CHAPTER 4: CROWN OF THORNS

Present: 4 years after the sextuplets left the Diamond Heart Pack to study in their respective universities. All teenagers are now 18 years old and soon turning into 19 year old adults- all ready to graduate from their respective universities soon.

Aira’s POV

“Get the hell off me, man. You’re making me all sweaty,” I muttered in disgust, shoving off the overly clingy wolf sprawled over me.

“HELLO? IS SOMEONE IN THERE? I NEED TO PEE SO BAD!” a girl’s voice rang out in utter desperation. “PLEASE OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR!”

Ugh. As if the rest of the academy’s bathrooms had been swallowed by the ground.

Why the hell would anyone mess with me, the ruthless queen of Dark Arts Academy?

“Shut up!” I barked through the door before turning back to glare at the loser still latched onto me like a cursed magnet.

“You,” I snapped, pointing at him. “Mister…?” I trailed off, frowning. Crap. What was his name again? Did I even care?

“You don’t remember? I’m Marc—the Captain and Quarterback of the top-ranked football team in the whole state!” he shouted like it was supposed to impress me. “I’m literally the most desirable guy here!”

Why are the hot ones always so damn annoying?

“Look, I like my hookups fast and forgettable. I don’t need a migraine after. So do us both a favor—stuff that lazy pole back in your pants and get lost,” I said coldly. “Frankly, I don’t even know how someone like you plays football. You’re that lazy.”

“You’re such a b*tch, Aira,” he hissed, yanking up his shorts.

“And your name again was...?” I asked sweetly, batting my lashes.

“Marc! My flipping name is Marc!” he growled.

“Nice to meet you, Marc,” I said, all sugary venom—and slammed my knee straight into his crotch.

“AAAGHHHHH!” he screamed like a kicked puppy.

I rolled my eyes. What had I ever seen in him?

“That’s for driving me insane. Don’t cross me again,” I snarled, storming out of the stall and slamming the door behind me.

Mood: ruined.

His pretty face and ripped body were no match for his trash personality—and zero talent in bed. What a waste.

“Whoa, girl!” Zane, my best friend and Beta (and the only person in this damn place I hadn’t hooked up with), exclaimed. “Don’t tell me you went hot and heavy with my archenemy.”

“You have an archenemy?” I asked, adjusting my hair into a messy bun.

“Hell yeah, and you know it! Jeez, keep your hair down—Psycho McCrazy Pants left bite marks all over your neck!” he grimaced, waving his finger near my throat.

“That’s the least of my concerns,” I sighed. The marks would fade. What really bothered me was how miserable the whole session was. “He didn’t even make me c*m. Ugh. So damn disappointing.”

“So you did all the work?” Zane guessed.

“Obviously,” I groaned with an exaggerated eye roll.

“That was number two today or…?”

“Three,” I replied flatly, already walking toward class.

“How do you even find someone new every day?! I know being bi gives you options but this is wild! Wait—was it Marc?”

I shrugged. “He said he was the Captain and Quarterback or whatever. Honestly, the whole thing was just… forgettable.”

“What the hell, Aira?! It’s bros before hoes! Marc is the worst! You couldn’t have picked a more annoying prick!” Zane ranted.

“Agreed,” I said, zoning out. I was already back in my mind—with him. The only one who ever mattered.

That cold, distant devil who deflowered me and then vanished.

He turned me into this—this bitter, guarded, numb, untouchable version of myself.

That heartless bastard.

I hated how badly I still wanted him.

I had the reputation: the sexiest girl on campus, most aggressive werewolf, genius of the Dark Arts, queen of the ring, and seductive heartbreaker. I’d broken every record in sports, magic, combat—and in bed. Professors weren’t spared either. I was the undisputed Queen Bee of this university.

But under it all?

Just a shattered girl trying to drown a memory.

The fire. The bonding. The betrayal.

Four years ago, I woke up from that disaster furious, betrayed, and utterly hollow. And somehow, I still craved him. Still hated him. Still loved him.

I should have killed him the moment he left.

I could suck him dry. Sink my fangs into his veins. End him.

But the truth?

I was just hopelessly in love with someone who ruined me.

And every new body? Just another failed attempt to forget.

“Find me...”

“Find me, Aira...”

“I need you.”

“Find me.”

“So what are your birthday plans?” Zane asked, dragging me back to reality. When he went silent after five seconds, I realized it was my cue to respond—but I had no idea what he’d said.

“Yeah! You’re totally right. What happened next?” I bluffed—right before nearly falling flat on my face.

Did he just shove me?!

“What the flying f*ck, Zane?!”

“You didn’t hear a word I said for five minutes, did you?” he accused, raising his brows. Caught.

“Okay, maybe I was a little distracted. What were you saying?” I muttered sheepishly.

“Your birthday. This weekend. Aunt Nyssa prophesied all six of you would find your mates after turning nineteen. Are you excited to go home and meet yours?”

“Nah,” I shrugged. “Sounds like a trap to me. Tied to one person for life? No thanks. We’re young. Hot. Free. I don’t believe in soulmates or fated crap.”

“That’s… how do I say this? So. F*cking. Toxic,” he said dryly. “You need to get your act together, Stone. I don’t know what wrecked you, but since the day we got here, you’ve been off. Stop hiding whatever the hell happened and go home. Heal.”

Whoa. He’d never spoken to me like that.

Maybe I did bottle everything up too tightly.

Maybe it was easier that way.

“I said—hey, lost queen!” Zane waved a hand in front of my face. “You zoned out again. Girl, you seriously need to stop sleeping around. I swear you’re carrying every STD alphabet in history!”

Says the hypocrite who’s fooled around with more students than I’ve cursed.

“Shut up, Zane,” I snapped, annoyed he was right. “I’m sick of the losers here. I’m heading to that brothel you mentioned—maybe I’ll find someone who actually knows how to f*ck.”

“Unbelievable,” he muttered. “You want me to drop you off?”

I shot him a glare. He threw his hands up in surrender.

“Fine! I know you can drive. I just wanted to make sure it was safe. I don’t want my Alpha getting more hurt than she already is.”

“Just leave me alone,” I growled and walked away, ditching classes for the day in search of something—anything—to take my mind off that damned were-vamp who broke me.

I was a mess. An incorrigible player. Bisexual, angry, powerful—and painfully lost.

Lighting a cigarette, I straddled my bike and rode straight toward the unknown—unaware that life was about to do a full one-eighty.