“Hello? Earth to Setiray?” Leilani said, waving her hand. "You okay?"“Oh, sorry. Yes, of course!” I lied, forcing a smile. But my mind was racing, caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. Leilani leaned closer, her voice low and conspiratorial. “That hunk over there is Azariah Cadelyn, my pack's future alpha. He’s honestly so sweet. Everyone loves him.”Sweet my ass. “Oh,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, “Why?”“Ugh, where do I even start?” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “He’s handsome, strong, rich, funny, and has a hell of a bod. He’s literally flawless in every way whether it be academically, physically or socially. Every she-wolf had hopes of being his fated mate and had absolutely no chance. But here’s the kicker—he’s always been…” she lowered her voice, “a bit of a man-whore. You know, total player. He never does relationships or romance. He’s more of a one-night-stand type of guy.”“Really?” I asked, my gut turned at her last sentence. Well he’s been sleeping ar
As I stood before the body-length mirror, adjusting my outfit one last time, I took a deep breath to steady the storm of emotions swirling within. I tried to convince myself that today could be a fresh start, a chance to step into a world where I could be someone new. Make new friends, learn new things, and explore a new environment. Think positively, Sets.After fidgeting with my clothes one last time, I grabbed my phone and headed out the door, hoping to keep the anxious thoughts at bay. The house felt far too quiet as I walked down the hallway. I wish Zakyrius or my friends were here; a familiar face would really help with these nerves right now. Right now, I'm even tempted to stick to Ace until I grow fond of my surroundings.As I stepped outside, the fresh air engulfed me. The sprawling grounds of the academy loomed ahead, a mix of ancient stone and modern design, a world only the rich lived in. I pulled out my phone to check the map, my fingers trembling slightly. Just find the
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains into my new room, casting a soft light on the elegant decor that surrounded me. I squinted with a heavy sigh, remnants of sleep still clinging to me like a warm blanket. It took a minute before the unfamiliar surroundings came into focus. When I finally became fully conscious, I took a moment to absorb the beauty of the room. It was spacious, far more spacious than my snug room back at home. The decorations made my handmade trinkets and posters at home look childish. It was adorned with soft, muted colors, rich, dark wood furniture, and a huge plush bed that looked like it came from a magazine. I stood up, a mix of excitement and anxiety coiling in my stomach. Today, I’ll be starting an entirely different life at one of the most prestigious academies. The thought was both thrilling and terrifying. I knew I’d have no problems academically, not to brag, but I was a straight-A student. It was more of the thought of being a
Even if she did attempt to crawl back to that f*cker, I’ll make sure there won’t be a body for her to find, let alone go back to. I pulled away from her, breaking the spell we were trapped in, my senses reeling from her intoxicating scent, lingering with remnants of Wayne.No matter how badly I wanted to smother her in my scent, the hoodie will just have to do, for now.I needed to create distance, clear my mind, and regain control over the wild emotions swirling within me before I did things I might regret. I wasn’t about to give in to the mate bond, and this feral beast needs, just yet.I shifted into gear, the engine roaring to life as the car pulled away. I drove f*cking hours here to pick her up, intending to maybe smooth things out between us. Instead, she met me with another bastard's scent wrapped around her like a shadow, an affront I fought to ignore.Nathaniel paced inside me, restless and agitated. You should’ve dealt with him earlier or picked her up when I said. Now our
“Ace?” my voice was barely an audible whisper, tinged with confusion and surprise. "How did you get my number? Actually, why are you even calling?” A beat of silence stretched between us.“Well,” he began, his tone casual but edged with something darker, “I thought, since you’ll be moving to our territory, it’d be common courtesy to pick you up. So I’m calling in advance.”His voice carried an underlying sincerity that both soothed and unsettled me. My head fell back against the wall, feeling the cool surface press against my head as I struggled to process his words. First Wayne and now Ace? It was frustrating. But no matter how confused I felt, I couldn’t deny the small warmth and flutter of hope his words had stirred within me. Along with a ball of guilt, like I had just betrayed him.“Well, thanks, but no thanks. My brother will arrange for someone else to pick me up,” I tried to play it off.I knew I couldn’t expect anything, it’ll just end up with me getting the short end of th
For a second, I almost forgot how to breathe. His question was a sneak attack, unexpected and surprising. Seconds passed in silence, the frantic beat of my own heart the only noise I could hear. The moonlight, once a comforting presence, now seemed to cast a stark glow on Wayne’s face. His green eyes, usually so filled of warmth and mischievous glints, were now serious and unwavering.“Huh?” I finally managed as if I had just processed what he had just said. My mind scrambled to find more words, to string a response to his question. What was I meant to say? He was kind and knew how to make me smile, but I had already found my fated mate. Which just happens to be a rude, masked internet sensation that’s actually the alpha of the Crimsonfang pack. Maybe I should tell him, or maybe he was just playing around. Yeah, that’s what it is.A nervous laugh bubbled up, strained and disbelieving, “Dude. What are you talking about? That’s…that’s not funny. Is this like a last-night-before-you-l