All Chapters of Star-Crossed Wolves: Silver Moon Rising: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

POV: Ben ArcherI should have walked away the moment I saw her in that sparring ring.My wolf knew it. Every instinct I possessed screamed that approaching Bea Sharpe while she was in full Alpha dominance mode was possibly the stupidest decision I'd made since the one that got me exiled three years ago. But watching her move through opponents like they were training dummies made of paper had triggered something primal in me that went beyond rational thought.She was magnificent.That was the problem. Standing in the doorway of Moonrise Academy's combat gymnasium, watching her demolish challenger after challenger with the kind of fluid brutality that made violence look like art, I couldn't decide whether I wanted to run away or get closer to the fire that had always burned between us.My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, conflicted between admiration for her obvious strength and resentment that she was displaying that strength for everyone except me. For three years, I'd wondered

POV: Ben Archer"Don, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but this isn't some romantic comedy where misunderstandings can be resolved through elaborate schemes." I sat back down at my desk, trying to project the kind of mature restraint that would discourage Don Pedro's more ambitious interventions. "This is a situation where I betrayed someone's trust in ways that had real consequences for real people.""Exactly!" Don's eyes lit up with the kind of excitement that made smart people nervous. "Which means traditional apology methods won't work. You need to demonstrate character change through actions rather than words. You need opportunities to prove that three years of exile have taught you something about loyalty and trustworthiness."Cassio was watching our exchange with obvious fascination, probably wondering how long it would take for Don's natural optimism to crash against the reality of my situation with Bea."And how exactly do you propose I prove

POV: Ben ArcherWalking away from that gymnasium felt like tearing off a bandage that had been protecting wounds I'd thought were healed. Every step took me further from the magnetic pull of Bea's presence, but it also gave me space to process the emotional avalanche that had just hit me.Cassio fell into step beside me as we headed back toward the dormitory buildings, his expression carefully neutral in the way that meant he was trying not to offer opinions about situations he didn't fully understand."So," he said finally, when it became clear I wasn't going to volunteer information about what had just happened. "That was Bea Sharpe. The girl you've never mentioned but whose name appears in your social media search history approximately forty times per week."I shot him a look that should have discouraged further commentary, but Cassio had roomed with me long enough to develop immunity to my intimidation attempts."I don't search her name forty times per week.""You're right. I was

POV: Ian GrecoThursday morning brought the perfect opportunity to test my preliminary work as I found Otto sitting alone in the library's quiet study section, staring at his phone with the expression of someone who'd just received unwelcome news.I approached with coffee and pastries from the campus café, the universal peace offering of stressed students everywhere."You look like you could use caffeine and sugar," I said, settling into the chair across from him. "Rough morning?"Otto glanced up with obvious surprise, then managed a weak smile. "Ian, hey. You didn't have to...""Consider it fuel for brilliant minds," I replied, pushing the coffee toward him. "Besides, I was hoping to pick your brain about something, and bribery seemed like the polite approach."The attempt at humor earned me a genuine laugh, and Otto's shoulders relaxed slightly as he accepted the offered caffeine."What's on your mind?" he asked, taking a gra

POV: Ronan MontagueThe Great Hall had been transformed into something out of a fairy tale, and I hated every magical inch of it.Golden lights floated overhead like captured stars, casting warm shadows across the polished marble floor where couples already swayed to the orchestra's opening waltz. Autumn leaves drifted down from the enchanted ceiling—oak and maple in shades of amber and crimson that reminded me why this season had always been my favorite.At least it used to be, before I'd started associating fall with mate bonds and impossible choices.I adjusted the black mask covering the upper half of my face, grateful for the Autumn Equinox Ball's masquerade tradition. The elaborate disguise—complete with vintage tuxedo borrowed from Mercutio's seemingly endless formal wear collection—should be enough to keep the Capulet pack from recognizing me immediately. Long enough for me to find her, anyway.My wolf paced restlessly beneath my sk