Chapter 5

Riven

“Don’t play games with me,” I growled, taking another step. “You felt it. That bond. You are my mate.”

He finally closed the small gap between us. He was standing so close now that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. My wolf was now throwing flips inside me, happy and desperate all at once.

Sky’s eyes, those deep brown eyes, flickered down to my mouth for a split second before returning to my own.

“Mate,” he repeated, drawing the word out like a question.

“That’s a strong word. We just met, Riven.” He said my name so softly, so casually, it was like a caress.

I felt a surge of rage. “Don’t,” I warned. How dare he just call my name like that? I knew I wasn't one for titles but he couldn't just pop out of nowhere to frustrate and disrespect me.

He just chuckled softly, a low sound that seemed to vibrate through me. “I'm sorry, Captain. But I don't know what you are talking about.”

He held my gaze for another long, breathless moment, that stupid smile never quite leaving his lips. Then, just as suddenly as he had approached, he took a step back, with an unreadable look replacing the one in his eyes.

“See you on Monday, Captain,” he said, with a cool and professional tone like nothing just happened a few minutes ago. He picked up his bag and walked towards the exit, leaving me standing there, like a fool.

My heart was pounding frantically. I couldn't tell if it was from anger, or frustration, or both. Ford was now calm. Yes, that was what Ford was known for. He would push me, and when the result was out, he would hide—leaving me to face the consequences alone.

I was left alone in the quiet locker room. I needed to go home. I needed to be alone. I needed to get my head together before my world completely fell apart.

I didn't even bother to shower. I just threw my bag over my shoulder and walked out, my feet moving fast. I just wanted to be in my room. Then, piece by piece, I would try to put things together.

The walk to my room was ghostly. My mind was full of Sky's face, his voice, his smell. Ford was still calm. I could feel a mix of anger and confusion seeping from him. He was hurt. But I wasn't hurt—I was angry and confused.

The mate bond was supposed to be a good thing. Yeah, it was supposed to be a gift. But now, it felt like a curse.

I waited for my mate all this while. And it turns out I was waiting for a dude? A jerk at that.

I finally got to my dorm, fumbling for my keys. I put the key in the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open, ready for the peace and quiet I so desperately needed.

But the peace and quiet were not there.

There were boxes. Big, brown boxes stacked up in the middle of my living room. They were not my boxes. I looked around, my mind trying to make sense of what I was seeing. There was another bag, a hockey bag, sitting right next to the boxes.

My heart stopped. What the hell were those bags doing in my space?

“Riven?” a voice said from the hallway.

I turned around. It was the patron of the dorm, an old man named Mr. Darius. He was one of the most feared wolves in the school. He was a man who accords respect to whom it's due to. But he has zero regard for titles. He had a stern look on his face.

“Mr. Darius,” I said, a little bit more harshly than I intended to. “What is all this?”

“Oh, Riven, my boy,” he said, with a small, apologetic smile on his face. “I am so sorry for the short notice. But there has been a… a slight problem with the new intake. The dormitory is overbooked. So, for a short time, you will have to share your suite.”

My blood ran cold.

“Share? With who?” I asked, my voice rising a little. “This is my private suite. You cannot just put a new student here.”

Mr. Darius’s smile disappeared. “I know, I know. But this student is of high profile. His sponsors demanded the best treatment. So we had no choice.”

I felt my blood boil. “High profile or whatever you call it, I don’t care! I will not be sharing my suite with anyone. You will tell this person to go back to wherever they came from.”

“I am afraid that is not possible, Riven,” Mr. Darius said, as he turned to the sound of approaching footsteps. “Oh! He is already here.”

My head whipped around, and I saw him.

Sky.

He was standing there, with a few more bags in his hands, a calm, an almost amused look on his face. Our eyes met, and that familiar jolt of fire hit me all over again.