CHAPTER 2

TAE

“Come into my office, Tae Yung.”

I look up as President Cardenas strides past me, heading straight for his office. He seems to be in a terrible mood and whatever the reason, I don’t want to be in his space when his anger peaks. Despite him always looking out for me and basically being my saviour from Ronan, he was known to have a short fuse.

“Sir.” I slink deeper into the office, warily watching as he takes a huge gulp of the whiskey in his tumbler. His hand runs easily over the decanter before he lifts it and fills his glass again.

“Ronan Blackwood.”

I blink a bit, confused as to why he’s discussing Ronan with me. I’ve not exactly thought of Ronan since the last time he’d cornered me in the alley.

“I’ve seen him target you. I heard the reports, your former roommate, everyone, and I know you’re aware that Ronan is behind everything.”

My eyes are spread wide open, curious as to where this conversation is leading. Ronan being the cause of my distress all these years isn’t exactly news to anyone.

“What I want to know is why Ronan seems so fixated on you. Why he hates you so much.”

Ronan isn’t fixated on me. If anything, he wants to completely obliterate me from existence. Like the way the three territories teamed up to wipe mine. President Cardenas must see this on my face because soon, he’s shaking his head furiously, heading for me.

“President...” I let out a gasp as I’m forced to back against the door, my eyes fixed on his approaching form.

“What do you have on him, Ronan? That boy keeps testing me and seems to want me out of my seat as President. If there’s anything you know about him, anything that might’ve made him to despise you so dearly, you’d best tell me.”

“About Ronan? You think I have any idea on what makes Ronan... Ronan?” I scoff, amazed by how ridiculous the whole notion is.

“I don’t know what you have against Ronan and I’m sorry that he seems to be bothering you so much – “ I'd heard of the show down between Ronan and Cardenas a few days back, hours after mine and Ronan's alley meeting.

“But to me, it’s just Ronan being his despicable self. I don’t know anything about him, or why he hates me so deeply. And I’m sorry that I can’t help you figure out what he’s up to, but don’t think for a second that Ronan and I are anything other than the abuser and the victim. I’m not holding anything over his head.”

It’s the most I’ve said to him and it seems to jolt him out of whatever moment this is. He steps back once, his gaze still locked on me.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how that boy does it, but he continues to somehow mess with my head.” He takes in a deep breath.

“Sometimes, I think it’s because he’s aware that I’m sheltering you away from him.”

President Cardenas had seen me getting ‘bothered’ by Ronan and after sending him away, gave me a position in his office and research area. He’s something of an educationalist and acquires thousands of materials dating back decades ago. I don’t mind the gruelling work of organizing his files, as long as it gives me alone time from Ronan.

“I don’t think it’s because of that at all. To Ronan, I couldn’t be more hidden and detested. He wants me out of Alpha Court just because of the way I look.”

Cardenas eyes take on another hue as he looks me over, his irises going a darker shade of its light brown. “You look fine, Tae. And I bet Ronan hates that.”

When I shake my head with a little laugh, he steps closer, his hand lifting to my chin.

“I see how Ronan treats you. Everyone does.” He grips my chin firmly when I try to duck away. “But I also see how he looks at you. Like you’re his.”

My breath catches at this, because that’s the actual reason why Ronan despises me. Because I made the mistake to share the only thought my wolf had ever let me read in a long while. Mate.

“Do you think you’re his?” My brows furrow in confusion and I watch as his lips quirk. I see his eyes fall to his hold on my chin. Or to my lips?

What?

“You shouldn’t waste yourself on someone who can’t see what’s right in front of him. Not someone who wants to destroy the light that you are, Tae Yung.”

What? If anything, I stay far away from Ronan’s sights. I didn’t understand what Cardenas was getting at.

My confused thoughts screech to a halt as I feel Cardenas slide his hand across my jaw, sifting through my hair till he grips my neck. I’m frozen, unable to pull away or accept that this moment between us is actually happening.

“Let me show you what that feels like.” His voice is gravely and my eyes drop to his lips.

There’s a weird tension stringing between us that’s never been there before and I don’t know what to do about it. My eyes keep flicking between his eyes and his lips, my mouth suddenly feeling parched, strange. Oh Goddess, this is so wrong.

Cardenas though, seems to know what we’re both waiting for, because as my breath hitches – my eyes still locked on his lips, he pulls me into him and slots our mouths together.

Ho – oly hell! I’m kissing my professor. My mouth is fused to the President of the academy. And I might be enjoying it.

A sound escapes me and I find my lips parting open for his prying tongue.

His hand in my hair pulls tight, the nerves connecting to a spot at the base of my spine. I arch into him, almost purring when his hand drops to that spot and pulls me deeper into him, into the kiss.

Cardenas explores my mouth like he truly means to show me what I might be lacking. And boy, have I been lacking.

It doesn’t take long before I’m kissing his back, my tongue seeking entrance into his mouth and fighting with his. We’re moving and soon enough, he has me pressed once again to one of the book shelves lining his office.

Cardenas is gripping my nape like he’ll die if I break the kiss for a breath. I don’t plan to, despite the nagging reminder that this man is an older man in place of authority over me. Two decades older.

“No, no.” The reminder pulls me back like I’ve been shocked. I just kissed the president of my school, basically shooting both our positions to hell.

“Well, don’t stop on my account.”

We both turn suddenly at the new voice, my gaze widening when I take in the sight of Ronan Blackwood resting against the ajar door, with a stoic look on his face.

We’re truly fucked.