Bound To My Rival

<Collision Course>

ADRIAN

“Adrian, hey.” A girl called as she ran after me. 

“Hey.” I smiled, turning to face her.

Her face looked a bit familiar and I was wondering where I had met her before.

She wasn't a wolf though. I could tell that by her scent. 

But if she wasn't a wolf, what would she want from me?

“I'm Chloe. We met at the football game.” She smiled at me as she played with her hair.

“Oh Chloe.” I grinned. “Hi. It's nice to see you around.”

Did I remember who she was? 

No.

Was I going to let her know that?

Definitely not.

I saw a lot of ladies everyday. I'm sure no one expected me to keep a track of them, right?

“Im hosting a party at my place tonight. Would you like to come?” She leaned in closer, closing the space between the both of us.

“Shit.” 

I took two steps back and ran a hand through my hair. “I'm pretty busy tonight, I'm not so sure I'll be able to make it.”

“Oh.” Her face fell. “Okay. That's fine. I'll see you around school though, right?”

“Yeah of course.” I nodded with a grin.

That seemed to pacify her because she smiled widely at me.

“Okay. See you, then.”

I nodded and kept walking.

It had rained cats and dogs this morning, so the environment still smelled of wet grass.

I walked across the quad with my hands in the pocket of my leather jacket in an effort to keep out the cold.

The university’s campus was buzzing with life.

There was chatter, laughter, and the usual chaos that came with college but I felt very out of place. They had no idea the danger that lurked within them.

No one else could sense it. No one could sense this constant hum of power that came with being a wolf on enemy territory….

“My man.” I heard a yell from my left.

…. except him.

“Connor.” I laughed as I rushed to him.

Connor was my beta, best friend and big brother, and he was also the only person I considered a friend here. He was the only one who understood me.

“Bro, I saw you with that girl.” Connor waggled his eyebrows as he fell into step beside me. 

“I know.” I laughed, ignoring the admiring look a passing human gave us. Humans. They had no idea they walked among creatures who could rip them apart in seconds.

“She's really pretty.” He said again.

“Okay.” I tried not to show him I was interested.

“C'mon man. Fine. What was she telling you?”

“She was talking about her party tonight, and that she wants me to come. Her name is Chloe by the way, and apparently, we spoke on the night of the game.”

“So…are you going?”

“Nope.” I shook my head, causing Connor to groan in anger.

“Careful, or you might let out a growl.” I shoved him as we laughed.

Being Alpha heir of the Nightfang Pack wasn’t exactly conducive to “blending in”, but I wasn’t here for friends or parties. 

College was supposed to be neutral ground. A place to finish my degree, keep my head low, and wait for the inevitable day my father stepped down.

And maybe… just maybe… find my mate. I had plans to save myself for my mate, and going to parties and getting drunk was definitely not going to help with that.

I turned a corner, and my wolf snarled instantly.

That scent.

I didn’t even have to look to know who it was.

“Move, Nightfang,” a deep, amused voice said.

There he was.

Lucas Rayne. Alpha heir of the rival Rayne Pack and my enemy since we were kids. 

Lucas leaned against the wall like he owned the campus. 

He has always been the taller one between us, and while that pissed me off when we were younger, I didn't care anymore. I was still really tall anyway.

His dark hair fell into his eyes, which glinted with that familiar, dangerous amusement.

“You’re on my side of the quad,” I growled.

“This is a public campus.” He shrugged and motioned around with infuriating calm. “But it’s cute that you think you own it.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You shouldn’t be here, Lucas. Your pack made that clear the last time they sent their scouts sniffing around our borders.”

“Neutral ground, remember?” His grin widened. “You’re all bark, no bite, Hale.”

Heat burned through me. Lucas has always had that effect on me.

“You know I could wipe that smug look off your face right now,” I growled as I fisted my hands.

He leaned forward slightly and whispered. “Then do it.”

My jaw clenched, but then I took a deep calming breath and walked away.

That was the thing about this… whatever it was between us. We’d been challenging each other for years, but neither of us had crossed that invisible line to throw a fist.

Not yet, my wolf murmured.

When I got to my dorm room, it was still obvious that I was angry.

Eli, a beta wolf from our pack, and also my roommate looked up from whatever it was he was doing on his laptop.

“Another run-in with him?”

I didn’t need to ask who he meant. Everyone in my pack knew Lucas Rayne was a thorn in my side.

“Yeah,” I muttered, tossing my jacket on the bed with a sigh. “Why the hell is he here, Eli? He has a university in his own damn territory.”

Eli smirked. “Maybe he followed you?”

I shot him a glare, and he chuckled. “Relax, okay? It’s neutral ground. You’re both allowed to be here. Doesn’t mean you have to kill each other in the hallway.”

I didn’t respond to him.

I walked to the window and looked out at the quad where Lucas had been standing.

The sun was setting, turning the sky blood-orange. My wolf shifted restlessly.

I knew it wasn’t just hatred I felt when I saw him. It was something… wilder.

I lay in bed that night, struggling to sleep through my thoughts and the noise coming from the other dorms, but it proved impossible.

Morning came too early. I felt like I had been asleep for just five minutes when Eli woke me up.

My first class was at eight, and I literally had to drag myself there.

The lecture hall was half full with students hunched over laptops and notebooks. I scanned the room….and I froze

There at the back was Lucas. He sat so casually and comfortably like he owned the place.

We locked eyes and he smiled mockingly at me.

I sat as far away from him as possible, but I could feel his gaze burning into the back of my neck the entire class.

By the time the lecture ended, my wolf was pacing like a caged beast. I grabbed my bag and headed out fast, but of course Lucas was right behind me.

“Hey, Nightfang,” he drawled.

I stopped, spinning to face him. “What?”

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You’re jumpy today. Something wrong?”

“Other than your face? No.”

His smirk deepened. “Good one.” He stepped closer, and whispered. “For someone who says he hates me, you look at me quite a lot.”

“Stay out of my way, Lucas.” I snapped.

“I can't.” He shrugged. “You're very fun to mess with.”

He walked away, and I stood there with anger swirling in my stomach.

What the fuck was he doing here?

And why the hell did it feel like I've stepped into a fight I didn't prepare for?