005.

Liam’s POV. 

This can not be happening. 

The door slammed shut behind me, stopping me in my tracks. That moment of panic brought the reality crashing down on me as Callahan’s words resounded in my head, haunting my very being. 

“One project. One paper. One tent. No switching partners. No excuses. And if you don’t return with results… you’ll retake the entire course. Individually.” 

I tried working with Zelest Hawthorne once and it was disastrous, leading to an awful emotional outburst between us—well, mostly from me—causing a strain on our relationship. 

Not like we ever had anything beyond glances but that wasn’t the point. Now… with knowledge of him being my mate, it all felt so wrong like else could possibly have and this course would exhaust me mentally even more than the last time in his room. 

The memory of him unclad with the sunset bleeding on his tanned skin stirred me in ways I’d never felt. His body wore the stream of sunlight like a skin, adorning him in ways jewels could never. And the fair dusting of fine hair on his belly seemed unimaginably beautiful. I could recall wanting to find out wherever it led to with my lips… and his thighs, how they parted…

I snapped out of it as blood rushed to my neck. Flustered, I realized I was fantasizing about a man, a rival, and the very bane of my existence in broad daylight like I had nothing to worry about. 

“I really must be going insane,” I muttered under my breath, bringing my palm to my face to massage my temples. 

Zelest walked past me, shoulder brushing mine as I caught the faint whiff of his usual scent. “That’s so observant of you, Moonfang. You really are insane.”

It took a while for his words to register as I felt tongue tied. Suddenly, irritation took hold of the best of me as I fired in response. 

“I’m insane?” A scoff escaped my lips, suddenly amused. “You’re a fine one to talk. I’m not the one who agreed to Callahan’s orders, Hawthorne. What was the word you used again?” Zelest turned to face me, stormy gaze meeting mine with a terrifying coldness in them. “‘Fine!’ Fine as if you were agreeing to attend a party after being forced. You don’t get to call me insane like you did not just pull that.”

Zelest took slow strides, each step precise and sharp. 

Five seconds. That was the difference between each step he took. But I didn’t say that— he didn’t need to know that I’d observed the way he walked for no apparent reason.

“So what did you expect me to do?” 

I was befuddled by his question. 

“How’d you think that would look on you? Behold, the perfect heir failed a course simply because he couldn’t get his emotions in check. How do you think that would reflect on your perfect little reputation?” His words came out as a slur. 

My heart stopped beating for a moment as the truth hit me. “So what, you’re saying you did it for me? You think this doesn’t equally affect—”

Whatever I was planning to say was cut by Zelest’s cold rasp. 

“Yes, I bloody know how it looks and that I’m equally going to be affected which is why I have no interest in carrying a course over and gaining an extra year in the forsaken college.”

He doesn’t want to fail. He cares about his grades. Why was I shocked by this knowledge? 

“I don’t want to fail Rogue Psychology,” he admitted. “And if were to fail, it definitely wouldn’t be for this.” 

His stormy eyes seemed to have a strange glow like a flame was being reignited in them, fury in his eyes. The bond hummed between us, further solidifying his point while I stared at the enigma of a man in my presence like a puzzle I tried to demystify. 

Blame it on the panicking or the anger or whatever emotion I felt, but feeling the bond that tethered us together made me feel complete. Like I found a part of me I wasn’t aware I was missing. 

“Me neither. I can’t fail Rogue Psychology,” I agreed begrudgingly and he affirmed with a knowing nod. “We’d have to work together.”

“Glad to know we’re on the same page.”

Zelest withdrew, his aloofness sinking in once again as he walked away from me, disappearing into the hallowed hallway. I felt hollow inside once more, but I pushed the feeling away to focus on something else. 

Soon, I found myself walking through the hallway that led to the library, my mind being pulled in different places. Bethel’s redhair wasn’t difficult to spot, lurking in the corner. Recalling how I’d snapped at her earlier, the bitter taste of regret and guilt registered on my tongue and I made my way down to her. 

“Bethel.” I called out. She turned to face me.

“You’re done?” 

“Yes, Combat Theory class ended quicker than expected.”

“Good,” I blurted, “It wasn’t my intention to snap at you earlier. I’ve just got a lot going on and… it’ll never happen again.”

My father’s always taught me to never apologize for doing anything wrong. If anything had happened, it was because I had the power to let it be so. And to apologize for it, would be apologizing for having power and wielding it. And that… wasn’t an attribute of an Alpha. 

But never to my cousin. For Bethel, I’d bend principles. I moved closer to her, words leaving my lips in a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

She flashed me a toothy grin and responded with; “I could never stay mad at you, Liam. But never snap at me again in front of her.”

It felt like a heavy brick had been lifted off my chest as I nodded in affirmation. 

“You getting ready for our little trip, Moonfang?” A deep voice called out behind me and without turning, I knew who it was. 

I turned around to meet Zelest few inches away from me. The nerves of this man. 

“One month with me in a tent, prince,” Zelest drawled, a malicious grin tugging at his lips. “Try not to fall in love with me.”

Zelest smoothed my collar and whisked off, leaving me stunned by his nerves. Or, I was intrigued. 

“Well, what was that?” Bethel teased behind me, amusement evident in her tone.