Three

Vespa

The bus door hissed open, and as the guys descended, one by one, it was like a switch flipped. A swarm of girls gathered around them.

Googly-eyed adoration. 

Seriously? Why couldn’t these girls keep it together? Where was their dignity?

It felt like a surprise concert by some famous K-pop group, and these were their screaming, teenage fangirls.

"Vespa, look! Those guys are smokin' hot!" Ria nearly vibrated beside me. "I almost passed out at the airport when they helped you. You owe them big time.”

“Helped me?” I shot her a look. “What are you talking about?”

She explained quickly—how I’d fainted, and one of them had caught me.

Great. So not only did they witness my public meltdown, but one of them physically caught me in my most pathetic state. Fantastic

"Oh, absolutely," I deadpanned. "I should probably track down some expensive oils, wash their feet, and fan them dry with my hair. Think that would properly express my gratitude?”

It didn't help that the guys looked like they’d stepped directly off the cover of some ridiculously exclusive magazine. Every muscle on their arms was perfectly sculpted, and they moved with the kind of smug grace that screamed self-importance.

Every casual glance they threw, sent the girls into a frenzy. 

A bead of sweat trickled down my temple. I wiped it away and scowled.

Donovan’s public rejection was still fresh in my veins. It was a personal masterclass on why werewolves were an emotionally bankrupt investment. I wasn’t about to go crawling back.

Ria snorted with laughter. "Check out the one in the white shirt with the blonde man-bun.” She nudged me, angling my face toward him. 

He was, unfortunately, gorgeous. The kind of face that makes your eyes hurt if you stare too long—like the sun.

He had a casual, flirty energy. His arm slid around the waist of a giggling brunette, and her head immediately lolled onto his shoulder.

“Typical man-whore," I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Next."

"Fine, fine, Miss Judgmental. But what about the one behind him?" she pressed, now pointing at a guy in a black leather jacket.

He had dark hair, nearly black, and wore a scowl like it was tattooed on his face. He had a sharp jawline, intense eyes, and a presence that screamed dangerous.

"Hmm," I said, tapping my chin. “Looks like the type who’d break a girl’s heart, then light it on fire just to watch it burn. Definitely a red flag.”

"That's harsh!" Ria laughed, leaning against me. “He’s got that hot, powerful, ‘worship me or die’ vibe. Can you imagine that mouth giving you a—"

“Are you ovulating?” I cut in sharply. “Because I clearly remember you lecturing me about dating a werewolf. What happened to ‘they’re animals, Vespa’?”

She waved a dismissive hand. "There are exceptions. And Donovan isn't half as fine as these new imports.”

“Let’s just hand out the damn forms.”

“You’re no fun,” she pouted. “C’mon, let’s at least analyze the third one. We need to complete the set.”

I clapped my hands over my ears.

A fresh wave of squeals burst from the crowd. Someone bumped the table, nearly sending our paperwork flying. That was it.

I slammed my palm onto the table. "Alright, ladies! Calm down! This isn't a boyband meet-and-greet.”

All three guys turned to look at me.

Their gazes were intense.

An annoying weird flutter tickled my stomach.

One of them, the one Ria hadn’t analyzed yet, stepped away from the pack and approached our table.

He smiled, and a single, unfairly cute dimple appeared on his left cheek. His steel-gray eyes sparkled with amusement. His light brown curls were a messy tumble that somehow worked.

"Hey, it's you,” he said casually. “Glad to see you're okay.”

Flustered, I fiddled with a pen. “Name?”

He blinked, a little surprised. “Zeke.”

“Last name?”

“Wolfe.”

“Of course it is,” I muttered under my breath, scribbling the info down. Our hands brushed as I handed him the papers.

His gaze lingered. 

“Shouldn’t you be thanking us for helping you at the airport?” he teased. “Bit cold, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, still not meeting his eyes.

Just then, the other two approached, flanking him.

All three were now in front of me. Why did the air suddenly feel heavier?

"These are my brothers, Kai and Ziah," Zeke introduced.

"There are other registration desks," I said flatly. "Please spread out."

Ziah, the man-bun flirt, leaned on the table. “Over your little dizzy spell, sweetheart?”

I ignored him and focused on Zeke. But their sheer presence was hard to tune out.

"Not even a little thank-you for saving the damsel-in-distress?" Ziah added with a wink.

Kai, the scowling one, leaned in. Ria was right. His lips looked like sin. Dangerous sin.

Focus, Vespa.

"Don't scare her, Kai," Zeke warned, still watching me. "You and Ziah are acting like you want to drag her into bed and—”

“Shut up, Zeke,” Kai snapped.

“You’re the one making her uncomfortable,” Zeke shot back.

In seconds, they were bickering. Loudly.

I blinked in disbelief. Weren’t they supposed to be intimidating beasts? And here they were, squabbling like toddlers.

Beside me, Ria mouthed, “What is going on?“

I seized the moment. Grabbing my purse, I slipped away from the table while their argument escalated. Almost free, until a shadow fell over me.

Kai.

He appeared beside me, moving with a predator’s stealth. A smirk played on his lips.

“Respectfully,” I began with forced calm, “fuck off.”

He didn’t flinch. “Have lunch with me.”

It wasn’t a request. It was a command.

“Why in the goddamn world would I have lunch with a half-man, half-beast like you?”

He stepped closer. I backed up.

“I assure you,” he growled low, “I’m more man than any human male you’ve ever had the misfortune of fucking. Now. Have lunch with me.”

The audacity.

“You’ll have to drag me there by my hair,” I hissed, lifting my chin. “And I strongly suggest you and your arrogant brothers stay the hell away from me.”

“We’ll see about that.” He eyed me from head to toe, then turned and walked back toward the others like he owned the damn pavement.

Shuddering with a mixture of annoyance and a strange thrill, I headed to my dorm room, seeking solace from the chaos that seemed to be my new shadow.

I collapsed onto my bed, face down, groaning into my pillow. I hadn't even begun to get over Donovan, and now this. 

I didn't need any more complications, especially not wolf-shaped ones.

Ria rushed in a few minutes later, perching on my reading chair beside the bed, bubbling with amusement.

"Well, for someone trying to keep a low profile, you sure managed to snag a truckload of intense attention from three incredibly hot brothers. You should probably hire a bodyguard. Seriously."

"And why is that?" I asked, my voice dry and muffled by the pillow.

"Because girls on this campus are going to hate you so much. You're like catnip to the most eligible new arrivals."

"Whatever," I grumbled, pushing myself up. "I'm headed to the campus radio station. I have my slot in an hour."

"Ooh, maybe you can share some of your secret tips for attracting hot, sexy, dangerous werewolves on air," Ria teased, waggling her eyebrows. "Because you clearly have the magic touch."

I flipped her the middle finger without looking back and headed out the door.