All Chapters of Marked by the Lycan Prince: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

IRISIt’s been a week since the humiliation at the Lycan’s Haven.A week since I stood like a fool while another girl kissed Darian in front of me like she owned him.I’ve skipped every tutoring session with Adrian. And he hasn’t reached out. Not even once.Part of me hates that. That he could invite me to that stupid dinner, then disappear without a single word, no explanation, no apology. Like what I saw was a fragment of an imagination. But… a smaller, more fragile part of me is glad he didn’t. I don’t know what I would’ve said if he had. Screamed? Cried? Begged for answers?Pathetic. Still, a part of me hoped. Hoped he’d show up. Say something. Prove me wrong.But silence is louder than any excuse.Every day, after school, I’d return to my room and pause. A scent clinging to the air, deep, musky, him. I’d stand at the door, breathing it in, heart pounding, convinced I’m imagining things. It has to be the mark playing tricks on me. Filling the space with illusions just to keep

IRISDaisy loops her arm through mine as we step out of the cab, the air crisp with evening breeze. Her pack’s territory stretches wide and quiet, and in the distance, I spot the house. It’s massive, far bigger than I imagined, but what really catches my eye is the architecture. Old stonework, ivy climbing up one side, wooden beams visible beneath the sloped roof. It’s ancient, definitely, but beautiful. Like something out of a history book. Regal but lived in. It doesn’t scream opulence, not like the Lycan’s Haven, but it’s warm. Familiar, even.Daisy nudges me. “Stop staring like you’ve never seen a house before,” she teases.“Sorry,” I murmur, trying not to gape like a tourist. “It’s just... wow.”“I know. It’s a bit of a medieval castle meets cozy cabin.”We walk up the steps, and before Daisy can even knock, the door swings open. Her mom, short, round-faced, and grinning, throws her arms open. “You’re late!”“I told you traffic was bad!” Daisy laughs as she’s pulled into a hug.

IRISI blink up at Archer, stunned, not because he’s here, but because of the sheer audacity it must’ve taken to walk over to this table and open his mouth.He’s still standing stiffly at the edge of the booth, arms crossed like some righteous ex-boyfriend delivering divine judgment.“You’re unbelievable,” he says, his voice low but sharp. “It’s only been what? A month? And here you are, flaunting yourself around with McAlister of all people?”I don’t respond. Not yet.“You know, I thought maybe you just needed space. Time. But clearly, I was wrong.” His voice is rising. “You’re already on to the next shiny thing. Real classy.”Adrian leans back in his seat with a smug smirk, but for once, he doesn’t say a word. Daisy stares at Archer like he just dropped a steaming pile of trash on the table.Archer keeps going. “You always pretended like you weren’t like the rest. Guess I was wrong. Gold digger behavior looks good on you.”I blink slowly, watching him, awestruck, but not because I’m

IRISIt’s a warm Saturday afternoon, and Daisy and I are walking out of the grocery store, arms weighed down with two heavy paper bags each. The sun is out but the breeze is kind, and I squint up at the sky, already tired.“I needed this weekend so bad,” I mutter, adjusting the strap of my bag. “Finally, two days of peace. No lectures, no professors, no Adrian. Just sleep.”Daisy lets out a loud laugh. “You say that like you’re eighty.”“I feel eighty,” I grumble. “I’ve been running on caffeine and deadlines all week.”“That’s because you bury yourself in books,” Daisy points out with a snort. “You don’t know how to enjoy your youth.”“I enjoy it fine,” I argue. “By sleeping. Like a normal person.”She snorts again. “A normal person goes to parties, hangs out with friends, flirts with hot guys. You? You get excited over color-coded notes.”“I will not apologize for my organizational skills,” I say with mock dignity. “And besides, I have friends. You’re my friend.”“Exactly,” she says,

IRISI push the door open to the classroom, not expecting anyone to be in yet, especially not Adrian. But there he is, seated at one of the front tables, hands interlocked on the surface, eyes locked on absolutely nothing.I pause in the doorway, tilting my head slightly. “Okay… now I know pigs are flying outside. You’re early?”No response.I blink. “Did you hit your head this morning? Or are we in an alternate universe where Adrian McAlister shows up before me for tutoring?”Still nothing. Not even the usual lazy smirk or sarcastic retort.I narrow my eyes. “Hello? Earth to Adrian?” I walk in, dropping my bag loudly on the table next to his. “What’s up with you?”He finally blinks. Slowly. Then turns to look at me.And it’s not the usual look. Not the mischievous, flirtatious gleam I’ve grown weirdly used to. No, this one is quiet. Heavy. Almost too serious.The way he looks at me makes my stomach tighten. His eyes don’t just see me, they look into me, and it’s unsettling.I shift u