as sharp en

ils that spoke of privilege and power. She didn't take it, not at first. Something about the curve of his lips-pra

her, yes, but underneath lurked something wilder, more dangerous. Not the cle

ted his head, that razor-sharp grin widening to reveal teeth that seemed just a little too w

er spine. As if other places weren't so safe. As

ogether. "I don'

sound seemed to caress her skin in a way that made her wol

d started down the hall. Gideon fell into step beside her with fluid grace, his hand sliding casually into his pocket as if it had alw

verwhelming force, Gideon's was silk wrapped around a blade. Dangerous because it didn't demand atte

ng in his uniform, marking him as from one of the older, more established packs. Not qui

spicuous lack of pack insignia, the way she held herself like someon

ngs and pulled. But she forced her voice to remain steady, emoti

aling the hint of canines that were just a frac

hispered conversations of other students they passed. She caught fragments-her name, spec

wolf's agitation bleeding through to make he

e interest that somehow made her more nervous

at the same time. The banter felt light and teasing on the surface, chipping away at the thick walls she'd built around herself since yesterday's humiliation

tly why she di

est, its voice a low growl in her mind:

ry instinct telling her to stay silent. "You'v

shoulders, the predatory grace that marked him as more dangerous than his easy smile suggested. "I say what everyone

her students tracked their movement down the hall like they were watching a particularly engaging piece of theater. It shouldn't be this easy to talk with him, not w

. Ancient oak trees provided shade for study groups and informal pack meetings, their leaves rustling with the whispered secrets of generations. The late aftern

gether. Conversations paused mid-sentence, heads bent together as whis

ously walkin

he Alpha heir, now c

Doesn't she have

g to make Darius j

ust that desperat

d up her neck in a wave of humiliation that made her wolf whine with distress, and she straightened her spine wit

welcome shiver down her spine. His voice dropped to an intimate murmur pitched ju

, almost made her believe that she was the one with power in this situation rathe

mo

s when she felt it-another presence cutting through the afternoon warmth like a blade of winte

scanning the quad w

motionless as a statue carved from granite. He wasn't sparring now, wasn't moving at all-just standing with his arms folded across his chest, his shadow long and ominous

r focus, as if everything else in

kes. The whispers grew louder, sharper, feeding on the drama unfolding before them like carrion birds sen

after years of navigating pack politics and power plays. He chuckled under his breat

roud Alpha

n't speak, didn't give any outward sign of emotion beyond the rigid tension in his shoulders and the way his hands curled into

pletely and instinct that still recognized him as mate despite his cruel rejection. The bond might be wounded

ntil his shoulder brushed hers in a touch that appeared casual but was clearly calculated for maximum impact. The contact se

ainst her ribs as she re

mate, walking beside the Alpha heir's known rival, under Darius's burning gaze while tension thick enough to cut with a blade filled the space betw

tening to consume what little reputation she had left. But before she could step aside, he angled toward her ag

him w

etween shock and a dangerous thrill that s

sture that would look intimate from any distance, his smirk sharpen

ecting you. I'll