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The Chosen by Marcus Lee. Chapter One. ‘Hold on, and don't let go.' I look around, wondering if there will be more instructions, but the door to the room has already closed. I'm gagged securely and have been told by a masked captor not to remove it. Whilst my hands and feet are free, I don't dare untie the gag, not yet. Others are crammed into the room with me, all in soiled clothing, filthy from their journey here, wherever here is. Everyone is wide-eyed and scared as they look upon each other for the first time. It seems we're all roughly the same age, although of varying size. I want to scream and cry for help, but that will be a waste of energy. A moon globe hangs from the ceiling, lighting the room we've been herded into. The floors, walls, and ceiling are covered by panelled wood. As my fingers absently trace the grain, I discover the wall surface is marred by hundreds of scratches, whereas the floor and ceiling shine with a deep, polished lustre. Despite still being held captive, at least I can now walk around. It's the first time in two weeks that I've been allowed out of a small crate that confined me like a caged animal. Two weeks in a box stinking of panic, fear, and claustrophobia, my only company the desperate voices and tears of unseen others. Hold on, and don't let go. What does that mean, Malina? I ask myself. I study my surroundings while most of the youths sit on the floor, exhausted. Some try to untie the gags, which are so tight that it's hard to breathe. Thirteen leather loops hang from near the moon globe above me. Another is placed in each corner of the room - seventeen in total. I wonder what they might be for. Seventeen loops, but over twenty people. Hmmm. Even on tiptoes, they're just beyond my fingertips. As I lower my arm, I catch the gaze of a filthy, blond lad taking note of what I'm doing. His hair and cleft chin suggests an Astorian bloodline, and he has the strangest eyes. There's a distant jangling of chains, followed by a grinding noise, and then the floor begins to shudder. Those sitting, scramble to their feet, as with a lurch, the floor splits down the centre. Everyone moves quickly away from the gap as the floor shakes and begins to slide back beneath the walls. It isn't long before the distance between the two sides of the floor is about two paces wide. Cold fetid air rises from the depths, and I retreat away from the edge with growing unease. Hold on, and don't let go. The bigger boys begin shoving anyone and everyone smaller out of the way, so they can get closer to the corners' transient safety, and being one of the smallest, I can't even get near. Two boys are trying to open the door, banging on it, pushing their shoulders hard against the unforgiving wood, but to no avail. Relentlessly, the floor continues to move, and the gap between the two halves becomes ever wider. Moans of fear fill the small room, and several boys and girls are crying. A puddle of urine gathers at the feet of a boy, and everyone edges away. Don't just stand here! I admonish myself. I'd always been quick of mind in the orphanage, but here I am, freezing from fear. I quickly move to the open edge of the floor and gaze down into the black abyss. The moon globe that easily illuminates the whole room doesn't shed enough light to penetrate to the bottom. The air that comes from below is foul. It reminds me of the back of the butcher's shop situated behind the orphanage. It assaults my senses, smelling like rotting meat. If the floor continues to open at the same rate, people will soon start to fall in, and being small, I’ll be one of the first. Do something! I look at the loops in the middle of the ceiling. It's still an easy jump to grab them, but I'll be left hanging over a horrifying drop, and for how long, I don't know. I'm skinny, malnourished, and it's unlikely I can hold on for long. I'd have preferred the straps in the corner, but I can't get through the press of bigger youths. Another lurch, and those banging on the door move away as the floor retracts further. Everyone here has the same filthy, disowned look I have. No one wears fine clothes, has good shoes, or even a semblance of styled hair. They're all outcasts, perhaps orphans like me. No one will miss us if we die here. Hold on, and don't let go. My heart has never beat this fast. I make a decision, and my hands shake. It's hard to catch my breath past the thick gag, but it's now or never. I take two steps back, then, propelled by trembling legs, leap and catch hold of the dangling leather. My sweaty palm slips, and I expect to fall, but as my weight bears down, the leather loop tightens around my hand, lending me its support. Tears course down my cheeks. I've been frightened many times in my life; fear is nothing new, but this! Sobs wrack my body. Below my feet is nothing but blackness, and those words resound in my head. Hold on, and don't let go. Swinging my legs, I bring up my other hand to grab the leather and only then note the wide-eyed gazes of everyone huddling against the walls directed at me. Suddenly, the blond boy runs from the group and leaps, catching hold of the loop next to mine. He sways wildly back and forth, but his grip is sure and strong. Once again, our eyes meet. One of his eyes is blue, the other green. To have different coloured eyes is to be considered cursed in Astoria, and those born with this defect are usually killed at birth. I'd never seen anyone with them before. Then again, most people have never seen yellow eyes like mine either. We stare at each other for a while, and I can sense his terror, but he manages a brisk nod. Others quickly follow our lead with a pounding of feet and squeals of fear. The grinding gears screech louder, and the floor retracts faster. The largest boys have claimed the loops in each corner of the room, securing their safety. They bully everyone else away, fists pummel those who are too slow to move. Only the strong will survive, the law of the streets. The distance between the floor and the central straps widens, and a small girl gathers her courage and leaps. She doesn't make it. With a gag tied firmly around her mouth, she can't even scream as she disappears, arms and legs flailing, to be swallowed whole by the darkness. My tears follow, falling into the depths along with others from those now hanging around me. There are only two straps left vacant in the middle of the ceiling, and a further two girls run and jump. Thankfully, they make the distance and hang on, knuckles white, swinging backwards and forwards like ripe fruit. The smell of fresh faeces fills the air, nauseating, overtaking the smell of rotting flesh. I want to vomit in fear and disgust at the smell, but know that if I do, the gag will cause me to choke, so I swallow the reflex down. All the loops are now taken, yet two boys and three girls are still pressed tight against the walls, the edge of the floor mere inches from their toes. They try to dig their fingers into the wood, desperate to find a purchase. Now I realise where the hundreds of scratches have come from. The two boys look around desperately. Having failed to secure the corner loops, they now eye those of us dangling from the middle of the ceiling. I guess what's going through their minds. Please, no! The two boys, arriving at the same decision, leap as one. There are no free straps left, and they’re too far to have made it anyway, but they leap nonetheless and grab onto the ankles of the girls who'd last made the jump. Seconds later, all four disappear into the pit, arms and legs kicking. Not long after, the three girls trying desperately to hold on to the wood panelling, follow, their deaths strangely quiet. As I look around, fifteen of us hang on, arms trembling, sweat, tears and urine dripping. By the time the floor is cranked back into place, only twelve remain. Everyone falls to the floor. The smell of fear is rank, and I know my own stench adds to the thickness of the air. How long we wallow in misery and our own filth is hard to say. My hope that this ordeal is over is shattered when the gears start rumbling, chains jangle, and the horror begins all over again. This time around, I struggle to hold on from the very beginning. My hands are tired, and the loop I've chosen is damp with sweat. Quickly, the pain in my hands, arms, and shoulders becomes excruciating. Maybe I should just let go, fall into the dark embrace of the pit, and end the torment? My moans are pitiful through the gag as death approaches and whispers to me like a friend. Just as I'm about to give in to that seductive voice, the Astorian boy comes to my rescue, his hand closing over mine. It hurts, his grip is powerful, but now I can't let go even if I want to. The floor grinds shut again, and as I land, collapsing in exhaustion, I’m shocked that just eight of us are left. The door to the room opens, and a robed and masked woman enters. The eyes give away her sex, as does her movement; graceful, purposeful, feet placed with certainty. Yet every step somehow exudes the potential for violence, like a predator stalking prey. 'You will say nothing. You will do as you're told without hesitation. There are to be no questions. If you fail at anything, you will die. If you question anything or disobey my command, you will die.' The voice is slightly muffled by the cloth mask, yet the message is simple and chilling. Like a cat, the woman stalks amongst us, a glistening, tiny dagger in her hand. With swift movements, she severs our gags. I draw in a deep breath, almost choking at the stench, but so grateful at being able to breathe freely. The woman walks toward the door, pauses, and looks over her shoulder, beckoning for us to follow. 'My name is Lystra,' she says. 'Follow me if you want a chance to live.' ***** We scurry along corridors illuminated by torches. Their flickering red light creates a hellish ambience, and I wonder if I should have let go of the loop after all, and embraced sudden death. The air here is tinged with dampness, and I fear some disgusting spores will take root and fester in my lungs if I survive. Our soiled clothes only add to the foulness of the air. Sobs and whimpering accompany the scuff of stumbling footsteps as my rag-tag group of filthy survivors follow Lystra, too scared to disobey or be left behind. She halts at a closed iron-reinforced door, and we hang back, not daring to approach too close. After a quick search within her robes, she produces a key and turns it in the lock. It swings silently open under her touch. Fresh air wafts in, and following a flick of Lystra’s hand, we file past, heads bowed. As I step into the open, the horror I’d just survived briefly fades. I gawk in wonder, for although I stand in something akin to hell, it’s a hell overlooked by the heavens. I'd witnessed a training ring before, outside the soldiers' barracks in my hometown, and there’s no doubt I’m standing in one. Yet, despite its familiarity, it's as unlike that training circle I knew as fire is to water. My rag-tag group and I stand in the heart of a mountain or maybe a dead volcano. Way above us, blue sky and clouds offer a tantalising glimpse of heaven, and indeed, the interior slopes of the mountain are covered in trees and vines, lush and colourful. I can see birds flying amongst the foliage and animals leaping around. Yet, as my gaze travels downward, the vista begins to change. First, the mountainside from halfway down is blackened, stripped of natural growth, and looks to have been burnt down to the bare rock. Then, below that, it's been fashioned into a coarse, circular wall. Above the wall on the far side of the circle is a balcony upon which five dark-robed figures stand, observing us as if we were nothing but insects scurrying around their feet. Set intermittently within the wall are doors, and from them, groups of filthy, frightened youths spew forth. Shortly, there are about sixty of us staring around, a mixture of wonder, hopelessness and fear plastered on our faces. Stop gawking, Malina. Take stock! I’m standing at the perimeter of the training ring ... but what a ring. It measures about two hundred paces across, with a raised circular dais in the centre. Robed guards hold crossbows at the ready wherever I look. I don't know how long I've been standing here, but Lystra's sharp voice cuts through my thoughts. 'If you want to live, you won't be the last to the dais and back again.' Silence greets her words, not that anyone would dare question anything. Then I see movement from the corner of my eye, and as I look around, I can see the other distant groups of children streaming toward the central dais. Almost as one, we turn and throw ourselves into this race for life. The bare rock of the training circle floor is uneven, and my bare feet hurt with every step. Six of my group are already pulling ahead, and I strive to run faster. Running was never my strong suit, and I haven't eaten sufficiently in weeks. I feel weak, and my gasps for breath quickly turn to sobs. A tubby boy runs next to me as we lag behind the others. We’re still fifteen paces from the dais as those ahead turn and race back toward us. I can see his wide eyes snatching glances at me as sweat pours down his face. Come on, Malina, I urge myself. Faster! Then. as everyone runs past, skinny arms and legs pumping, I find myself alone as I reach the dais. I touch it with my hand, then turn back. I’m too slow, and worse, I can barely see. Tears and snot stream down my face, running into my mouth as those ahead finish the race. Finally, I catch up to the group, lungs heaving. No one looks up except for him with the strange eyes. On his face, as if clearly written, I can see relief for himself but also sorrow as he looks at me. Lystra draws a long dagger from within her sleeve and stalks toward me. RUN! Despite my survival instinct telling my legs to move, I don’t have the strength. I wish I could, although to where I don't know, but anywhere to be able to draw breath a few more times would suffice. Maybe I'd have used the time to look at the sky and see the clouds a final time. Yes, the clouds. I tilt my head back. Look at the clouds closely, Malina. You won’t see Lystra, her blade, or even feel it! Death will end this nightmare. Lystra’s footsteps approach and stop. I’d heard it said that when death is upon you, all your memories flash in front of your eyes. I just wish I’d had happier ones. ----- Prepare yourself for a relentless tale of survival that spans worlds, is filled with creatures of legend, tales of redemption, love, betrayal, and an incredible prophecy that might just save the human race. It all begins with the Mountain of Souls and continues with The Last Hope, The River of Tears, The Oldest Foe, and the finale, The Chains of Destiny. ----- For lovers of:- High Fantasy | Dark Fantasy | Heroic Fantasy | Epic Fantasy | Action and Adventure | Sword and Sorcery ----- FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Also available formats: Kindle | Print | Audible

💔💔💔😭"My crush is shamelessly having sex with my roommate next door. Unable to endure it, I was forced to move into Julian’s house. An arrogant hockey captain, the boy who has been silently watching me since we were children... After evolving from friends into a more dangerous relationship, I became pregnant. However, his hesitation-free departure left me heartbroken... Should I keep holding on, or throw myself into the arms of the crush who has been with me for many years?" ****** Aria’s pov. The moans slipped through the wall, again. Luca, my best friend, my secret crush for years, was having sex with my roommate on the other side of the wall. The sounds were louder than usual tonight, a sharp, rhythmic thudding against the drywall that felt like it was happening inside my own head. It felt deliberate, like Serena wanted to make sure I heard every single gasp, every single second of her winning. It was a shitty way to end a twelve-hour double shift at the coffee shop. I lay on my bed, my eyes burning from the caffeine and the fluorescent lights I’d been under all day. I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. Serena’s moans were reckless. I looked at the small, framed photo on the corner of my desk—my parents and my older brother, Anthony, smiling in the sun. They’ve been gone for five years now. The car accident that took them when I was fifteen shattered my entire world in a single afternoon. Luca was the only one who didn't let me drown in the silence of that empty house. He held me while I cried until I had no tears left. He stayed when everyone else eventually went back to their lives. He was my anchor, my only piece of home left in the world. That’s why I followed him here to Westbridge University. I gave up a full ride at my dream school just so I wouldn't have to face a single day without him nearby. What a massive, pathetic fool I was. Now I was just the scholarship girl working two jobs while he lived the life of a rich playboy. I’d watched him date dozens of girls over the years. I used to just sit back and wait for them to vanish, which they usually did after a month or two. I told myself they were just distractions, toys he used because he wasn't ready for something real. But Serena felt different. She didn't feel like a distraction, she felt like a permanent replacement. The noise from the next room spiked again, a loud moan that made my skin crawl with a mix of nausea and rage. The lack of sleep and the physical ache in my back from standing all day finally made something inside me snap. I pushed myself up from the bed so fast it felt like the world jolted with me. I stormed into the hallway of our suite and hammered my fist against Serena’s door with everything I had. "Keep it the down, you two!" I yelled. My voice sounded raw, cracking under the weight of the frustration I’d been bottling up for weeks. "Some of us actually have to work for a living in the morning!" The noise stopped instantly. It was replaced by a silence so heavy I could feel it pressing against my eardrums. I didn't wait for a response. I turned around, went back into my room, and shut my door hard enough to make the walls tremble. I fell onto my bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to force my heart to stop racing. A few minutes later, there was a sharp, aggressive knock on my door. I thought it was Luca coming to apologize, but when I opened it, Serena was leaning against the frame. She wore one of Luca’s oversized t-shirts, looking like she’d stepped out of a magazine. She had a smirk on her face that made me want to slap the look right off her. "You're very grumpy tonight, Aria," She said, pushing past me into my room. "I'm tired, Serena. I just want to sleep. Get out," I said, my voice flat and exhausted. She leaned against my dresser, looking at me with this fake, sugary pity that made my stomach turn. "Is it really the noise that's bothering you? Or is it the person making me scream?" she asked. I felt a flush of heat creep up my neck, my face burning with a humiliation I couldn't hide. "I don't know what you're talking about," I lied. "Oh come on. I'm not blind. Just admit it. You’re in love with him," she said, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "Every time he touches me, you feel like you're dying inside, don't you?" she asked. I couldn't breathe. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. I looked past her and saw Luca standing in the hallway. He was frozen there, his hair messy, his shirt unbuttoned. He had heard everything. He looked confused and deeply uncomfortable, like he was looking at a car wreck he didn't want to be involved in. He didn't defend me. He didn't tell her she was being cruel. He just stood there, avoiding my gaze, letting the silence confirm everything Serena said. "Get out," I told her. My voice was trembling now, and I hated myself for it. "Both of you. Get the out of my room," I said. Serena let out a soft, mean laugh and walked back into the hall. Luca stayed for a second longer, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something, but he eventually just followed her back into her room. I locked the door and stayed awake for a while, too embarrassed to stop thinking, replaying the look on his face, everything I should have said, everything I didn’t. I didn’t even notice when I fell asleep. ★ The next morning was beyond awkward. I tried to stay in my room as long as possible, but I eventually had to go to the kitchen for coffee. I ran right into Luca. He looked perfectly fine, looking like he’d slept for ten hours, while I looked like a ghost. The eye bags were heavy under my eyes and my stare was probably enough to frighten the dead. "Hey, Ri," he said. He was acting like the fight last night didn't even happen. "My mom called today," he said, pouring himself some juice. "She wants to host a dinner for Serena this weekend. She wants to officially meet her," he continued. I felt a sharp, icy pain in my chest that made it hard to swallow. Luca had never brought a girl home to his parents before. Not once in all the years I’d known him. Only me. I was the only girl who had ever met his family, and I had secretly convinced myself it would stay that way until it was my turn for real. "That's nice," I said, keeping my voice as dead as I felt inside. "I want you to come with us," he said. He beamed at me, like he was doing me a favor. "It’ll be less awkward if you’re there you know. You can even study in the library at my house while we do the dinner," he added. He was serious. He really expected me to sit at his family’s table and watch him play house with the girl who had just destroyed me. He didn't care about my feelings. He didn't even care that Serena had humiliated me right in front of him. To him, I was just a fixture. A doll that came along for the ride. At that moment, I realized the truth. He was serious about her. And I was officially being replaced. "I can't go, Luca. I'm busy," I said. "Busy with what? You always come home with me on weekends," he argued. "Not anymore. I have plans," I said, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. I don’t owe you any explanation for how I choose to live my life. I walked away before he could say another word. I went back into my room and pulled up my banking app. I stared at the balance, calculating every penny from my scholarship and my shifts. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get me a deposit on a tiny room somewhere else. I looked at the thin dorm walls and realized I couldn’t stay here another night. I was done being the backup friend. Tonight, I’m leaving. .............................................................................. Aria’s pov. I didn't even bother looking in the mirror before I walked out of my room. I knew I looked like a ghost, but I didn't care. I grabbed my phone and my work bag, checking to make sure I had my keys and nothing else. I was halfway to the front door when Serena stepped into the hallway, still wearing that same smug look from last night. "Leaving so soon? Luca hasn't even finished his breakfast yet," she said mockingly. Her voice was like a slow-acting poison, and I could feel it working its way under my skin. "Stay out of my way, Serena. For real," I said. I didn't wait for her to come up with some clever comeback. I just pushed past her and walked out of the dorm, stepping right into a miserable, gray downpour. The rain was freezing, soaking through my thin shirt in seconds, but it felt better than being inside that suite. I walked all the way to the coffee shop where I worked, my head spinning with every step. When I pushed through the door, the bell jingled loudly, and the warmth of the shop hit me like a physical wall. Mark, my manager, looked up from the register and let out a low whistle. "Aria? You’re not on the schedule until four. You look like a drowned rat, kid," he said. "I’m fine. Mark, do you have a minute? I really need to talk to you," I said. I was shivering so hard my teeth were practically chattering. "Sure, what's up? You look like you're about to have a breakdown," he said. "I have some major accommodation issues. I can't stay in my dorm anymore. Like, I need a new place today," I told him. I was trying to keep my voice down, but the shop was quiet and my voice was already shaky. "Do you know anyone with a spare room? Or a cheap studio? I have some savings, but I need it right now," I added. Mark rubbed his chin, looking concerned. "Today? That's a tall order, Aria. Most places near campus are booked solid this time of year. It's midterm season," he reminded me. I let out a frustrating sigh, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. "But you can post on the school website. I bet someone there could help you out," he suggested. I shook my head immediately. "I can't. Everyone on that site is a shark, Mark. I'm a scholarship kid. They'll just use it to rip me apart," I said. "Why? You really need it, don't you? Desperate times, Aria," he pushed. I opened my mouth to deny him again, but the image of Serena and Luca together in that hallway stabbed my vision. I couldn't bear another second of that nightmare. I pulled out my phone and opened the school website, a place I usually avoided like the plague unless I wanted to see who they were bullying that week. I typed in the words quickly: "Hi. Having major accommodation issues. If you have a room I can rent please, my DM is open. Urgent." I almost shuddered in disgust as I hit the button. The text felt tacky and reeked of desperation, but I didn't have any other cards to play. The site let out a little beep, confirming it had been uploaded to the public feed. "Done," I said to Mark, who was peering over the counter at me. "Good. Now we just wait and—" The notification sound on my phone disrupted his words. I shifted my gaze to the screen and froze. Someone had replied. Not in my DMs. Publicly. "I have an apartment. Meet me at the cafeteria if you are interested," the comment read. I almost screamed in joy, but the stone-faced gaze from a customer nearby snapped me back to reality. "Someone replied! Already!" I shoved the phone toward Mark. "See? I told you," he said, smiling warmly. "Who is it? Can you tell?" I asked. I read the username out loud. "J. Vance." I’d never heard of the name, but then again, I didn't exactly hang out with the elite crowd at this school. I figured it was probably a girl named Jules or maybe a nerd who felt sorry for me. "So when are you meeting the mystery person?" Mark asked. "They didn't give me time, so I'm guessing they want to meet now. It's almost lunch," I said. I looked at the clock on the wall. 9:45 a.m. "Go get ready. You can't meet a potential roommate looking like you just crawled out of a lake," Mark said. I nodded and hurried back to the dorm. Luckily, it was empty. Luca and Serena must have finally left for their morning classes. I walked past Luca’s room, and the door was slightly ajar. The air coming from inside still smelled like sex and cheap alcohol, making my stomach churn with a fresh wave of nausea. I slammed the door shut and went to my own room to change. I threw on my normal baggy jeans and a clean top, tossing my damp hair into a quick ponytail. I checked my reflection once, adjusted my glasses, and ran back out the door. When I stepped into the school cafeteria, it felt like the entire world stopped turning. All eyes turned to me, and for once, it wasn't the usual look of boredom. I ignored them and searched for Table 7, the spot the user had mentioned in their DM follow-up. I caught it in the corner. Someone was already sitting there. From the broad shoulders and the dark, expensive-looking hair, it definitely wasn't a girl named Jules. Shit. I hoped he wasn't some kind of pervert. I shoved the thought aside and walked closer, letting out a little cough to get his attention. "Hi. I'm here about the apartment. You commented on my post," I started rambling. Then he straightened up and turned around. I stopped talking. I stopped breathing. The world actually seemed to stop. Because sitting in the chair was Julian Vance. He was wearing a black pea coat that probably cost more than my entire year's tuition. He was the hockey captain. Every girl at Westbridge had a crush on him. He looked successful and untouchable, like he lived in a completely different universe than me. His dark eyes, which I hadn't seen up close in over a decade, widened just slightly. "Aria?" he asked, his voice a low, rough velvet, laced with genuine surprise. I could only manage a slow nod. "Hi, Julian." "It's been... ages," he said, the surprise quickly masked by his usual guarded demeanor. "I heard you were on campus, but I haven't seen you since—since you were about knee-high. I left campus with my father's company shortly after, remember?" "I do," I mumbled. "You... you were gone for a long time." "For a while, yeah. But I'm back now, obviously," he said, a ghost of a smile touching the corner of his lips. He leaned back in his seat, suddenly serious. "So, the apartment. I saw your post. What's going on? Are you okay?" "I am," I lied, too quickly. "Just accommodation issues. A misunderstanding with my... current situation." He nodded, his gaze unwavering, as if he knew exactly what I wasn't saying. "I have a place near the Heights. You can have the guest suite," he said. He wasn't even whispering. The whole cafeteria had gone dead silent. Every single jaw was hanging open in total shock. "Huh? You... you really mean it?" I whispered. "I-I thought you didn't even remember me." "I knew who you were, Ri," he said, using the old nickname. It felt like a punch to the gut. I almost forgot Luca and he came up with the nickname for me. "And yes, I mean it. I won't overcharge you, and I rarely use it anyway." He was talking, but my mind couldn't even process the words. He scribbled something on a piece of paper and held it out to me. Mindlessly, I took it. It was a phone number and an address. "Call me when you're ready to move," he said. He didn't wait for an answer. He just stood up and walked out like he owned every single inch of the floor he was walking on. I watched him disappear through the double doors, then looked back at the students. They were staring at me with a mix of envy, disgust, and pure, unadulterated hate. At that moment, I wanted the floor to open and swallow me. .............................................................................. Aria’s pov. I was hiding. I sat at the furthest corner table of the coffee shop, staring at the piece of paper Julian had given me in the cafeteria like it was a piece of radioactive waste. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing in my pocket. Notifications from the school website were blowing up, of course from other students, and I didn't even have to open them to know what they said. The lowly scholarship girl and the King of Hockey. What a headline. The gossip was spreading faster than a leak in a dam, and I was right at the center of it. I couldn't stop thinking about the look in Julian's eyes when he stood up and walked away. He didn't look like he was playing a prank. He looked like he was waiting for me to just say yes already. Everyone at Westbridge knew about the war between the Morettis and the Vances. It wasn't just a school rivalry, it was a blood feud between two massive companies that had been trying to bankrupt each other for some years now. Julian was the one everyone loved and cheered for, the quiet hero of the hockey team who had the whole campus wrapped around his finger. Luca was the opposite, the reckless playboy of the Moretti empire who spent more time flaunting his wealth than in a classroom. Growing up, I was always stuck in the middle of them. I remembered our kindergarten playground fights, back when we were kids—when they both swore I would be their bride. I thought it was all just a joke. We were only kids. Julian was the one who actually got his knuckles bloody fighting for me back then, standing his ground even when he was outnumbered. Luca would just use his charm to talk his way out of trouble, always smiling like the world owed him everything. I had always chosen to stay by Luca’s side, thinking his flashy charm was safer than whatever intense fire Julian had in his eyes. Even though I knew he was a reckless playboy, I couldn’t help but hope, just a little, that one day he would realize that I love him. What a massive mistake that turned out to be. "Aria! My God, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!" I jumped slightly as my best friend, Elena, slid into the chair across from me, her eyes wide with total shock. She slammed her phone down on the table, showing the school’s main forum page. Julian’s public reply to my post was the top-rated comment, with hundreds of likes and even more people losing their minds in the replies. "Aria, tell me right now why Julian Vance is offering you a luxury suite in the Heights," she demanded. I sighed and told her everything—the desperate need of an apartment, how I had to put up the notice on the site and then how he just handed me his number and walked out. I also told her about the dorm drama. From the whole sex charade to the dinner invite Luca gave me for Serena. Elena looked like she was having a heart attack right there in the middle of the shop. "You have to do it. You have to call him right now," she said. "I can't just move in with a guy I haven't seen in over a decade, Elena. We talked for two minutes and it was so intense. It's too much," I argued. "Aria, look at yourself. You're exhausted, you're hiding, and your 'best friend' is busy bringing another girl home to meet his parents," she said. She leaned across the table, her voice getting serious. "Julian is the golden boy here for a reason. He’s responsible and he’s quiet. If he’s opening his door for you publicly, he's basically protecting you from the fallout," she added. "He probably just wants to spite Luca," I muttered. "Who cares? It's your chance to finally stop being Luca's shadow. He’s never going to choose you, Aria," she said. That hit me harder than the rain outside. She was right. I thought about how Luca had cancelled our traditions lately. The movie nights he missed. The ten-year anniversary he forgot because Serena wanted a spa day. Even going shopping with her. I realized I wasn't his best friend anymore. It was just a habit he was trying to break. "I'm going back to the dorm," I said, standing up suddenly. "To sleep?" Elena asked. "No. To pack. I'm done being an inconvenience," I told her. I walked back to the dorms, my heart hammering a rhythm of pure defiance. I walked right through the front door, not caring who saw me. When I got to the common area, I saw them. Luca and Serena were tangled together on the couch, surrounded by shopping bags from places I couldn't even afford to look at. Luca looked up and frowned when he saw me standing there. "Oh, hey. I forgot we were supposed to grab dinner tonight," he said. He didn't even sound sorry. He sounded like I was an interruption. "I’m taking Serena to the Vanguard Gala tonight. Her dad invited us," he added. He looked at his watch, clearly wishing I would just go away. "It’s fine, Luca. I wasn't expecting you to remember anyway," I said. My voice didn't tremble. I felt weirdly cold, like the rain had finally frozen my heart shut. "Are you okay? You look... different," he said, squinting at me. "I'm great. Have fun at the gala," I said. I didn't wait for a response. I went straight to my room and pulled my suitcases out from under the bed. I shoved everything I owned into them—my clothes, my books, the photo of my parents. I left the stuff Luca had bought me over the years on the desk. The stuffed bear. The expensive necklace. I didn't want any of it anymore. I stood in the hallway with my bags, feeling Serena's smug gaze on my back. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number Julian had written down. "I'm ready," I said as soon as he picked up. "Does the offer still stand? Because I'm standing in the hallway with two suitcases and no plan B," I told him. There was a brief silence on the other end. "Hold on. Don't move," Julian said. He hung up, and I stood there in the silence of the dorm that used to be my home. Luca came out of his room, adjusting his tuxedo jacket, and stopped dead when he saw my bags. "What are you doing? Where are you going at this hour?" he asked. "Away from here," I said. "Aria, don't be dramatic. We can talk about this after the gala," he said, reaching for my arm. Dramatic. Right. Of course he'd call it that. Just then, a loud, heavy horn honked from the street below. I looked out the window and saw Julian's car idling at the curb, dark and imposing. "That's my ride," I said, pulling my arm away from him. "Is that Vance’s car? Aria, what the hell is going on? Did you really take his offer?" Luca shouted. I didn't give him an explanation. I didn't owe him a single word. I grabbed my suitcases and walked out the door, leaving him standing there in his expensive suit looking completely lost. I made it down to the curb just as Julian stepped out of the car. He didn't say anything as he took my bags and tossed them into the trunk. He opened the passenger door for me, his eyes searching mine for a second. "Are you sure about this?" he asked. "Drive," I said. He nodded, climbed in beside me, and just like that, we drove off. I resisted every urge to look back at the boy I'd spent half of my life yearning for. .............................................................................. Julian’s pov. I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were turning white, but I kept my face like stone. Inside, I was screaming. I was actually, physically vibrating with the kind of high I haven't felt since I was what, ten years old? She was in my car. Aria Vale was sitting in my passenger seat, her scent of old coffee beans and rain filling up my space. I had waited three years for this exact moment. Most people think I transferred to Westbridge for the hockey program or the business prestige. And it made sense considering those were the excuses I gave my parents to let me come here. But still, that was far fetched, really. The only reason I transferred was because I saw a post on her Instagram three years ago about her getting a scholarship here. I spent my entire freshman year at a different school just watching her from a screen, waiting for the right time to move. I knew Luca was an idiot. I knew he would eventually choose someone shiny and loud like Serena because he has zero taste and even less heart. I was actually on her school profile when it happened. I had been scrolling through her old photos, just like I did every morning, when the notification popped up at the top of my screen. It was a public post on the housing board. "Major accommodation issues. If you have a room I can rent, DM me. Urgent." My heart nearly stopped. I didn't even think. I didn't breathe. I just typed out the reply as fast as my fingers could move. I knew it was public. I knew the whole school would see it. I wanted them to see it. I wanted every single person on this campus to know that if Aria Vale needed a place to go, she was coming to me. I came to this school and I played the role of the quiet, disciplined hockey captain. I walked past her lecture halls every single day, just hoping to catch a glimpse of the back of her head. I knew her schedule better than she did. I knew what time she started her shifts at that shitty coffee shop. I even knew which library table was her favorite because I’d sit three rows back just to watch her study. Some would call it stalking, and yes, I'm not going to bother lying about it. But I was also protecting her. I’d seen the way people looked at her because she was a scholarship girl. I made sure those people knew that if they messed with her, they’d be dealing with Vance. But all that didn't matter anymore because now, all of my hard work had finally paid off. Even though I pretended not to know she was the one I was meeting at the cafeteria... she was here. She was finally here. I pulled into my garage and took a breath, trying to calm my racing heart before I looked at her. "We're here," I said. My voice sounded normal, which was a miracle considering I felt like I was losing my mind. She didn't say anything. She just got out and stood there with her two suitcases. I took them from her, wanting to burn them because they reminded me of the life she lived with that loser. We got up to the apartment and the elevator doors slid open. I gave her the tour, pointing out the kitchen and the living room and the balcony. I watched her face the whole time. It remained icily blank. Totally unfazed by the marble floors or the view that costs more than most people make in a lifetime. I’ve always loved that about her. She doesn't really care about things that aren't hers. She’s hardworking, beautiful, even though she isn’t financially buoyant. She’s herself and doesn’t try to impress anyone or keep up with the campus hot girls, as they call themselves. She has this pride that is so thick you could choke on it. It makes me want to break and bend her so badly, until she only relies on me. "This is your suite," I said, opening the door to the guest wing. She walked in and looked around, her expression still not changing. "Thank you, Julian," she said. Her voice was small, but it was steady. "I mean it. I appreciate you helping me out of that situation," she added. "It’s fine, Aria. I told you I had the space," I said. I was standing too close to her, and I could see the way her eyelashes were still damp from the rain. "I just want to be clear about something," she said, turning to face me. "There is nothing more to this situation. You're helping me, and I'm grateful," she said. She was drawing a line in the tiles, and I wanted to laugh. "I’m going to start paying you rent as soon as I can pick up extra shifts," she continued. "You don't need to worry about money here," I told her. "I do. Because I don't take charity," she snapped. She stepped back into her room and grabbed the handle of the door. "Goodnight, Julian," she said. Then she slammed the door right in my face. I stood there in the hallway for a long time, staring at the dark wood of the door. I bit back a smile until my cheeks actually hurt. I couldn't remember the last time I had been this happy. She could feel like she was doing the right thing by setting boundaries all she wanted. But she was already in my house. She was under my roof, eating my food, and sleeping in a bed I bought. She was mine now, even if she didn't know it yet. My phone started buzzing in my pocket, ruining the moment. I pulled it out and saw my mother’s name on the screen. I sighed and swiped to answer. "Julian. Why am I hearing that you have a guest?" she asked. She didn't even say hello. My mother has people tailing me, and she’s never been subtle about it. "I have a roommate, Mother. It’s a big apartment and I was getting tired of being lonely," I said. I walked over to the window and looked out at the city lights. "Don't lie to me. I know who she is. She’s that girl. Moretti's friend. Come on, son. She's pathetic," my mother said. "Her name is Aria," I corrected her, my voice turning cold. "I don't care what her name is. She is a distraction. You have a reputation to maintain, and the Morettis would love to use this against us," she hissed. "Make sure she does not distract you from your goals, Julian. Or I will make sure she is removed from the equation," she warned. The threat made my blood turn to ice. "If you touch her, I will burn everything you’ve worked for to the ground. I swear it," I said. I didn't wait for her to respond before I hung up. I threw my phone onto the sofa and rubbed my face with my hands. The Vance family was a shark tank, and I had just brought a lamb into the middle of it. But I didn't care. I walked back toward my own bedroom, pausing outside her door one last time. I could hear the faint sound of her moving around inside. She was safe here. I had spent years watching her be treated like an afterthought by a guy who didn't deserve to breathe her air. Now, I was the one who got to see her wake up in the morning. I was the one who got to see her without the mask she wore for the rest of the world. I didn't have any plans on letting her go. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. Not ever. I went into my room and lay down, staring at the ceiling and listening to the silence of the apartment. It didn't feel empty anymore. It felt full. I thought about the look on Luca’s face when I picked her up. He looked like he had just realized he lost his most valuable possession. He was right. He had lost her, and he was never getting her back. I’d make sure of that. I’d make sure she forgot his name within a month. I couldn't wait for tomorrow morning. I couldn't wait to see her sitting at my table. I was going to make her her favorite tea. I was going to make her the eggs she liked. I was going to show her what it felt like to actually be seen. I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face for the first time in years. Everything was finally going according to plan. .............................................................................. Aria’s pov. I didn't sleep well. Even though the bed in Julian’s guest suite felt like sleeping on a literal cloud, I spent most of the night staring at the ceiling. The room was too quiet and the air felt too.... I don't know, expensive? I kept waiting for someone to knock on the door and tell me this was all a prank. When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I felt like a zombie in a scholarship girl’s body. I brushed my hair and tried to look like I hadn't spent the night questioning every single life choice I’d made in the last decade. I walked into the kitchen and there he was. Julian was already dressed in a crisp black hoodie and joggers, looking like a professional athlete even before his morning coffee. He pushed a mug of Earl Grey toward me without saying a word. Two drops of honey. Exactly what I needed at that moment. I took a sip and felt the warmth hit my stomach, but it didn't stop the fluttering of nerves. "I have a ten a.m. lecture," I said, breaking the silence. "I know. I'm driving you," he said. He didn't even look up from his tablet. "Julian, you don't have to do this. I can take the bus. I don't want to make things weird," I told him. He finally looked at me, and his gray-blue eyes felt like they were pinning me to the chair. "The bus takes forty minutes. My car takes ten. You need the extra thirty minutes to study," he said pointedly. He wasn't suggesting it. He was stating it like it was a law of physics. Translation, I didn't have a say really. "Are you always this bossy?" I muttered into my tea. "Only when I'm right," he answered. I wanted to argue, but I was too tired to fight with a guy who was giving me a free place to stay. I grabbed my bag and followed him down to the garage. The car ride was silent, but it wasn't a peaceful silence. It was tense. I kept looking at his hands on the steering wheel, wondering why the hockey captain was being so careful with me. When we pulled onto the Westbridge campus, I felt the immediate urge to duck. Julian’s car was a dark, sleek shark in a sea of basic student vehicles. He didn't pull into the parking lot. He drove right up to the front of the main quad. The quad was packed with students grabbing breakfast between classes. "You're making a scene," I whispered, clutching my bag. "Let them look," Julian said. He actually got out of the car and walked around to open my door. I felt like I was walking onto a movie set where I didn't know the lines. "I'll be here at four. Don't be late," he said, his voice carrying just enough for the nearest group of girls to hear. I nodded, confused, and practically ran toward the library entrance. I could hear the whispers starting behind me like a wave. "Is that Aria Vale?" "Since when does Vance let people in his car?" I kept my head down, staring at the pavement until I saw a pair of familiar sneakers. I looked up and my heart stopped. It was Luca. He was standing near the fountain, looking like he hadn't slept either. His tuxedo from last night was gone, replaced by a rumpled hoodie, and his hair was a mess. "Aria," he said, stepping into my path. I tried to walk around him, but he moved to block me. "We need to talk," he said. "I have class, Luca. And I think we said everything last night," I told him. I felt incredibly uncomfortable. People were stopping to watch us. "What were you doing in Julian Vance's car?" he asked. His voice was loud, full of that jealous edge that didn't make sense since he had Serena. "He's my roommate. I told you I was moving," I said. “And I owe you no explanation for what I choose to do with my life.” "Roommate? Aria, are you insane? Do you even know who that guy is?" he shouted. He reached out to grab my wrist, but I stepped back before he could touch me. "I know he's the guy who didn't spend the morning making me listen to him have sex with my roommate," I snapped. A few people nearby gasped, and I saw Luca’s face go pale. "Ri, it’s not like that. I was just... I was distracted," he stammered. "First off, don't call me that. It's Aria to you. And second, you’ve been distracted for ten years, Luca. I'm done waiting for you to look at me," I said. The discomfort was like one helluva huge physical weight now, making me want to crawl into a hole. But I wasn't going to back down from this easily. He needed to know what's on my mind. He needed to know that he up real bad. "Does he know?" Luca asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Does he know what?" "Does he know you've been in love with me since we were kids? Or are you just using him to make me jealous?" he sneered. I felt a slap of pure humiliation hit me. Of course he knew. He had always known how I felt, and he’d just let me sit there in the shadows like I was a bloody waiter while he dated everyone else. "He knows I'm a roommate who pays her rent," I lied, my voice cold. "And even if I was using him, at least he's worth the effort. Unlike you," I added. Luca looked like I’d actually punched him in the gut. He opened his mouth to say something else, but then he looked over my shoulder and froze. I turned around and saw Julian’s car hadn't moved. Julian was leaning against the driver's side door, his arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't doing anything. He was just watching. But the way he was looking at Luca was so intense, so dark, that it felt like the temperature in the quad dropped ten degrees. "Leave her the hell alone, Luca," Julian said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the noise of the quad perfectly. I didn’t know what this was all about between them, but I wouldn’t be the reason they caused a scene here. I looked back at Luca one last time. He looked small. He looked like a boy trying to play a man’s game. "Stay away from me, Luca. I'm being serious as this time," I said. I walked away, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst through my ribs. "!" I heard Luca cuss behind me. For a minute, it actually sounded like he felt mad at himself for letting me go. But then again, you can't wipe a leopard's skin spotless. He was never going to change and that was the truth. .............................................................................. ARIA’S POV Avoidance should be an Olympic sport. If it were, I’d have gold by noon. I left my last lecture five minutes early, slipped out through the side stairwell instead of the main hall, and took the long route behind the science building just to avoid the quad. Every corner I turned felt like a potential ambush. Whispers followed me anyway. They didn’t need to see me to talk about me. I kept walking. Head down. AirPods in. Music off. The parking lot came into view, and I exhaled slowly. If I could just make it to the curb where Julian said he’d pick me up, I could survive the day. Then I heard my name. “Aria!” Of course. I didn’t turn around. “Aria, please.” The word please made me pause despite myself. Stupid heart. Stupid history. I turned slowly. Luca looked wrecked. Not the artfully messy, campus golden boy version of wrecked. Actually wrecked. Dark circles under his eyes. Jaw tight. Shoulders slumped like something inside him had finally cracked. He walked toward me carefully, like I was a wild animal he didn’t want to spook. “Can we just talk? Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.” “You’ve had ten years,” I replied evenly. He flinched. “I know. I know I screwed up. I was selfish. I thought—you were always there, Aria. You were solid. I didn’t think I had to fight for you.” “That’s the problem,” I said quietly. “You never did.” He ran a hand through his hair, pacing once before stopping in front of me. “Last night was a mistake.” I stared at him. “You didn’t seem confused,” I said. His jaw flexed. “Serena doesn’t mean anything.” The irony almost made me laugh. “But I do?” I asked. “Yes!” he burst out. “You always have.” I felt something inside me tremble and then harden. “Then why did I have to listen to you with her?” I asked. “Why did I have to sit there and pretend I wasn’t dying inside?” He swallowed hard. “I was distracted,” he repeated, desperate now. “The pressure, the team, my dad breathing down my neck about law school. I was just… not thinking straight.” “Ten years, Luca,” I said softly. “You’ve been ‘not thinking straight’ for ten years.” His expression shifted then. Less pleading. More calculating. “And now what?” he said. “You’re thinking straight? By moving in with Julian Vance?” There it was. He stepped closer. “Do you even know who that guy is? You think he’s helping you out of the goodness of his heart? Aria, Julian doesn’t do charity. He doesn’t breathe without a reason.” My stomach twisted. “He’s manipulative,” Luca continued. “Everything he does is strategic. You’re a move to him. A statement. He probably gets off on messing with me.” “That’s rich,” I muttered. “I’m serious,” he pressed. “He doesn’t care about you. He cares about control. You think it’s a coincidence he made a whole scene this morning? He wanted people to see.” My chest tightened. Because part of me knew that was true. Julian had wanted them to see. “But at least he didn’t humiliate me,” I shot back. Luca’s eyes darkened. “You’re making a mistake,” he said quietly. “He’s not safe.” “And you are?” I asked. Silence. Then, a low, familiar engine cut through the tension. Every nerve in my body snapped to attention. Julian’s car turned into the parking lot. Of course he was right on time. Like always. Students immediately slowed their steps. Heads turned. Phones subtly lifted. A small crowd was already forming near the edge of the lot. And Serena was there. Standing near the entrance with two of her sorority friends, arms crossed, expression thunderous. This was becoming a show. Luca noticed the car too. His posture stiffened. “See?” he muttered. “Right on cue.” The car rolled closer. Closer. I could feel it, the narrative forming in real time. Scholarship girl caught between two campus elites. Poor Aria. Indecisive Aria. Desperate Aria. No. Not today. I was done being the girl people felt sorry for. I stepped forward. “Aria, don’t,” Luca warned, reaching for my arm. But this time, I didn’t step back. I walked straight toward the car. Julian slowed, confusion flickering across his face for half a second before the mask slipped back into place. He stopped directly in front of me. The window rolled down. “You’re early,” he said calmly. Behind me, I heard Luca move. “Aria, this is stupid…” His fingers brushed my wrist. That was it. Something inside me snapped. I opened the passenger door. And instead of sliding in, I leaned across the console, grabbed Julian by the collar of his hoodie and kissed him. Gasps exploded around us. For half a second, Julian froze. Just long enough for me to register the shock in his body. Then, he moved. His hand came up, sliding into my hair, gripping, not painfully, but firmly. Possessively. He kissed me back. Not soft. Not hesitant. Deep. Demanding. Like he’d been waiting. The world tilted. My lungs forgot how to function. This was supposed to be strategic. A statement. A weapon. But Julian didn’t kiss like a man playing a game. He kissed like a man claiming something he already believed was his. His other hand slid to my waist, pulling me fully into the car, chest to chest across the center console. My knees hit the seat. My fingers tightened in his hoodie. Heat flooded through me so fast it made my head spin. The parking lot disappeared. The crowd disappeared. There was only the pressure of his mouth, the controlled hunger in the way he angled his head, the quiet, dangerous intensity vibrating beneath his restraint. I made a small, involuntary sound against his lips. That seemed to snap him back. He pulled away slowly. Too slowly. His gray-blue eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them. Not confused. Not amused. Possessive. His thumb brushed once against my jaw before he released me. The silence in the parking lot was deafening. Julian looked past me. Straight at Luca. His expression shifted into something lethal. He stepped out of the car, closing the distance with unhurried confidence. Luca stood his ground, but I saw it, the hesitation. Julian stopped just close enough to make the message clear. “The lady said to leave her alone,” he said evenly. Each word landed like a controlled detonation. “Leave. Her. Alone.” A beat. “Don’t make me force you to.” No shouting. No theatrics. Just certainty. Luca’s fists clenched. But he didn’t move. Julian held his gaze a second longer, then turned away like Luca wasn’t worth another second of oxygen. He walked back to the driver’s seat. Got in. And without another word, he drove off. Fast. The campus blurred past the windows. My heart was still racing. My lips were still tingling. My brain was still trying to process what had just happened. I had kissed him to get back at Luca. That was the plan. But the way Julian had kissed me back? That hadn’t been part of it. Silence filled the car. Thick. Charged. After a full minute, he spoke. “Was that tactical,” he asked calmly, eyes on the road, “or should I start worrying about my self-control?” I swallowed. “I needed him to stop,” I said. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “He’ll stop,” Julian replied quietly. There was something in his tone that made my stomach flip again. Not relief. Not satisfaction. Promise. I turned to look at him. “Julian…” He glanced at me briefly. And for the first time since I’d met him, the mask was gone. What was underneath wasn’t indifference. It wasn't a strategy. It was something far more dangerous. “I don’t do things halfway, Aria,” he said softly. My pulse stuttered. And for the first time since I’d moved into his guest suite, I realized I might have just started something I wasn’t prepared to finish.

My fated mate rejected me at 4 AM in my own kitchen. Best thing that ever happened to me. Because here's what that @sshole didn't know when he called me tr@sh: I'm a gold wolf. The rarest, most powerful wolf alive. And my second chance mate? The Alpha King himself. So to everyone who shoved me in hallways, who laughed, who thought I was nothing— Buckle up. You're about to see what happens when your "weak little nerd" becomes your Queen. "Alaric! Brielle! Caelan! Get down here and eat your breakfast right now!" Mom—Elowyn Emberfang, our pack's Luna—her voice boomed up from downstairs. Oh yeah, forgot to mention—we're triplets. Tomorrow's our eighteenth birthday. Which means two things: we'll find our mates, and at exactly 11:59 PM—the moment we were born—we'll shift for the first time. Most wolves shift between sixteen and eighteen, but we're late bloomers. "The ABC Crew! Last call or you're gonna be late!" That's what Dad calls us when we're dragging our feet—Alaric, Brielle, Caelan. A-B-C. Real creative, Dad. I dragged myself out of bed, rubbed my eyes, and while I brushed my teeth, let me give you the rundown on the three of us. Alaric's the oldest—beat me out by four minutes. He got Dad's build—broad shoulders, all muscle, the kind of guy people just move out of the way for. Skin's that warm bronze from Mom's side, eyes this intense amber that can pin you in place. He keeps his locs tied back, always neat. Girls at the academy throw themselves at him, but Alaric shuts it down every time. Future Alpha of the Emberfang Pack can't just give his heart away to anyone. Still my best friend, though. Not that I'd admit it out loud. I'm number two. Got Dad's coloring—copper skin, eyes like autumn leaves. The Moon Goddess told my parents before we were born that my wolf would be... different. But they never told anyone. Fine by me. I learned early how to make myself invisible. Oversized hoodies even in summer, glasses I don't actually need, hair pulled up and stuffed under my hood. Let them say whatever. Being the weird one beats being stared at. And it's not just about hiding my body—it's about what happens when I shift. What my wolf looks like. That's the real secret. Then there's Brielle. My sister—if you wanna call her that—is gorgeous, I'll give her that. Honey-toned skin, deep brown eyes, hair down to her waist that she spends an hour straightening every morning. But she's also the entire reason I learned to keep my head down. Because Brielle's already claimed the future Alpha from the neighboring pack as hers. The Nightveil Pack's school bvrned down last semester, so now they're sharing space with us at the Emberfang Academy. Which means we see him every single day. Thaddeus Nightveil. I try not to think about him. We finally made it downstairs. Alaric was already good to go—dark jeans, a henley that didn't hide the muscle underneath, boots that cost more than most wolves save up for in months. I looked the same as always: oversized hoodie, baggy joggers, my most beat-up sneakers. Brielle, as usual, was dressed like she had a red carpet appearance—that top was so small you had to squint to call it a shirt, the skirt was basically a wide belt, and she had on four-inch heels. Dad was already by the door, keys in one hand, coffee in the other. "Let's move. Alaric already left." "I am NOT riding with her!" Brielle said, looking at me like I was tr@sh on the sidewalk. Dad didn't even glance up. "You're riding with her. You totaled three cars, Brielle. Deal with it for ten minutes." She whipped around to face me, eyes blazing. "Stay away from me at school! Don't talk to me, don't look at me. Don't even breathe in my direction!" I didn't answer. She's been saying the same stuff to me since we could walk. I slid into the driver's seat of the black Challenger—Dad gave it to me after my last growth spurt, and it's the only thing that makes me feel like I have any power at all—the engine rumbled under my palm. Brielle slammed the passenger door and immediately pulled out her phone, pressing herself against the door like she could teleport away from me if she tried hard enough. Long day ahead. But at least it's Friday. Thank Goddess for that. We got to school. Caelan didn't shut up the entire ride. I pulled the black Challenger into the Alpha kids' reserved spot. Next to me was Alaric's black Charger—he was already here. One spot over sat a deep blue Corvette. Caelan started screaming the second she saw it, so I didn't need to guess whose it was. Thaddeus Nightveil. Future Alpha of the Nightveil Pack. I try to avoid him. No special reason—the guy just hates me for no reason at all. He's the worst bully in this entire school. Bar none. His twin sister Wren's birthday is also tomorrow. My dad and his dad figured they'd just combine the parties—mostly because Caelan's convinced he's her fated mate. Even though Thaddeus treats me like garbage, I have to admit... he's hot. About six-three, same height as Alaric. Blue eyes—yeah, this dark-skinned @sshole has blue eyes that could svck you in if you stared too long. His short hair's always styled in perfect waves, and those tight T-shirts he wears show off abs that are way too defined. Wait. Stop. Brielle, what are you doing. I hate him. He hates me. We're even. I barely made it to my locker before the insults started flying. "Hey fatty, nerd, loser, ug1y, four-eyes—" That's just some of it. They only do this when Alaric's not around. Caelan, her crew, and Thaddeus—those three lead the pack. I don't say anything. They always say "snitches get stitches." Honestly, I'm not scared of them. Dad told me I could take down anyone, even an Alpha. When we spar, I can make him tap out. Thaddeus hates me, but his sister Wren is my best friend. Wren's always trying to get me to dress more girly, wants me to ditch these big-@ss glasses. We're wolves—she knows I don't actually need them. She walked over, threw her arm around my shoulder. "Brielle, you just gonna let them tr@sh-talk you like that? You know you could beat the sh!t out of them. Why put up with it?" I didn't answer. Just grabbed my books from my locker and sighed. "Let's get to class." Wren and I have every class together. She didn't push it, just tightened her arm around my shoulder a little. We walked to class together. Behind us, I could hear Caelan laughing. I pretended I didn't. --- Wren and I walked into the cafeteria. "Wren, why are you hanging out with that loser?" "Hey fatty, you should skip lunch." "Wren, come sit with us and leave that waste of space alone." Everyone was pointing at me, laughing. My eyes bvrned, but I wouldn't let the tears fall—no way I'd give them that satisfaction. Suddenly I wasn't hungry anymore. I turned to run and slammed into something, hitting the floor hard. "Watch where you're fvcking going, ug1y!" Thaddeus yelled, kicking me in the side. "I feel sorry for your future mate. He's gonna take one look at your face and reject you. Who'd want a weak, pathetic, fat four-eyes as a mate? I bet you'll die alone. Look at what you're wearing. Who'd want to be seen with someone like you?" He kept going. Finally kicked me in the face and walked off. I knew it was gonna swell up. I stayed on the floor, didn't move. Just wondering how people could be this cruel. Alaric walked in and saw me lying in the hallway crying. He immediately sat down next to me, pulled me into his arms, voice almost a roar. "Who did this? Brielle, who did this?" Viggo and Cade came over too. Both just as pissed—they've always treated me like a little sister. I didn't answer. Just cried against Alaric. "Brielle, you tell me right fvcking now! Who did this?" Dad was at school, in a meeting with the principal. Something about rogues showing up at the edge of the woods near campus. I didn't want him to see me like this. Someone would end up dead. I hate Thaddeus, but I don't want him to die today. Whether it's Dad or Alaric who does it, he's a dead man. My dad's the kind of Alpha you don't mess with. Piss him off and he'll snap your neck. He never jokes around, especially when it comes to his daughters. Yeah, I'm a daddy's girl. You probably figured that out already. Mom texted saying I could come home. Thank Goddess, I need to get out of this he11hole. Maybe she can get me out of tomorrow's party too. Alpha Alton, Luna Amira, Thaddeus, Wren, and his future Beta Cole and Gamma Lane are all staying on our territory to help set up for the party. Fvck. Why couldn't they just throw the party at their own pack? Caelan's POV I was sitting on Thaddeus's lap, tongue down his throat, when I caught Brielle and his sister walking into the cafeteria out of the corner of my eye. I immediately started tr@shing her. That's how you get the popular kids to accept you. Everyone was laughing. I know she's my sister, I should feel guilty, but I don't. She deserves it. Dad thinks she's so special, treats her like a princess. Yeah, she gets straight A's, does everything Dad tells her to. I know I've screwed up a lot, but fvck, I'm his daughter too. Brielle and Alaric both got new cars for their birthdays, and I'm stuck riding with that b!tch just because I totaled my last three cars. We have money. Dad could easily buy me another one, but he won't. Says I can work a few hours at his company every day like Alaric and Brielle do, save up and buy my own. Fvck that. Why should I have to do that? I'm gonna be Luna of the Nightveil Pack someday. They've got just as much money as we do. We'd just finished humiliating her when she ran out of the cafeteria. She won't tell anyone. I told her if she does, I'll make her life he11. I'll make her pathetic existence even worse than it already is. I can't wait to shift tonight. Legend says one of us three is a gold wolf, with special abilities from the Moon Goddess. I know it's gonna be me. That way my mate and I will be the strongest pair. We'll be a power couple. Brielle's weak and pathetic, so it definitely won't be her. Alaric's too soft, always running after Brielle to check if she's okay. Though maybe that compassion is what'll make him a good Alpha. He's a good brother. But I'm kinda jealous of how close he and Mom and Dad are with Brielle. Just wait. Wait till they find out I'm the gold wolf at the party. --- Luna Elowyn's POV I can't believe the triplets turn eighteen tomorrow. I remember when my mate and his father—he was still Alpha back then—came to my old pack, Ravencrest, to sign a treaty. I was nineteen, daughter of the Beta. Corvin Emberfang was twenty-one. The second our eyes met, we knew we were fated mates. I remember thinking, this gorgeous brown-skinned man is mine. That night after everyone went to sleep, he snuck into my room. We went at it all night. Then the next morning, he rejected me. Said a Beta's daughter wasn't good enough to be his future Luna. "I, Corvin Emberfang, future Alpha of the Emberfang Pack, reject you, Elowyn Ravencrest, as my fated mate and future Luna." I accepted his rejection. What neither of us knew at the time—he wasn't just leaving me. He was leaving three little surprises behind. I was halfway through my pregnancy with the triplets when the Emberfang Pack held a ceremony celebrating Corvin becoming the new Alpha. Beta families had to attend. My parents knew my situation, but I begged them to let me handle it myself, or I'd run away. They were always supportive. I was packing my stuff in the guest room at the Emberfang Pack when Corvin burst in and grabbed my arm, hard enough to scare me. "You let another man touch what's mine?" I yanked my arm away. "I don't belong to you. You gave up that right." His voice got deeper, his eyes darker. I knew his wolf had taken over. "Whose kids are those, Elowyn?" I wasn't scared of him. I was just as pissed as he was. I met his gaze head-on. "The only man I've ever s1ept with—if I'm still willing to call you that—is you. You're the sperm donor for my three kids. You don't get to go near them. You rejected me, which means you rejected them." That day, he completely broke. A single tear slid down his face. Then he jumped out the window, shifted mid-air into that beautiful black wolf of his, and took off into the woods. Thinking back on all this now, I'm busy getting ready to welcome my old pack for the party. I definitely didn't make it easy for him to win me back. I finally forgave him before the kids were born, and we got married. Not necessary for us wolves, but he wanted the pack to know I was his fated mate, and humans to know I was his wife. Eighteen years ago, I officially became Luna of the Emberfang Pack. I love that Alpha to death! Brielle's POV Party day. Four in the morning, wide awake. Eighteen. Can't believe it. Even though I won't shift till 11:59 tonight, I'll be able to sense my fated mate before then. Maybe it'll be someone from Mom's old pack, someone who can get me out of here. I've already got enough credits to graduate early. I'll miss Mom, Dad, Alaric, and Wren, but the rest of those @ssholes? Not one bit. Can't sleep anyway, might as well go downstairs and grab something to eat. Suddenly craving Oreos dunked in milk. Threw on my oversized hoodie and matching baggy pants, ran downstairs. The second my feet hit the first-floor landing, a scent hit me. Best thing I've ever smelled in my life. Musk mixed with my favorite cologne. I know this scent—Alaric wears it too, but this definitely isn't him. I stood there, pinned in place by that scent. Who? I think I'm already in love with him. Then a hand slapped across my face, snapping me out of it. Then fingers wrapped around my throat. Sparks. Those sparks I've been dreaming about, bvrning from his fingertips into my skin. Then I heard the words. Don't know why, but I always knew these words would come someday. "It's you! You're fvcking tr@sh to me. How could the Moon Goddess make this kind of mistake, pairing me with a disgrace like you. You're weak! Ug1y! Fat! No class at all! Just a nerd!" "I'd rather die than be seen with a pathetic b!tch like you! I, Thaddeus Nightveil, future Alpha of the Nightveil Pack, reject you, Brielle Emberfang, as my fated mate and future Luna." Fine. Fated mates are supposed to be loyal, kind. What about those love-at-first-sight stories? I remember Mom telling us the story of how Dad rejected her then won her back. She forgave him, and he's treated her like a queen ever since. But I won't forgive this @sshole. And I won't chase him back—though a heartless piece of sh!t like him probably won't come begging anyway. He already fvcked Caelan, I don't want him. Disgusting. Strange thing is, the rejection didn't hurt like they say it does. Didn't hurt at all. Just pure rage. I yanked his hand off my throat and looked him straight in the eye. "You think I want you? The guy who screwed my b!tch of a sister? The guy who's treated me like sh!t from day one? I, Brielle Emberfang, accept your rejection!" That shocked look on his face. Beautiful. I turned and went back upstairs. Completely forgot about getting snacks. --- Alpha Corvin's POV Sitting in the conference room, still doesn't feel real. My three kids turn eighteen today. Eighteen years ago, I almost lost my beautiful Elowyn. The moment she accepted me again as her fated mate, I became the happiest man alive. Those sparks when we touch still send shivers down my spine. Just thinking about it is making a certain part of me react. Should I go back and get in bed with my sєxy Luna again? Someone's walking toward the office. Getting closer, I recognize Brielle's scent. My girl. I can feel her emotions too. Before she even knocked, I told her to come in. "What's up, princess?" She sighed. "Dad, that offer you made—about me going to the Alpha King's territory to train his female warriors. I accept. They all know I'm the strongest she-wolf alive anyway." "What made you change your mind?" She gave a small smile. "Don't get mad. Thaddeus rejected me. I just don't want to see him at school anymore." I was pissed, but I didn't let her see it. I told her they'd be thrilled she changed her mind. I'd arrange for her to get her diploma early, she could leave Monday morning. I told her to go get ready for tonight's party. She doesn't know the real reason I want her to go. But she'll find out soon enough. That punk rejected her? I'm actually glad. It's all part of the Moon Goddess's plan. Oh yeah, I left a surprise in her room. Tonight my daughter's gonna make everyone's jaws drop and eyes pop out. Her beauty's gonna shine like moonstone tonight.