003.

LIAM’S POV. 

Throttle me now and I’d probably say thank you for it. Anything but this. 

I stared at the notice board, nerves threatening to explode as I saw my name being paired up with Disorder, otherwise known as Zelest Hawthorne. 

Rogue Psychology was an easy course but could also get tricky when you’re not fully invested into it which was why we took it as a group project, with various ideas to help you understand the concept. And yet, I was paired for the project with Zelest. That chaos magnet. I could picture myself getting a D in the course after being unable to cooperatively work with Disorder. 

Fate and its cruel joke. 

I couldn’t take my eyes off the notice board out of disappointment. We’d have to set our differences aside because there’s no way I was going to fail that course. 

A wave of spice and sweetness hit me like a brick. I didn’t need to look back to know who it was.

His humorless laughter resonated behind me. “Well, look what we have here.” 

His voice grated at the edges of my nerves. I didn’t turn around. I need not turn to know who it was. I already did.

Zelest Hawthorne. The only person who could walk into a silent room and still make it feel loud.

“Save it,” I said, eyes still locked on the notice board as I anticipated his mocking announcement about us being partners.

He stepped up beside me, casually ignoring the very clear wall I’d mentally built. “You’re not going to fake excitement? I thought you’d at least pretend to be civil.”

“I don’t pretend,” I said with a slight irritation. “Especially not with you.”

I could feel him smirking without even looking. It irritated me more than his actual presence.

“Charming as ever,” he said. “This’ll be fun.”

I finally glanced at him briefly. Enough to register that he hadn’t changed. Hair slightly messy, sleeves rolled up, eyes too sharp for someone who supposedly didn’t care. He looked like he was always five seconds from starting a fire.

“This isn’t about fun,” I said quietly. “We do the project. We keep it clean. No drama.”

Zelest tilted his head. “And here I thought you liked drama. You certainly act like the lead in one.”

I didn’t answer. I just walked away.

If we were going to survive this partnership, I’d have to keep every line between us firmly drawn.

And Goddess help me if he ever tried to cross one. 

Thea walked up to me, arms locked with me as the scent of jasmine and artificial rose clouded my nostrils in an overwhelming amount. I felt like I’d sneeze anytime soon. Goddess, I didn’t enjoy being around her. 

“I saw you with that Hawthorne kid,” she said with a certain amusement in her voice. “You don’t like him, do you?” I gave a deep huff in response. 

Thea went on rambling about how her day went, how she enjoyed the musical theater, all the while clinging onto my arm like I’d run off anytime. I nodded indifferently at her rants but she still couldn’t take the cue. Being friends with her from childhood never meant we’d be friends again. We both changed—her becoming more vain and artificial. It made me cringe.

“Hey Moonfang.” That was Bethel. I felt Thea clutch my arm tighter as her brows creased into a frown. I felt confused by her sudden anger as Bethel approached us. I jerked my arm away from her tight grip with a frown. One thing was clear: she didn’t like anyone around me. 

“What ya doin’? Aside from hanging with her?” I didn’t miss the disdain in her tone as she sneered at Thea. 

I didn’t understand what was going on but ever since I filled Bethel in on my courting Thea and how it’s planned against my consent, she’s made it her responsibility to shoo Thea away. 

“Rogue Psychology,” I said simply and turned to Bethel. “I was paired up with Zelest Hawthorne.” 

Bethel’s cackle echoed through the halls of Silvercrest as she hit my arm continuously. She always took pleasure in seeing me mad. A cold glare was what it required for her to keep quiet as she was already attracting attention. 

“Zelest? Yikes,” she responded, fighting the fit of laughter that threatened to break out. 

“Liam clearly doesn’t like it, why’d you laugh about it? That’s so insensitive of you!” Thea spat, each word dipped in venom. She clearly had no idea how we were. 

Bethel ditched my right to face Thea, her face betraying no emotion but upon second glance, I couldn’t miss the scorn perfectly masked with indifference. 

“Don’t you have a Lycan Heritage class now, Theadora?” 

Thea was stunned, caught off guard by Bethel’s words. “Well, it’s boring. Just like you,” she muttered her last words under her breath, but we all heard it. 

Just as she was about to respond, I spoke up. “Quit the bickering now. You’re not ten. Thea, don’t skip classes. Go to your class now. I’ll be in the library if you need me.” 

Thea responded with a coy smile as she left us, but not without harrumphing at Bethel. 

“Why are you still here?” I turned to Bethel who continued walking with me. She also had a Lycan Heritage class. Just like Thea, she’s a sophomore. Bethel groaned before leaving me for her class. 

I received a text from a ‘ZAH’ that read: “We can meet in my room for the project. Bet yours would be filled with bookshelves and orders.”

That human version of a static noise. How dare he give me orders. Who did he think he was? As far as I was concerned, we’re enemies of rival packs. But, I needed to pass this course, even if it meant putting up with his cockiness. 

I entered the library, picking textbooks from the Rogue Psychology section as I went straight to Zelest’s quarters. 

“You don’t give me orders, Hawthorne.” I said as I twisted the doorknob of his room. 

I wasn’t expecting much. Maybe chaos. Maybe mold. Definitely a sock colony in the corner and old takeout boxes on the desk.

But it was spotless. Minimalist. The kind of place that looked like it was arranged by someone who needed control more than comfort. And the scent—cedar, spice, gourmand and faintly citrus—was just like him. 

“You coming in or planning to just stand there and judge me from the hallway?”

I stepped inside slowly.

He raised a brow. “Not what you expected?”

I glanced around, words unable to form. No posters. No personal chaos. Just order. It made no sense. Zelest was chaos.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Contrary to popular belief,” he said, walking past me to sit at the desk, “I don’t thrive on mess. Now, let’s get to work.” 

The hours had slipped by unnoticed. At some point, our arguments had dulled into tired muttering and quiet agreement. For two people who couldn’t stand each other, we worked well—annoyingly so. 

“So,” Zelets’s voice sounded low, unreadable, “ tell me something real about you.” 

Zelest sat on his bed, unclad except for a pair of shorts hanging loosely on his waist. 

The sunset hit his skin, adorning it with the finest shade of tan like they were meant for his golden skin. The dusting of hair marked the space between his stomach and I hated how badly I wanted to follow it with my eyes. His thighs parted slightly—more inviting and daring; patronizing, perhaps. 

Something stirred awake in me. It wasn’t an instinct, it was a need. It didn’t feel right, but my wolf felt otherwise. My wolf rose, sharp and possessive than it had ever been, growling just under the surface. My teeth ached and my fingers curled, every part of me screaming “Mine” with a sense of urgency and desire I couldn’t resist. 

Zelest took slow strides in my direction as he touched my shoulder. My resolve crashed into bits. I didn’t understand why I felt that way. I never spared a man a second glance. Never even considered the possibility. I just wasn’t…until now. And yet, this man—this chaotic embodiment of every sinful desire made me question all of that. 

“Earth to Liam.” A mocking chuckle erupted from his chest and it sounded like peace. 

It took me a second to snap out of it—regain control of my mind after my wolf tried to take over. What was the last thing he said?

“Tell you about me?” I scoffed coldly. “What, are we chums now?” 

His eyes glinted in a certain manner. His voice calmed as he stared at me intently, the urge to possess him threatening to claim me again. 

“No, we’re more. You know that.”

But I couldn’t give in. Risking everything blindly was never my thing. I only took calculated, reasonable risks. And this… it just wasn’t it. Regardless of how divine it might seem. Regardless of how interesting Zelest Hawthorne might seem. 

“No!” I fired back, stepping away from him. The roles were reversed now as I took the usual fiery persona which was more of Zelest’s. “We’re nothing. Whatever this is, it’s fate’s cruel joke—a fluke. It’s never going to be more.”

Regardless of how poised and indifferent he tried to look, I saw hurt flash in Zelest’s eyes as it did in my chest. It felt like my heart was being ripped away from my chest—rejecting my mate. 

I made for the door, unable to stand the pressure before I revoked everything to do the unthinkable. I felt angry but also disheartened. I finally found my mate, but I’m forced to sever things with him. It hurt more than Lycantheon would. Beginning of a cruel joke, if you ask me. 

“Also, never touch me again,” I spat coldly and slammed the door after exiting. 

My heart felt heavy as everything replayed in my head. What have I done?