.

"Grow up Jin." Eun Ae said shaking her head. "Zack! Wait for me!" She shouted, jogging towards the Alpha. Lang Jin quickly followed, the both of them flanking either side of their friend. 

"Is that all you guys can think about?" Zack asked, as the two grabbed wither side of arm like how they used to do when they were kids. "We're meeting after three whole months." 

"Yup." Eun Ae and Lang Jin replied in unison, laughing 

"Tch." Zack shook his head, smiling. 

They always had a good time whenever they were together. They had always been there for each other like this, sticking to each other through thick and thin while trying their best to irritate each other. Eun Ae always exempted him from that but doubled the action on Lang Jin to make up for it. These two along with Nina were people who he could trust with anything and everything, he thought smiling inwardly. 

"Oh by the way, there's huge news!" Lang Jin declared, suddenly seeming excited. 

"What? Did you have a one night stand with a one of those sophomore foxes again?" Zack asked, without looking his way.

Jin had a habit of searching out foxes from the juniors and taking them out. At least he did till Eun Ae complained about one of the girls being rude to her. Of course what she didn't know was that his cousin's preference for fox spirits was to try and compensate for the fact that he couldn't ask Eun Ae out. His nerves only acted up whenever he was trying to express his feelings to the girl. Hence Jin had stopped trying after his first attempt when he was around ten years of age. Ever since then, he's been trying to make Eun Ae jealous by going out with other foxes, but apparently it not only failed but backfired.

"No those foxes are way too cunning." Lang jin replied, nervously looking at Eun Ae. A frown formed on his lips as he noticed that Eun Ae was busy looking elsewhere. To get her attention, he quickly added, "Not like our Eun Ae here. I think I'll settle for someone as sweet as her."

"Nope. I don't plan on settling down with you." Eun Ae said, shaking her head.

Eun Ae turned to Zack for help, fluttering her eye lashes at him helplessly.

Zack chuckled. Turning to Lang Jin, he asked, "So what's the news?"

"You won't believe it." Lang Jin said, suddenly forgetting about everything else as he got more and more excited. "Principal Mirembe has successfully brought the chosen one to the academy!"

"Oh.." Zack replied absentmindedly, lost in his own thoughts.

The mention of her title stirred his heart. He knew that when headmaster Fu Shen was talking about the "important guest" he was talking about Elize. Outside the Island, his mate's status held much more sway, as people had lost most parts of the legend concerning the Chosen and had concocted their own theories about the importance of her role. He hadn't given much attention to those legends or stories. All he knew was that for him, she was his mate and his mate alone. But there were people out there who'd do anything to get their hands on her, he knew as he had seen the glint of greed in his own grandfather's eyes. 

Although he had initially planned to stay away from her for her own good, he couldn't help but yield to the pull of their bond. But above that, he knew that he had fallen head over heels in love with her, keeping apart the cravings of his wolf. But he only had realized that later, when he had started feeling an odd ache in his heart, despite the fact that his wolf had been silent ever since leaving the Island. So when Alex had informed him about Irina taking her to the academy, all he wanted to do was run back to his college on all fours, no matter how tired it would make him. He had missed her terribly in his few days at Meifeng's place.

The idea of staying away from her had at once sounded suddenly ridiculous to him. He knew that Elize would be hurting too, and most probably confused at why he had left without saying goodbye. But the moment that he saw her sitting on the stairs talking animatedly to the Kelpie, his heart swayed again. He was overwhelmed with a feeling of jealousy as well as sadness. He wasn't able to decide whether to walk towards her or walk away from her- not until he heard her warning the Kelpie by taking his name. That was the moment that he had decided that he would stay by her side and protect her, no matter what it took him. He'd use everything in his power to keep her from harm's way. She already had a huge burden to deal with, with how sensitive the issue of her identity as the Chosen on was. He would have to protect her from the sidelines for now, he thought sadly. 

"I mean imagine!" Lang Jin's voice rose, pulling his attention back to the real world. "One among those juniors roaming around us is THE Chosen One. It could be anyone!"

"Hmm." Zack said, getting irritated. 

Although Lang Jin was his cousin, he was a flirt. The guys usually got what he wanted through hook or though crook. He didn't want Jin's dirty eyes on his woman, Zack thought jealously.

"What's our role in it?" He asked, trying to change the subject to more practical matters.

"The administration is keeping her identity safe." Lang Jin remarked, shaking his head. "And all sixteen of us from the Committee is supposed to ensure that in case of any rumors, we subdue it on the spot."

"I see." Zack remarked, 

"Since you've broken up with Nina, you should date as many juniors as possible. Who knows? You might get lucky and before you know it, your mark will be on her. Imagine the advantages- you'd be the most powerful man on earth!" Lang Jin said, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

Zack looked at his cousin amused. What would the guys say if he knew the truth? He thought, smiling to himself.

"Hey!" Eun Ae interrupted, throwing Jin a murderous glare. "Don't put ideas in his head. The Chosen One is rumored to have been nothing but a sacrificial offering to the goddess. Anyone whose fate is bound to hers can only be called as unfortunate."

"No way! I heard from my father that anyone who mates with her will gain enormous powers." Lang Jin refuted. "Also imagine a child born of a wolf and her! Your lineage will be the most powerful among all the supernatural beings." 

"I don't know. For all I know, she's not that special." Eun Ae said with a shrug. She then turned towards Zack with an expectant look. She asked, "Besides, Zack is not the type to marry for political advantages. Right Zack?" 

"I don't believe in such legends." Zack dismissed the idea, not wanting to continue the ridiculous conversation.

"You're just like how uncle Zeb was- cynical." Lang Jin remarked with a smirk.

"I don't mind being like my father. He was a good man." Zack replied, giving his cousin a look of warning.

"Of course of course!" Lang Jin said, giving in.

They had almost reached the training ground. Zack shielded his eyes as the harsh afternoon sun strained his eyes due to the quick transition from the low lit corridor to the blasting sun outside.

"What is Nina doing with that one?!" Lang Jin asked, his tone registering surprise.

"Hmm??" Zack asked blinking, looking towards the direction that Jin was pointing.

Elize was standing in the middle of the ground talking excitedly to Nina. There was a huge smile on her face that he had missed with all his being in their time apart. Her gray eyes sparkled as she laughed aloud at something Nina said. Just as he was about to tune in to their conversation, Eun Ae spoke up.

"That's Elize- one of the juniors. You won't believe it!" She said, lowering her voice, "There's something going on between her and Prince Irving."

"Is that so?" Zack asked, smiling at the sight in front of him. 

His hands were itching to touch his mate. He was suddenly oblivious to everything going on around him, except her.

"Yup.�� Lang Jin said quickly. "And that bitch is so proud of it too! She even insulted Eun Ae and me in front of the whole class yesterday."

Zack clenched his hands in irritation. 

"Jin?" Zack called turning to face his cousin.

As soon as Lang Jin turned, Zack's fist came flying at his face packing a harsh punch right on his nose. Zack heard the crack of his nose as blood spurted out from his cousin's nostrils. Lang Jin howled in pain, his wolf almost coming out. 

"What was that for?!" Lang Jin shouted angrily.

Zack shrugged. "Just checking if your wolf senses were working alright." He replied with a wink, before taking off to the ground.