The face behind the wheel belonged to none other than the enigmatic guy who had dropped me off the previous day. Surprise and disbelief washed over me as I gawked at him.He flashed a mischievous grin, his lips curving in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. "Fancy meeting you here," he quipped, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me uneasy.I managed to collect my wits, though my heart still raced. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice laced with a mix of irritation and curiosity.He shrugged casually, as if this encounter was entirely ordinary. "Just thought I'd give you a lift to school," he replied, his tone nonchalant.I crossed my arms, skeptical of his intentions. "Why would you do that? We barely know each other."He leaned closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Maybe I want to get to know you better," he suggested, his voice low and seductive.My heart fluttered despite my reservations. This guy was undeniably attractive, and his sudden interest

I desperately wanted to escape the chaotic scene unfolding before me, but a continuous stream of students passed by, some even bumping into me, further exacerbating my frustration.The students in the hallway had gathered into two distinct paths, leaving a narrow aisle in between."Hope you did her assignment," I overheard a girl beside me say, her voice trembling with fear."I didn't, Kira," the girl replied with a tone of distress. Kira, the one who had asked about the assignment, seemed deeply concerned."Oh my goodness, Sable, what were you thinking?" Kira exclaimed, trying to console her trembling friend.I couldn't help but think, "Are these girls even werewolves? They seem so fragile, crying over not completing someone else's assignment." I scoffed inwardly, mentally dismissing their behavior.The room buzzed with murmurs, but suddenly, a boy wearing the school's uniform rushed in from outside, catching everyone's attention."What's going on, Maxk? Are they coming?" a girl from

The curious gazes of everyone in the room, including Rolf's, didn't bother me at all. What I had just uncovered left me in such a state of shock that I couldn't be bothered by their attention. The teacher, sensing my distraction, leaned in and asked, "Miss Ashley, is everything alright back there?" My lips were sealed, and I merely nodded in response.Rolf, a classmate who had recently become a friend, shifted his chair closer to mine and whispered with genuine concern, "Are you okay?" I appreciated his kindness, but at that moment, I wasn't ready to divulge my thoughts, so I fibbed, saying, "I'm good." Rolf noticed my unease and nodded understandingly before returning his chair to its original position.The revelation I had just stumbled upon was too incredible to ignore. The Thorian who had everyone in the school captivated by his presence was none other than the future king of our realm, the very person I had been reluctantly betrothed to. A sly smirk curled at the corner of my lip

My heart raced as I caught sight of Thalia and her group of friends outside. Thalia, with her striking presence, was about to turn her gaze in my direction. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively slammed the door shut before hastily retreating to where Thorian was standing.His eyes bore into me, a mix of frustration and anger etched across his features. My main concern, however, was how loudly he had just yelled. I worried that Thalia might have heard our heated exchange."Will you please keep your voice down?" I whispered, attempting to calm him, but he wasn't having any of it."Didn't you hear me? I said get out!"In an attempt to silence him, I swiftly covered his mouth, causing his words to emerge muffled. With bated breath, I carefully peeked through the door's peephole, desperately scanning for any sign of Thalia.A sigh of relief escaped my lips when I couldn't spot her anywhere. I began to lower my guard when an inexplicable urge prompted me to glance to the left. My he

The morning sun, a golden sentinel in the sky, filtered through Ashley's curtains, casting a radiant glow on her peaceful slumber. Stirred from her dreams, Ashley wrestled with the warmth of the sunbeam, trying to coax her heavy eyelids open.In a sleepy daze, Ashley blinked twice, her eyes protesting the intrusion of the sun's rays. Slowly, she raised her arms and used her hands to form a makeshift shield against the brightness. With a graceful stretch and a drawn-out yawn, she greeted the new day.With a mischievous glint in her eye and a hint of nostalgia, she muttered to herself, "It's a new day for the old Ashley to arise."With newfound enthusiasm, Ashley propelled herself out of bed, her lithe frame a silhouette against the streaming morning light. She reached for her phone, fingers dancing over the screen as she initiated a video call with Emily, her closest confidante.On the other end of the call, Emily's voice crackled through, a toothbrush clutched between her teeth. "Hey,