The Score

After the heated kiss, Sebastian's expression softened, his eyes still burning with desire. "I wasn't avoiding you," he whispered, his voice laced with sincerity. "I just want you to focus on your studies, not me all the time. You're a topper, baby," he said, a hint of pride in his tone. "And if you don't score well, I'll think it's because of me." His gaze locked onto hers, intense and serious. "In college, we should remain like professors and students—professional and detached. But outside..." His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "You can consider me your boyfriend, husband, friend... Daddy." **** "Adeline!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with emotion. But as he wrapped his arms around her, she distanced herself, her body language screaming rejection. "Sebastian, don't," Adeline warned. "Why didn't you answer my calls? I've been worried sick, imagining the worst, and feeling helpless. It's been three agonizing days since I last saw you, and I've been unable to focus on anything." Adeline remained silent, "What's wrong, Adeline? You're scaring me," he pleaded. "I'm pregnant," she stated. Sebastian's face lit up with joy, his eyes shining with excitement. "Oh, Adeline! We're going to be parents!" he exclaimed. But his happiness was short-lived, as Adeline's next words shattered his dreams. "I'm going to abort this child," Adeline declared. Sebastian's world crumbled around him, his heart shattering into a million pieces. "But before I do, I wanted to tell you," Adeline continued. "That's why I'm here—to end this chapter of our lives and move on." Adeline's voice dripped with finality. "Everything between us ends with this child," she declared.

At the celebration, the pampered heiress in Crownridge, Aveline Sage, confessed her love for me in front of the entire school. I turned her down flat. I was one of the Sage family's candidates—handpicked top students from every state—to improve their next generation's genes. In a few days, when the exam results came out, whoever earned the highest national score would become her fiance. For three years straight, I had been ranked first in the country. In my previous life, I achieved that top score. I got engaged to Aveline and became the envy of everyone—the son-in-law of Crownridge's most powerful family. But on the day of our engagement, her first love, Caspian Lorne, jumped off the top of the Sage Group building. His body was shattered beyond recognition. Aveline hired the best mortician to restore his face and placed him in a crystal coffin, where she slept beside him every night. During our honeymoon, she brought Caspian's body along, then kissed and clung to him right in front of me. When I confronted her, she looked at me with disgust. "The Sage family sponsored your education for twelve years. You knew Caspian and I were in love. Couldn't you let him win just once? You've been in first place for twelve years. What would it have cost you to lose? You ruined his future, ruined our love. You deserve to die." She drugged me, turned me into a fool with the mind of a three-year-old. I couldn't recognize my parents. I lost control of my own body. And I died in agony. … Then, I opened my eyes again, back on the morning of the exam. Last time, I beat Caspian by a single point. This time, I left an answer blank. Let him be the top scorer. Let him marry her. I hoped they grew old together, with plenty of children to match their love.

J'étais le chef Bêta d'Alpha Damien. Pendant six ans, j'ai été sa partenaire au lit et sa seconde. Lorsqu'il a annoncé notre cérémonie d'accouplement, toute la meute a fêté l'événement. Mon rêve était enfin à portée de main. Mais ensuite, à l'extérieur de sa salle des trophées privée, je l'ai entendu se vanter de ses « essais de Luna ». Et comme ça, j'ai appris la vérité. Je n'étais pas sa seule et unique, j'étais l'une des trente candidates. Il avait passé un mois avec chacune d'entre nous, évaluant nos corps, notre soumission, nos performances. Mon score ? Plus bas que celui d'un Oméga, plus bas que celui de Lilou. « Baiser Lilou était incroyable ! » s'est-il vanté. « J'avais du mal à m'en détacher. Puis j'ai regardé Élise, si raide, si contrôlée, et je me suis juste... ennuyé. » La glace a inondé mes veines. Mon corps s'est figé. Six ans de dévotion, d'innombrables nuits passées dans ses draps, tout cela ne valait pas plus qu'un frisson bon marché et une louve qui savait s'agenouiller. Mon chagrin d'amour s'est transformé en glace. J'ai envoyé un message à un Alpha qui m'avait désirée il y a longtemps. « Adrian, tu as dit un jour que ton offre d'accouplement était permanente. Est-elle toujours valable ? Damien et moi nous sommes fini maintenant. »