Chapter 3 - Some Beta

Chapter 3

DORIAN

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Dorian drives into the Hemlock University dorm building, passes the security checkpoint, and greets the men with a friendly nod.

Just as he parks his matt-black Mustang, his phone vibrates in his pocket. 

Irritation immediately crawls up his spine.

He was supposed to be back in his dorm already. The night is already late and past his bedtime.

What now? 

Everybody knows better than to bother him unless it is important.

Dorian pulls the phone from his pocket and glances at the screen.

A long, painful sigh escapes him before he can stop it.

Calian Hawthorne. His so-called beta. The fucker who never cared to be by his side.

What the fuck does he want?

The message is short. “Urgent. Where can we meet?”

Dorian rolls his eyes so hard it almost hurts.

“My dorm.” He sends the reply without thinking.

If Calian wanted something, he could certainly make the effort.

His thoughts drift back to the girl.

Again.

The moment she had stepped into that doorway, his attention had shifted. Everything else in the room had disappeared around him.

And honestly, the second he saw her, he knew he was supposed to remember her.

The problem was, he didn't. And the harder he tried, the more it frustrated him.

He'd looked away from her dozens of times. Tried to keep his expression calm.

Every single time, his attention found its way back, and he found himself staring at her.

Like his brain had developed a fixation and refused to move on.

It was ridiculous, irritating, and downright uncomfortable.

And by the end of the night, he still didn't have an answer.

That's why he had taken something from her. So he could smell her in peace.

Her scent was all different and familiar at the same time. 

And the fact that she lied about her real name just reinforces what he already suspects. 

She already knows him even if he can't recall where from.

Getting out of his car, he takes the thong out of his pocket and presses it against his nose, taking a deep breath. His eyes shut instantly.

Then he puts it back into his pocket as he reaches his dorm room.

Once inside, he drops his keys onto the table, stretching his stiff shoulders.

Fifteen minutes later, somebody pounds on the door.

Not knocks. Pounds.

Before Dorian can say anything, the door swings open and Calian storms inside.

Because apparently every room he entered had to become a dominance contest.

Dorian almost laughs. The fucking nerve of this guy.

"What the fuck do you want, Hawthorne?" he asks. "Don't you have to babysit your little rogues?"

Calian breathes heavily through his nose.

"It's the night before the full moon."

Dorian already regrets asking. “No shit, genius.”

"Every month," Calian continues, "the night before the turn, I patrol my side of the woods. Looking for hunters. Traps. Anything that could threaten my wolves."

Calian leaves the doorway and steps fully into the room, taking up his space.

Dorian raises an eyebrow. That’s… obsessive.

“I love that for you, Calian. You’re such a thoughtful wannabe alpha.” Dorian blinks. “Really.”

Calian's jaw tightens, and he hisses through his teeth. "And guess what I found."

Dorian deliberately says nothing.

Mostly because it annoys Calian.

And because he knows the idiot will tell him anyway.

"Dorian."

Dorian keeps quiet.

"Dorian."

“Will you ever get to your point?” Dorian drawls.

Calian reaches into his pocket and holds something up.

A lock of silver hair.

Dorian's eyes narrow.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

East Ridge. Exactly where he'd felt that sharp ripping sensation weeks ago.

He'd almost forgotten about it.

Almost.

“You keep a lock of my hair with you?” Dorian asks. “Oh, Calian. That’s sweet, but I’m not into you.”

He keeps his face perfectly blank. Because if he doesn't, he might show his amusement—and overlapping anxiety.

"I found this," Calian growls, "on my side of the woods. Wrapped around a branch."

He throws the hair onto Dorian's bed. "My side, Dorian. Where you are not allowed to cross. Ever."

Dorian remains silent.

Of course it's his. And of course it's there for exactly the reason Calian thinks. He spied on him. Like he always does.

"Please, Calian." Dorian shakes his head. "You don't think I don't know what you're doing?"

"What?"

"You crossed onto my side and fetched it. To start something again. You always want to start something."

"I did not."

"Who was with you? Josh? Caleb?"

"I went alone."

"Like a good alpha should?"

Calian's jaw tightens.

Dorian shrugs and shakes his head. "So nobody saw you collect the evidence."

Dorian walks toward the counter, pulls out a mug, and pours coffee from the automated percolator. “You’re always stirring shit.”

Calian's eyes darken.

But Dorian continues. "I cut you loose from your duties. I gave you territory. I let you keep your little rogue pack. What more do you want from me—"

Calian moves suddenly and fast. The mug explodes from Dorian's hand. Coffee splashes across the floor, across his arm. Across Calian's hand, too.

But the sharp sting barely registers.

Calian is suddenly right in front of him. His green eyes burn with held-up fury.

And while he tries to intimidate Dorian by towering over him, the funny thing is, Calian still isn't taller.

Dorian stares eye-level at him, his heart rate getting increasingly faster.

“What is that smell?” Calian’s eyes shift to the side.

Great. The thong. Now Calian is going to lose his little mind.

“What smell?”

“A girl… A wolf. But— different”

“No idea what you are talking about”

“You have a new wolf girl, and you didn’t tell me? What if she wants into my pack?”

Always this. When will he ever stop? This has been going on since high school and it’s beyond annoying at this stage.

"Get the fuck out of my face, Calian."

"Or what?" He counters bravely.

Dorian exhales slowly. "Fine." He turns away. "I'll leave."

He starts toward the bathroom, but Calian grabs his shoulder. And punches him square in the nose.

Dorian's head snaps sideways, and he grabs his nose.

For one brief second, everything goes still.

“Are you for real?”

Then the second punch comes. But Dorian catches it in the air and his fingers close around Calian's fist.

Instantly, heat surges through him. Silver power races through every vein, waking beneath his skin like something stretching after a long sleep.

His eyes ignite for a split second, and Calian sees it.

 Too late.

Dorian drives his fist straight into Calian's face.

The impact echoes through the room, and Calian crashes to the floor.

For a second he stays there, frowning up at Dorian. Then he pushes himself back up with a grunt, holding his mouth. Blood drips over his chin and onto his shirt.

His chest heaves. His nostrils flare. Everything about him becomes pure animalistic.

But Dorian almost feels sorry for him.

Almost.

The poor bastard can't turn yet. It’s not the full moon.

 Tomorrow night? Entirely different story. Tomorrow night, Calian becomes terrifying.

 But tonight he's just a man. Even though he already feels stronger, he doesn't nearly have enough strength to beat Dorian in a man-to-man fight.

 “Poor fuck. What’s the point of being a wolf if you can only use it once a month?”

 Calian's jaw tightens.

 Dorian clicks his tongue and shakes his head.

 “If you were my actual Beta, you could’ve siphoned from me. Had real power. All the time.” He gestures vaguely at him. “But no. You had to be... well, you.”

Dorian looks him up and down. “Such a powerful species. For literally one night a month.”

Dorian stops at the bathroom door.

"Oh, and by the way. I gave the principal permission to hold the bonfire at the farmhouse tomorrow night."

Calian's eyes narrow into thin, hateful slits.

Dorian grins.

"Try not to scare the students."

"You can't be serious," Calian spits out.

"Think of the trauma." Dorian shakes his head. "One look at your hairy ass and half the first-years will need therapy."

Calian looks ready to murder him.

"Might want to head a little deeper into the woods this month."

Tomorrow night? Entirely different story. Tomorrow night, Calian becomes terrifying.

But tonight he's just a man. Even though he already feels stronger, he doesn't nearly have enough strength to beat Dorian in a man-to-man fight.

“Poor fuck. What’s the point of being a wolf if you can only use it once a month?”

Calian's jaw tightens.

Dorian clicks his tongue and shakes his head.

“If you were my actual Beta, you could’ve siphoned from me. Had real power. All the time.” He gestures vaguely at him. “But no. You had to be... well, you.”

Dorian looks him up and down. “Such a powerful species. For literally one night a month.”

Dorian stops at the bathroom door.

"Oh, and by the way. I gave the principal permission to hold the bonfire at the farmhouse tomorrow night."

Calian's eyes narrow into thin, hateful slits.

Dorian grins.

"Try not to scare the students."

"You can't be serious," Calian spits out.

"Think of the trauma." Dorian shakes his head. "One look at your hairy ass and half the first-years will need therapy."

Calian looks ready to murder him.

"Might want to head a little deeper into the woods this month."