Chapter 5 Dear Moon Goddess

Aria pov

Immediately my Mom left, my stomach growled. Loudly.

Right. Food first, then my room.

I awkwardly grabbed a tray and joined the food line, hoping no one would notice me. I had just reached for a bread roll when a voice behind me drawled,

“Did you get lost, pup?”

I turned slowly, already regretting my life choices.

A guy with shaggy blond hair and a cocky smirk leaned lazily against the counter. His muscles were borderline ridiculous, like someone had pumped him full of steroids before birth. He was flanked by two other wolves who looked equally amused.

I forced a casual smile. “Nope. Just admiring the food selection.”

Blondie raised an eyebrow. “Right. Because nothing says ‘future Alpha’ like staring at a bread roll for five minutes.”

His friends chuckled.

I resisted the urge to throw the roll at his face. “I like to appreciate the finer things in life.”

Blondie smirked. “Well, don’t take too long, pup. Wouldn’t want the big bad wolves to eat you alive.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back to my food, grabbing whatever I could before making a quick escape to an empty corner of the room.

Great. Less than a day in, and I’d already been labeled fresh meat.

At least the food was good.

***

I was going to the ordinal to get my room number that I will be assigned to, when the trainer called me and told me that I was going to be training under the infamous Caspian Stormbane, I had already prepared for suffering. 

But right now in the ordinal’s office, he's telling me that I will be rooming with him? That was just cruel wickedness.

I mean, was this some kind of punishment from the moon goddess? Did I unknowingly offend some ancient wolf spirits?

Because there was no other explanation for why my life was turning into a disaster movie.

But I had no choice, so I went to the room, hoping and praying that there had been some kind of mistake. Maybe they mixed up my papers. Maybe I actually got assigned to some weak, nerdy werewolf who spent all his time reading battle strategies instead of crushing skulls.

But the moment I stepped inside my room, I knew there was no mistake anywhere because right now Caspian is sitting on my bed. Well, not really mine but it was about to be mine, and that’s what mattered.

He hadn’t even looked up when I walked in, too busy untying the bandages on his knuckles. His long black hair fell over his face in messy waves, and his shoulders… Okay, wow. The guy had shoulders. Broad, strong, the kind that probably made warriors cry in fear.

He was in a simple black shirt and sweatpants, but somehow, he still looked like he belonged on the cover of a Dangerous and Brooding Alphas magazine.

I cleared my throat. “Uh… I think there’s been a mistake.”

Caspian slowly lifted his head, hid eyes locking onto mine.

I forgot how to breathe.

Not because he was hot (which he absolutely was, but that wasn’t the point), but because his gaze was intense. Like he could see right through me, peel back every layer of my carefully crafted disguise.

A slow smirk curved his lips. “Mistake?”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah. I… I think they put me in the wrong room. I’m supposed to have my own.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you now?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

I blinked. “No?”

“No,” he repeated, his voice smooth but firm. “This is the right room. You’re my new trainee. And my new roommate.”

I stared at him. “But that’s… that’s ridiculous! I..”

“Unless you want to sleep outside?” he cut in, leaning back against the headboard like he had all the time in the world.

My mouth opened. Then closed. Then it opened again.

I hated him already.

After a very painful internal debate (which mostly involved me considering if I could actually survive sleeping outside with all the creepy night creatures), I reluctantly accepted my fate.

Fine. I would share a room.

But that didn’t mean I had to like it.

I dragged my stuff to the opposite side of the room, making sure to put as much distance between us as possible. Caspian didn’t seem to care, he went right back to unwrapping his bandages, completely ignoring my presence.

Which, honestly? Kind of rude.

I plopped down on my bed, crossing my arms. “So, ground rules.”

He glanced at me, amused. “Ground rules?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “One, we stay on our own sides. No weird roommate bonding moments. No ‘accidental’ falling on top of each other. Got it?”

His lips twitched. “Got it.”

“Two… don’t touch my stuff.”

“I don’t want your stuff.”

“Three, absolutely no being a pervert.”

That one actually made him laugh. “Pervert?”

“Yes,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “I don’t know what kind of guy you are, but I swear if you try anything, I will bite you.”

His eyes gleamed with mischief. “Kinky.”

I choked. “That’s not..” I groaned, throwing a pillow at him.

He caught it with one hand, still smirking.

Oh, I hated him.

The lights were off now and the room was quiet, and I was supposed to be sleeping.

But I couldn’t.

Because he was in the same room with him, I was breathing the same air with him and being with the same guy my Mom just warned me about, goshhh. This is really going to be very bad.

I rolled onto my side, facing the wall, trying to block out the fact that Caspian freaking Stormbane was just a few feet away.

It didn’t help.

Especially when he suddenly spoke.

“You’re still awake.”

I jumped. “I.. No, I’m not.”

He chuckled. “You really think I’m a pervert?”

I groaned, dragging the blanket over my head. “Go to sleep, Caspian.”

His voice was amused. “Sweet dreams, kinky.”

I hate that name, please stop calling me that.

Oh, sorry kinky, he replied chuckling. Hey, you think I'm joking, I said using the pillow to hit his chest.

He laughed, actually laughed, “Who is now behaving like a pervert, Kinky, he whispered.

I wanted to reply, but dear goddess I found out that I was literally on him, I can feel the heat from his mouth.

Haaaaaa, this is so embarrassing. 

Good night, I quickly said and went back to my side of the bed.

Dear moon goddess, please rescue your daughter.