NEVERMORE ACADEMY

THREE.

Tulip's POV.

I woke up with a banging headache the next morning and let out a groan, as I tried to sit up. I flicked my eyelids open and was greeted with an empty room.

I looked down at myself and saw that I was naked and just covered with a duvet. A shiver ran down my spine when I lifted the duvet and saw blood all over the sheets. I felt a slight pain on my neck and when I stared at my reflection on the mirror, I froze at the point.

‘He had marked me!’ I gasped, in disgust.

My thighs were aching as well, which means I did do it with Xavier, and he just left me here, like I was some whore?

I scoffed in disbelief and was about to get down from the bed when I saw a sheet of paper flying from the pillow. I reached to pick it and saw it was a note from Xavier.

"By the time you are awake, I might be gone. I am so sorry. Dad called and needs to see me urgently. Can you wait for me to be back? We need to talk. Xavier." I read out loud and felt a huge lump forming in my throat.

'So he didn't abandon me and was still coming?' I pondered as my heart pounded against my chest repeatedly.

I hurriedly jumped out of bed and started putting on my scattered clothes on the floor. I needed to leave before he came back, so I couldn't afford to take a bath.

'This was bad.' I thought as I ran out of the hotel building and took a cab home. My mind was a market place and I thought of a thousand ways to reject Xavier. I couldn't be possibly mates to him, that's disgusting. I whimpered.

Whatever happened between us was a mistake I hoped he would relay to Damian. That was my payback to him.

I freshened up and started arranging my loads in my suitcase, preparing to say goodbye to this city, New Jersey.

I already booked my flight. Thank God, I decided to go to Damian before I booked for two thinking he would have been accepted too.

Well, I hoped not because I never wanted to see that piece of shit ever again. I shut the door to my apartment, left the key by the handle with a note to my landlady.

She could give the remaining months of rent I had left to someone else. I wasn't supposed to leave this early but plans changed.

My parents died in a battle with the rogues when our pack was attacked on my 15th birthday, so I was an orphan who had been fending for herself since then by taking odd jobs. Thankfully, I was on scholarship in college; otherwise, I had no idea how I would have survived.

........

........

New York was everything I wanted it to be, and Nevermore Sports Academy was worth its hype and more. I was to begin work as one of the Coaches to the Hockey Team by Monday and today was Saturday, so I had two days to settle in.

Came Monday and I was excited to put my little training into work. The head Coach, Mrs. Hatfield was supposed to introduce me to the other players.

They were all Alphas in rank. I also heard that we recruited new players, which I hoped Damian wasn't among, even though he was Alpha.

Thankfully, he wasn't; rather, it was someone worse who got accepted, but how?

'He didn't even have an interest in playing Hockey. Yes, he had the Alpha rank but Damian claimed to be more Dominant.' I thought in disbelief, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me as our eyes met.

I pretended I didn't see him and proceeded to address the huge, muscular players gathered.

"Hi everyone. I am Tulip, one of your coaches." I introduced myself with a smile, and the boys did the same.

"Please can you all shift into your wolves. I have to note the physique." I gulped, surprisingly in anticipation of seeing Xavier's wolf. I had never gotten the chance to see it, not that I care to.

"So why do you now?" My wolf, Leslie, questioned but I just shut her out.

The players all transformed, and God, they were marvelous in their forms, but only one really caught my attention. Bulkily, red and huge. It towered over others, standing out.

"Fuck! Who is that dude in red?"

"Magnificent right? So beautiful." Other coaches began to whisper amongst themselves and my jaw tightened.

A few minutes later, the players shifted back and began to warm up, running around the ring while I excused myself to the restroom, my heart pounding heavily against my chest.

'What the hell is Xavier doing here?' I pondered in panic, trying to calm my racing heartbeat as I stared at myself in the mirror.

Except I was now seeing Xavier looking at me, a grin dancing on his lips. I froze and turned around immediately.

"W-what d-do you w-want?" I stuttered, as I felt a huge lump forming in my throat.

"Just trailing a girl I like, someone who happens to be my mate as well." Xavier winked at me and I went weak, my legs wobbling as he moved closer to me, his hands slipping around my waist.

"Let me go, I hate you!" I tried saying, but choked on my words, as he bent and kissed me on the lips.

"I have missed you." He sucked on my bottom lip, placing kisses all over my face. All I could do was watch him in awe, my mouth feeling too heavy to form words.

He licked my ear and a moan escaped my lips. That brought me back to reality so I raised my knee and hit him in the nuts. His eyes widened and he jumped away from me instantly.

His face tightened in pain and I took the opportunity to dash away from the restroom, ignoring his calls.

I was so doomed. Xavier was in Nevermore?

'Why? How? I thought he was taking over the family's business? What about Nathan? Does that mean he was here, too? So many thoughts dashed through my head.

I ran out of the school building, needing to be as far away from him as possible so I could clear my head. How was I to face Xavier, especially after running from our night session?

Also, what did he mean when he mentioned trailing the girl he liked?

I stopped on my tracks, breathing heavily when I saw a coffee shop, and decided to head in for a hot cup.

I was about to queue, but was lost and didn't notice when I bumped into someone, spilling his coffee all over him.

I stiffened, my mouth dropping open as I watched his flesh turn red from the burn of the coffee.

"I am so sorry." I apologized and hurriedly grabbed a napkin from one of the tables to use in cleaning his soiled shirt.

"Nope, it's okay." I heard a dark chuckle and felt warm butterflies in my stomach as I looked up to see an incredibly dashing dude towering over him.

He was clad in denim jeans, a white shirt, and a blue, ripped jacket. His hair was plaited, and he had a diamond stud in both ears.

"Oh my God!" I cried out before I could stop myself and the guy narrowed his green eyes at me.

"Is everything okay?" He asked and I noticed a piercing on his tongue.

"Yes, yes. I apologize once again." I hurriedly said and left his presence to join the line, saliva gathering in my mouth.

I was finally served a hot cup of coffee by a waitress who kept glaring at me like I had stolen something from her.

"Please pay quickly." She opened her palm for me to place my credit card into and I put my hands into my pocket to realize that I did not get my wallet, nor my phone.

I was too startled by Xavier's presence that I ran out of the school with nothing on me, and bumping into someone here made me forget that.

"Hmm, can I come back to pay for this?" I blurted out stupidly and the girl sneered.

"Not only are you a clumsy fool, but also a beggar?" She insulted and I winced.

"Excuse me? Do I know you?" I questioned, feeling anger burn through my veins.

Why the hell was she exhibiting hostility?

"Of course not. You are not even in my league." She laughed, and I gritted my teeth against one another, about to spill the coffee on her, when a rough but warm hand stopped me.

I flinched, turning around to see the guy I had bumped into earlier.

"Add it to my bills and give her whatever snacks she might be needing with her coffee." He told the waitress, whose glare turned deadly towards me.

Then it clicked and I bit back a smile.

So she liked this dude? Well then.

I turned towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder, to further infuriate the foolish lady.

"Thank you." I bite my lower lip seductively, and the girl gave me a strange look that made my cheeks burn from embarrassment.