Chapter 5

kael pov🌹

I woke up feeling awful.

My head was pounding, my mouth dry, and the sunlight slicing through my thin curtains didn’t help. I rolled over, staring at my messy room. Clothes on the floor, my bag tossed by the door, walls cracked in a way that made everything feel heavier.

I groaned. “Great… just great.”

I grabbed my phone.

“Ah crap… I’m late.”

Today was the test.

“Kael! Come down for breakfast!” Mum yelled from downstairs.

“I can’t! I’m late already!” I shouted back.Ever since Eryx left she has been acting like am her favourite son which is so weird and cringe.

I threw myself out of bed, hopped into the shower, letting cold water shock me awake. I barely looked at myself in the mirror. My head was still spinning, my body still sore from last night's party . My first party—a stupid idea. I’d had way too much, wanting to break free of being that cute calm boy with an irresistible body ,and now my body was paying for it.

I yanked on my rumpled school uniform, grabbed my bag, and ran out the door.

At the bus stop, I could see the bus there. I sprinted forward, heart racing, hand reaching for my card—

Then my wolf stirred it hit me.

Heat. Tightness. Panic.

“…No. Not now.”

I froze. My stomach dropped. My body was in rut, and I hadn’t even put on my patch yet.

“Oh no… oh no no no,” I muttered.

I stepped back, trying to keep my composure. The driver was already giving me a look.

“Getting on or not?” he asked.

I swallowed hard. “Uh… sorry,” I mumbled, stepping away.

The bus pulled off.

I groaned, hands on my knees. “…Of course.”

I turned and ran back home, passing mum was still dishing out breakfast for my Dad, heart hammering, patch in hand. Mum was waiting at the door.

“Kael, you’re lucky,” she said.

“I’m fine!” I said, annoyed. “Nothing happened.”

“Going to school and forgetting your patch? An alpha could have—” she started.

“I said I’m fine!” I rolled my eyes and grabbed a hamburger from the counter. “I’m late!”

I ran out again, finally breathing as I headed toward campus. I ended up missing the test anyway, of course.

By the time I got to class, I was already mortified. My friends were looking.

“Wow,” Daniel whispered.

“Rough night?” he said

“Missed the test, huh?” Alex said

First party, what do you expect he said and I rolled my eyes at him .

“Leave him alone,” Noah’s voice cut through.

Noah. My best friend. Tall, broad-shouldered, alpha energy in every step. Protective as hell.

“He’s not like you guys,” Noah said. “Chill.”

“Protective alpha is here “Noah said, we laughed. Class ended soon after. Noah grabbed me and dragged me to the cafeteria.

“You look like death,” he said, buying food.

“Feel like it,” I muttered.

I hesitated, then admitted, “I woke up in a rut.”

Noah stiffened. “Did you have your patch?”

“Yeah… I forgot at first,” I said.

“You can’t risk that,” he warned. “Some alphas don’t respect boundaries. You’re lucky.”

“I know,” I said, poking at my food.

Well I have you I said.

After a few bites, I spoke again. “My brother left.”

Noah frowned. “Eryx?”

“Yeah. He left his chosen alpha. Lior. For his fated mate.”

Noah whistled. “Wait… that Lior? The billionaire?”

I nodded. “Sometimes I wish I had a fated mate like that. Someone who just… knows.”

Noah smirked. “I’m right here, you know.”

I rolled my eyes, but laughed. “You’re impossible.”

Noah plopped down beside us, grimacing at his food. “This is awful. Anyway, there’s a party tonight—big club, hot alphas, hot omegas. You guys coming?”

I hesitated. “I… don’t know.”

“Come on,” Noah said. “I’ll watch you.”

“It’s gonna be insane,” the friend added.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

Noah grinned. “No thinking. We’re going.”

We laughed, talked about school stuff, tried to ignore the panic still twisting in my stomach.

But deep down, I knew something tonight was going to change everything.