Chapter Five

Knox's POV

A sweet and warm scent slams into me like a punch to the chest. Familiar in a way that makes my wolf snarl with need, despite being weak. I do not need to look up before knowing she is here— Cassie.

I found out that she is Maya's best friend last night. That should be more reason for me to stay away from her. She's off-limits and trouble. But my wolf wants her, to claim and protect her, especially after hearing that a wolf was sighted around the school last night.

I couldn't stay still. I had to rush to her apartment this morning. But she wasn't there. I thought she'd been caught or harmed. The thought of her in another wolf's hands had my chest burning and my wolf thrashing to break free.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry to the school, knowing that if she dies, I won't survive either.

In all honesty, she's not my type of girl. She's withdrawn, anti-social and avoids the world like it's her enemy. She's not the kind of girl I go for, but my wolf doesn't give a damn about that. He only knows one word, mate. And that's Cassie, a human and my sister's best friend.

When I saw her in the library, relief flooded my chest. For a moment, my wolf almost took over to claim her, but I held back when I realised what he was about to do.

I should stay away from her, but I didn't know I had asked Maya to eat with me, thinking she'd come with Cassie. When she came alone, I asked her to call her best friend. She gave me a questioning look, but didn't bother to push further.

And now Cassie is here, walking in like she doesn't belong, like the whole world is watching her. But I hear what no one else hears, the stutter of her heartbeat, the sharp inhale when her eyes land on me.

She tries to turn around, run like she says does, but Maya calls her. She introduced her to me like I didn't already know her. Oh, maybe my innocent sister doesn't know yet.

“Hi, Knox,” Cassie flashes an innocent smile at me, acting like she doesn't hate me, just to please my sister.

Some strands of her messy bun hair curls loosely around the side while her short bang falls across her forehead.

I wonder how Maya was able to make friends with her. She's so out of place.

My wolf claws at my inside, demanding I stop pretending she's not mine. But the truth is the human part of me doesn't want her.

How can she of all people be the one to save me from the damn curse?

The ringing of my phone cuts through the tension between us. I fish it out of my pants pocket, my eyes not leaving Cassie's.

Without looking at the screen, my finger swipe across it and the call connected.

Maya gasps beside me. “It's dad,” she mutters in a low tone.

My heart skips a fucking beat.

My dad, Alpha Warren. The man who never takes no for an answer.

“Hello, dad,” I say into the phone, my tone slightly laced with an edge.

“Knox, you are needed in the pack,” he says, like it's normal to just leave school in the middle of a semester.

My lips press into a thin line, anger bubbling inside of me. I end the call without a word, knowing there's nothing to say to change his mind.

He needs me in the pack and that's just what's going to happen. He's like that— always.

“I need to go home,” I turn to Maya.

Her eyes go slightly wide and her throat bobbles up and down as she swallows hard.

‘Dad ask you to come? Is there a problem again?’ she mindlinks me.

‘I don't know yet. You know how he is, he wants me to show up in the pack now.’

‘how about your—’

‘I will take care of it,’ I cut her off, knowing she's asking about training for the national championship game coming up in a month.

She bobs her head and my eyes move back to Cassie.

I lean closer to her, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. I can hear her heart pounding fast as she lowers her gaze.

“Take care of yourself, nerd,” I whisper in her ear and anger radiates off her in an instant.

I do not wait to see her next reaction, I move out of the cafeteria and mindlink Maverick. Soon, we are both on our ways to the pack— Blackwood Pack.

***

As I walk through the hallway to my father's office, I can't shake off the feeling that whatever he's going to talk about won't sit well with me.

The moment I step into his office, the air thickens. He doesn't need to say a word, his presence alone makes my wolf curl on the edge of submission and rebellion.

“Alpha,” I bow slightly.

He sits behind his desk, his eyes sharp enough to strip me bare.

“You've not found her yet?”

No greetings, no care, just his voice, low and cutting.

My chest burns with fury. I know who he's asking about. My mate. I can't tell him I've found her and she's a human.

My father won't hesitate, he won't think twice. Cassie will be dead before I even get to her.

I keep my expression blank, “I've not.” The lie rolls off my tongue effortlessly.

His eyebrows twitch as if he can see through my lies. But I take my stand, not giving him any reaction to make him doubt me.

He clears his throat. “You aren't taking this seriously, Knox. You are the future Alpha, how do you expect to rule without a mate?”

Silence stretches between us, his question hanging in the air as if he's waiting for my response. I bite down on my tongue hard until I taste something metallic.

“I heard the national championship game is in a month,” he says and my gaze snaps up to him instantly. “You have two options, son. Find your fated mate or choose Lizzy before the game,” he says in a tone that says there's no argument.

My wolf paces violently inside me, but I keep a straight face. Of course, my father always wants Lizzy because of pack politics and alliance.

“And if I don't?” I raise an eyebrow, my fists clenching by my side.

Something close to a smirk dances on his lips. “You give up your hockey career and the Alpha position.”

Something snaps inside of me and my jaw clenches so hard. He's giving me an ultimatum.