Chapter 1: Cocky Alpha

~Nicole~

The last thing a girl with a mission needs is distraction…especially when that mission could ruin her life.

For years, I lived by the rule Mom drilled into me…”stay invisible.”

It was supposed to be my talent.

At least, it was, then the parcel arrived.

The pictures. The note. And the truth I was never meant to see, proof the woman I called Mother might not have been mine at all.

Since then, my mission has been simple.

Get close to the Alpha’s son. Use him to achieve what I came for.

And now I’m standing here in an empty classroom, caught between regret and something far more dangerous… anticipation.

I wanted to take back every decision that made me step foot in Royal Academy.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my thoughts back into place.

This wasn’t supposed to get personal.

Not now, I wasn't ready.

But the problem wasn’t the mission, It was the fact that I was starting to feel like I was no longer in control.

Landon Hockman, the Alpha’s son and my target.

I thought I would make the first move on him, but I didn’t realize I was already inside his game, and..

I can't believe I'm gonna have my tongue curled up in his chest right on my first day.

Great.

“Relax,” he said lazily. “You’re acting like I’m going to bite you.”

My lips hadn’t even touched his chest yet.

I blinked, stunned. “Can you stop being an asshole?” I snapped, sitting back with a glare.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Just studied me like he was figuring out how far I’d go.

Then his eyes widened with something else. “I'm just trying to cheer you on.”

“This isn't some kind of game.. I do not need your cheering.” I gritted.

His face flattered for a second, but changed like he was actually enjoying getting under my skin.

“You can cooperate,” he said slowly, “or I can make this harder for you.” He added, sliding a hand down to the waistband of his pants.

Oh, hell no.

My eyes betrayed me, tracing the sharp, dangerous dip of his V-line.

A silent invitation to a disaster I couldn't afford.

I swallowed.

“Stop…fine! I’ll do it.” I groaned, tossing my head back. “Having a dick flung in my face isn’t exactly how I wanted my week to go.”

He raised an eyebrow and tugged his waistband just a little lower, to push me more.

“Asshole.”

“What was that?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I muttered. “Shut up and stop breathing on me. Your cocky air is killing my brain cells.”

Yep, that's exactly how close to his face I was.

I inhaled hard, then leaned forward again, practically nose to nipple.

His chest was bare, smooth, and annoyingly perfect, with a small tattoo curved near his right pec.

My lips hovered inches away from it, my fist curled tightly.

God, I hadn’t exactly built up experience dealing with boys like him.

This was already way more attention than I was prepared for.

Is this real life?

My heart pounded.

I could smell his cologne…dark, vanilla, unfairly addictive.

My eyes flicked to his abs, then lower, and I had to clench my thighs to stop reacting to things I shouldn’t be reacting to.

He tilted his head, watching me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Cat got your tongue? Or is it too busy imagining what’s under my jeans?”

“I’m trying not to,” I muttered.

He grinned. “Liar.”

I clenched my jaw. If I kiss him, I lose. If I don’t… I still lose.

I leaned in just a little more.

His body tensed, just slightly, like he was waiting and wanted it.

But then he ruined it.

“You know what?” he said suddenly, pulling his shirt over his chest again. “You took too long. My mood's gone.”

“What?” I blinked.

“Guess you’ll have to go down there now, baby girl.”

My stomach dropped.

“Down where?” I asked, already regretting it.

He leaned back on his elbows, legs spread slightly, eyes locked on me. “You know where.”

I blinked at his lap, then at his face.

Then back again.

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

“Well. I wouldn't say exactly…” His voice was low and deep.“But… I can guide your pretty little head where it needs to go?”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“Don’t you dare.”

“Then move,” he whispered. “Before I do it for you.”

I swallowed a huge amount of saliva, as I stared at the space between his spread legs.

My eyes locked there.

My mind? Gone.

I imagined it…thick, heavy, pulsing between his thighs.

I knew it was there, waiting… smug like its owner.

“Can I just stick to the chest?” I asked, clearing my head.

He smirked. “Too late,” he turned, standing like he was ready to leave.

The hell he was.

“Wait.” My hand shot out, gripping his arm.

I pulled him back before I could think better of it, my boobs squished right up against his chest.

He turned slowly, his body hit mine—warm.

Not resisting, just watching me like I was the one in trouble.

For a second, I felt his breath hitch.

Then his hands shoot out, one grabbing the desk behind me for balance.

I didn’t care anymore, my fingers moved before my brain did—grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked it open, buttons popping, my heart racing.

His chest rose and fell.

Before I could overthink it, I closed the last bit of space between us, my lips brushing his skin first… then settling where I shouldn’t have stayed.

His nipples.

Then I heard it, there was no mistaking it.

A deep raw growl vibrated in his throat.

And… I felt it.

My whole body reacted, fast, my panties soaked like it was begging for attention.

Why?

I squeezed my legs together, trying to hold on, but I was already wet.

Damn him.

I looked up, still licking him, tongue teasing around that tight little bud.

His eyes were squeezed shut, brows furrowed like he was holding something back.

“F-Fuck,” he finally muttered, voice low and cracked.

My eyes widened.

Why did that make matters worse?

I sucked harder, slowly, my tongue focusing on its simple task.

God. This was going to haunt me later.

I glanced down at my wristwatch, still moving my mouth.

One minute more.

Why the hell does freaking sixty seconds feel like eternity?

“If you keep doing that… I would think you actually want me” he muttered, his voice low, thick.

What?

But then, I followed his gaze, down to my arm.

It was resting right on top of his bulge.

Hard.

My stomach twisted.

Shit.

I hadn’t even noticed, I wasn’t trying to touch him. It was a mistake.

But now… My arm was pressing right into him.

Right into it.

I jerked away. “S-sorry,” I muttered.

The grin on his face only widened, dirty. “Or are you trying to tell me something?”

He leaned closer, eyes burning. “Because I don’t mind, baby. I really don’t. We can do it right here. The desk's already solid enough.”

My throat closed, and my eyes snapped open wide.

“You don’t actually expect me to do that.” I whispered, voice barely steady.

But he was already reaching, ignoring what I said.

Then his hand gripped my waist, yanking me flush to him, fast, deliberate, until my body slammed into his.

Chest to chest.

Stomach to…

Oh god.

I felt it, again.

It was pressing tightly against my lower belly.

I swallowed a gasp.

Heat rushed through me in a way I refused to acknowledge.

Why the hell did my body betray me like this?

He ran his eyes all over me, “You know the drill,” he said in a growl, his hand on the small of my back, fingers pressing down.

“Get back to work.”

I couldn’t move or think.

His chest rose beneath my palms.

My face hovered inches from his skin, lips right by that same damn nipple I’d just tasted.

“Tick tock,” he hastened, lips brushing my ear.

God.. Why's he making things more difficult?

“Unless you want to switch places. Want me to put my mouth on you instead?” He teased again.

I shook my head fast, my knees buckled slightly.

I wanted to slap him for making me feel helpless.

This wasn't me.

I was so wet I could feel my pulse between my thighs.

I drew a long breath. I brought this situation upon myself.

So, I have to fix it.

One minute.

I dropped my lips again, this time slower.

I should not be learning this in real life.

My tongue flicked over his nipple, teasing it until I felt him shudder beneath my touch.

My body seemed to love his reactions, because my clit screamed louder between my thighs.

This wasn’t supposed to affect me like this, but the worst part wasn’t that it did.

It was that he noticed, smirking.

And when he groaned, his hand gripped my waist tighter like he was this close to snapping.

Just then...

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Time was up.

And I hated that the first thought I had wasn’t relief.

It was regret.