NEIGHBOUR

GINGER:

Students take out their phone to record the moment, and their judging eyes makes it difficult for me to breathe

Turning at once, I see Caspian on one knee, holding a bouquet of roses.

“Will you?” he asks, and I am about to speak when the smell of peppermint and spiced citrus hits me. Instantly, Caspian’s eyes light up. The word ‘mate’ echoes in my head. My heart skips a beat, and I feel my knees weaken as a strange warmth spreads through my chest. What is happening?

Before I can grasp what is going on, the word “Yes” falls out of my mouth, and Caspian gets up at once, wrapping his hands around my waist and pressing his lips into mine.

At that moment, the bell for the first period goes off. Even the bell can’t save me, as the deed is already done. I have sealed my fate as the girl who messed around with her boyfriend’s best friend, and the girl who messed around with her best friend’s brother. But worse, I have two mates, and neither of them can recognize me.

The taste of Caspian’s lips on mine feels sour, and the moment he pulls away, Hu locks eyes with me before walking off with a bitter expression on his face, which leaves me in confusion.

“See you after school,” Caspian says, then walks away, yelling proudly, “I have the cutest girlfriend!” This makes me feel even worse, and I walk to class with Hana and Wendy.

**

The entire time in class, I can barely concentrate. The situation I’ve gotten myself into almost makes me forget my family problems, and this is just the first day of school. I know Hu and I happened before I said yes to Caspian, but I literally slapped him for kissing another girl’s breasts.

As soon as the bell rings for dismissal, I sigh in relief. I walk out of class with my friends, but I haven’t taken a step when Caspian throws his arm around my neck.

“Can I borrow her for a second?” he asks Hana, who nods with a sheepish smile.

“Hey, Wendy,” Caspian greets Wendy, who rolls her eyes as he pulls me away.

Caspian captures my lips in another kiss, and I shut my eyes, trying to lose myself in it, but all that burns in my mind are Hu’s lips, the way he held me last night, and his muscular arms around my waist. This makes me pull away at once with a forced gasp. My phone rings, causing me to sigh in relief as it serves as an excuse.

“Uhm...My mother. She’s probably here,” I say to Caspian, and he nods as I force a smile on my lips.

“I’m having a little get-together with my friends today. Not a school party. Game night, because my parents are away, and it’s just eight people coming, including you, if you’ll honor my invitation,” he says, and I frown slightly.

“Why wouldn’t I honor the invitation of my boyfriend?” I question, and he shrugs.

“You ditched me last night, and I swear I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I want something better than what we had at the sanctuary, and to be honest, I haven’t stopped thinking of you since then.” I swallow hard, staring into his innocent eyes.

“I might never have a mate, and I can hold on to you until yours comes by, if that ever happens. But I have this feeling that you are mine, and I will keep holding on to that.” I force the smile on my lips to remain as I stare into his grey eyes.

“I’ll be there, babe.” The word feels foreign, but I try to solidify it by getting on my tiptoes, throwing my arms around his neck, then kissing his lips.

“See you then,” he says as I pull away. I walk back to Hana and Wendy.

“You guys are definitely having sex tonight. You cannot escape it,” Hana says as we walk out of the school building. There, I see my mother waiting in a sundress and sunglasses.

“Also, your mum is super hot. See you around, neighbor,” Hana pats my back, and I walk away at once.

I don’t realize I haven’t been breathing properly until I get into the car with just my mother and sister. The air feels better around me, but my thoughts still threaten to drown me.

“How was school, baby?” she asks, and I flash her a smile, trying not to be the jerk I was in the morning. Once I tell her I got bullied, she will storm the school, so I tried to act cool.

“I’m glad you’re loosening up,” she says, then I turn to Daisy, reaching out to hold her tiny hands momentarily.

“I made three friends today,” she says, giving a cheeky smile, which I return.

“I’m glad my babies are doing great,” Mother says as we drive home.

Shortly, we pull up in front of the house, and as Mother parks, I see Hu’s car speed past us, stopping in front of the house next to ours. Come to think of it, I feel stupid for not realizing the house belongs to the Alpha. It’s the only fenced house in the estate, and it occupies an enormous area of land. Knowing I’ll have to live with my biggest mistake next door, I rush upstairs before Mother can get all jolly.

Slamming my door, I throw myself onto the bed.

HU’S POV:

I know I shouldn’t think of her. I shouldn’t want her. But the memory of her—the softness of her lips, and her aura haunts me. My wolf growls, restless and unsatisfied, as if knowing I’ve made the worst mistake of my life by letting her go.

Caspian set his eyes on her first, and I plan to take this secret to the grave, but each time I shut my eyes, all I see is her. I wish I could’ve done something today in school when Ruby said those words to her, but Caspian would know, and I don’t want any drama at this point.

“Hu!” Hana calls out with a loud bang on my door. She pulls it open, and I glare at her with furrowed brows.

“What do you want?” I ask, and she chuckles.

“To thank you for taking Ruby away. If not, I wouldn’t have met Ginger. I mean, she’s way cooler, and I get to have a next-door bestie,” she says, her lips spreading into a wide smile. “You tell Caspian that if he breaks her heart, I’ll kill him because he’s her first.”

“Her first?” The words leave my mouth before I can control it.

“Yes, Hu. First-time sex. I know it’s foreign to you. Not everyone is like you, who’s been hoeing since time immemorial,” she says, but her insults barely get to me because all I can think of is the fact that I was Ginger’s first. This solidifies the fact that I’m an asshole.

“Oh, look, I can see her from your window. I can’t believe your side gets to face her house,” she says. I sit up, watching Ginger pace around her dimly lit room. She looks worried, and it makes guilt claw at my chest. I long to hold her like I did yesterday, and calm her troubled heart, but everything is too complicated.

“She looks tense, probably from what’ll go down tonight,” she says, and I frown, knowing she is talking about Caspian and Ginger having sex.

“You’re disgusting. Fantasizing about your friend’s sex life is weird. Go get a dick and screw the royal rules. I’ve broken them, and nothing has happened,” I say to her, and she rolls her eyes.

“Do you, and I’ll do me. I’m going to call her right away.” With this, she leaves, and I take a deep breath, looking toward Ginger’s house. She pauses, glances in my direction, then draws the curtains shut.

She probably doesn’t want me there, but my wolf won’t stop clawing at me. Without thinking twice, I throw on a hoodie and dash out of my room to find her.