Chapter 9 – No choice left

Lyra

“This is absurd!” I burst out, folding my arms across my chest like armor. “I’m not going to your house. That doesn’t have to be the only option.”

Mirae turned to look at me like I’d grown two heads. Her brows shot up, mouth slightly agape, as if she couldn’t believe I had the audacity to speak.

But the truth?

My heart was racing, so fast it felt like it might break through my ribs and crash onto the floor. I wasn’t trying to be rude. I was trying to stay sane. I was trying to stop myself from diving headfirst into a fire I knew would burn me. Nick was too much.

“That’s not my problem,” the dorm mistress snapped, already gathering her files. “I’m done here.”

She turned toward the door, pausing just long enough to give us one last warning.

“Make sure to lock the door when you're all done, okay?” And with that, she was gone.

The room felt strangely silent after her departure. Just us now. And him.

Nick turned to me with that signature smirk slowly curling on his lips. He stepped closer, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, focused on me like I was some puzzle he intended to solve.

“So... you’re saying you won’t stay at my place?” he asked, voice low, amused.

Each step he took closer made my throat tighten. I backed up instinctively, but Mirae, being the little traitor she was, suddenly pushed me forward from behind.

“Mirae—!” I yelped, just as I stumbled into him.

He didn’t flinch. His face was suddenly inches from mine, so close I could feel the heat radiating from his skin. I could see the tiny flecks of hazel in his eyes, the curve of his lip, the faint scent of mint and something darker, like smoke and temptation.

My heart stopped. For a second, it was like time did too.

“Stop it!” I cried, trying to wriggle away, but my feet fumbled.

I shoved Mirae’s hands off my back just as she lost her balance, her arms flailing as she stumbled back. At the same moment, I lost mine.

But before I could hit the ground, he caught me.

Strong hands wrapped around my waist, steadying me. His touch sent a jolt up my spine, and for a terrifying second, all I could do was stare at him.

This close, he looked unreal.

Handsome wasn’t even the word. He looked like something out of a forbidden dream. Sharp jawline. Those deep, unreadable eyes. That damn smirk that said he knew exactly the effect he had on me.

“He’s so… handsome,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

His smirk deepened.

Crap.

I pushed him away quickly, cheeks flaming. “I—we’re leaving,” I stammered, grabbing Mirae’s arm and making a beeline for the door. “Let’s go.”

From behind, I heard his voice echo after us….smooth, teasing, way too pleased with himself.

“You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Thanks!” Mirae yelled back.

But I didn’t say anything. I just kept walking, dragging her along like my life depended on it. Because maybe it did.

Back in our room, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, heart pounding.

Mirae turned to face me, arms crossed, giving me that look.

“Lyra, what’s with you?” she demanded. “Why do you keep pushing him away? Don’t tell me you’re already falling for him.”

“No way!” I said a little too loudly, letting out a forced laugh. “Just because he helped us doesn’t mean we owe him anything. We don’t have to stay at his place. We’ll figure something else out. Tomorrow.”

Mirae gave me a long, skeptical look before flopping on the chair.

“I’m just saying… maybe don’t push away someone who’s actually helping you.”

I didn’t respond. I just rushed to my room, and climbed into my bed and faced the wall, pulling the blanket over my shoulders like a shield.

But my mind was far from still.

Why was he helping me?

Nick didn’t seem like the type to do favors for nothing. Was this some kind of power play? Some twisted way to get into my head?

I couldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t trust him.

He was a playboy. The kind of guy who left girls breathless and broken without so much as looking back.

But then… why did he look at me like I mattered?

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

A new message.

I checked the screen.

It was him.

Nick.

The same number. The same dangerous confidence in a few simple words:

"Good night. And sweet dreams. Make sure to dream about me."

My heart skipped a beat, then started pounding as if he were right there beside me. I stared at the message for too long, like it had cast some kind of spell.

Suddenly, every moment from today came rushing back.

His smirk.

His hands around my waist.

The way he held me like I belonged there.

I blinked rapidly, trying to shake the thoughts off, but Mirae’s words echoed in my mind:

“Are you already falling for him?”

I can't. I won’t. I barely know him.

I rolled onto my side, groaning, pulling the blanket over my head.

One moment, I was lying in bed.

The next, I was barefoot in a dense forest, my nightgown clinging to me as branches scratched my arms. Panic gripped me, I was running, stumbling, running again. My lungs burned as growls surrounded me.

Werewolves. I couldn’t see them, but I felt them, dark, fast, hungry.

I ran harder, pushing through the trees, until I tripped and fell.

Then... someone grabbed me.

Strong arms. Warm breath against my skin.

“You’re mine now,” the voice growled, deep and possessive.

I tried to see his face, but it was shadowed. All I could make out was the glint in his eyes… and then he lunged toward my neck, like he was going to bite me.

I screamed.

My eyes flew open.

Morning.

I was in my bed, safe, but soaked in sweat. The entire room was flooded with sunlight. I sat up quickly, breathing hard.

“What the hell was that…”

I stretched, wiped my forehead, and yawned. But as I turned to the side…

I gasped.

Nick was right there, beside my bed.

Leaning casually on the edge, arms crossed, looking down at me with that same cocky smirk.

“What are you—?” I started.

But when I blinked, he was gone.

I blinked again, rubbing my eyes.

Gone.

It was a hallucination. Just a damn hallucination.

“Oh my God… I need help.”

I pressed my hand to my forehead, still shaking. Why was I dreaming about him? Seeing him in my room like that? Why was he in my head this deep already?

My thoughts were interrupted by noise from outside the room, commotion, shouting.

I threw the covers off and ran out.

In the hallway, Mirae was surrounded by two stern-looking men in uniforms, and they were already pulling our things out of the room.

“What’s going on?!” I yelled, panic rising in my throat.

Mirae turned around, eyes watery. “Nick isn’t helping us anymore,” she said, voice breaking. “And now we’re back to square one.”

“What?”

She pointed to a paper in her hand, then to the man holding another one. “They came with our letters. Yours is scholarship termination… and mine is suspension.”

My knees buckled slightly as I stepped forward and grabbed the paper.

No.

No no no.

I couldn’t even breathe. I could barely read past the words "TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS."

“This can’t be happening!” I whispered, my throat tight. My vision blurred.

“I’ll be back,” I muttered suddenly, heart thudding.

“Lyra!” Mirae called after me. “You’re still in your nightwear! Where are you going?!”

I didn’t answer. I didn't care about anything for now. My hair was a mess, my pajamas were wrinkled, but none of it mattered now. Desperation had swallowed every ounce of shame I had left.

I sprinted down the hallway barefoot, not stopping as I ran through the front doors. Students turned to stare, whispering as I rushed toward the hockey dorms, the elite block.

I’d never stepped foot there. I wasn’t even allowed.

But today, nothing else mattered.

“Please! Where’s Nick? I need to see him. Please!” I begged one of the guys at the entrance, breathless and shaking.

A few of them exchanged glances, smirking like I was a circus act. I didn’t care.

Then his voice cut through everything.

“I’m here.”

I turned.

Nick stood just a few feet away. Sharp black shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, hint of abs showing, hair tousled just right. His shoes gleamed, but all I could see was his face, calm, unreadable, but undeniably amused.

He looked me over once, gaze lingering, lips twitching at the corners.

“Are you here to accept my offer now?” he asked smoothly. “So... you’ll be spending the week at my place?”