Ch 2: A Kiss Or A Peck?

Hearing my answer, the teacher nearly dropped the registration card and raised her brow.

"Miss Ashford? Are you sure about this? Once you choose a team, you can’t reverse the decision until the end."

I knew the rules of this academy very well. But before I could speak, I heard the faint whispers echo around me.

>>"Did she just choose Blood Fang?"

>>“Didn’t she arrive together with Ethan Rawcrest? I heard she’s with him.

>>"Lol, she must’ve lost her mind. Blood Fang and Ice Moon are sworn enemies. 

>> “A werewolf cheering for the lycan team? As if Blood Fang would want her… "

Most of the girls laughed at me. Their mocking voices filled the air, but none of that mattered to me. 

Unlike them, I have already died once. 

And this time, I have to use my sworn enemy…I would make Ethan and Maria pay for their sins.  

I smiled faintly and tightened my grip on the card, "Yes, I still choose the Blood Fang team."

………………………

By the time I returned to my dorm, the sun had already set.

It was time for the official welcome party for all the hockey teams. 

Tonight, the leader of the cheer squad for each team will also be chosen through a lottery. 

Last time, I was chosen as the leader of Ethan’s Ice Moon cheer squad. I attended the party proudly by his side, wearing a silver-white gown that matched the color of his jersey. 

But until now, I never realized how his eyes kept drifting to Maria. Back then, I had convinced myself that I must’ve been overthinking, but…I was such a fool. 

A bitter smile tugged at my lips when I opened my wardrobe. 

My fingers brushed against the black and red backless dress Ethan had gifted me on my 17th birthday. I had always avoided this dress like the plague because it was too revealing and bold, unlike me. 

Just when I finished curling my hair, I heard a knock on my door. 

But as soon as I opened it, my smile almost disappeared. 

Maria stood there, wearing that exact white mini skirt and a bold silver crop top, while forging an innocent, sweet smile on her face. 

Looking at the smile that had watched me die made my stomach twist. But on the outside, I retained a calm expression. 

However, her gaze swept over my dress, and for a second, her smile faltered. 

While glancing at her own outfit, a hint of jealousy appeared quickly in her eyes, which I didn’t miss this time. 

But soon it was replaced with a stiff smile when she mumbled, “Wow, I thought you hated revealing clothes, Elisa?” 

“Ethan brought this for me, so of course I had to wear it for him.” 

I smiled sweetly, watching her face darken as she forced another fake smile, “Oh, how thoughtful of Ethan.” 

…………………

The spacious courtyard was selected as the party venue where music thundered through the speakers.

The night sky was clearly visible above, and the stage where the cheerleaders would be announced was decorated with bright lights, ribbons, and team banners. 

Round tables placed throughout the yard were filled with food and drinks, where thousands of students, including Alphas, betas, and omegas, were present, along with the cheerleaders who had chosen their teams. 

But I noticed there was a separate section designed for the lycan team in this yard, probably because the lycans weren’t interested in mingling with the werewolves anyway. 

My eyes instinctively searched for the Captain of Blood Fang. 

But all of a sudden, strong arms wrapped around my waist, halting my steps when a kiss landed on my cheek. 

"Baby." I recognized the familiar voice in a flash, but it made my stomach twist. 

On the other hand, Ethan grinned, wrapping me in his embrace, completely unaware of the fury gushing in my chest. 

"Wow…never knew I would actually see you wearing this dress someday,” he teased me with another kiss, "I thought you used to hate sexy clothes."

I could clearly sense his gaze scanning me from head to toe, holding a satisfied grin, "Did you dress up because you wanted to impress me that badly?"

Not long ago, his smile used to make my heart race. 

But now, I despised his existence so much that I wanted to scrub his touch off my skin, after slapping his smug face. 

"Yeah. Of course." I smiled tenderly. 

His eyes visibly brightened as if his wolf practically purred with pride. 

Leaning closer, his hand wrapped possessively around my waist as he whispered, “I knew that, right? My Elisa finally learned how to dress up for her Alpha.” 

He chuckled softly, looking ridiculously pleased around me while every touch of his fingers almost made me barf.  

As always, he acted as if he owned me, but tonight…things weren’t about to go his way. 

"By the way, there will be a tradition tonight. The leader of the cheer squad will kiss her hockey captain after the announcements."

His eyes sparkled mischievously as he added, "Shall we go public tonight? And after that…

"We will spend the night together.” 

He winked at me, but hearing those words, I clenched my fingers so tight that the nails almost pierced my skin. 

But at that moment, suddenly, someone caught my attention when my gaze landed on him. 

In the separate area allotted for the Blood Fang team, a striking, handsome man, almost impossible to ignore, stood tall. 

Wearing a tailored black shirt and denim, even surrounded by his teammates, his broad frame and relaxed posture naturally drew everyone's attention. 

He was Kael Blackthorn, future Lycan King and the Captain of Blood Fang Team. 

And just from a glance, his emerald eyes looked sharp but a bit too beautiful.

I had seen Kael countless times before. But perhaps because I had spent my past life chasing Ethan, I never truly looked at him.

Now...I finally understood why most of the academy girls were obsessed with the lycan prince. 

And why Ethan despised him so much.

Because Kael emitted a domineering aura that made him stand above everyone. 

According to the Pack Council elders, the Ice Hockey tournament would decide the balance of power between wolves and lycans. 

If the Lycans win, every werewolf territory would fall under their protection. 

And if the Alphas win, they would maintain their independence, ending the generational war between lycans and wolves. 

And within a few minutes, the announcement began regarding the leaders of each cheer squad through a lottery. 

I held my heart with anticipation until my name was announced. 

“Elisa Ashford.” 

Ethan looked pleased as his smile widened when he stretched his hand to bring me to the stage along with him, “Let’s go, baby—”

“...Leader of Blood Fang’s Cheer squad.” 

All of a sudden, a dreadful silence fell across the party, as the music seemed to disappear.

Thousands of students stared at me with confused faces as they whispered among each other. 

“What?” Ethan’s smile froze. The hand he had extended towards me remained still in the air as disbelief flashed on his face. 

But at that moment, I felt a sharp gaze watching over me from across the room. 

And indeed, it was Kael. 

His emerald eyes were locked on me while one of his brows slowly rose. Surprise flickered in his gaze, then, unexpectedly, the corner of his lips curved with a small smile. 

It wasn’t a smile of mockery or arrogance, but pure amusement. As if he had stumbled upon something unexpectedly entertaining despite the chaos that erupted around us. 

To be honest, I hated lycans. Five years ago, my father died protecting our border from one of their attacks.

And now...I was willing to walk into their territory.

The irony almost made me laugh.

"Elisa!" Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist, and the color of his face drained as if he had watched me looking at Kael. 

"What the hell is this? Tell me…is this some prank?" 

I stared at his desperate hand grabbing me, with a faint smile that curved my lips. 

Carefully, I unleashed my arm as I murmured, “I don’t know what happened either…But I guess, the tradition needs to be followed.” 

"But why?" His pupils shrank. "You're my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend? Hearing that word almost made me laugh with a bitter heartache. 

If only you had cherished our relationship instead of cheating on me with your fated mate, would I have to resort to such means? 

I saw Ethan dart his eyes between Kael and me nervously.

“No…Elisa, stop joking. It’s not funny anymore.” 

His voice seemed to have lost all confidence, as if he was unsure if he let me go, whether I would be back to him. 

But behind him, Maria bit her lower lip as I saw her nails dig into her palm.

When she saw me turning around, her entire face paled, as if she knew exactly that after tonight, everything between Ethan and me wouldn’t remain the same anymore. 

Tonight, the entire academy would witness Ethan Rawcrest being abandoned. 

I took a step back from them and chugged down an entire glass of whiskey. I needed that fire to muster my inner strength. 

Without another glance at either of them, I turned around with each step echoing in the silent hall. I could feel countless gazes lingering on my back, along with Ethan’s furious stare or Maria’s shocked gaze. 

Yet I didn’t stop.

For the first time in my life, it felt liberating to walk away from Ethan Rawcrest. 

Until I stood before Kael Blackthorn. From up close, he looked even taller than I had expected. 

Tilting my head slightly when I met his emerald eyes, I noticed his teammates also looked equally flabbergasted. 

Whereas Kael…looked visibly amused, as his dark eyebrow rose. His smile widened slightly as if he was curious to see how far I had intended to go.

"Captain Blackthorn," I greeted him first, breaking the awkward silence when he let out a soft mumble. 

"Yes, Elisa Ashford?"

Hearing my name from his deep voice sent an unexpected shiver down my spine, as for some reason, my heart skipped a beat. 

Keeping a calm demeanor, I lowered my voice. 

"So…Do you prefer a kiss or a peck?"