NOAH'S POVLucas pulled into the university parking lot and brought the car to a stop. I hadn’t felt like riding my bike today—not with the weight in my chest. And Millo didn’t work for Gavin anymore. According to Gavin, I’d passed whatever ridiculous test he’d set for me.As soon as the car came to a halt, my hand reached for the doorknob, ready to bolt."Try not to do anything reckless today," Lucas’s deep voice rumbled from beside me.I rolled my eyes dramatically, recognizing that was his own twisted way of saying he cared. I leaned over and pecked his cheek."Roger that, captain," I said with a mock salute.He chuckled under his breath, just a short burst, but it was rare enough to make me smile. I stepped out and watched as his car rolled away.And then it hit me. Hard.The air turned colder, biting at my skin. Not the kind of cold that made you shiver... this one made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand, prickling like alarm bells. Something was wrong. Very wrong.I wra
NOAH’S POVI shoved another spoonful of mint-chocolate ice cream into my mouth like it was a life-saving drug. Everything Penny had said earlier was still ringing in my ears like an annoying ringtone you can’t find the phone to silence. “He’s the king,” she said. “He is betrothed to someone else,” she said. What was I thinking? That Ares would settle for a guy. Why does love always come with a warning label and a sprinkle of betrayal?Normal heartbroken people drown their sorrows in tequila. Me? I eat ice cream. Alone. At a random ice cream shop. In public. Looking like a sad little mystery boy with zero social life.Why? Because if Gavin saw me like this, he’d never stop asking questions. And Gavin questions are like interrogation lights... blinding, unrelenting, and way too accurate.I let the icy sweetness melt in my mouth, the mint numbing my tongue, but not the ache in my chest. I held the spoon between my lips and sighed, pouting dramatically like I was auditioning for a sad in
ARES’ POVA few minutes after little Leister walked out of my office, I mind-linked Jason.“Come over to the penthouse. Now.”I didn’t wait for his response—I cut the link off immediately. My mood was already on edge, and the pounding irritation in my chest wasn’t helping. What little Leister said was still lingering in my mind. Is his seer ability finally manifesting?I had only come to the university today for one reason: to see him. And now that I had, I was already missing him again. Pathetic, isn’t it? The way he’s starting to consume my every thought. But that’s fine. I’ve got a plan to fix that. A plan to make everything fall in line.With no further business here, I grabbed my car keys from the desk, slipping them into my pocket. My footsteps were slow but measured as I strode out of the office, shutting the door behind me with a quiet click.As I walked down the hallway, I felt the weight of eyes trailing me. Students peeking nervously from behind corners, whispering about me
NOAH'S POVI gently twisted the doorknob, stepping into the lecture hall. Professor Parker, a middle-aged woman with a stern demeanor, stood in front of the class. It seemed like she was Professor Rex’s stand-in for the day. The moment I entered, all heads turned toward me, like I was some sort of celebrity, an outcast one, at that."You're late, Mr. Leister," Professor Parker’s voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing on me as she folded her hands behind her back."I know, Mrs. Parker. I apologize," I said quickly, offering a sympathetic look as I stepped further into the room.She gave me a quick, disapproving glare before turning her attention back to the class.I scanned the room, searching for my friends. Penny and Nathan were seated in the middle, but neither of them bothered to save a seat for me, as they usually did. I glanced at Penny, but she didn’t even look in my direction. She was obviously pissed. Sighing, I walked toward the empty seat I found at the back of the room, near
ARES’ POVThe moment I stepped out of my car, a wave of whispers rippled through the crowd of students like I was some sort of walking scandal. Again. I swear, these humans needed hobbies. Or maybe just better survival instincts. I growled inwardly, my expression remaining cold and unreadable.They always stared. Always whispered. And like always… I didn’t give a damn.Because I was looking for someone.My eyes swept the students in the hallway like a predator searching for its prey. And then...there he was.Little Leister.He stood a few feet away from me, frozen, his wide stormy-gray eyes locked onto mine. His lips parted slightly, like he’d forgotten how to breathe.A slow, crooked smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth.Damn, I loved how I always left him speechless. I stopped moving, standing still in the middle of the walkway as students parted around me like the Red Sea. My eyes never left his. I gave him the tiniest nod, and that was all the invitation he needed.Without h
NOAH’S POVI shifted further into the couch cushion, hugging my knees slightly as my two older brothers sat across from me, their gazes heavy with concern...well, Lucas's was more like accusation. His sharp green eyes bore into me like I'd committed a crime.Okay, maybe I had…sort of.I finished my classes earlier today and barely even spoke to Nathan. My mood was off...clouded, irritated, a swirl of emotions I couldn’t explain. When I got home, Lucas was already back, and judging by the look on his face, Gavin had filled him in about my “attitude” this morning.Lucas finally cleared his throat, his deep voice laced with calm authority. “You might want to explain what happened here this morning while I was away.”I nervously rubbed the back of my neck and looked up to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry,” I muttered, because honestly, that was all I could manage right now.Gavin shifted closer to me and cupped my cheek with a warm hand. His eyes softened as they met mine. “Look here, Pookie. Yo