CLARISSA My mind was reeling, my thoughts overwhelming. I couldn't wrap my head around everything I'd just heard."Surprisingly, the three players your friend mentioned are somehow connected to the academy," Zoey said, and I swallowed hard. I turned to look at Jaxon, who was watching me with a worried look on his face."What about Professor Storm? You mentioned something about looking into her personal information," I told him."About that..." his expression faltered.A few minutes later, we were standing inside his basement. A basement I didn't know he had. The stone walls were cold and unnerving. The space itself sent unwelcome shivers through me.It struck me then how much I still didn't know about my mate.And yet... I wasn't afraid of him.Not truly.There was darkness here, yes, but not the kind that made me want to run. His darkness didn't threaten me—it shielded me. I didn't need to know all the pieces of him to understand one truth: he would go to terrifying lengths
JAXON Clarissa held me in her arms as I shivered under the blankets, my teeth chattering. I'd just stepped out of a freezing shower, hoping the shock would numb the fever clawing through me—but it hadn't. If anything, it had made things worse.My breathing came in short, strained gasps, my eyes squeezed close. Yet, even in my agony, Clarissa's sweet scent kept me grounded and prevented me from slipping. She didn't know this, but I'd been at the verge of entering the void. But the moment she'd rushed into my office, her presence had held me back. And now, the whiplash was beating down on me with an intensity I'd never experienced before. It felt as though I was dying."Stay with me, Jaxon," Clarissa whispered, running her hand over my bicep. She pressed a lingering kiss to my burning forehead.After a while, I stopped shivering. I was drenched in sweat now. And at the same time, I was as weak as a newborn kitten...which was a first for me.My mate gently lowered the blanket and p
CLARISSA I should've known. Damnit, how could I be so gullible? Stefan smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "Unfortunately, your kindness has led you into my trap," he drawled, and I clenched my fists, rage simmering inside of me. Half an hour ago, I'd received a message from an unknown number, telling me that my friends were in danger. I'd been overcome with worry, so much that I'd dived right into danger without reaching out to my allies. Jaxon would definitely be pissed off if he knew what I'd just done.I heaved a sigh, already feeling a headache coming on. "What do you want, Stefan?""How are you still standing? You should've been sedated by now," he said, his voice laced with disbelief."It's shocking how you've learnt nothing, even after everything that happened between the two of us. Are you really that hungry for your own death?" I droned.He shrugged, his gaze roaming over my features with an unreadable expression on his face. "Marry—"I cut him off instantly
CLARISSA They couldn't believe it. In their sight, a mere omega had subdued an alpha. Aaron, who was kneeling before me, was trying so hard to defy my command, but his body was quickly betraying him. Blood was oozing from his nose and ears as he grunted, his brows creased with determination. Finally, his body collapsed to the ground, breaking under the weight of my power. If this wasn't a training, I would've asked him to crawl to me and apologize for everything he did to Tara and me. But now wasn't the right time."Is there anyone else who would like to challenge her?" General Vale asked, and three third-year alpha bloods stepped out. They were tall and leanly muscular. They had mischievous smirks on their faces."Clarissa Nightbourne, we are the future Alphas of the Night Flame Pack," the first one said, and I raised a brow, surprised.I'd heard of the notorious princes of the Night Flame Pack. Three brothers who were literally joined at the hip. Their reputation spoke of noth
JAXON That look on Clarissa's face struck me like thunder. It was a mix of disbelief and distrust. My gaze drifted and rested on Callum, the one who'd clearly planted the seeds of doubt. He'd hinted at all the things I couldn't bear to talk about, and now, I was torn. Clarissa lowered her gaze, unable to look me in the eye. "Let's go, Professor Hale," she said, and I stiffened. It felt as though she'd just created a barrier between the two of us. I followed after her as she walked away from Callum, who reeked of desperation. He'd always been at loggerheads with me for no clear reason. And now, he'd taken things too far, making me realize just how far he would go to take me down.Once my mate and I had settled down in the car, I drove off. The tension between us was suffocating."Did you...hear everything Callum said?" Clarissa asked, awkwardly clearing her throat.Was she trying to set up a confrontation? Knowing her, she would much rather ask questions than keep to herself.I
CLARISSA I was silently fuming. The voices around me had faded into the background, and I was lost in my own world. I still couldn't believe that despite how hard I'd tried to make Jaxon open up to me, he'd refused to tell me anything. Annoyed, I'd walked out of his property, determined to make it back to school on my own. But to my surprise, Dante had been sent to me. He'd driven me back to the academy."What's got you brooding like that?" Gwen asked, nudging me. I turned to look at her, forcing out a smile."It's nothing."Her frown deepened as she searched my eyes. "My lady, you shouldn't forget that I've known you for a very long time. There's no use lying to me," she said, and I heaved a sigh.I wasn't sure if it was okay to tell her my grievances, but I badly needed someone to rant to."Get up, let's go somewhere more private." She took my hand, steering me to my feet. Together, we both left the classroom. She led me to the school's orchard, where we settled down under
CLARISSA 'Mate!' Snow, my wolf, echoed in my head as a sweet scent flooded my nostrils. Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes, and my heart started to pound a lot faster as I quickened my pace and followed the smell of my mate. It had to be Kieran. I was his chosen mate, and tonight, our mating ceremony was about to take place. My excitement went up a notch, and I broke into a sprint, hiking up my ceremonial red dress. All of a sudden, pain slammed into me so hard, I doubled over. With my eyes watering, I dropped to my knees. Whimpers escaped my lips as the pain continued to build, searing through me like a red-hot knife. I was confused and disoriented. I couldn't understand what was happening to me. I parted my lips to call out for my fiancé, but in an instant, I heard the sounds of his moans in my head. 'Fuck, MIA. You feel so good,' I heard him say and my confusion swelled within me. Mia? My bully? That couldn’t be right. My mind had to be playing tricks on me. Maybe I mish
CLARISSA I was thirteen years old when my father was assassinated. His beta took over his position, and my life took a terrible turn. Although my father's beta had promised to investigate his death and bring them to justice, nothing had been done. Kieran, the new Alpha's son, had comforted me during those times, and I'd been fooled into believing that he truly cared about me. And now, it was up to my new mate to save me or toss me to the wolves."Help me," I said to him, and he fixed his gaze on me for a moment before glancing at the street ahead. Silently, he took off his velvet jacket and placed it around my shoulders."You're better off not associating yourself with me," he said, placing a small dagger in my hand."Go left. There's a river close by. If you can make it past the river, they won't get to you," he said, and I swallowed hard, unsure of what this meant for me.Was he rejecting me as well? I wondered.However, there was no time to dwell on this; I took his advic
CLARISSA I was silently fuming. The voices around me had faded into the background, and I was lost in my own world. I still couldn't believe that despite how hard I'd tried to make Jaxon open up to me, he'd refused to tell me anything. Annoyed, I'd walked out of his property, determined to make it back to school on my own. But to my surprise, Dante had been sent to me. He'd driven me back to the academy."What's got you brooding like that?" Gwen asked, nudging me. I turned to look at her, forcing out a smile."It's nothing."Her frown deepened as she searched my eyes. "My lady, you shouldn't forget that I've known you for a very long time. There's no use lying to me," she said, and I heaved a sigh.I wasn't sure if it was okay to tell her my grievances, but I badly needed someone to rant to."Get up, let's go somewhere more private." She took my hand, steering me to my feet. Together, we both left the classroom. She led me to the school's orchard, where we settled down under
JAXON That look on Clarissa's face struck me like thunder. It was a mix of disbelief and distrust. My gaze drifted and rested on Callum, the one who'd clearly planted the seeds of doubt. He'd hinted at all the things I couldn't bear to talk about, and now, I was torn. Clarissa lowered her gaze, unable to look me in the eye. "Let's go, Professor Hale," she said, and I stiffened. It felt as though she'd just created a barrier between the two of us. I followed after her as she walked away from Callum, who reeked of desperation. He'd always been at loggerheads with me for no clear reason. And now, he'd taken things too far, making me realize just how far he would go to take me down.Once my mate and I had settled down in the car, I drove off. The tension between us was suffocating."Did you...hear everything Callum said?" Clarissa asked, awkwardly clearing her throat.Was she trying to set up a confrontation? Knowing her, she would much rather ask questions than keep to herself.I
CLARISSA They couldn't believe it. In their sight, a mere omega had subdued an alpha. Aaron, who was kneeling before me, was trying so hard to defy my command, but his body was quickly betraying him. Blood was oozing from his nose and ears as he grunted, his brows creased with determination. Finally, his body collapsed to the ground, breaking under the weight of my power. If this wasn't a training, I would've asked him to crawl to me and apologize for everything he did to Tara and me. But now wasn't the right time."Is there anyone else who would like to challenge her?" General Vale asked, and three third-year alpha bloods stepped out. They were tall and leanly muscular. They had mischievous smirks on their faces."Clarissa Nightbourne, we are the future Alphas of the Night Flame Pack," the first one said, and I raised a brow, surprised.I'd heard of the notorious princes of the Night Flame Pack. Three brothers who were literally joined at the hip. Their reputation spoke of noth
CLARISSA I should've known. Damnit, how could I be so gullible? Stefan smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "Unfortunately, your kindness has led you into my trap," he drawled, and I clenched my fists, rage simmering inside of me. Half an hour ago, I'd received a message from an unknown number, telling me that my friends were in danger. I'd been overcome with worry, so much that I'd dived right into danger without reaching out to my allies. Jaxon would definitely be pissed off if he knew what I'd just done.I heaved a sigh, already feeling a headache coming on. "What do you want, Stefan?""How are you still standing? You should've been sedated by now," he said, his voice laced with disbelief."It's shocking how you've learnt nothing, even after everything that happened between the two of us. Are you really that hungry for your own death?" I droned.He shrugged, his gaze roaming over my features with an unreadable expression on his face. "Marry—"I cut him off instantly
JAXON Clarissa held me in her arms as I shivered under the blankets, my teeth chattering. I'd just stepped out of a freezing shower, hoping the shock would numb the fever clawing through me—but it hadn't. If anything, it had made things worse.My breathing came in short, strained gasps, my eyes squeezed close. Yet, even in my agony, Clarissa's sweet scent kept me grounded and prevented me from slipping. She didn't know this, but I'd been at the verge of entering the void. But the moment she'd rushed into my office, her presence had held me back. And now, the whiplash was beating down on me with an intensity I'd never experienced before. It felt as though I was dying."Stay with me, Jaxon," Clarissa whispered, running her hand over my bicep. She pressed a lingering kiss to my burning forehead.After a while, I stopped shivering. I was drenched in sweat now. And at the same time, I was as weak as a newborn kitten...which was a first for me.My mate gently lowered the blanket and p
CLARISSA My mind was reeling, my thoughts overwhelming. I couldn't wrap my head around everything I'd just heard."Surprisingly, the three players your friend mentioned are somehow connected to the academy," Zoey said, and I swallowed hard. I turned to look at Jaxon, who was watching me with a worried look on his face."What about Professor Storm? You mentioned something about looking into her personal information," I told him."About that..." his expression faltered.A few minutes later, we were standing inside his basement. A basement I didn't know he had. The stone walls were cold and unnerving. The space itself sent unwelcome shivers through me.It struck me then how much I still didn't know about my mate.And yet... I wasn't afraid of him.Not truly.There was darkness here, yes, but not the kind that made me want to run. His darkness didn't threaten me—it shielded me. I didn't need to know all the pieces of him to understand one truth: he would go to terrifying lengths
CLARISSA I was all alone in my bed when I awoke. The sheets smelled faintly of my mate, a scent I couldn't quite get enough of. I stretched, pushing myself out of bed, and made my way toward his closet, my fingers brushing against the smooth fabric of his shirts. I pulled out one of his white ones, the material soft and comforting against my skin.A smile tugged at my lips at the memory of the way my mate had touched me the previous night. The mere thought of it had me growing wet. So I headed to my room and made a beeline for the bathroom. I'd just finished brushing my teeth when I looked up to examine myself in the mirror.My cheeks were rosy, and my purple eyes were full of life and vigour. Slowly, I took off my nightdress.I brought a hand to my belly, my smile widening when I recalled the way Jaxon had tentatively pressed a kiss to my baby bump.My boobs were a little fuller than usual. A sigh escaped my lips as I closed my eyes, I could almost feel the sensation of Jaxon
JAXON I stepped out of my bathroom, steam clinging to my skin. The twins had left earlier after the discovery of General Vael's involvement in Clarissa's father's death. Apparently, he was only just a representative. A representative of the Alpha King himself. This meant that even the royal family was involved in this feud. General Vaal was one of my father's close acquaintances. He was also the one who'd advised my father to exile me. Bastard.Shutting the glass door behind me, I looked up only to see a silhouette in the dark. Clarissa. She was sitting on my bed. It was raining heavily outside. Therefore, my window was only slightly open. Plus, the room was blanketed in darkness."Clarissa?" I called out, surprised. She gave me a soft smile, rising to her feet. "I almost got lost trying to locate your room," she said to me, and I smirked.What was so important to her that made her want to come to my bedroom? Did she have any idea of the implication of what she'd just done?My
DANTESeveral Years Ago, "Kill them! Kill them!" The chants grew louder around my twin brother and me, fear gripping us in its clutches. Was this really the end? We were only eighteen. We were yet to experience a lot.Dorian clutched at my wrists, his breathing shallow and uneven. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, and even though he couldn't speak, his eyes told me everything.Let me go. Leave me behind.He was offering himself up so that I could live.But how could I?"That demon brought a curse into our pack! He killed his mother and father! We can't kill one twin and spare the other. They both have to die!" The town elder said, brandishing a flame torch at us.Tears crawled down my cheeks as I held my brother to myself. He was too weak to move."Die! Cursed ones! Die!"My arms tightened around Dorian, shielding him with my body as rocks began to fly at us. Pain exploded across my temple—once, then again—and blood oozed down the side of my face. Still, I didn't mo