BENNETT’S POV
I was very sure that if I clenched my jaw any tighter, I was going to crack a molar.Xane sat across from me with his perfect behavior, his shoulders relaxed, smiling politely at my parents, he leaned back in his chair, all calm and charming as he spoke up “That’s a fascinating approach, Mr. Cross. It’s rare to see a business prioritize community projects like that.”Dad chuckled, clearly eating it up. “Well, we believe in giving back. Isn’t that right, dear?”Mum smiled at him, then at Mrs. Baxter. “And I imagine you run your companies with the same principles.”Mrs. Baxter nodded, launching into something about “sustainable leadership.” Zoe giggled and I turned to see her laughing at whatever Xane had just whispered to her. “You’re so bad,” she said, swatting his arm lightly.I made a gagging sound.She rolled her eBENNETT’S POVThe second I rounded the corner of the west hall, I froze.Xane had his arms around Lucas frombehind, whispering something into his ear. As I watched, he bit into his neck or was it his ear? I saw red. My vision blurred as I clenched my fists.My Beta, Ryder, was still talking about some training schedules, I think, but I barely heard him. My blood was already boiling, my pulse roaring loud in my ears. I shoved my bag into Ryder’s chest without looking at him.“Hold this.”“Bennett—”But I was already moving, cutting straight down the corridor toward them. Every step was a warning, my wolf pacing inside me like it wanted to tear its way out.Xane had the audacity to laugh, like he and Lucas were the best of friends, with his eyes locked on mine. Well, I was about to rip his smug head off his shoulders.
LUCAS’S POV I woke up with a knot in my stomach, and it hadn’t eased since. I was anxious for two reasons. One Xane. Or more specifically, the fact that I’d agreed to hang out with him today. My father’s words from two nights ago kept looping in my head: Get close, seduce him, sleep with him, convince him and his mother to work with us. Two Bennett. The gap between us was widening, and I didn’t know if it was my fault or his. Probably both. After Xane had confirmed our plans last night, I’d texted Bennet. A lot. Every message went unanswered. Either he was ignoring me, or he was actually busy, and somehow the first possibility hurt more. By the time I got to the locker room that morning, my chest was tight in panic and my head was buzzing. I kept telling myself it was just another day, just another class, but my hands were clumsy as I shoved books into my bag, triple-checking I hadn’t forgotten my math folder. I didn’t hear footsteps approaching, so I jolted hard when a pa
XANE’S POVI was sprawled on my bed, one hand behind my head, the other lazily tossing a baseball into the air. Catch. Toss. Catch. The rhythm was steady, almost hypnotic, the sound of the ball hitting my palm echoing faintly in the high-ceilinged room, mixing with the faint hum of the AC. Outside, I could hear the distant buzz of traffic, but in here, it felt like my own little world.The door creaked open and I didn’t need to look. I already knew who it was.“Knock next time, Mum,” I drawled, my eyes still on the ball’s arc.“Don’t start with me, Xane.” Her heels clicked across the polished floor until she was standing at the foot of my bed. She crossed her arms like she was about to deliver a sermon.“ What happened in the bathroom with you and Bennett? You guys were gone for some time.”The ball landed in my palm and stayed there. I sat up slowly, letting a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth. “Nothing happened. He just doesn’t like me much.”“That’s not surprising,” she said fl
LUCAS’S POV When I opened the front door, the first thing I heard was shouting—not raised voices or bickering but full-on yelling. My father wanted to tear the house down. He was fighting my mother again! I froze for half a second in the entryway, my backpack sliding off my shoulder. My mother’s voice was sharp and she sounded panicked and desperate. “I will not do this, and you can’t make me!” There was a brief pause as though my father was considering her words then his voice boomed across the walls. “You will, or you can consider yourself exiled from this pack!” I didn’t wait to hear anymore, I had heard enough. I dropped my bag and sprinted to the living room. I skidded to a halt at the sight before me. My Dad was towering over my mum, his face twisted with fury. She was gripping his wrist, trying to pull him back, and he looked about two seconds from— “Hey!” I shoved myself between them, my hands on his chest, forcing him back a step. “What the hell is going on?” “Lucas,
BENNETT’S POV I was very sure that if I clenched my jaw any tighter, I was going to crack a molar.Xane sat across from me with his perfect behavior, his shoulders relaxed, smiling politely at my parents, he leaned back in his chair, all calm and charming as he spoke up “That’s a fascinating approach, Mr. Cross. It’s rare to see a business prioritize community projects like that.”Dad chuckled, clearly eating it up. “Well, we believe in giving back. Isn’t that right, dear?”Mum smiled at him, then at Mrs. Baxter. “And I imagine you run your companies with the same principles.”Mrs. Baxter nodded, launching into something about “sustainable leadership.” Zoe giggled and I turned to see her laughing at whatever Xane had just whispered to her. “You’re so bad,” she said, swatting his arm lightly.I made a gagging sound.She rolled her e
Bennett’s Pov. I slammed my locker a little too hard and got a side-eye from one of the freshmen. I have never been more pissed off like I am right now. Xane had latched onto Lucas like some damn parasite, and Lucas didn’t even seem to notice. I know he had been asked to take him round the school but they had looked too relax while at it. And the fact that Xane was comfortable enough to make sexual jokes? That part got under my skin the most. Because I knew there was something off about Xane. He had the too-perfect smile, the calculated charm, the fake vulnerability. It all reeked of manipulation. I saw it, why the hell didn’t Lucas? ~~ The ride home was a mix of angry thoughts and what-ifs. What if Lucas had come into the bathroom alone without Xane tailing him like a lost puppy? What if I hadn’t let my ego get the best of me? What if Xane hadn’t shown up at all? My phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryder. “Got to talk about the new kid. Call me when you get home.