One

Amberly POV

Today was my first day at college in the southern pack, somewhere I never thought I would be, and the craziest part?

I was disguised as a boy.

I sat stiffly in the third row with my chin lifted up, trying to keep things in check and not try to let them notice feminine changes in my body.

Crazy isn't it?

My hair, chestnut curly hair was now short and brushed against the collar of the academy uniform that grandma had given me.

“And that is why territorial boundary laws…”

A loud slam landed against my desk and I jerked upright, my heart racing rapidly. I came face to face with the lecturer, his palm still pressed against the table where he had slammed on.

“Well,” he started sharply, his voice filled with pure disgust. “Care to share with the class why our new student, Emberly, believes my lecture is an appropriate time for a nap?”

Okay, I think I just got into big trouble.

And Emberly, was definitely not my name. My real name was Amberly Lynne and I was the daughter of a beta, a traitor and a dead woman.

My fingers tightened around the pen resting on my notebook and I could feel the lecturer's disgusting eyes on me. “I wasn't…,”

“Oh, you weren't?” He cut in, raising a brow. “Because from where I stand, you seemed quite comfortable with your eyes closed.”

Maybe because I could still see my mother's body on the ground.

We had been ambushed on the road just outside our pack borders. My stepfather had insisted we travel, saying it was urgent that the Alpha needed documents delivered personally. I never trusted his words, not for once, but my mother trusted him and it landed me here— because he has sabotaged us and set us up. He sacrificed us.!

And I…I had run and now even though an old woman had helped me thinking I was a runaway boy— I still fell into trouble as a new student.

“Sorry, sir.”

He stared at me for a long moment, as if thinking about what to do with me. “Name?”

“A .. Emberly Lynnwood.”I stuttered, twisting the hem of the fitted wine and white trouser I was wearing. It was the one for the college and Grandma had given it to me after one month of staying with her.

“Mm.” He tapped his chin, and decided to make out a blow. “Well, Emberly Lynnwood, since you appear to possess knowledge beyond what I'm teaching, perhaps you'd like to contribute something useful?”

My stomach dropped at the heard of his words and my eyes widened. “I…”

“You will be supervising the hockey team.”

A frown settled on my face. “I'm sorry…what?”

What does that even mean? Supervising the hockey team?

“You heard me.” His tone turned smug. “The team needs an academic supervisor for the term. Consider this your punishment and you will ensure they attend study sessions and maintain grades.”

My chest tightened.  No, no, no. Anything but that.

How can I just resume college today and I was already being asked to involve myself in things I hate. I like hockey.

Don't misquote my words. It wasn't about ten sports itself, well, maybe a little, but mostly what it represented. It meant dominance, aggression and territorial pride. Everything that reminded me of pack hierarchies and power struggles and the life that had destroyed mine.

The lecturer turned and pointed across the room. “Especially him.”

My eyes followed his finger automatically and then I froze when it landed on a guy sitting near the window looking so cold and unbothered like he doesn't care about the world.

His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, messy in a way that looked intentional. His jawline was sharp, his lips were set in a permanent line of disinterest. His eyes were a set of ice gray, almost silver and he was watching the room with detached authority.

Even from several rows away, I could smell him. He was an Alpha. An Alpha in a school like this?

Do they not say an Alpha is supposed to be at the pack?

The Alpha's gaze shifted toward me, and for a split second our eyes locked.

Something in my chest lurched violently and I looked away immediately.

“…since he seems to believe rules don’t apply to him,” the lecturer finished. “Perhaps you two will balance each other out.”

A low murmur spread through the class and the Alpha didn't even react or blink.

What the fuck was this? ‘Seemed to believe rules don't apply to him’ and because of that, I should fall into a cold Alpha.

“Can we decline?” I slowly whisper, however, the words hadn't even landed when he cut in.

“No.”

When the lecture finally ended, I packed my things quickly, eager to escape the suffocating tension in my lungs.

Outside the classroom, students filled all the areas, but I barely registered with them.

Supervising the hockey team? Being around an Alpha constantly?

This was a disaster!

I had chosen this college specifically because it wasn’t heavily dominated by powerful packs. I needed anonymity, safety and distance.

Now I was being shoved directly into proximity with someone who could potentially see through me.

I exhaled shakily and started toward the exit but a  hand grabbed my wrist.

It was hard that I gasped, spinning around.

He was there.

Up close, he was even more intimidating.

His height forced me to tilt my head back slightly and I saw a faint scar traced along his eyebrow, giving his already sharp features a look of danger. His eyes narrowed.

“So,” he said coldly. “What’s your deal?”

My heart pounded.  “I don’t…”

“A new kid walks into class,” he continued, grip tightening slightly. “Sleep through a lecture, volunteer to supervise the hockey team.” His jaw flexed. “Are you trying to be funny?”

“I didn’t volunteer,” I said quickly.

“Then why didn’t you refuse?” He leaned slightly closer and it was at that moment everything changed.

I felt a strange vibration under my skin and his grip loosened abruptly.

Our eyes locked and then…

“Mate.”