3

Chapter three

Ivy's pov 

The pressure against my windpipe was firm and utterly terrifying. I looked up into those gold eyes, and for a heartbeat, the world around us from the whispering students to the clatter of the cafeteria simply ceased to exist to me.

Recognition hit me like a physical blow to the stomach.

Aiden.

It had been years since I had seen him. Back when we were children, he had been the boy who haunted my nightmares. The boy that I had crushed on, even at a point thought I loved as a kid. Even though he hated me, would pull my hair, would whisper that I was a "weak little pup," who would look at me with a disdain so deep that it forever left doubts of who I was in my head. 

But the boy was gone and in his place was a man that was crazily different. He was broader, taller, and radiating a level of Alpha power that made my knees want to buckle.

My breath hitched in a ragged gasp. My name was on the tip of my tongue, a reflex of fear, but I swallowed it back. I was literally shaking, my vision blurring as I struggled to concentrate on what was happening. Please Goddess,he shouldn't recognize me, I beg if you, I prayed as my heart hammered against my ribs so hard it was painful. Please don’t let him see Ivy. Let him only see the boy.

I had dyed my hair. I had cut it. I was wearing the scent of charcoal and rain. But his gaze felt like it was peeling back my skin.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed, his golden irises flickering with a dark curiosity. He leaned in closer, his lips almost brushing the shell of my ear. The heat from his body was suffocating.

"You're trembling, Kitten," he purred, the sound a low rumble in his chest. His hand tightened on my throat, not enough to stop my breathing, but enough to show me that he could. "And you smell... confusing."

His fingers gave a slow, deliberate squeeze again. I winced, a small whimper nearly escaping my lips.

"What. Are. You?" he demanded, “You either talk, or I make you talk."

Panic flared in my chest. If I spoke now, my voice would definitely betray me. Even if I tried to deepen it, I was way too terrified to control the pitch. I had to get away. Now.

I looked down at his heavy boots and then up at his arrogant, beautiful face. I gathered every bit of strength I had. I brought my heel down with everything I had onto his foot.

Aiden’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second, his grip loosening in pure shock. I was so fucking sure that at this academy nobody would dare touch him, let alone hurt him. I used that tiny window of surprise. I shoved my hands against his rock hard chest. He barely stumbled, his body like an unmoving wall, but it was enough to break the contact and release my neck from his grip.

I didn't wait to see his reaction. I turned around and bolted.

"What audacity?!" someone gasped.

"He's a dead man!" another voice hissed.

I ignored them all. I ran out of the cafeteria doors, my heart beating like crazy. He’s dangerous. He’s more terrible than his father, the warnings from my childhood echoed in my brain. My grandmother’s voice was there too, The boys at Black-Ridge are predators.

I was lost. The hallways of this school were a maze of black stone and flickering torches. This was my first day and every corridor looked identical. I turned left, then right, then spiraled down a set of stairs, my breath coming in desperate sobs. I couldn't find my room.

Where the fuck was dorm room!

I finally burst through a heavy wooden door and found myself in a massive, glass-domed greenhouse. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and exotic flowers. It was quiet. Peaceful. I collapsed onto a stone bench near a cluster of blue moon-lilies and let the tears fall.

I had been here for less than three hours and I had already made an enemy of the Alpha King. Or rather, Lycan. His father was the strongest Lycan in our world, hence making him even stronger, considering he now had young blood. And I had drawn attention to myself when I was supposed to be a ghost. I had just attacked him openly, when I was damn right sure no one else would have.

"I'm so sorry, Gran," I whispered, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "I'm going to fail."

The warmth of the greenhouse and the exhaustion of the two-day journey finally took their toll on me. My eyelids grew heavy and before I knew it, the world faded into a dreamless sleep.

When I woke up, the sun was already setting and it was causing long shadows across the greenhouse. I sat up immediately, where the hell am I?

"Goddess, what time is it?"

I hurried out, trying to find my way back. It took me nearly forty minutes of wandering through the west wing, dodging other students who were heading to the library or their rooms, before I finally recognized the hallway to my dorm.

I reached the door to my room and let out a long sigh of relief. All I wanted was to lock the door and hide under the covers. I pulled out my key and tried to turn it.

It wouldn't budge.

I tried again, rattling the handle. "What? No, no, no..."

As I continued moving the handle, my foot stepped on something, I looked down and noticed a small piece of paper lying on the floor. I picked it up, my hands shaking.

Student Martins,

Due to a sudden administrative reorganization and your late arrival, your previous room has been reassigned to a senior student. Your belongings have been moved to Suite 412, West Wing. We attempted to inform you in person, but you were unavailable.

— Academy Management

"Suite 412?" I whispered. My heart sank. A suite meant roommates. It meant sharing a space. It meant my secret was now in constant danger.

Fuck.

I followed the map on the back of the note reached a set of double doors at the end of a wide, carpeted hallway. 

But there was something different in this particular hallway, there were no other dorm doors there, like this one alone had been done for royalty. 

I stood there for a long time, trying to steady my breathing, to understand why this particular dorm felt so isolated from the rest, so different. Exhaling, I ran a hand through my hair, Just be a boy. Be Nick. 

I raised my hand and knocked softly.

The door opened almost immediately. A tall boy with messy blond hair and a playful grin stood there. I recognized him instantly, he had been sitting at the table with Aiden in the cafeteria.

"Well, well," he said, leaning against the doorframe. 

I froze, my blood turning to ice.

"What...?" I stammered, my voice low. Shivers raced down my spine, if Aiden's friend was here, and they said the suite housed more people... Then...

"His eyes scanning me with a look of amusement. "Look who we have here..."

Another boy, shorter but with broad shoulders and a mischievous spark in his eyes, appeared behind him. "Seems like our new roommate arrived pretty early."

I stepped back, shaking my head. "I... I think there’s been a mistake. I shouldn't be here."

I turned to run, to go back to the greenhouse or the woods, anywhere but here. But as I turned around, I slammed into something that felt like a wall of solid granite.

"Oof!" I stumbled back, my balance gone.

Before I could hit the floor, a pair of strong hands caught my upper arms, steadying me. 

I looked up. Aiden was staring down at me, his eyes flickered down to where one of his friend's hand was still holding my arm to keep me steady after I had just almost fell down. A dark, dangerous growl curled his lip for a split second before his eyes snapped back to my face.

Aiden leaned down, his face barely inches from mine, his gold eyes burning with a look that made my heart stop.  "And where do you think you are running to, Princess?"  He asked, and I stopped breathing.