TOUCH NOT HIS PLUMP MATE

VELORAThe library has quietly become my hiding place. Or at least it almost. I don’t go near the cafeteria anymore. Apparently, I'm too disgusting to eat around everyone else without becoming somebody's entertainment for the day. At least here, surrounded by dusty shelves and silence, I’m usually safe.I glance at the clock hanging above the librarian's desk and sigh. Twenty more minutes until my next class.As much as I'd love to stay hidden in here forever, I can't afford to miss another lesson. I'm already behind enough as it is, and studying at home has become a luxury I can't always afford.My stomach growls loudly, echoing through the quiet space. I quickly place a hand over it. "Please behave," I mutter, then I unscrew my bottle of water and take a long drink instead."There you are, Big V."I jump so hard that water sprays down my chin and soaks the front of my shirt. “Oh my Goddess!”"Oops!" Ross covers his mouth with exaggerated horror. "Sorry about that." The grin on his f

ERYXI hadn't planned on coming back to Ravenwood today. Father changed that.Up until now, I used to believe that putting enough distance between myself and home would make the weight of everything easier to carry. But, it didn’t.The constant pressure never left. It just followed me across state lines like my own second shadow. Every constant reminder that I am Theron Nightbane’s only son. Every expectation that I become another perfect version of him: colder, stronger, more ruthless. And then there’s the mate problem.The real reason my father dragged me all the way back from Florida just to attend a ridiculous mating ceremony, and meet the bride he already chose for me: Aveline of the Hollowfang Pack. Loud. Attention-seeking. Obsessed with status. She smiles too widely, talks too much, and has spent the last few years treating my name like a prize she already owns. My father calls her “suitable.” I call her a headache. I'm expected to marry her after senior year.The thought alone

VELORAI don't answer. Not because I don't want to… My throat feels too tight for words. My heart is pounding so violently I'm afraid he can hear it.I don't even know what he means. But what unsettles me the most is the way he's looking at me. So intensely. Like… Like he wants me.No. That doesn't make any sense. Eryx Nightbane could never want someone like me. Not even if a witch cursed him. Not when girls like Aveline exist — beautiful, confident, everything I’m not.I swallow hard. "I..." The word catches in my throat. I force another breath.. "I have to go."Barely above a whisper, I add, "Please."His eyes roam over my face again, searching for something I don't understand. The longer he looks at me, the more certain I become. I can't stay here another second.Eryx and I have only met once eye to eye. I was eight and he was ten. Then, a group of children cornered me during one of our family dinners, and he'd stepped in without a second thought. He'd actually assumed I was the ma

ERYX Father is still staring at me in shock at what I just said. Kevin doesn't even bother to hide his anger, but he waits for Father to handle the situation. "What exactly do you mean by no?" Father asks calmly. "It's exactly what I said." I don't flinch. Of course, I see the shock on his face. The son he knows might argue with him all he wants, but I've never looked him in the eye and openly disobeyed him like this. Instead of arguing, he hides his anger behind a careful smile. He's very good at that whenever he doesn't want people to see how much something bothers him. "I apologise on behalf of my son," he says to Kevin. The old man lets out a small laugh. "Honestly, I'm not surprised. Kids these days tend to make a joke out of everything." Fine. We're doing this the hard way. I've tried to keep my head down, just like Vesper advised. I've been doing exactly that since I got back. Apparently, that's not going to work. I slowly rise to my feet. Father's eyes finally settle f

VELORAJaxton frowns, clearly searching for the right thing to say. Aveline isn’t someone you can brush off with a simple explanation, especially when she’s already looking for a reason to be suspicious.“Remember you told me what happened to Vel…” He stops and rubs his forehead before correcting himself. “I mean, Velora.” His eyes briefly flick to me. “I just felt sorry for her.”“Okay?” Aveline nods, but there's nothing satisfying about her expression. If anything, she looks more irritated.I notice Jaxton shifting uncomfortably. He looks nervous, even though neither of us has done anything wrong. Why is he so uneasy around her?“What do you want, Aveline?” I cut in before he can say anything else that might make things worse.Her attention immediately snaps to me instantly. “What else? I want my dress.” She scoffs. “My Eryx will be here any minute to pick me up, and you're here boring someone else with your sob story.”She rolls her eyes and glances back at Jaxton. He doesn't say a