Chapter 2

Reina’s POV

I still couldn’t believe how far I had wandered into the lecturers’ quarters.

What was I thinking?

My steps had taken me deep into a place no student, especially not a werenun, should have gone. I was supposed to stay around the academic blocks, go to class, and return to the convent quietly. But somehow, I had ended up in a private garden planted by none other than the man I hated most. Professor Julian.

Just thinking of the moment I realized he was my mate made my skin crawl. My wolf had purred at his presence. She had recognized him before I did, and that shook me more than anything else. How could the Moon Goddess do this to me? How could she tie me to a man who didn’t even believe that my religion existed? And how can I possibly have a mate when I am tied to my vows?

I turned to leave, eager to escape and hide somewhere safe before someone saw me.

What would people say if they caught me here? A nun lurking around a professor’s private quarters?

I took a shaky step back, but before I could move any farther, he grabbed my wrist.

His touch was firm, but not rough.

Still, it sent a strange spark through my arm ,warm, unsettling. I froze. My eyes widened, and I turned to look at him.

He was already watching me. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the slight lift of one eyebrow.

“You walk into someone’s garden uninvited,” he said coolly, “At least accept a cup of coffee before you leave.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’re already here. You may as well sit for a minute.”

I stared at him. His tone was cool, but not mocking. He had even lowered his voice to talk to me calmly. I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly getting kind. It wasn’t like earlier when we argued at the screening hall or in class. This was quite different. Or should I say he’s cold to me in the midst of others but gentle with me in private.

I hesitated, then slowly nodded. “Just for a moment.”

He gestured toward the bench beneath the tree. I sat down stiffly, folding my hands in my lap while he left for a few minutes. When he returned, he handed me a cup,ceramic, not disposable,black coffee, no sugar.

I didn’t like coffee. But I held the cup politely.

“I didn’t mean to come this far,” I said after a long pause.

“I figured,” he replied. “You looked too confused to have done it on purpose.”

I didn’t know what to say. The silence sat thick between us. After a few awkward sips, I stood up, gave a small bow, and said, “Thank you, Professor. I’ll be going now.”

“Good,” he replied simply.

Cold again.

Just like that.

---

The next day, I saw him again in class.

I had hoped he would ignore me, maybe act like yesterday didn’t happen. But instead, he continued to teach as if nothing strange had passed between us. No tension. No connection. Just philosophy.

And the coldness?

It continued.

He didn’t look at me twice, didn’t address me directly, and even when I answered questions, he gave short nods and moved on.

But what surprised me most was what happened when one of the students—Nathan, a boy who always joked too much, called out from behind me, “Hey nun, how many Hail Marys did you say before stepping in here?”

The class laughed.

I clenched my teeth and kept my head down, pretending not to care.

But then, Julian looked up.

“Nathan,” he said sharply. “See me after class.”

The boy shut up immediately.

Another girl giggled and whispered, “She probably thinks the chairs are cursed or something.”

“Gabrielle,” Julian called out. “You too.”

Everyone went quiet. Now they realized it was because of mocking me he was calling on them and his face, it was so stern to clearly tell anyone that he’s pissed. 

That was when I started to wonder: Why?

Why would he defend me from others, but still talk to me like I was some cold piece of rock? Why did he act like only he had the right to taunt me? He didn’t want anyone else insulting me. That was clear. But he himself had no problem mocking my beliefs whenever he liked.

It confused me. It made my heart twist with more questions than I had answers for.

After the last class of the day, I stayed back for sports. Not because I liked it, but because the convent rules required some form of physical activity before evening prayers. I joined the women’s running group, jogged a few laps, then returned to the department building to freshen up.

I was pressed and tired.

I rushed toward the faculty’s convenience which one of the girls pointed to me. My eyes were too heavy with fatigue to even see where I was going. I swung it open without a second thought, thinking it led to a regular toilet.

Instead, I stepped into something I wasn’t prepared for.

There was steam. Warm mist.

And water running.

Then

Julian.

Stark naked.

His back was to me, his skin glistening with water under the soft shower light. He turned around slightly just enough for me to see everything. Every. Single. Line.

My breath caught in my throat.

I was frozen.

I had never seen a man naked before, not even by accident. My hands trembled, but my legs wouldn’t move.

He turned fully, eyes locking with mine. For one horrible, soul-splitting second, we both just stared at each other.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, still so calm, as if this was nothing.

“I—I thought it was the toilet,” I stammered, taking a step back. “I didn’t know this was the....”

“This is a unisex bathroom,” he said, stepping out of the water. “Male and female.”

“I—I didn’t know.” I turned, about to flee.

But then we both heard it.

Footsteps.

Voices.

Laughter.

And chants.

Not ordinary students—them.

The fraternity boys as I’d heard before.

The gang of radical boys who loved to bully people they saw as weak. I had seen their type around campus loud, arrogant, always picking on anyone different.

And I was very different.

Julian’s eyes darkened. “Could it be that they are stalking you? It’s always lonely here by this time and this is their popular hideout.” He said in whispers. 

He moved fast before I could breathe, he reached out and pulled me inside, locking the door behind us.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, my back pressed to the cold tile wall, my face burning with shame.

“Keeping you safe,” he said, his tone low. “You don’t want them seeing you here, in this section.”

I was trembling.

He was still wet. Still naked. Just inches away from me. His cock dangling in between there. I tried to pull myself together, to stop myself from exploding. 

And my wolf?

She was going wild.

Her voice was rising in my mind, whispering things I couldn’t believe. Thoughts I had never allowed before. Desires I had buried years ago before taking my vows.

“Close your eyes,” he said, his voice softer now.

I shut them tightly, squeezing my fists at my sides.

But even with my eyes closed, I felt it. The heat from his skin. His strong scent mixed with that of the bath gel.

The slow hum of the bond pulled me to him like a rope around my chest. This wasn’t just temptation. It was a test.

A dangerous one.

I didn’t know what scared me more—the gang outside, or the man in front of me.

I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t give in. But I also couldn’t be seen coming out of this room with him. Not in this state.

And not while my heart was thudding so hard it felt like it might break my ribs.