All Chapters of THE CAMPUS ALPHA’S WOLFLESS MATE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

87 Chapters

Balancing Two Worlds

“That was intense,” Elena said once the dining hall started to empty. She squeezed my shoulder. “But you handled it perfectly.”“I feel like I’m going to be sick.”“Normal response to confronting an entire pack.” She smiled. Warm. Motherly. “You did well, honey. Really good.”Garrett was grinning. “Dude, Sarah’s face when you stood up? Priceless. She was not expecting that.”“I wasn’t expecting it either.” My hands were still shaking. I hid them under the table.“Coffee?” Elena asked. “My place is close. We can talk. Get to know each other without everyone staring.”I looked at Lycian. He nodded. “Go. I have to meet with my father anyway. Pack business.”“You’re leaving me?”“Just for an hour. Elena will take care of you.” He stood. Kissed my forehead. The gesture was so casual. So natural. Like we’d been doing this for years instead of days. “You’ll be fine.”He left before I could argue.Elena linked her arm through mine. “Come on. I make the best coffee on pack territory. Plus I ha

Meet My Best Friend

I woke up to seventeen texts from Tessa.Most of them were variations of “don’t you dare cancel” and “I’m bringing my pepper spray just in case.”The last one made me laugh.If he’s a serial killer, I’m prepared. Also, I’m wearing my running shoes.I texted back.He’s not a serial killer. Probably.Her response was immediate.NOT REASSURING.Lycian was already awake. I found him in the kitchen making breakfast. He looked good in the morning. Hair messy. T-shirt and sweatpants. Relaxed in a way he never was around the pack.“Morning,” he said. “Coffee?”“Please.” I sat at the island. “So. My best friend wants to meet you today.”He paused mid-pour. “Today?”“At two. At the coffee shop near campus.” I took the mug he offered. “She’s slightly terrifying. Just warning you.”“How terrifying?”“She once made a guy cry because he was rude to a barista. She’s very protective.”“Of you?”“Of everyone. But especially me.” I took a sip. Perfect as always. “She thinks you might be a serial killer

Pack Training

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” I said for the third time as Lycian drove toward the pack house.“You’ll be fine. It’s just training.”“Just training where everyone watches me fail at wolf stuff I can’t even do because I’m wolfless.”“You’re observing. Not participating.” He glanced at me. “And you won’t be alone. Elena will be there. Garrett. Damien.”“And Sarah. Don’t forget Sarah.”“I’m choosing to forget Sarah.”It was Wednesday evening. The sun was setting. Casting everything in orange and gold. Pretty. Except I was too nervous to appreciate it.My palms were sweating. I wiped them on my jeans.“What if I embarrass you?” I asked.“You won’t.”“You don’t know that.”“I do. Because you’re you. And you’re perfect exactly as you are.” He said it so casually. Like it was obvious. Like he really believed it.My chest felt tight. Warm. “You’re too nice to me.”“I’m exactly nice enough.”The pack house loomed ahead. More cars than usual. Everyone was here.My stomach churned.Lycian

Study Session

I couldn’t focus on biology.The textbook blurred in front of me. All I could see was that text message. Watch your back.“Hey.” Lycian’s hand covered mine. Warm. Grounding. “Stop thinking about it.”“Easy for you to say. Nobody’s threatening you.”“They wouldn’t dare.” He closed my textbook. “You’ve been staring at the same page for twenty minutes. Take a break.”“I can’t. My makeup exam is on Friday. That’s two days.” I rubbed my eyes. They felt gritty. Tired. “I’m so behind.”“Then let me help.”“You can help with cellular respiration?”“No. But I can make sure you eat and sleep and don’t stress yourself into a breakdown.” He stood. Pulled me up with him. “Come on. Kitchen. Food. Then we’ll study together.”“You have your own work.”“It can wait.” He led me to the kitchen. Started pulling out ingredients. “When’s the last time you ate?”I tried to remember. “Breakfast?”“Elowen. It’s eight PM.”“I wasn’t hungry.”“You’re never hungry when you’re stressed. I’ve noticed.” He cracked

First Pack Dinner

I didn’t tell Lycian about the second threat.He was already overprotective. Another anonymous text would send him into full Alpha mode. And I needed normal. Just for a little while longer.Besides, I had bigger problems. Like the pack dinner Elena had invited me to.“It’s casual,” she’d said on the phone. “Just a few families. Nothing formal. You’ll love it.”That was Thursday. Now it was Friday evening and I was staring at my closet like it held the answers to life.“It’s just dinner,” I muttered. Pulling out a sweater for the third time.“You’ve said that five times.” Lycian leaned against my doorframe. Arms crossed. Amused. “It’s really just dinner.”“With pack members who may or may not want me dead.”“Elena invited you. That means her friends will be there. They’re nice.”“Sarah’s friends were nice too. At first.”He pushed off the doorframe. Came into my room. Took the sweater from my hands. “This one. With jeans. You look beautiful in this.”The sweater was forest green. Soft.

Breaking Point

I couldn’t sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that text. Nobody will help you when the vote comes.At two AM, I gave up. Got out of bed. Pulled on a sweatshirt over my tank top and pajama shorts. Padded barefoot to the kitchen.The penthouse was dark. Silent. Just the hum of the refrigerator and the city lights filtering through the windows.I grabbed milk. Started heating it on the stove. Aunt Clara used to make warm milk when I couldn’t sleep. Said it was magic. It wasn’t. But the ritual helped.“Can’t sleep?”I jumped. Spilled milk on the counter.Lycian stood in the doorway. Shirtless. Sweatpants low on his hips. Hair is messy from sleep. He looked unfairly good for two in the morning.“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He grabbed a towel. Started cleaning the spill.“It’s fine. I’m just jumpy.”“Because of the texts?”My stomach dropped. “How did you…”“I can feel it. Through the bond. Your fear. Your stress. It wakes me up.” He tossed the towel aside. “How many have there

The Announcement

Sunday morning felt different.The air was colder. The sky is darker. Or maybe that was just my anxiety talking.Lycian made breakfast. Pancakes shaped like hearts. Trying to be cute. Trying to distract me.“You’re stress-eating,” he said. Watching me demolish my third pancake.“I’m comfort-eating. There’s a difference.”“What are you worried about? My dad’s announcement?”“Among other things.” I drowned another pancake in syrup. “What do you think he’s going to say?”“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me anything.” He stole a piece of my bacon. “But whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”“You keep saying that.”“Because it’s true.” He reached across the table. Took my sticky, syrup-covered hand. “I love you. Remember?”“I love you too.” The words still felt new. Exciting. Terrifying. “But love doesn’t solve everything.”“No. But it helps.”We got to the pack house at ten. The parking lot was already full. Everyone was here.Elena met us at the door. Her smile was strained. Worried.“Hey. You r

Comfort and Chaos

Lycian was on the phone for an hour.I sat on the couch. Staring at that message. Reading it over and over until the words blurred.See you soon.Who was “you”? Who knew my number? Who cared enough to keep threatening me even after the vote passed?“Okay.” Lycian finally hung up. Came back to the living room. “Cade’s tracing the numbers. All of them. We’ll know who it is by tomorrow.”“What if we don’t? What if they’re using burner phones or something?”“Then we’ll figure out another way.” He sat next to me. Pulled me into his arms. “But right now, you need to breathe. And eat. And stop spiraling.”“I’m not spiraling.”“You’ve been staring at that message for twenty minutes. That’s spiraling.” He took my phone. Set it face down on the coffee table. “Come on. I’m making dinner. You’re helping.”“I can’t cook.”“Then you’re learning. Kitchen. Now.”He dragged me to the kitchen. Started pulling out ingredients. Chicken. Vegetables. Rice. Things that looked complicated.“I’m going to burn

The Bond Shifts

I felt it before I understood what it was.A warmth spreads through my chest. Like someone had lit a candle inside my ribs. Small. Flickering. But definitely there.It happened while I was brushing my teeth on Tuesday morning.One second I was normal. Next, I could feel Lycian. Actually feel him. Not just know he was in the kitchen. Feel his presence like he was standing right next to me.I dropped my toothbrush. It clattered in the sink.“Lycian?” I called. My voice came out weird. Shaky.He appeared in the bathroom doorway instantly. “What’s wrong?”“I don’t know. Something feels different.” I pressed my hand to my chest. “I can feel you. Like really feel you. Is that normal?”“The bond. It’s strengthening,” he said softly.“But why now?”“It takes time for humans. And usually needs a trigger.” He moved closer. “We’ve been sleeping together. That probably accelerated it.”“Sleeping. Not sleeping together sleeping. Just actual sleeping.”“I know what you meant.” He smiled. Touched my

Moving Forward

Aunt Clara moved in on Saturday.We spent the whole day transforming the guest room into her space. Lycian hired movers for the furniture. I hung her favorite photos. Made sure her medications were organized. Set up the TV the way she liked.By evening, she was settled in the armchair by the window. Cast on her wrist. Looking tired but happy.“This is too much,” she said for the tenth time. “You shouldn’t have to take care of me.”“You took care of me for fifteen years,” I said. Tucking a blanket around her. “It’s my turn.”“But Lycian, this is his home. I’m intruding.”“You’re not intruding.” Lycian appeared with tea. Set it on the side table. “You’re family. Family doesn’t intrude.”Aunt Clara’s eyes got wet. “Thank you. Both of you.”“You’re welcome.” He squeezed her good hand. “Now rest. Doctor’s orders.”She fell asleep within minutes. Exhausted from the move.I closed her door softly. Found Lycian in the kitchen making dinner.“Thank you,” I said. Wrapping my arms around him fro

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