Chapter 6

The next day on campus, I walked with a light step. I couldn’t hide my smile; it felt as if the whole world was on my side. My friends looked at me curiously, whispering among themselves, probably wondering why my face was glowing like that. I tried to act normal, even though inside, memories from last night kept replaying Gabriel’s gaze, that kiss, and the last words he said to me.

“Seraphina!”

A cheerful voice called out from the campus garden. I turned and saw David, my classmate who I’d known for a while had feelings for me. He was holding something wrapped neatly in pale blue paper.

“Hey, you look so happy today,” he said with a wide smile.

I let out a small laugh, trying to hide the sudden nervousness in my chest.

“Oh, really? Maybe because I finally got enough sleep.”

“This is for you.” He handed me the gift.

I hesitated for a second, but his sincere eyes made it hard for me to refuse.

“Thank you, David. But what’s this for?”

“It’s nothing. I just wanted you to have something from me. By the way, there’s a party tonight on the Economics rooftop. I want you to come as my date.”

I froze. My heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. The word “date” instantly brought Gabriel’s face into my mind. But David was still looking at me with hopeful eyes, waiting for my answer.

“All right,” I finally said softly, giving a small nod.

David looked delighted, while I just stared at the gift box in my hands, unsure of what I had just agreed to.

That night, I stood in front of the mirror. The simple ivory dress I wore somehow felt different on me. I stared at my reflection and suddenly remembered how Gabriel used to look at me like someone fighting the urge to lose control.

I took a deep breath. “It’s just a campus party. It has nothing to do with him.”

Outside, the city lights shimmered. The rooftop party was livelier than I expected. Music was booming, everyone was dancing and laughing. David stayed by my side, trying to make me smile. I tried to enjoy the atmosphere, but my mind kept drifting back to that house to Gabriel.

As I was about to grab a drink, someone tapped my shoulder. “You look uncomfortable.”

I turned and saw one of David’s friends, a girl named Clara. “Oh, no, I’m fine,” I said quickly.

But inside, I was lying.

David returned, holding two glasses of soda, and handed one to me.

“You look beautiful tonight, Sera.”

I smiled and lowered my head slightly. “Thank you.”

When the music slowed into a softer tune, David looked hesitant.

“May I have this dance?”

I nodded.

His hand rested gently on my waist as we moved slowly to the rhythm. But every time I closed my eyes, it wasn’t David I saw in my mind. It was Gabriel his piercing blue eyes, cold yet filled with something unspoken.

I bit my lip, trying to focus on David, but then I caught a faint scent in the air one I knew too well. The musky scent that only belonged to one man.

No, that’s impossible.

But my instincts, sharpened from spending too much time near an Alpha, reacted instantly. I knew he was here.

I turned quickly, and my gaze froze. In the dim corner of the room, half-hidden by neon shadows, stood Gabriel. Dressed in black, his face partly cloaked in darkness. He wasn’t looking directly at me, yet his sharp gaze locked onto me from across the room.

David didn’t notice anything. He simply smiled.

“Are you okay? You look pale.”

I swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, just a little dizzy.”

But before I could step back, Gabriel moved. Within seconds, he was across the room, and somehow everyone seemed to notice him. His presence wasn’t just cold, it was the kind of commanding aura only an Alpha could carry.

David glanced toward him. “Who is that?”

“Someone who shouldn’t be here,” I whispered.

Gabriel walked straight toward us, his steps steady and deliberate. The music seemed to fade around him. Some students began whispering, others looked uneasy, as if they could all feel the force of his dominance.

When he stopped in front of me, David instinctively stepped between us.

“Excuse me, who are you?” he asked politely.

Gabriel didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on me.

“Seraphina. We need to talk. Now.”

David looked confused. “Sera, do you know him?”

I didn’t have the chance to answer. Gabriel leaned closer, his voice low enough only for me to hear.

“You dare play with fire, and now you’re dancing in front of it?” His tone was almost a whisper, but it made me shiver.

“It’s just a campus party, Dad.”

He smirked faintly. “But you forget, fire doesn’t care where you dance. It still burns.”

Gabriel turned and pulled me out of the party with firm steps. Everyone’s eyes were on us, but he didn’t care.

Outside, I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip didn’t loosen.

“Gabriel, let me go! This is my campus everyone’s watching!”

He stopped. “Maybe that’s what you want, so the world knows who truly owns your heart.”

“Didn’t we agree to keep this relationship a secret? You’re the one who said that,” I reminded him.

“A secret remains a secret, but you should also know your limits with other men,” he said, his eyes narrowing at me.