MasukSilas watches her pupils widen, and he wonders if she feels it too, the pull that drags them toward each other like a force older than either of them. The atmosphere charges like electricity around them, and he feels her breasts pressed against him, separated by nothing but her thin bathrobe, a fabric so soft that it clings to her curves. He notices the strings holding the robe together tremble with every breath she takes, and fuck… He knows he could snap them with a single tug, but he hesitates. He gulps, fighting the dark possessive instincts that have ruled his entire life. Thorne roars in his head, “Take what you want. Claim what is ours.” Yet she lay there warm and trembling on top of him, and he could not bring himself to force a single thing on her. The realization unsettled him more than his desire did. He wants to kiss her. He craves the taste of her lips so much that it hurts. He should not hesitate, because he never has before, but the idea of her recoiling from him
“Alpha Silas, wh…what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to mask the look of fear on my face. After everything I learned about him, it wasn't a surprise that his mere presence scared me. “You don't want me here,” he said, as if he was sure of it. “Why? Is it because they told you to stay away from me? I'm hurt.” His voice sounded displeased, and his eyes looked… hurt? I gulped, hurriedly shaking my head to deny his words before he did something to me. How can you explain how he knew I was advised to avoid him? “I—I didn't… I was planning on finding you tomorrow to thank you for saving me and also to return your coat,” I lied smoothly, surprising even myself and adding an extra bright smile to make it more believable. “Why don't I believe you?” He murmured, tilting his head as he studied me like a puzzle and taking a step toward me. However, damn my reflexes, I took a step back to create more space between us. “Are you scared of me?” He asked, his tone dripping with displeas
My concentration was on Katherine’s disappearing back and the words she just whispered that I didn't realize Nikolas had come to stand behind me. “You shouldn't be here by this time of night,” he whispered, and I whipped around, bumping into him.I flusteredly tried to avoid leaning on him by taking a step back, but I found myself falling. However, in the next second, strong hands wrapped around me to steady me. I found myself staring into his alluring green eyes that had turned dark but were gleaming under the night sky and gulped. He was much bigger than I was, and he held me with such confidence, as if it were his right. It also didn't help that his scent of cotton candy, chamomile, and summer wind, which was invading my senses, felt soothing. It was subtle, like fresh sheets warmed by the sun, with a mischievous sweetness that draws people in. I didn't know how long we were both staring into each other's eyes, with our lips so close and our breaths mingling that it was a surp
I shut my eyes and opened them again, but the writing on the mirror refused to disappear. The wet red letters looked like blood under the light, and each drop felt like it was echoing inside my chest. I stood there, frozen, trying to breathe while Chloe stood quietly beside me. She looked equally shaken, if not more. “Liv, who did this? Oh my goodness, we have to report it,” she finally said through the silence. I shook my head before I even understood why. My fingers were numb, and my lips felt stiff as I tried to form words. “Someone was in here. Someone knew I would come back right now. Chloe, they want me out.” My voice wavered. I hated that it did. It was just my first day here, yet here I was, trembling in my room as if the ground under my feet had turned to ice. Chloe stepped closer and touched my arm gently. “We can go to the headmistress. Or security. You shouldn't deal with something like this on your own.” I tried to focus on her voice, but my gaze kept drifting
The silence after Killian's departure left me unsettled. But before I could dwell on his words. A woman entered the ward. “Tough day, huh?” she asks, giving me a warm smile, and I nod politely at her. “Yeah,” I say in a low voice. “Don't mind Alpha Killian's words. He is usually very warm and accommodating,” she says. “I don't mind,” I responded, too quickly for her to believe me, but she nodded anyway. “That's good. I'm Celine, the school healer and counselor. You can come and find me if you need any advice or if you have any health concerns.” “Nice to meet you, Celine. I'm Olivia…” “Olivia Quinn from the Central Plains,” she says, interrupting me. “You can return to your room now; you've been discharged,” Celine adds, and Chloe barges in right after her words end as if she'd been summoned. “Oh Liv, you scared me. I was worried sick,” she said, clutching her chest as if she were in pain. I found myself smiling despite myself and how dramatically she was acting. ~~
Katherine's lips curved into a soft, poisonous smile. “Well,” she whispered under her breath, “I’m sure it won’t be me.” I didn’t look at her. I didn’t need to. Headmistress Adelaide continued. “The path to becoming Luna is paved with trials. You will be tested on your discipline, endurance, wisdom, and grace. You will earn points for every trial you complete successfully. The Luna trial board will be in charge of evaluating you.” “On some occasions, the Alphas themselves will be the ones to personally evaluate you.”At the word “personally,” Lucien, the Alpha of the West, smirked. “You make it sound like a threat, Headmistress.”A ripple of laughter moved through the hall, though it died quickly under Adelaide’s glare.She ignored him and went on. “Every decision, every word, every action you take from this day forward will determine your rank. Eyes will be upon you. You will not only compete against one another—you will compete against yourselves.”Then her voice softened, almos







