Chapter 13

Aliyah's POV

Leah's words hung in the air, and I just stood there, frozen, staring at her as if she'd grown a second head. The motel room smelled like cheap beer and smoke, with crumpled sheets on the bed and Jude smirking from the corner like he'd won some stupid prize.

"Flattered?" I finally choked out, my voice was shaking with rage. "You think I should be flattered that this creep drugged me? That he tried to—"

"Oh, spare me the victim act, Aliyah," Leah interrupted, pulling the sheet tighter around her chest as she sat up straighter. Her eyes, usually so sharp and calculating, was now gleamed with something darker— something sinister. "You're always playing the innocent little scholarship girl. 'Poor me, I have a crush on the hot professor.' Grow up. Jude saw an opportunity, and he took it. That's how the world works."

Kelly stepped forward, her fists clenched at her sides as if she was ready to punch her in the face. "You bitch! You've been screwing him this whole time? Behind our backs? I thought you were our friend!"

Leah let out a cold, sinister laugh that echoed off the thin walls. "Friend? Please. You three are just convenient. Aliyah with her pathetic mooning over Skylar, you with your cheerleader drama, and Becca... well, Becca's just there, isn't she? Quiet little mouse with her secrets."

Becca flinched beside me, her face paled but she didn't say a word. I could feel her tension, like Leah struck a nerve.

Jude set his beer down on the nightstand with a deliberate clink, his golden blonde hair rough like someone continuously ran their hand through it. Ewww.

"Ladies, ladies. No need to get hysterical. Leah and I? We've got history. And Aliyah, babe, that night at the party? You were into it. Let's not."

"Into it?" I snarled, taking a step closer. My wolf, Maya, growled low in my mind, urging me to shift and tear him into pieces. I wish I could. "You spiked my drink with wolfsbane extract! I don't remember a damn thing because of you!"

He shrugged, leaning back against the headboard with a completely relaxed attitude. "Details. Skylar thought it'd be a good way to... redirect your affections. And hey, it almost worked."

Skylar. Tyler's words from earlier flooded back, making my stomach churn. "Skylar? You're saying he was in on this too?" I tested him.

Jude's sharp blue eyes flicked to Leah, then back to me, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Oh, honey. You really are clueless. Professor Prim-and-Proper couldn't stand your puppy-dog eyes in class. He asked me to handle it. Make sure you got tangled up with someone else. Me, specifically. And Leah here? She's been my little helper all along."

Leah rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "Jude's got ambitions. Drama club president isn't enough—he wants real power. And me? I get what I want too. Win-win." She shrugged.

Kelly whirled on her. "What the hell does that even mean? You're sleeping with this loser for power? You're an Alpha wolf, Leah! Or whatever you are—princess of Loxville or not, this is low even for you!"

Leah's face hardened at the mention of her real title, her brown eyes narrowing. "Watch your mouth, Kelly. You think you're so high and mighty because Daddy's the chairman and keeps your secrets? One word from me, and your little illegitimate status blows up."

Kelly's chocolate brown hair whipped as she lunged forward, but I grabbed her arm, holding her back. "Don't. She's not worth it."

Becca finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. "Leah, why? We've been roommates for months. I thought... I thought we were a pack, in our own way."

Leah sneered. "A pack? With you? The girl who's sneaking around with a rogue wolf behind her family's back? Please. You're all hypocrites. Aliyah's lusting after two professors—twins, no less—and acting like she's the victim. At least I'm honest about what I want."

My cheeks burned. "How do you know about the twins?"

She smirked. "Walls are thin in the dorm, Ali. And Jude hears things. Word gets around."

Jude chuckled. "Yeah, and speaking of Tyler... he's not as innocent as he seems. But hey, if you want to play mates with him, go ahead. Just don't come crying when Skylar finds out."

I felt Maya's fury spike, but doubt crept in too. Tyler had warned me about Skylar, but what if he was playing his own game? "This isn't about them. This is about you two betraying me—us."

Leah stood up, wrapping the sheet around her, "Betraying? Grow up, Aliyah. In Eclipsera, you take what you want or get taken. Jude and I? We're just ahead of the game. Now get out before I call security—or worse, the Alpha council."

Kelly spat on the floor. "You're done, Leah. Or should I say, Princess Liona? Don't think we won't spread this."

Leah's eyes flashed with real anger for the first time. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me," Kelly shot back.

Becca tugged at my sleeve. "Ali, let's go. This isn't helping."

I nodded, but as we turned to leave, Jude called out. "Oh, and Aliyah? Skylar's not done with you. That mate bond with Tyler? It's going to complicate things. Big time."

The door slammed behind us, and we stumbled out into the motel parking lot, the cool evening air hit me like a wake-up call. Kelly was fuming, pacing back and forth. "I can't believe her! Sleeping with that asshole after what he did to you?"

Becca hugged herself, her shy demeanor was cracking. "And she knows about my... my rogue. How?"

"Doesn't matter," I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt. "We need to figure out what to do next. Leah's got secrets, but so do we. And if Skylar really is behind this..."

Kelly stopped pacing and grabbed my shoulders. "Ali, you can't seriously believe Tyler's crap about Skylar. He's your mate, sure, but he's also Skylar's twin. Twins stick together, right?"

I shook my head. "I don't know what to believe anymore. But Tyler said he overheard them plotting. And Jude just confirmed it."

Becca's eyes widened. "What if it's all a setup? Jude's on that bet to win you over—maybe this is part of it."

The thought made my blood run cold. "A bet? Wait, you know about that?"

She nodded. "Overheard him bragging in the drama club. Said he'd bag the 'untouchable' literature major."

Kelly groaned. "Great. So everyone's playing games. What now?"

My phone buzzed again—this time, a text from an unknown number. I opened it, my heart skipping.

'Meet me at the old pack warehouse. Midnight. Come alone. We need to talk about your mates. - A friend'

"A friend?" Kelly peered over my shoulder. "That screams trap. Obviously."

Becca agreed. "Don't go, Ali."

But Maya stirred, she was curious. "I have to. If it's about Skylar and Tyler..."

Kelly sighed. "Fine, but we're coming with you. We'll be hidden though."

Midnight came too fast. The warehouse was dark and felt eerie. I slipped inside with my senses on high alert. Footsteps echoed, and a figure emerged from the shadows—Professor Whyte, our math professor with her poise as sharp as ever, even in the dim light.

"Professor Whyte?" I whispered. "What are you doing here?"

What's going on?

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Aliyah Marcus. The little Zeen wolf causing all the trouble. I know about your bond with Tyler. And your obsession with Skylar."

"How—"

"I've been watching," she said, stepping closer. Her age showed in the lines around her eyes, but her obsession burned bright. "Skylar was mine once. An affair, it was brief but passionate. And now you're in the fucking way."

I backed up. "I don't want to fight you."

"Oh, but you will," she hissed. "Because I have proof. Proof that you have been seducing your own professor. And if you don't back off, I'll expose everything— to the school. Your scholarship? Gone. Your dreams? Will become non existent."

"Blackmail?" I laughed bitterly. "That's your play?"

Her eyes narrowed. "It's effective. And it will work. It always does."

Maya growled.

"What do you want?"

"Leave Skylar the fuck alone. Or I'll ruin you." She snarled and stepped into my space.

Before I could respond, a crash echoed from outside. Kelly and Becca burst in, shifting in the middle of their stride, into their wolf forms.

"Bitch, get away from her!" Kelly snarled, human voice mixing with wolf growl.

Professor Whyte shifted too, her form was larger than Kelly and Becca's. "You idiots. This is bigger than you."

The fight erupted. Claws slashed one another, with blood splashing everywhere. I shifted too, joining the fight. Professor Whyte was strong, but we outnumbered her.

I was a healer wolf. Kelly was an Omega and Becca was a regular wolf but we still overpowered her.

I thought she was a strong wolf. This was a shocker.

Kelly pinned Professor Whyte to the ground, Becca clawed at her legs and I clawed at her throat. But when I saw the life slowly leaving her eyes, she was about to go unconscious, I quickly demanded through the mind link.

"Stop!"

We weren't about to permanently injure a professor of Rising Moon College.

Whyte whimpered and shifted back. " This isn't over. I fucking promise you."

We let her go, watching her limp away into the night.

Back in human form, panting and bruised, Kelly grinned. "That was badass."

Becca nodded, but her eyes were worried. "She knows too much and she will definitely come back for us."

I agreed.

The next day, combat class felt like walking into a storm. Tyler stood at the front, his black hair in that low bun, those emerald eyes locking on mine as soon I entered. Students were scattered around, pairing up for spars.

"Aliyah," he called, his voice was low. "Let's have a word."

I followed him to the side room, "What now?" I snapped at him.

He closed the door. "I heard what happened with Professor Whyte. And about Skylar, I have more proof we can use against him. It's a recording."

"Show me."

He pulled out his phone and played a clipped audio: Skylar's voice was clear as day. "Handle the girl, Jude. Use the extract. Get her off my back."

My world tilted. "Okay, so what now?"

"We need a plan. Your Zeen abilities? They could be of great use." he said, his scent was overwhelming as he stepped closer.

Before I could ask him how, the door burst open and Skylar with his prim black hair disheveled and emerald eyes furious, walked in. "Tyler? What the hell are you doing with my student?"

Tyler smirked. "Your student? Or our mate?"

Skylar's face paled. "What?"

Skylar mirrored my reaction and that was when I felt the tug, the bond pulling me to both men.

Fuck. Me.

I wasn't just fated to Tyler. Skylar's wolf screamed mate too.

The room spun around me. "Both of you?"

Skylar staggered back. "Impossible."

Tyler laughed. "Not for a Zeen wolf. Welcome to the harem, brother."