Chapter 2

DEVIKA

Vance stepped forward, fully into the bathroom now, towering over me and blocking the only exit. His body swallowed up the space like a wall, his eyes burning gold.

"But first," he said, voice low and angry, "what the hell are you doing in my dorm?"

My stomach dropped.

What?

His dorm?

I hadn’t known. I’d been in this school almost a month now, and I’d never stepped foot near this wing. I didn’t even know Vance’s room. I thought it was just empty, like most dorms during the festival ball.

“I didn’t know this was yours,” I said quickly. 

“When I talk to you, you answer properly,” he snapped. “What are you doing here? And what the fuck was that sound I heard? Don’t lie to me because I heard you clearly.”

“I came to… relieve myself. Been a while I had se…..” I stammered hoping he’d believe the lie I just told him. He stared like I’d just said the dumbest thing alive.

“Oh, so you came to my dorm to fucking wank? Of all the rooms, you chose mine?” he yelled, stepping closer, his jaw clenched tight.

His scent hit me again, stronger this time, warm and wild like cedar and something darker underneath. My thighs pressed together without thinking. My body responded before my brain could catch up. 

I took a step back.

And he noticed.

His head tilted like a predator sniffing blood. “Why does your smell… attract me?” he muttered, eyes narrowing. “You used a scent charm, didn’t you? Thought I wouldn’t notice?”

“You show up here, saying you want to jerk off because of a girl? You think I’m that fucking dumb?” He let out a sharp, dark laugh that sent chills down my back.

“You’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?” he growled. “You’re into men, huh? That’s why you’ve been acting weird around me—trying to get my attention.” My chest pounded hard. I shook my head.

“No, I didn’t use any charm. I swear I didn’t—” I tried to explain, but he didn’t let me finish. His hand shot out, grabbed me by the neck, and shoved me against the wall. 

His grip wasn’t crushing, but it was firm. Too firm. My heart thudded in my chest as his eyes flicked between rage and something else. 

Something darker.

“Why would you use a charm on me, you godforsaken bastard?” he hissed, his face inches from mine. 

“I didn’t— I didn’t use anything!” I choked. It’s just me. The heat had made me sweat too much so the scent blocker wore off. He didn’t hear me. Or maybe he did and didn’t care. 

But then his eyes were glowing now. Red, deep red. His lips were parted, and his breath was rough, hitting my cheek in hot waves.

Then something shifted.

He stared at me, not with hate—but hunger. Lust. It was like something inside him was being yanked awake. Why was he looking at me like that?

He hated me.

He always had.

But right now, he was staring at me like I was his, like I belonged to him. His nostrils flared, and he leaned in, eyes locked on mine.

Why was he acting like this? Had he forgotten I was supposed to be a boy? Was he… into men?

That thought punched me hard.

No. That couldn’t be it. Could it? He hated my guts. He’d never shown the slightest bit of softness. And now he was here, hands on me, eyes drinking me in. 

My chest rose and fell too fast. My body was heating up again, the ache between my legs building, curling tighter. He leaned closer, right to my neck, and inhaled deep like he was addicted to the scent.

“Fuck, you smell so good Devan,” he whispered like he was drunk, like the scent was controlling him. And I didn’t stop him.

I should have. I should have shoved him off, screamed, done something. But I couldn’t. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the way his body pressed into mine, but I melted under his touch. 

His hand roamed over my neck, slow, heavy, and every part of me buzzed. And then, without warning, he kissed me—rough, desperate, like he was starving.

I moaned.

His tongue explored mine with the same anger he had just shown, like he wanted to devour me and punish me all at once. His hands moved higher, and when they brushed against the soft swell of my chest, I arched into him.

God.

What was wrong with me? I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to because it felt too good. His kiss deepened, his body hot against mine—and then the door suddenly burst open.

“Vance?”

Axel and Ryder stood at the doorway, eyes wide, staring at the scene. Vance kissing the one person he hated the most in the whole school.

Me.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Axel whispered. Vance blinked like waking from a trance. Then he shoved me hard, as if I’d burned him. His face twisted again—rage, confusion, disgust.

But he didn’t say a word.

He just stood there, fists clenched, breathing hard, like he didn’t even know what he'd just done.

-

VANCE

I stood frozen, breathing hard, like I had just snapped out of some sick trance. My back hit the wall before I even realized I had moved. My lips still tingled, burned from something I didn’t understand. 

What the hell had I done?

Axel’s voice echoed through the silence. “Why were you kissing Devan in your bathroom?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My eyes stayed locked on Devan, whose lips were still parted, swollen from my kiss. His chest rose and fell fast, like he didn’t understand what just happened either.

Then Ryder stepped forward. “Are you into men now?” My hands flew up before he could finish. “That would never happen. Never,” I snapped, my voice sharp, too loud. 

I wasn’t even sure who I was yelling at—him or myself. They both stared at me like I’d grown two heads. I couldn’t blame them. I hated Devan from the first moment I saw him.

Something about him had always felt wrong. The way he walked, the way he stared too long, like he could see right through me. Like he was waiting for something.

And now this?

I turned to him, my jaw clenched tight. His face was pale, his lips trembling. There was fear in his eyes, real fear, and for a second, just seeing him made my chest twist in disgust.

“Leave,” I said softly. 

He didn’t move.

“I said leave, now, Devan.” This time, I growled it.

He ran, footsteps slamming against the floor like he was being hunted. And maybe he was. Maybe I was hunting him, even if I didn’t know why.

Axel gave a short laugh. “Well… that was new. You’re sure you’re straight?”

“Shut up! I’m not in the mood.”  

Ryder grinned. “You sure you’re not hiding something from us man, because you just made out with your enemy. Guess Vance swings both ways now.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Get out. Both of you. I need a shower.” They shared a look, then shrugged and walked off, laughing under their breath like this would be their favorite story forever.

When the door closed behind them, I leaned on it. My hands shook as I ran them through my hair, the kiss still burning on my lips.

Why did I kiss him?

He was a boy. A boy I hated. I never wanted him. Never looked at him like that and still it made no sense. I took off my clothes and stood under the shower, letting the warm water cascade down my body. 

But nothing washed away the feel of him. That scent—his scent had pulled me in like he belonged to me. The way my hands touched him like I needed him. That wasn’t normal. 

Who the hell was he?

This only happened if someone was your mate.

But we weren’t mates.

Unless……

Unless the Moon Goddess wants to make a mistake.

No way.

She wouldn’t dare mate me with someone like Devan. I didn’t even believe in that whole fated mate crap. And even if I did, it wouldn’t be a boy. Not him.

Hatred swelled in my chest all over again. I slammed a fist into the wall. He had to be playing me. Well, if he thought I’d go easy, he was wrong. I would break him if I had to. I didn’t care who he was or what game he was playing.

I was Vance Monroe.

And I was going to find out what the hell he was hiding.