BLAIR’S POVI sat stiffly in the chair, my foot tapping against the tiled floor as I waited for Professor Martley who asked me to see him after class. I sighed, glancing towards the door and wondering when he was going to join me. His office smelled like old books and fresh coffee, and the blinds were half-closed.The silence didn’t help my thoughts as it drifted to Kade and Natalie. Just when I pulled my phone out of my bag to continue my little digging, the door creaked open, and Professor Martley walked in, adjusting the sleeves of his navy-blue blazer. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Thorne.” He said. “Good afternoon, sir,” I greeted, staring at the stack of papers on his desk instead of his face. This was one of those professors who took special interest in me when I did very well in my first year. But right now, he looked disappointed.The man exhaled, settling into his chair and adjusting before folding his hands in front of him. “I’ll get straight to the point. I called yo
BLAIR’S POVI exhaled sharply, picking up the paper to stare at it. “Will?” I asked flatly. “Yes. He’s an excellent student, one of the best in your year. He’ll help you catch up quickly.” I glanced at the paper once more, forcing myself to accept this reality. It was clear there was no way out of this, and honestly, I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. Instead, I picked up my bag, ready to get out. “Can I go now?” I asked him.“Of course.” He replied. I got up from my seat and was already heading for the door when he called out to me again. “Blair,” he said and I turned, barely masking my irritation. “You know this is for your own good, right?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.I swallowed the sharp response sitting on my tongue and gave him a small nod.“Yes, Sir.” I said. “You may go.” He responded and I immediately left his office. The second the door closed behind me, I let out a heavy breath, raising the paper I’d been handed to take a better look at it.As I walked
KADE’S POVThe door creaked open, and Blair stepped inside. I glanced at my phone and noticed that she came back a little late today but I said nothing. I hadn’t gone to school… because I didn’t want to. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she refused to ride with me this morning and that just plunged me into a bad mood that made me decide to stay back. I watched as she let out a long sigh before dropping her bag on her bed, completely ignoring me. Was she still mad about yesterday?Without so much as a glance in my direction, she walked straight to her desk, grabbing her water bottle and took a sip.I watched her, noting the stiffness in her movements and that answered my question. She was still pissed. Not that I blamed her. I had yelled at her, walked out and come back really late at night. I needed to make this right.“How was school today?” I asked, keeping my tone light. “Fine,” she replied flatly, setting the bottle down and returning to her bed.Not much of a conversation
BLAIR’S POVI woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring and I pulled my pillow over my ears to block off the shrill noise but even that didn’t help. Groaning, I rolled over, smacking my phone until it shut up. When the noise stopped, I sighed, knowing I could no longer go back to sleep. Pulling up myself from bed was so tiring like I’d been wrestling with my own thoughts in my sleep. I stared at the wall for a while before my gaze shifted to the other side of the room and landed on Kade’s bed. It was still empty and I couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t come home last night. Again. I looked away, telling myself that I shouldn’t care. He was an adult. He could do whatever he wanted. He could stay out late, get a hotel, or even sleep in his damn car for all I knew. But that gnawing unease in my stomach wasn’t listening to reason. With a frustrated sigh, I reached for my phone, my fingers hesitating over the screen that just lit up.Where the hell did he go? I shook my head,
BLAIR’S POVThe taxi ride to Robert’s house felt longer than it actually was. I kept my fingers clenched around my phone, sometimes debating whether I should turn back. Was this really a good idea? Robert was my stepfather but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t the Lycan king who was respected in all the packs. If he even suspected I was prying into something he didn’t want me to know, he might not hesitate to warn me through my mother. But I had to try. I needed to know the truth, for my own sanity. As we pulled up in front of the Reid estate, I stared at the massive iron gates, feeling a strange wave of nostalgia. I had barely spent any real time here, yet the place was imprinted in my memory. The butler greeted me as soon as I stepped inside. He gave a small nod, his usual expression in place. “Miss Blair, welcome back.” I shifted awkwardly and offered him a smile. “Hey. Um, is my mom home?” “She stepped out for a bit, but King Robert is in his study. Shall I inform him of you
BLAIR’S POVI sat on my bed with my legs folded beneath me and my phone resting in my palm as I stared at the screen. The soft beats of the music I was playing filled the room as I distracted myself with online gossip.I had been waiting for Kade for hours. My damp hair clung to my shoulders, still slightly wet from the shower I had taken earlier, an attempt to relax and ease my nerves. But It didn’t work. Nothing could erase the restlessness I felt while waiting for Kade. I checked the time again and it was 10:14 PM. Yet he still wasn’t home. I had expected him to walk through the door by now, and maybe as usual, act like nothing was wrong, like he hadn’t just spent days avoiding me. But there was nothing. I let out a slow breath, tapping my fingers against the screen of my phone. I wanted to be furious at him, a huge part of me was. But the anger wasn’t as deep as I thought it would be. Instead, it was tangled up with worry. Now that I knew the truth, everything made much m
KADE’S POVI pulled my jersey over my head, the sweat cooling on my skin. The locker room buzzed and teammates were grinning, still hyped from the game and their voices overlapped as they talked about the practice we just had. “Damn, man, you killed it out there,” Craig said, clapping me on the back. “You were on fire,” Nathaniel supported. I smirked, tossing my jersey into my locker. “You all act like you didn’t play, too.” “Yeah, but let’s be real. The way you played made us seem like supporting players. It was just like the game we player with Velmora.” Laughter spread through the room, and I shook my head, grabbing a towel to wipe off my face. Craig leaned against the locker beside me. “So, Captain, you gonna go easy on us now that you’re in charge?” I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “But Coach hasn’t made me captain yet. It hasn’t been announced yet.” “Come on, man,” Edward piped up. “You think he’s gonna pick anyone else after you’ve been killing it like t
KADE’S POVI stopped in the doorway, my fingers tightening around the doorknob as I took in the scene. The guy, whoever he was, was casually leaning back against her headboard, shaking his foot. Seeing how relaxed he was made me wonder if this was his first time here. He had light brown hair, a pair of glasses perched on his nose and he looked like some scrawny nerdy type. I didn’t like him already. He lifted his head when he noticed me and grinned. “Hey,” he said, completely at ease. “I’m Will. You must be Kade.” I didn’t answer right away. My eyes shifted to Blair, but she didn’t even look up. She continued scribbling something on the page of her notebook like I wasn’t standing right there. The guy, Will, tilted his head slightly, still smiling. “I’ve heard some good stuff about you.” “Yeah?” My voice was flat as I slammed the door shut. “I don’t know you.” He laughed like that was funny but Blair still didn’t acknowledge me.“I’m Blair’s new tutor,” Will suddenly explai
BLAIRThe ride to wherever Kade was taking me wasn’t awkward. It was quiet, but comfortable. He had slow, mellow music playing in the car, and I couldn’t help but wonder where we were going.His right hand stayed on the wheel, while his left rested on mine in my lap. Every few minutes, he’d lift it and press a soft kiss to the back of my hand, like it was nothing. When the car began to slow, I glanced out the window and gasped at the magnificent building we were pulling up to.No way, I thought.I blinked and leaned forward, making sure I wasn’t seeing things. Turning to Kade, I found him already grinning from ear to ear.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered, and he just laughed.He got out of the car, walked around, and opened my door with ease, offering his hand to help me out. I took it, stepping out slowly, my eyes immediately locking on the towering penthouse ahead.The King’s Restaurant. It was the most exclusive place to dine in the entire pack. Reservations took weeks,
BLAIR’S POV Kade’s jaw clenched hard and I could feel the war waging inside him. His instinct to protect me was louder than any logic. But he also knew the kind of shit storm we’d be dragging ourselves into if he got in the way. Besides, I knew I was innocent and he knew that too. So after a long, burning second, he gave a stiff nod. He didn’t say anything, just let his hand fall from my hand. I gave him a small smile and followed the officers out of the dining hall, keeping my head high. Everyone watched with wide eyes and the whispers only grew wider, like I was already wearing the stain of guilt. The men led me into an office that smelled like old paper and something faintly acidic. I was taken to the drug investigation officer who was a bulky man with a sour face. He motioned for me to raise my arms and I did. Wordlessly, he and another woman searched me thoroughly but not invasively, probably disappointed they didn’t find pills sewn into my bra strap or something. Then
Blair’s POV I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. So this was Mrs Priscilla’s grand plan? A psychologist? When she said we would be working with delinquents, I thought we would suffer through punishments. I definitely did not expect to sit through a therapy session. Community service, they said. Not group therapy. I didn’t sign up for this nonsense. And yet, here I was, perched awkwardly on a hard chair while the psychologist with her tightly pinned hair and gentle, annoying smile tried to pick apart my brain. What did they even expect to achieve with this? Make us hold hands with delinquents and sing songs about teamwork? Did Mrs Priscilla really think I would open up about myself? And even if I did, what next? Lock us up with criminals? “Tell me, Blair,” the psychologist cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. I’d been expertly avoiding her gaze, like maybe if I ignored her long enough, she’d give up. I didn’t get such luck as she went on with her question. “How
BLAIR’S POV Harper didn’t answer right away. She looked down, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her dress, pulling at a loose thread, perhaps buying herself time. Then she shrugged. “I was never jealous of you when you started dating Jaxon, Blair.” she started and I scoffed. “Is that so?” “I was actually happy for you,” she said in her own defense. “You were my friend and I never looked at Jaxon in a romantic way or anything like that until he started texting me.” “Hmm,” I mumbled, crossing my arms. “So he made the first move, huh?” “You were the one who gave him my number,” she said, her voice rising. “That was because you were my best friend!” I shot back, matching her tone. “Fine, I was naive but you knew exactly what you were doing when you fucked him.” She shook her head like I got it all wrong and I decided to stay quiet so that she would explain. “Jaxon texted me first,” she repeated in a quiet voice. “It was just friendly at first. Until he began flirting with
BLAIR’S POV The screech of the door opening was the first thing I heard from my sleep, followed immediately by that painfully familiar voice that irritated me, coming through the quiet like a trumpet. “Get up, all of you!” I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow, but it was useless. I was starting to believe that Mrs. Priscilla’s voice could wake the dead. I forced my eyes open and there she was, towering by the door like a villain straight out of a bad dream. I squinted at the still-dark sky outside the window. The sun wasn’t even out yet. Couldn’t the moon goddess strike this woman with a temporary cold or something? Just long enough for us to get a full night’s sleep? “If your back is still on the bed in the next thirty seconds, you’ll be assigned more responsibilities today,” she snapped and I groaned loudly, pushing myself up. “We’re going hiking,” she announced with way too much energy for someone who clearly fed off our misery. “You’ve got twenty minutes to
BLAIR’S POV I tugged my jacket tighter around me, hating how the cold wind kept sneaking past the fabric like it was on a personal mission to freeze my bones. Winter wasn’t here yet, but it sure as hell was announcing itself like an unwanted guest. I blew air into my palms for warmth, glancing at my phone. It was already two minutes past eight. Seriously? Mrs Priscilla had barked at us about being here at eight sharp. Where was she now? “This is all your fault, Blair,” Harper snapped and I turned to her. Her arms were crossed like a spoiled brat who’d just been told no for the first time in her life. “We wouldn’t be here freezing if it wasn’t for you.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Of course, she’d find a way to twist this around. God forbid Harper takes any responsibility for her miserable life. Apart from freezing my ass off, being dragged away from the comfort of my room, my warm bed, and decent food, forced to spend two hellish weeks around criminals… yeah, the ch
BLAIR’S POV I tugged my jacket tighter around me, hating how the cold wind kept sneaking past the fabric like it was on a personal mission to freeze my bones. Winter wasn’t here yet, but it sure as hell was announcing itself like an unwanted guest. I blew air into my palms for warmth, glancing at my phone. It was already two minutes past eight. Seriously? Mrs Priscilla had barked at us about being here at eight sharp. Where was she now? “This is all your fault, Blair,” Harper snapped and I turned to her. Her arms were crossed like a spoiled brat who’d just been told no for the first time in her life. “We wouldn’t be here freezing if it wasn’t for you.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Of course, she’d find a way to twist this around. God forbid Harper takes any responsibility for her miserable life. Apart from freezing my ass off, being dragged away from the comfort of my room, my warm bed, and decent food, forced to spend two hellish weeks around criminals… yeah, the ch
BLAIR’S POV I scratched my nails into the skin of my palms as I waited. I had named Sherry as Harper’s accomplice and now, we were waiting for her to be brought here. The door opened and Sherry was marched inside, her eyes darting around like she already knew she was in trouble. My heart thudded so hard against my ribs, but I managed to keep my face cold. I had to pull this off. I just had to. Across the room, Harper shifted in her seat. She was trying too hard to look calm, but her body betrayed her. She kept trying to make eye contact with Sherry but I caught her gaze and didn’t bother hiding my glare. I hoped she was smart enough to realize her little plan had exploded right in her face. The leader turned to me. “Alright. Over to you, Blair. You asked for Sherry to be brought in. Well, here she is.” I nodded and then got on my feet. I felt the eyes in the room hook on me, but I only looked at Sherry. “I asked for Sherry,” I started in a clear voice, “Because she’s the one
Chapter 91Blair’s POVThe car barely rolled to a stop when we got to school before the driver turned to us, his tone unusually stiff. “Your father asked me to take you both straight to the administrative wing. He’s expecting you both in the dean’s office.”My brows pulled together. “Now?”He nodded, and I glanced at Kade. His brows lifted, and we shared a look. This could not be good.We were just getting out of a roller coaster ride and I was already bracing myself for the storm from Robert and my mom. I could already imagine the raised voices, long-winded lectures, the kind of dressing-down reserved for kids who didn’t know any better. I wasn’t in the mood to be treated like some clueless teenager who had stumbled into trouble. Not after everything. But we couldn’t refuse.When we got to the administrative building, we stepped out of the car and I let out a sharp breath. My skin was already prickling with tension but Kade took my hand in his and held it tightly.“We’ll be fine,” h