Tethered

This place was beyond words.

Classes would be a breeze, the physical challenge would be beyond worth the pain for the results, I have my pack mates and enough potential soulmates to go around.

Not that I particularly believe in that shit, but some naive beta or sappy alpha would fall for that line easy.

This was like a dream come true.

And yet…

I couldn’t shake the feeling caught in my chest, that tightened my neck and made my hands curl.

Something was… different.

Like an unspoken secret wafting through the air, a lingering sense lurking in a corner.

I was oddly on edge, but couldn’t place why.

I’ll have to wrack it up to nerves, though there was nothing to be nervous about.

Then again I’m still waiting on my roommate, maybe that was it…

There was nothing worse than the unexpected, looking at the bulletin board to see no name but rather an undetermined slot.

Rhys rapped his fist gently against the firm mattress, “Not terrible. Not as snazzy as my east wing dorm, but it’ll work.”

I rolled my eyes at him, “Don’t rub it in my face.”

I chucked a pillow at him, which he swiftly batted away.

It was a shame we wouldn’t room together, though I wouldn’t admit it aloud I’d secretly hoped I’d be beside someone I trusted for the rest of the year.

And seeing a blank name next to mine on the bulletin annoying, likely some no show that couldn’t handle the heat before they walked through the gates.

Figures.

But as smile came to my face, as I couldn’t help but think my family name might have knocked them off the board.

Alderwyn carried massive weight to it; strong warriors, competitive traditions, social status

and family pride.

Who could compete with that?

I was better off with someone that could handle the weight.

Rhys perked up at the door, the sound of a trudging step closing in on my doorway.

A scent overcame me, something dirty and wild…

Brawnclove.

A scoff came from behind me.

“Thought it smelt a little sterile in here.”

I felt my jaw clench, the unnecessary jab confirming my suspicions.

“Kane…” I drawled, “I didn’t think they still let mutts in here.”

I turned to face him, the brutish and ragged son of the Brawnclove tribe, soon to be tribe leader.

A waste of space, in my opinion.

He was rugged and unpolished, angry and unsightly.

Everything my tribe had been taught to loathe and avoid.

He smirked, “Still more wolf than you are. Tell me, pretty boy, that Alderwyn name still wasn’t good enough to get you in a penthouse?”

Rhys sat up from the bed, “Keep running your mouth and I’ll show you the basement, berserkr.”

Kane’s head whipped at the insult, “Yeah I’d bet you’d like to get me in a dark room, wouldn’t you Rhys?”

Rhys bared his teeth; a deep growl emanating from his chest.

Kane matched it without hesitation; his earthly scent combating with Rhys’ fresh and natural one.

We’d started to attract eyes from the hallways, I squared my shoulders and turned back to Kane.

“Just fuck off—would you? You’re not welcome here.”

Kane turned to me, Rhys forgotten in the presence of a different challenge.

He dropped the bags on his shoulder to the ground.

“Don’t think so—“ he started, taking a step in the door, “This is my room.”

I tried to stop my eyes from growing wide, biting the inside of my cheek.

“Like fuck it is,” Rhys chided, lifting himself from the bed.

He stepped to Kane’s figure, his eyes boring into the side of his head.

“Get out. Now.”

Kane turned, jaw set and stare deadly.

“Why,” Kane chided, “you gonna make me?”

Rhys and I shared a glance.

Yeah; that’s exactly what we were going to do.