VESPER POV"That's VESPER THORNE.""He's so heavenly.""He's an alpha material."Rolling my eyes, I passed by two blonde she-wolves, both squealing and gazing at me dreamily. It had become a routine for me. Every day when I arrived at school, all the girls, except for one, would fawn over me.I'd even caught a few boys doing the same, although some pretended not to be fanboying. I understood it all came with the territory of popularity and being a captain, but I loathed it. I didn't enjoy starting my day with squealing girls eagerly waiting for me at the school entrances.If only I could change things by skipping school, but that wasn't an option. I was struggling in class, and the last thing I needed was to miss more school. Plus, I was there earlier than usual. I hoped to catch Coach Jensen in his office before he left, as he was usually busy. His responsibilities extended beyond the ice rink; he also worked as a tutor.A groan escaped me as I caught her scent—citrusy lavender that
VESPER POVI loved Kelani?That was the most absurd thing I've heard today. Coach Jensen insisted I had feelings for her earlier, and now, Lance accused me of loving her.The urge to toss my head back and burst into a peal of laughter filled me, but the situation itself wasn't funny. If it had been, I would have done just that."Admit it, Thorne. Are those your feelings for her?""What the heck are you talking about?!" I scowled at him.Why would he think I was ever interested in Kelani? Had she told him that? I doubted it. I hadn't seen any real interactions between him and Kelani before. Don't get me wrong; I didn't stalk her and never will, but Kelani and Lance had never spoken before.At least, not that I had seen them having a conversation."You know what I'm talking about, bro," Lance yelled back. "I never thought you would stoop that low to lie to my face. I held you in high regard.""Are you on meth?" I asked. He definitely should be on one because there was no way in hell he
VESPER POVTapping gently on the headmaster's door, I stepped inside upon hearing a low voice. Inhaling, I frowned, scanning the room as my nose caught a different scent. She was present.Kelani was here.My eyes narrowed at Kelani, who sat casually in front of the headmaster as if he were her father and she had always done this. She glanced briefly at me before turning away.Goodness! I didn't want to run into her again today. I hoped for a smooth day after the altercation with Lance, all because of her.Now, she was here. What did she want? Why was she always getting in my face?"Come, Thorne, have a seat," Headmaster Kendrick said, briefly glancing away from the book in front of him. The only vacant seat available was next to Kelani, and I wasn't keen on being near her. However, I had no choice unless I wanted to sit on the floor while listening to the headmaster. Reluctantly, I stepped forward, pulled out the chair, and sat down. Kelani glanced at the other side of the room, ba
KELANI POVSlinging my backpack over my shoulder, I breathed out, stepping out of the room. It was just another Monday. Although weekdays weren't my favorite, I felt a hint of excitement today.Seems like I woke up in a good mood today.Glancing around, I lowered my gaze and stepped on something squishy – it was an envelope—the black envelope to be precise. Frowning, I scanned the area again, trying to spot whoever had dropped it. I knew it would be almost impossible since they were keeping their identity a secret.I picked up the envelope, still addressed to me, and opened it slowly, hoping for different content this time. But it remained the same."I'm watching you," I murmured, shaking my head. The unsettling feeling persisted as I couldn't figure out who might be watching me.I wondered if it meant watching my activities outside or maybe even indoors. I could be indecent, but I doubted they cared.It felt creepy, and I doubted it was someone I knew. I started listing all the poss
KELANI POV"Hey," a blonde greeted me, waving in my direction.I returned the gesture with a smile, recognizing her from PE. Her name was Jenny, as she preferred being called. She was one of those girls who disliked Lia but lacked the courage to confront her. I couldn't blame her; Lia could be pretty intimidating. Plus, I recently learned that Lia was a witch, explaining why Riley warned me about staying on her good side.From what I gathered, Lia had a penchant for casting spells on students, especially newcomers. Since she faced no consequences, she freely indulged in such behavior.I couldn't fathom why Lia, despite the prohibition of magic and supernatural powers, faced no real consequences for her actions."Waiting for someone?" she inquired, taking the empty seat across from me. I nodded, glancing around, and then at the nearly empty coffee cup in front of me. Doubts about Vesper showing up anytime soon crept in; he suggested we meet at the cafe, yet it seemed like he might be s
KELANI POV"Let me go!" I growled, but my voice was muffled by his hand.Stamping my feet on the ground to resist being pulled, I gritted my teeth. Though I knew it was a weak attempt to save myself, it was better than doing nothing and accepting the horrid fate that awaited me.He pulled me so hard that my back slammed into his solid body, and I caught a whiff of his scent."Vesper?" I mumbled, turning in his arms as his grip loosened."What the hell, Vesper? Didn't you leave for home?" My eyes narrowed at him, and the possibility of him being a stalker surged through me.He could possibly be the one, but what did he want from me?Taking a step away from him, I eyed him cautiously, waiting for a response. Simultaneously, my eyes darted around, searching for the easiest escape route if he decided to attack me.Yet, something within me did not point to him being the stalker. Call it a hunch; Vesper did not give off stalker vibes."It's foolish for you to walk at this time of night with
KELANI POV"Please shut the curtains," Riley groaned, rolling onto the bed. She pressed her hand to her forehead, her eyes squinting.Just by looking at her, I could tell she had a hangover. I didn't even know when she arrived yesterday; I must have been too exhausted to notice.I was also certain she must have been pretty wasted.This was my first time seeing Riley in this condition, and I felt somewhat relieved. She was normal, after all.I had assumed she wouldn't suffer from such since she was a witch, but now I knew better.Heading toward where the first aid box was kept, I grabbed some aspirin and poured a glass of water, placing it in front of her."How much did you drink last night?" I asked, wrinkling my nose at the alcohol stench."You should take a shower," I added, but she shot me a glare.Riley took the water and aspirin, downing them with a sigh. She ran a hand through her disheveled hair and let out another breath before glancing at her vibrating phone."What now?" she
KELANIHeadmaster Kendrick entered the room, his face more serious than usual. A hush fell over the previously noisy space, and all eyes turned toward him in curiosity. It seemed uncommon for the headmaster to show up with such a solemn demeanor. Despite Mary's passing, I hadn't expected him to gather everyone for a talk like this.His gaze scanned the room, and when his eyes met mine, he offered a brief smile before exhaling audibly."Hey," a gentle tap on my shoulder made me turn to find Lance sitting beside me. Riley had vacated her seat, and I scanned the room to discover her chatting with a blond. Typical Riley, I thought, not surprised.My focus returned to Lance as he leaned in, prompting a frown from me. "Can we talk after this?" he asked."Why?" I responded almost instantly, wincing at the sharpness in my voice.I didn't understand why he wanted to talk to me. We hadn't spoken one-on-one before or had any reason to."I need everyone's attention because what I'm about to say i