Knew he was trouble

Lyra's POV 

“Look at them,” Aurora hissed as we strode to class after morning assembly. 

“The scariest female duo in school.” She sounded sarcastic with a hint of irritation in her tone.

I followed her eyes and they landed on Evelyn Blackwell and Arabella Smith. 

“You know what I heard? Evelyn has been crushing on Zane Hawthorne for like the longest time but you know… Zane is all broody and quiet and dangerous… she's scared he'd probably reject her.”

I wanted to ask how she knew all these, but then I didn't want her giving me the are-you-serious look again, so I just walked quietly beside her.

Besides, a part of me was very reluctant about today's classes. 

It kept feeling as though something bad was about to happen. 

Aurora glanced at me. “You usually tie your hair in a ponytail. What happened today?”

“A little switch up.”

Couldn't possibly tell her how my scalp hurt from all the rigorous scrubbing I did in the bathroom that now even combing hurts like hell.

“Looks great,” she said. “You should switch things up more often.”

Then she stopped and stared more at me, as though searching for other things I usually did that I didn't do today.

“And girl, your hair is so pretty when you let it pour down.”

Without meaning it, my hand reached to touch my long, thick, slightly wavy black hair. Some loose strands framed my face as it fell down my back in soft natural waves.

“Also, while you're at it,  how about you come to this party with me. I promise it's going to be a bomb!”

I'd started frowning from the moment I heard “party.”

“No parties Aurora,” I said, turning to continue walking.

“What do I have to do to convince you?” She blocked my way, her eyes almost pleading.

“Nothing. I just don't… like the noise and…”

Lies. Back at Harrow wood, I was still younger than I was now but I often sneak out to parties. 

“Have you attended many in your Pack?” Aurora asked.

“No. Never attended any cos I don't like them.” I lied again.

“Then you're going.”

“What?!”

“You can't tell if you like something or not when you haven't even experienced it.”

“Aurora… no I can't…”

She stopped, her face instantly switching.

“If you really see me as your friend Elysia, then you won't say no to me on this one…” 

Her eyes dimmed. She was close to tears. 

Damn it. 

“Just once,” I sighed, defeatedly.

“Yass!” She cheered victoriously, then bounced into class. 

Did she just trick me?

“Yeah. Exactly why I didn't wanna make friends,” I mumbled under my breath.

Minutes after we arrived in class, professor Natty Boh, AKA professor Yelly, in charge of CTP—combat training practical, strutted in. 

The students had started calling her ‘professor Yelly’ because she didn't know how to talk calmly, and always yelled her instructions. 

But to her credit, she was fashionable. 

Rumours had it she murdered her mate on her first ever transformation into her wolf. And since then, she'd not been blessed with a second chance mate. 

As soon as she strutted into the classroom, she went straight to the board and wrote:

Combat Training Practical. Right now in the training ground!!!

Then she turned and faced the class.

“And why the heck are y’all still in your seats?!” she growled. 

We all dashed off. 

“Professor Yelly is at it again,” some of the students groaned. 

I didn't blame them. With the cold winter weather, anyone would have preferred being in their beds by this time of the morning. 

“I'm going to enjoy this,” Aurora whispered excitedly as we neared the training ground that had been covered with snow and ice. 

“Sparring time!” Professor Natty yelled, striding quickly towards us. 

“Class A is joining us?!” Isla, popular for always swooning for popular Alpha heir boys but would be caught later making out with a nerdy Beta behind the block, gasped quietly. 

But professor Natty had heard and responded almost immediately.

“Got a problem with that?”

“Hell nah! I mean I get to breathe the same air as  Zane Hawthorne!” She squealed. 

“This is getting interesting,” Aurora said, folding her arms across her chest as Evelyn Blackwell and Arabella Smith came into view. 

God, she hated them. 

“Why do you hate them so much?” I asked.

“She walks like she owns this place… like some Queen.”

“Well, somehow, she actually is,” I  said. But only in my head. 

“I hope Zane never notices her pompous arse.” She scoffed.

“Silence!” Professor Natty growled standing in the middle of the grass. 

Then, I sighted him. 

Zane Hawthorne. 

Standing behind the pack of kids, putting on a black hoodie over his uniform cloak. 

Just then, he pulled down the hood and our eyes met. 

Held. 

He didn't look away. Neither did I. 

And for one moment, I imagined us in the same room, me tutoring him… us being so close I could run my fingers through his thick, tousled curly hair…

My heart lurched.

Would we be alone or would his mother have us supervised?

“Jeez! You haven't even accepted to tutor him yet!” A voice in my head groaned.

But I couldn't help it as I continued staring,  my head imagining all sorts of unspeakable things.

Just then, his head tilted.

“Somet’n on my face?” he mouthed, a brow raised as amusement flickered across his face.

Immediately, my brain finally caught up with my eyes. 

I didn't even realize I was still staring.

Cussing, I glanced away. 

But my heart was no longer calm. 

“Are you alright? You're breathing fast,” Aurora whispered. 

“Yeah yeah just…”

“Your face is red like tomatoes! I can literally hear your heartbeat. You sure you're okay?”

“I said silence!” Natty slammed. 

“If I call your name, you get your arse out here and we’re gonna be practicing some real sparring. Alright?!”

“We’ll take it a set at a time!” “Elysia Vale!”

“Go get 'em!” Aurora whispered as I stepped out.

“Zane Hawthorne!”

Professor Natty barely finished saying his name before my stomach dropped.

“You’re sparring with him,” she said. 

Him?

Of all the wolves in Mooncrest, it had to be him?

Could the morning get any worse?

Goddess.

Zane didn't argue—he usually never did. Because he was always dangerous and had perfect execution during training. 

He stepped onto the large mat, rolling his shoulders as a lazy smirk tugged at his lips.

“Try not to embarrass yourself, smarty pants,” he muttered.

My jaw tightened. “Worried I might?”

He chuckled, his smirk widening.

“Show me what you've got!” Professor Natty yelled and then blew the whistle.

Zane lunged.

I sidestepped him and caught his wrist, using his momentum to send him stumbling past me.

“Whaaat!” some of the students gasped.

Zane sneered as he rose, his expression changed.

Good.

Did he think I was going to let him walk all over me?

He should never have underestimated me.

Just then, he turned sharply and came at me again, 

faster this time. 

I blocked his punch, but the force sent a jolt through my arm.

Damn. He was strong.

Before I could recover, his hand caught my waist.

My breath hitched.

He swept my legs from beneath me, and suddenly my back hit the mat.

In one single breath, he was above me, one hand braced beside my head, his face only inches from mine. And for one stupid second, I forgot we were supposed to be fighting.

His scent… a mix of pine and cedar wrapped around me, like a thick blanket would. His eyes dropped briefly to my lips. 

I shivered, feeling my pulse stumble.

“Still think you can beat me?” he murmured, his face inching closer to my lips.