LOGINANNELISE POVMy head felt like someone had split it open with a hammer, that was the first thing I registered before consciousness fully settled in, the second thing was the dryness in my mouth, and lastly was the fact that I was lying on the floor.I groaned quietly and pressed a hand against my forehead before forcing my eyes open. Sunlight filtered through the large glass windows somewhere above me.For a second, nothing made sense, the room was unfamiliar… Large, modern, dark furniture, scattered clothes, empty water bottles on the nightstand, faint scent of chlorine and alcohol lingering in the air. Then slowly the memories returned in broken flashes.Music, shots, laughter… Oh my God, Derek.My eyes widened, I pushed myself up quickly and immediately regretted it when dizziness hit me again. My dress was wrinkled beyond repair, one strap hanging off my shoulder while my bikini top underneath had shifted up enough to nearly expose my boobs completely.“Oh my God,” I muttered hoar
“You’re wearing that?” Kelsey asked from across the room, her tone dramatic as she stood in front of the mirror adjusting the straps of her black bikini top for the third time in two minutes.Anne looked down at herself. “What’s wrong with it?”“Nothing,” Yvette answered from her bed without looking up from the coffee cup in her hand. “Kelsey just thinks every event requires near nudity.”“That’s because we are young and should show some… Sorry, a lot of skin,” Kelsey replied immediately, running a hand through her hair before turning back to the mirror. “And also because if I looked like Anne, I would literally become a public safety issue.”Anne rolled her eyes while Jasmine laughed from the floor.The four girls had taken over Kelsey and Yvette’s room almost an hour ago. Makeup products littered every available surface, clothes hung over chairs, music played softly from Kelsey’s speaker while they got ready in chaotic rotations around the mirror.Anne still wasn’t entirely convince
“This is exactly why I don’t come here often,” Orson muttered under his breath as he pushed his chair back from the table.The sound scraped lightly against the floor.No one on the table reacted.Orson grabbed the car keys resting near the counter, his jaw tight enough to make the irritation on his face impossible to miss. He glanced at Anne once more, something unreadable flashing briefly across his expression before he looked away again.“I’ll see you guys later,” he said flatly, then walked out.A second later, the front door shut.Awkward silence followed immediately afterward, awkward enough for everyone at the table to suddenly find their plates very interesting.Derek’s mother cleared her throat softly. “Well,” she said with forced brightness, “that was dramatic.”Anne almost smiled despite herself.Derek rested his hand briefly against her thigh beneath the table, tapping lightly in apology before withdrawing it again.The gesture was subtle but strangely reassuring.Dinner r
ANNELISE POV“Walk faster, you’re dragging,” Kelsey complained with a hiss as she pushed open the hostel gate ahead of us, her long stride making the rest of us look slower than we actually were.“I’m carrying my entire emotional weight and my dinner,” Jasmine replied, lifting the takeaway bag like evidence. “Respect that.”Yvette sipped from her coffee, completely unaffected. “Walking speed decreases after large meals due to energy redistribution for digestion.”“Or maybe we’re just tired,” I added with a small laugh.The night air had settled into something calm and breathable, the kind that made the campus feel softer than it did during the day. Streetlights lined the walkway, casting long shadows that stretched and disappeared as we moved.We were just nearing the entrance of the hostel when I noticed him… Derek.He stood a few steps away from the building, his attention fixed on his phone. One hand rested casually in his pocket, his posture relaxed like he had nowhere else to be.
“Take your time deciding,” Anne said with a polite smile as she handed the receipt across the counter. “But I’d recommend reserving it if you’re still unsure. Pieces like that don’t stay long.”The older woman on the other side nodded thoughtfully, glancing once more at the painting they had spent nearly fifteen minutes discussing.“You explained it beautifully,” she admitted. “I’ll think about it, but I’m leaning toward buying.”“I’ll have it noted for you,” Anne replied, her tone warm without being overbearing.The woman thanked her once more before stepping out of the gallery, the soft chime of the door signaling her departure.Anne exhaled quietly as the space settled again.Afternoon light filtered through the tall glass panels, casting a gentle glow across the artworks. The gallery carried its usual calm, the kind that made every movement feel intentional, every sound softer than it should be.She adjusted a frame slightly, stepping back to assess it before moving toward another
The gates of Ravenwood Pack opened slowly before the black cullinan glided through.Nothing about the castle had changed.The stone paths still stretched endlessly between towering trees. The massive fountain at the center still poured water in smooth silver streams beneath the afternoon sun. Wereguards still stood at every post with sharpened alertness, and the enormous manor still overlooked everything like a kingdom untouched by time.Yet the moment Cassius stepped out of the car, the atmosphere tensed.The pack members nearby immediately lowered their gazes in respect.“Alpha.”“Alpha Vale.”Their voices carried carefully measured reverence, but beneath it lingered curiosity.It had spread through Ravenwood weeks ago that their Alpha had finally found his mate. Some had expected him to arrive with her beside him. Others assumed she would eventually come later.Instead, he returned alone, and no one dared question it openly, not when the coldness around him felt heavy enough to fre
CASSIUS VALE POVAnne winced at the feel of my palm on her wrist, I wanted to shoot myself in the skull, I overreacted, I was harsh on her, I was mad and lost control of myself, my rough grip caused this bruise on her wrist, it looked so pink I could even feel the pain.
ANNELISE POVI lowered my head in embarrassment as Cassius forcefully dragged me to the car, he showed no softness, no mercy this time, I knew that he was enraged by seeing me with Sloan, but I never thought he could be this rough with me.The searing pain of his finger nails piercing into my wrist
Cassius’ hand rested at Annelise’ lower back as they walked through the crowded red carpet, camera flashes flying around. Annelise let out a small smile with her head lowered from the lights, she clung tightly to her bag as they walked into the event hall.“Can I get your name please?” A valet on b
By 12:46 Cassius was already parked outside the school building waiting for Annelise, cars were trooping in and out as some students came out of the building.Cassius checked his wrist watch for the time, five minutes had passed since he arrived, he sighed and rested his back on the chair as his ey







