CHAPTER 7: THE RIVAL QUARTERBACK

EVELLESSA

The next morning, I woke up with two things:

1. A headache.

2. A mate problem.

Massive mate problem.

Cassain’s faint scent still lingers on my skin—the cold, addicting mix of winter rain and lightning that somehow gets under my ribs and refuses to leave. I scrub my neck twice. Doesn’t help. Aretha hums.

Aretha: You smell like him. Good.

Me: Shut up.

Aretha: Maybe roll in his sheets again—

Me: PLEASE BE SERIOUS.

She snorts at me.

Downstairs, Richard and Emmanuel stare at me like I’m a dangerous animal who learned how to open doors.

“Good morning?” I offer.

Richard folds his arms. “Cassain called at 6 a.m.”

“Oh God.”

“He said you needed a ride.”

I nearly choke on my own life. “I said I would take the bus.”

“He said no.”

Emmanuel lifts his mug. “And when the Supernatural-king-slash-supernatural-CEO says no, apparently we say ‘yes sir.’”

I groan. “I hate him.”

Richard gives me a look that says liar.

Emmanuel tosses me a granola bar. “Eat. You’ll need strength to fight off all the crazy today.”

I open it, chewing angrily. “What crazy?”

Richard gestures at the door.

Cassain is standing outside.

Leaning against his car like a sin with a pulse.

Black shirt stretched over muscles. Tattoo glinting on his forearm. Hair is still wet from a shower. Eyes glowing faint gold like he barely slept.

I open the door.

He looks at me the way a man looks at a battlefield he plans to conquer.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart.”

“I’m going to.”

I stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind me before my brothers started glaring holes in him.

“Did you seriously call my father at six in the morning?”

“I didn’t want you taking the bus.”

“You’re insane.”

He shrugs. “A little.”

His eyes soften as they sweep my face. “You didn’t sleep well.”

I look away quickly. “Shut up.”

He smirks. “Get in the car.”

“Stop ordering me—”

“Evelessa.” His voice drops, deep enough to bruise. “Get in the car.”

Aretha does little cartwheels.

I swear quietly and climb in.

He drives us to school in comfortable silence… at least until we enter the parking lot.

Then everything goes chaotic.

Students stare.

Whisper.

Point.

Cassain glares at every male who breathes too close.

“Stop that,” I mutter.

“No.”

I facepalm.

When we reach the front of campus, he parks and turns toward me.

“Stay safe,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “I’m literally going to class.”

He leans in slightly, his breath brushing my cheek. “I mean it.”

My heart stutters.

I shove the door open before he sees my blush.

The moment I step out, whispers start.

“That’s her.”

“The new girl who shut down Marissa.”

“She’s gorgeous.”

“Oh my God, is Cassain walking her to class?”

I want to crawl into a hole.

I speed-walk away.

Cassain keeps pace.

Of course.

“Stop following me.”

“No.”

I groan. “Cassain—”

A loud, confident voice interrupts.

“Hey!”

I turn.

A tall, broad-shouldered guy jogs toward me. Brown hair. Bright blue eyes. A jaw that could slice diamonds. Wearing a green rival-team jacket.

Great.

A quarterback.

The universe hates me.

He beams. “You’re Evelessa, right? Freshman? Cheer auditions two days back?”

I blink. “Um…" yes?”

Cassain steps in beside me like a growing storm.

“Who are you?.”

The guy extends a hand—ignoring Cass entirely.

“I’m Jordan Pierce. Quarterback for West Ridge. I saw you yesterday. You were… insanely impressive.”

I shake his hand politely. “Thank you.”

Cassain’s growl is so low, only I hear it.

Jordan grins. “Actually, I was hoping to ask you something.”

Cassain steps forward.

Jordan steps closer to ME.

Oh, this is bad.

Jordan: “Would you—maybe—want to grab a smoothie after class? Or dinner? Or—”

“No.” The answer is out before he finishes.

Jordan blinks. “Uh—no?”

I nod quickly. “Sorry. I’m… not dating.”

Cassain’s satisfaction radiates like a smug sun.

Jordan lifts both hands. “Totally fine. No pressure. Can't blame a guy for trying.” He smiles again. “If you change your mind, I’ll be around.”

He walks off.

I release a breath.

Cassain steps in front of me.

Too close.

Too intense.

His voice is a quiet, lethal whisper. “You are not going out with him.”

“I said no!”

“Good.”

“Cassain—”

He grabs my jaw gently but firmly, forcing me to meet his eyes.

Those glowing golden eyes.

“You don’t say yes to other men.”

“I can say yes to whoever—”

“No,” he says, low and sure. “You can’t. Because you are mine.”

My stomach drops.

My breath catches.

Aretha purrs: Again. Say it again.

I shove him lightly. “Don’t say stuff like that in public!”

“Then don’t make other men look at you like that.”

“I didn’t DO anything!”

“You breathed.”

I stare at him. “You’re jealous.”

He doesn’t deny it.

Instead, he cages me against the wall with one arm.

“Evelessa. I haven’t had a full night of sleep since you came back into my life. I can hear your heartbeat across a stadium. I can smell your scent on every person you walk past.” His jaw flexes. “Do you understand what that does to me?”

I swallow. Hard.

“No,” I whisper.

“Let me show you.”

I push his chest. “Stop talking like that.”

He lets me go.

But his eyes… they never leave me.

We walk into the building.

People stare at us like we’re a N*****x drama.

In class, I sit beside two girls—soft-spoken, staring at me in awe.

“You’re Evelessa, right?”

I nod.

“I’m Kira,” the brunette says shyly. “And this is Shade.”

Shade grins. “You beat up Kayla and Megan.”

“I didn’t beat them up—”

Shade raises a brow. “You dragged them by their hair.”

Kira gasps. “YOU DID?!”

“Oh my God,” I groan. “Please don’t—”

The door bursts open.

Cassain steps inside.

He scans the room.

He finds me.

He walks straight over.

Every girl stares like he’s a forbidden dessert.

He leans down. “I’ll be outside when class ends.”

“Cassain, I don’t need—”

“You do.”

He leaves.

Kira blinks rapidly. “Is he—your boyfriend?”

“No!”

Shade smirks. “He looks like he wants to chew you alive.”

I drop my head on the desk. “Please stop.”

The teacher enters.

Class begins.

I try to focus.

I fail.

Because Cassain is leaning against the hallway window the entire time, watching me through the glass.

His arms crossed.

His eyes gold.

His jaw is tight.

Students whisper: “He’s waiting for her.”

Shade nudges me. “Girl… you got a problem.”

I whisper back. “His name is Cassain.”

After class, I slip into the hallway.

Cassain falls in step beside me.

“So,” he says. “Jordan Pierce thinks he can ask my mate on a date.”

“He doesn’t know I have a—” I correct myself fast, “—a you.”

He stops walking.

Dead stop.

Students bump past us.

Slow down.

Stare.

“What,” he says very quietly, “would you call me?”

I shrug helplessly. “A… problem?”

He glares. “Try again.”

“A… complication?”

“Evelessa.”

“A… overgrown wolf with boundary issues?”

He drags a hand down his face. “I swear you’re going to be the end of me.”

“I hope so.”

His head snaps toward me.

“What?”

“I mean—NO—I didn’t mean—ugh, shut up.”

He smiles.

That slow, dangerous, intimate smile.

My knees wobble.

We head toward the cafeteria, but before we reach it—

Jordan reappears.

Carrying two coffees.

One for him.

One—apparently—for me.

He smiles nervously. “I thought maybe you didn’t eat breakfast, so I… brought you one.”

Cassain freezes.

Oxygen disappears.

I stare at the drink. “Oh. That’s really sweet but—”

Cassain steps between us.

Completely blocking me.

Jordan straightens, puffing his chest. “I’m just being polite.”

Cassain’s voice drops to cold, supernatural authority. “Walk away.”

Jordan’s jaw twitches. “Or what?”

Cassain smiles like a predator with infinite patience. “Or I will show you exactly why your coach forbids you from fighting off-field.”

Jordan scoffs. “You don’t scare me.”

Cassain’s eyes flash bright gold.

Jordan steps back.

Not by choice.

His legs move on their own.

He stumbles.

Drops the coffee.

It splashes everywhere.

The cafeteria goes SILENT.

Everyone watches.

Jordan’s eyes widen in fear. “W-What was that?”

Cassain doesn’t blink. “A warning.”

Jordan swallows and leaves.

Fast.

Cassain turns to me.

“You’re not accepting things from other men.”

“That was mean!”

“He deserved worse.”

“You scared him.”

He shrugs. “Good.”

I glare. “You can’t go around threatening people!”

“I can. I will. Especially when they’re staring at you like prey.”

“I’m NOT yours.”

His voice softens. “But you are.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Cassain.”

He steps closer.

“We’re not done talking about this.”

“Yes. We are.”

“No.” He leans down, whispering against my ear. “You’re mine, and every male within a mile knows it.”

My breath catches.

Then—

“EVELLESSA!”

Richard storms down the hallway like an angry bull.

I jump back from Cassain so fast I nearly fall.

Richard grabs my wrist. “We need to go. Now.”

“What—why?”

He glares at Cassain. “Your mate is trending on supernatural news.”

“What?!”

He drags me toward the stairs.

I shout, “RICHARD WHAT DO YOU MEAN—”

He shows me his phone.

A video.

Of Cassain pushing Jordan back with magic.

Jordan stumbled.

Coffee spilling.

ME is standing behind Cassain.

Caption:

“New girl dating the wolf king?!”

“Is she the reason he broke the stadium rules?!”

“HOLY SHIP, THIS IS REAL???”

My heart drops. “Oh no…”

Cassain appears behind us instantly.

“I’ll fix it.”

Richard snaps, “You won’t go near her right now.”

Cassain’s voice is quiet. “Do you think I care about a video?”

“I care!” Richard hisses. “She’s human—”

“She is NOT human,” Cassain says sharply. “Stop pretending she is.”

Richard’s jaw clenches.

Students gather.

Whispers everywhere.

Cassain looks at me.

“Evelessa… come here.”

I shake my head. “No. Not now.”

His eyes soften—painfully soft.

“Sweetheart—”

“STOP calling me that!”

He steps back.

Just one step.

But it feels like a cliff drops from under both of us.

Richard pulls me away.

“Come on.”

I follow him.

But halfway down the stairs, I pause.

I turn.

Cassain is still standing there.

Alone.

Watching me.

Eyes glowing with something wild and desperate.

And he mouths:

Mine.

Aretha whimpers inside me.

I turn away before I do something stupid.

Like run back to him.

Outside, I exhale shakily.

“Richard,” I whisper, “this is getting out of control.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “Welcome to having a mate, Evie.”

“I don’t want a mate.”

“Tell that to the wolf king, burning holes in you with his eyes.”

I groan.

He pats my head. “Let’s just survive today.”

But I know better.

There’s no surviving this.

There’s only Cassain.

And the way he looks at me like I’m the single star he’d burn the world to keep.