NOAH'S POVMy head felt like a marching band was stomping through it. I groaned, pressing my palm to my forehead as I blinked against the sunlight pouring through the large glass doors. Okay, it's official—alcohol is not for me. Ever again. Just two damn glasses and it feels like my brain's been spun in a blender.Bits and pieces of the night flashed behind my eyelids. Playing that stupid truth-or-dare game, laughing way too hard with Penny and Nathan... then feeling overwhelmed and going out for air. Then I saw...professor Rex?My eyes widened slightly. Yeah, I remember seeing him standing by the sea, just brooding and godlike like always… but after that? Nothing. Just blank. A total wipeout.It felt weirdly familiar. History repeating itself. Except this time, I didn’t even know whose room I woke up in. My arms stretched across silk sheets that didn’t feel like mine. My room had soft cotton, and an average size bed. I sat up slowly, and the headache groaned along with me.The inter
ARES' POVSteam still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the bathroom, towel-dried hair damp and messy, a black bathrobe wrapped loosely around my frame. The marble floor was cold under my feet, but the chill that prickled down my spine wasn’t from the temperature.I wasn’t alone.Noah was already gone. I heard his quiet footsteps tiptoeing out earlier, probably thinking I wouldn’t notice. But someone else was here. The scent hit me a second later...sweet, vanilla faintly spiced. Familiar. Unwelcome.Elsa.My jaw tightened.What the hell was she doing here?Before I could call out, she stepped into the bedroom like she owned it, that signature smile plastered on her lips, overconfident, too perfect. Her long white-blonde hair cascaded down her back, bouncing slightly with every step. Her pale blue eyes sparkled, but there was something off in her aura...something new, faint but unmistakable.My wolf stirred, sensing it too.I folded my arms, expression unreadable. “What are you doin
NOAH'S POVThe moment we stepped into the restaurant, the rich scent of grilled meats and exotic spices wrapped around my senses like a warm blanket. My stomach growled in anticipation.Penny inhaled dramatically, eyes fluttering shut like she’d reached nirvana. “Food is life,” she moaned. “I keep telling you guys!”Nathan just shook his head at her antics, though the corner of his lips twitched with a smile.We made our way to a table near the window. I let Penny take the lead with ordering, since she practically memorized the entire menu within two minutes. As we waited, the din of the restaurant filled the air, cheerful and loud, students buzzing with excitement from the trip.“I swear,” Penny grumbled, pulling her ponytail tighter. “I’m going to punch your handsome roommate. Sebastian is driving me nuts.”I chuckled softly, “He’s not that bad, Penny. You literally said that he was nice.”“Yeah, like a psycho on a dating app,” she retorted.Nathan glanced between us. “You seem to
NOAH’S POVThe sun was slowly beginning to sink beneath the horizon, casting a golden glow over the beach and painting the ocean in shades of orange and pink. Laughter echoed through the salty air, mixing with the crashing of waves. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and for once, I allowed myself to relax—just a little.Nathan was out in the water, surfing like he was born to ride the waves. His moves were clean and confident, earning cheers from the crowd each time he caught a good one. He looked carefree… in his element.Penny, on the other hand, was doing what she did best, flirting. She stood near the bonfire, tossing her wavy hair over her shoulder, her voice sweet as honey while she talked to two ridiculously good-looking guys from another department. The poor guys were clearly enchanted, their grins growing wider with every flutter of her lashes.I chuckled under my breath.If only they knew...Penny was deeply in love with her fiancé, to the point of writing sappy poe
UNKNOWN POVA low hum echoed through the cold, steel-plated corridor as I stepped into the restricted lab—my boots clicking against the floor like the ticking of a clock counting down to chaos.I halted before the row of iron cages, my lips curling into a wicked smile as my eyes gleamed with triumph. The beasts inside stirred, snarling lowly under their breath, their eyes glowing a feral red in the dim lighting. My creations. My monsters. My genius."They’re calm today," I noted as he approached, his white coat stained with blotches of dried fluids. He, too, wore a look of pride—like a man who believed he had created perfection. He wasn’t entirely wrong. But he wasn’t the mind behind it all. That was me."That’s because of the new serum I developed," He said coolly, motioning toward the cages. "Watch this."He turned toward the beasts, eyes flickering with excitement. Then he issued a single command through the mind-link: “Growl.”The result was instantaneous.All seven beasts erupted
NOAH’S POVThe moment we stepped into the gymnastics room, the scent of sweat and rubber mats greeted us. Today’s activity was all about letting off steam, yoga, boxing, cardio, lifting weights. You name it. But apparently, Penny wasn’t a fan.“Oh, hell no,” she groaned dramatically, fanning the air with her hand. “I hate the gym. The awful smell of sweat irks me. All this weight lifting and gross stretching. I already have a slender figure, Nathan’s body is literally carved by angels, and you, Noah...” she narrowed her eyes at me and poked my side, “...you’re too tiny for all this. I can’t let you break your bones trying to lift some dumbbell.”I shot her a playful glare, but I could barely keep a straight face when Nathan bit back a laugh, clearly trying not to choke.“Let’s just ditch this place and go eat,” Penny added with an exaggerated sigh. “We should focus on making Noah bigger. He’s basically snack-sized.”Nathan finally let out his laughter, patting me on the head like I wa
My entire body went cold.How...how did she know?Elsa’s eyes glittered with cruel delight, her smirk widening as the horror registered on my face. She tilted her head slightly, like a predator toying with prey.“What?” she purred. “Shocked? Scared?”My throat felt like it had closed up. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t blink, couldn’t even swallow.“I’ve known for a while now,” she continued nonchalantly, brushing invisible lint from her sleeve. “Lucky for you, I haven’t said a word. Yet.” She leaned closer, her breath warm and poisonous against my cheek. “But I don’t make promises, Noah. How quiet I stay depends entirely on… your behavior.”That snapped me out of my paralysis.A smirk, slow and calculated, curled at the side of my lips. The kind that always pissed people off.“Hmm,” I said coolly, meeting her eyes, “and if you’re gloating right now because you think Professor Rex wouldn’t find out, then please, book yourself a check-up. You're clearly deranged.”Her smugness flickered.
ARES' POVThe murmuring crowd around the pool began to blur into white noise as my gaze fixed on him. Noah. He stood by the edge of the pool, his short dark, glittering under the sunset, those stormy gray eyes sparking like lightning against the clear blue water. My heart pounded in a maddening rhythm I couldn’t control, like a war drum set off by his presence, but before I could move....He did.Sebastian.The bastard approached him like a predator cloaked in silk, too smooth, too casual. His smirk was a language I understood far too well—it said I know this bothers you.I clenched my jaw as I watched him close the space between them. He grip Noah's shoulders startling him. He moved in closer, and my fingers curled tighter against the balcony rail.Then it happened.He almost pushed Noah Almost.He stumbled, dangerously close to the edge of the pool, but didn’t fall. He caught his wrist at the last second, and that smug smile never left his lips. Noah swatted his arm, then pushed hi
ARES’ POVA cocky smirk tugged at my lips as I watched little Leister run like hell, his steps frantic, flailing arms barely keeping up with his body. Poor kid must've thought I was naked. That alone seemed to have scrambled his brain and instincts. Hilarious.I stepped fully out of the water, droplets sliding down my skin, glistening under the filtered light that peeked through the trees. My tight black shorts clung to me like a second skin, and I raked a hand through my wet hair, shaking off the excess water.Cute brat. Always skittish, always flushed, like a tiny mouse caught staring at a lion.I reached for the towel I had left hanging on a low branch and began drying myself off, deliberately slow, enjoying the silence of my sanctuary. This wasn’t just any ordinary place...it was mine. A hidden slice of the world untouched by chaos or duty. I discovered it long before my father died… before the weight of the crown descended on my shoulders. Back then, I hadn't cared much for fairy
NOAH’S POVAt long last, the hellish French class ended. I swear, if torture had a language, it’d be French conjugation. Penny, Nathan, and I finally stumbled out of the room like war survivors. Nathan and I looked like we’d been run over by a farm truck, while Penny had this annoyingly bright sparkle in her eyes, as if she’d just stepped out of a Parisian fairytale.Nathan turned to me, brow furrowed, finger raised like an overdramatic mom. “Don’t. Do. This. Again,” he warned with mock seriousness.I snapped to attention, saluting him. “Roger that, captain.”Penny let out one of her signature fairy giggles. “Honestly, you guys are just dramatic. I actually enjoyed it!”Nathan and I exchanged a mutual eye-roll so powerful it could’ve triggered a minor earthquake.“Okay, buddies! Time to hit the cafeteria!” Penny squealed, grabbing both our arms like we were heading to Disneyland.But then her tone dropped into a venomous growl. “But that hulk of yours is not coming with us. I swear he
NOAH’S POVI stared at my reflection in the mirror and almost flinched.Dark circles ringed my eyes like I hadn’t slept in weeks. My cheeks were hollowed out, lips pale, and my usually shiny hair looked like a mop abandoned in a storm. I looked like a haunted raccoon. A very sad, smelly, rebellious raccoon.“This is what grounding does to a person,” I muttered to my reflection, dragging my fingers through my tangled hair. “Congratulations, Gavin. You’ve officially won the Worst Big Brother of the Year Award.”For the past two days, I had been locked in my room like a prisoner of war. Gavin was dead serious about the whole “you’re not leaving till you agree to my terms” threat. The jerk even camped at my door, literally. Lucas was the one delivering meals, knocking gently and slipping the tray in like I was some kind of feral animal. Not that it mattered; I hadn’t touched a bite. Hunger strike in full swing.I groaned and slumped on the edge of my bed, my phone in my hand. My thumb hov
NOAH’S POVThe hallway was eerily silent, as though the entire building had fallen into a post-party coma. My heels clicked lazily against the tiled floor, echoing in the stillness. I was still in my girl outfit from the Halloween party. Penny had insisted we keep dancing long after the crowd vanished, and like a fool, I agreed. We danced until our legs gave out beneath us, drunk on sugar, music, and fleeting joy.Now, I was paying the price, every step felt like I was dragging a corpse, probably my own.As I turned the corner toward my room, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the shadows. I let out a startled gasp, my body slamming into a cold wall. The air left my lungs in a rush, and my eyes struggled to adjust to the dark. But I saw her.Elsa.Of course."What the fuck?!" I snapped, yanking my wrist from her grip. My eyes blazed with fury as I glared at her, trying to conceal the pounding in my chest. Not from fear. From annoyance.Elsa folded her arms across her
GAVIN’S POVThe second I stepped into the living room, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily from a brutal workout session, I knew something was off. The air felt thick...tense...and not from the stench rolling off my shirt. No, this was something else.Lucas was pacing.And when he paces, something is seriously wrong.Only one person could make my ever-composed, stone-faced brother look like he was about to tear the place apart.Noah.Damn.I dropped my gym bag beside the couch and wiped the sweat from my face with the towel hanging around my neck. “Hey, Lucas. What’s up?” I asked, pretending like I didn’t already know the storm that was brewing behind his narrowed eyes.He turned to me so fast, his boots squeaked against the floor. His eyes...those infamous forest-green eyes...flashed with unfiltered rage. “Where the hell have you been?” he thundered. “I’ve been trying to reach you for hours!”I didn’t flinch. I’ve had years of practice dealing with Lucas’ temper. His anger wasn’t
ARES' POVThe scariest part wasn’t that Little Leister was doing something to me.It was that whatever it was, I wasn’t ready to rebel against it.Hell, a dark, forbidden part of me was curious...curious to see just how far he would go, and how far I would let him.The soft, slow hum of the romantic song washed over the hall like a spell. Everyone else seemed to fade into shadows as Little Leister and I moved together, syncing to the slow, sensual rhythm. His slender waist brushed against my palm, sending unwanted shivers up my spine. His body fit against mine too perfectly.I could feel his heartbeat, fast and fluttering, through the thin material of his ridiculous gown.He lifted his gaze...those stormy-grey eyes locking with mine, searching, questioning, trembling with an emotion he couldn’t name."I never knew you were attending," he said softly, his voice delicate, almost trembling. The sound brushed against my senses like silk, igniting something dangerous inside me.I arched a
ARES' POVI walked into the massive, glittering hall with Elsa clinging onto my arm like a stubborn vine. She was dressed in a sparkling Cinderella ballgown, her golden hair curled perfectly, looking every inch the fairy tale princess she aimed to be.Gatherings like this were never my thing. Too noisy. Too crowded. Too fake.But Elsa had begged me to come, her big blue eyes shimmering with hope. I could’ve easily said no....should have said no...but I was still trying to play the part of the dutiful mate.Tonight, I wore an all-black ensemble: black button-down, black slacks, a simple black mask covering half my face. The first three buttons of my shirt were left undone, exposing my chest, a sight that earned a few lingering glances from the female students and lecturers. I ignored them all.The second we stepped into the suffocating, over-decorated hall, regret hit me like a punch to the gut. Laughter, gossip, bad music, and even a makeshift strip show happening at one end. The air
NOAH'S POVI stood frozen in front of my bed, staring at the shimmering black gown laid neatly across it. The fabric sparkled under the soft lights of the suite, almost as if it was trying to seduce me into wearing it.I chewed my bottom lip nervously. Could I really pull this off?Or more importantly... Should I?Sebastian must have noticed my hesitation because he sauntered over, his arms folded across his chest.“You know you don’t have to do it if you’re not comfortable,” he said gently. “Nobody’s forcing you.”I inhaled sharply, the tightness in my chest easing slightly at his words. But still, I shook my head.“No, it’s fine. I'll put it on.”If I'm going to do this, I need to commit.Just as I gathered the gown into my arms, a sharp knock rattled the door."I’ll get that," Sebastian said, already moving away.I turned my attention back to the mirror, trying to mentally prepare myself, but my thoughts derailed when the door swung open with an audible bang.Standing there was Pen
ARES' POVThe murmuring crowd around the pool began to blur into white noise as my gaze fixed on him. Noah. He stood by the edge of the pool, his short dark, glittering under the sunset, those stormy gray eyes sparking like lightning against the clear blue water. My heart pounded in a maddening rhythm I couldn’t control, like a war drum set off by his presence, but before I could move....He did.Sebastian.The bastard approached him like a predator cloaked in silk, too smooth, too casual. His smirk was a language I understood far too well—it said I know this bothers you.I clenched my jaw as I watched him close the space between them. He grip Noah's shoulders startling him. He moved in closer, and my fingers curled tighter against the balcony rail.Then it happened.He almost pushed Noah Almost.He stumbled, dangerously close to the edge of the pool, but didn’t fall. He caught his wrist at the last second, and that smug smile never left his lips. Noah swatted his arm, then pushed hi