Chapter 14

Aliyah's POV

The side room in the combat hall felt very hot, the air was thick with the scent of sweat from the mats outside and the raw, electric pull of the mate bond between us.

Skylar's emerald eyes bore into Tyler's, his usually impeccable black hair now slightly out of place, like he had run his hands through it in frustration.

Me? I was stuck in the middle, my heart was pounding hard in my chest, Maya whining in my head because she wanted both of them—badly.

Girl, please. I internally rolled my eyes at my wolf.

"Welcome to the harem?" Skylar spat, his voice laced with venom as he straightened his posture, every inch of him was trying to compose himself. "Have you lost your damn mind, Tyler? This isn't some pack joke. She's my student. A mere distraction. Nothing more."

Tyler leaned against the wall, his low bun giving him that annoyingly casual vibe, he crossed his arms over his broad chest. He smirked, but there was a edge to it, like he was enjoying Skylar's discomfort a little too much. "Oh, come on, brother. The bond doesn't lie and you of all people know that. I felt it the second I laid eyes on her that night at the bar. And now you do too. Aliyah's a Zeen wolf, it's rare but powerful. She can bond with multiples. Lucky us, I guess."

I glared at Tyler, my fists clenching at my sides. "Lucky? You think this is lucky? You've been playing games since day one, Tyler. Standing in as Beta, annoying your brother back into politics, and now what? Dragging me into your family drama? I don't even like you and I never will, so this isn't funny."

He chuckled, those emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hate sex is the best kind, sweetheart. And don't pretend Maya isn't begging for it."

"Shut up," I snapped, heat rising to my cheeks. Maya was indeed stirring, her instincts pulling me toward him despite everything.

But Skylar? He was the one I had crushed on for months, the one whose presence made my pulse race. How ironic was it that he was now my mate? Along with his twin brother? The moon goddess sure has humor, a very dark one.

Skylar turned his gaze on me, it was cold and emotionless, even worse than before, "This changes nothing, Miss Marcus. Whatever this... bullshit is, it doesn't erase the fact that you're a liability. A student mooning over her professor? Pathetic and immoral. I told Jude to handle you for a reason."

The audio Tyler had played echoed in my mind, Skylar's voice ordering the drugging. It stung, but hearing it straight from him? It was a fucking gut punch. "So you admit it? You had me drugged? You had my drink spiked with fucking wolfsbane extract so I'd hook up with that asshole Jude?" My eyes stung with tears.

He didn't flinch. "It was necessary. Your infatuation was disrupting my class. My life. And now this?" He gestured between the three of us. "A shared mate bond? This is unacceptable. "

Tyler pushed off the wall, stepping closer to his twin. "Unacceptable? That's rich coming from the guy who ran away from his Alpha duties. I've been holding Blood Bane together while you play teacher. And now the moon goddess hands us a Zeen wolf? This could be our edge, Skylar. Her healing abilities alone---"

"Enough!" Skylar barked, his Alpha aura peeking out , making the room feel smaller for me. "I don't want her abilities, neither do I want her." But even as he said it, I felt the tug, the invisible thread yanking at my chest. His eyes flickered to mine for a split second, betraying an emotion he quickly masked with disdain.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. "Fine. If you hate me so much, reject the bond. Both of you. I don't need this complication."

Tyler laughed outrightly. "Reject? Oh, Aliyah, you have no idea how this works. Zeen bonds are unbreakable without a ritual, and even then, it's risky. Painful. You'd be weakened for life."

Skylar's jaw tightened. "He's right, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean we act on it. You stay away from me, Miss Marcus. And Tyler, get out of my sight. Go back to the pack where you belong."

Tyler shook his head, the amusement on his face fading into something more serious. "Can't do that, bro. The council is sniffing around Rising Moon. Rumors of rogues on campus, and with Chase---er, Prince Wayne--- hiding out as hockey captain, things are heating up. We need to stick together."

I blinked. "Prince Wayne? As in the hockey caption? Chase is the prince?"

Tyler nodded. "Yeah. And his guard Alec is protecting him like his life depends on it. But that's not our problem right now. Our problem is you, Aliyah. And us."

Skylar pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is a disaster. If word gets out..."

Before he could finish, the door creaked open again. Kelly poked her head in, her chocolate brown hair tousled from whatever sparring she'd been doing outside. Her brown eyes widened at the sight of us. "Ali? Everything okay? Class is wrapping up, and Becca's freaking out about last night."

I shot her a warning look. "Not now, Kel."

But Skylar's eyes narrowed. "Last night? What happened last night?"

Tyler smirked again. "Oh, just a little run-in with your ex-thing, Professor Whyte. She tried to blackmail Aliyah into backing off you. We handled it."

Skylar's face darkened. "Whyte? That obsessive bi--- I ended that affair years ago. What does she want now?"

I crossed my arms. "She wants me gone. Or else she would have me expelled from crushing on my professor."

He scoffed. "I would not take her serious, but if she gets involved, this could get messy. She's got connections on the council."

Kelly slipped fully into the room, closing the door behind her. "Messy? Try bloody. We fought her off, shifted and everything. But she limped away, after promising us revenge."

Tyler's expression turned grim. "Revenge? On a Zeen wolf and her friends? That would be bold. But I think Professor Whyte is not one to bluff."

Was a Zeen wolf that powerful? I didn't even know who I was.

Skylar glanced at me, the hate on his face now mixed with curiosity, "You fought her? That was a foolish thing to do. She's a strong beta. You could have been hurt."

I rolled my eyes. "We outnumbered her. And I'm a healer, remember? But thanks for the fake worry."

Tyler cleared his throat. "Right. So, what's the plan? We can't just ignore this."

Before anyone could answer, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, it was a text from Becca: 'Ali. You need to come to the dorm. Now. Professor Whyte is here.'

My stomach dropped. "It's Becca. Professor Whyte is at our dorm."

Kelly's eyes flashed with anger. "That bitch. Let's go."

We burst out of the side room, ignoring the curious stares from the students in the combat hall. Surprisingly, Skylar followed us too.

When we arrived our dorm, the door to our room was ajar. When we entered the room, Becca was trembling as Professor Whyte loomed over her, her claws partially extended even in human form.

"Get the hell away from her!" I shouted, shoving past Kelly.

Professor Whyte turned, "I told you silly girls that I would be back for y'all. And I would come back for blood. But why am I not surprised that you slut Aliyah, had the two brothers trailing behind you?"

Skylar stepped forward. "Juliette, stop this. Whatever we had is over for fuck's sake."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Over? You think you can toss me aside for this child? I gave you everything!"

Tyler growled low. "Back off, Whyte. Or the council hears about your blackmail."

Her lips curled. "The council? They already know more than you think. And Becca here? Her rogue lover? I've got proof of that too. One word, and her family's disgraced."

Becca whimpered. "Please... don't."

Kelly snarled, shifting partially, "You touch her and you die."

Whyte ignored her, focusing on me. "You think you can have them both? Skylar was mine first. And I'll make sure you regret ever looking at him."

I felt Maya rise, my healing energy tingling in my veins. "Try it. But remember, I heal. You don't."

She lunged, but Skylar grabbed her arm, his Alpha strength pinning her. "Enough, Juliette. Leave. Now."

She twisted free, spitting at his feet. "This isn't over. I'll ruin all of you. Starting with your precious Zeen."

With that, she stormed out, slamming the door so hard the frame cracked.

Becca sank to the bed, tears streaming down her face. "She... she found pictures. Of me and him. My rogue."

Kelly hugged her. "We'll handle it."

Skylar rubbed his temples. "This is spiraling. This Whyte bitch is unhinged."

And then the door burst open, campus security walking in,

"Aliyah Marcus? You're under arrest for assault on a professor. And conspiracy against royalty."

What the hell?