Anderson's POVAt that moment, I did not care about staying out of trouble with Alpha Derek’s family when Axel dared lie about Sarah and me.Not that I had not already planned to make their lives hell, but lying? That was a whole new level of pathetic. He and his brother were the biggest frauds I had ever seen, and I was not about to let them get away with it. Watching Axel squirm as I tore his little dominance act to shreds in front of everyone? Absolutely satisfying. His every stutter, every flicker of uncertainty and confusion—I relished all of it.If Principal Gaines had not shown up, I honestly had no idea what would have happened next. A full-blown fight? Probably. My instincts had taken over, and I was ready to wreck Axel.But then Sofia—the weakest link in their little dynasty—had gone running to the principal.Hearing both sides of the story, Principal Gaines made his decision: Axel got slapped with a two-week suspension for lying, and me? I walked out scot-free.Axel stormed
Sarah's povIf love came with a refund policy, I would be the first to cash in. No, scratch that—I would kick down the door and demand every penny back, no questions asked. Here I was, sitting in the darkest corner of the club, tucked away from the sweaty mess of bodies moving to the beat like it was their last night on earth.But I wasn’t here to dance. I sat with my third bottle of… honestly, I didn’t even know what it was. The label didn’t matter. The burn in my throat was nothing compared to the wildfire in my chest.My mind kept dragging me back to that moment—Joshua, my fiancé, the man I swore my world revolved around, sleeping with another woman in the very bed that was supposed to be ours very soon.Their moans still echoed in my head like a broken record I could not turn off.They say, "Everything happens for a reason." Whoever came up with that lie deserves to have this bottle hurled straight at their head. If that saying is true, then I must be the exception. No way am I g
Sarah's POVI could not believe my ears as my mind transformed into a storm of conflicting thoughts. I had long given up on the idea of meeting my mate, even though it was believed that it was inevitable—that one way or another, fated mates would cross paths. I was told that my mate would be the key to curing the chronic illness I had been living with since I was eighteen, according to a healer. However, the news came with a devastating prophecy: I would die within seven years if my mate didn’t mark me. Now, I had only two years left. Two short years before the countdown to my death would hit zero—a fate I had already accepted. Until tonight.Joshua didn’t know any of this. This made me wonder sometimes if that made me selfish, knowing I would have left him a widower in the end. But I guess life spared him from that mess. I should have been thrilled, since meeting my mate would change everything, right? But instead, all I felt was the sting of disappointment because the person who w
Anderson's POVFor the first time in six years, I actually slept peacefully. Usually, every full moon brought back the same horrific nightmare—reliving my first shift when I lost control and slaughtered everyone at the orphanage except Lucas. He nearly died by my hands too, but somehow survived, which was how I turned him into a lycan and became my closest friend.Unlike any other lycan in history, who lived their normal lives on every full moon, I had to fight these memories every full moon. They would leave me drenched in sweat, sometimes waking up screaming. But last night was different, and I could not help wondering if it had something to do with meeting my mate at the club as I woke up. I had kept this struggle hidden from everyone, even my adoptive family in the Shadowpine pack in another city. Whenever my screams woke them up, I would brush it off as nothing. Even Lucas didn't know about it. After realising these nightmares followed a pattern—happened every full moon—I tri
Sarah's POVI thought letting go of Joshua would be easy—like walking away from the club and everything that happened there would somehow burn away the love I had for him. But I was wrong. Every time I replayed the image of him with that woman, tangled in sheets like I didn’t exist, the pain came back sharper than before.Sleep barely came. My thoughts dragged me around all night until I had no choice but to take a sedative. I needed at least a few hours of rest, not just for my sanity but for work. Mondays were always hectic, and I could not afford to show up drained and unfocused.The loud buzz of my phone snapped me awake the next morning. I didn’t need to check the screen to know it was him—Joshua. He had made a habit of calling me every morning like clockwork, asking pointless questions like, "How was your night? "What’s on your agenda today?"—the same boring routine we used to do like we were something special. "Asshole,” I muttered, turning the phone face down, my lips curlin
Anderson's POV"I'm sure that's why the principal asked her to follow him to his office," a girl said loudly as soon as my mate stepped out with the principal. "Yeah, you are probably right. He must have heard the news," another girl sitting next to her replied, nodding in agreement. The classroom buzzed to life as the noise grew louder, like a storm brewing as students gathered into clusters."I knew it! She hasn’t changed. She's still the same murderer she's always been," a girl near the window sneered. "Who does she think she has been fooling putting up that innocent act?" Another chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. "I don't even know why you all are surprised. Once a killer, always a killer," a boy behind me added, loud enough for the entire room to hear."Did you see the video?" a male student sitting in front of me said when Liam, the class president, asked him what was going on, clearly confused.Afterwards, the boy showed Liam a video on his phone.My brows furrowe
Sarah's POVThe universe must have been having a good laugh at my expense, finally settling the score for my sin that turned me into a pariah in this city. In less than 24 hours, I had gone from catching Joshua in bed with someone else to being escorted out of school by the police like some common criminal.Humiliation burnt through me as I walked down the school halls. Teachers and students stared, their smug, satisfied looks practically screaming how much they were enjoying this live drama. My fists clenched, but I kept my head high—I was not about to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. During the drive to the station, I kept demanding to know why I was being hauled in, but the officers wouldn’t speak. Their only response was the same: “You’ll find out at the station," every time.I eventually gave up asking, realising I was not going to get a single hint out of them. Now, here I was, stuck in an interrogation room, alone. “Can someone please tell me what the hell is g
Anderson's POVWas this what it felt like to be powerless? All through the morning, before the break, I could not shake off the anger gnawing at me. I was furious that I had to hold back from teaching that bully and his lackeys a lesson. My entire life, I had made sure that anyone who crossed me regretted it. But here I was, restrained by my father's warning.Lila and Tasha told me that they were not the kind of people to mess with, including some others in other classes. "It's complicated," Tasha replied when I pressed them for more information, and she added that a senior named Cara would explain it to me better. That was when I realised that she's the one the principal talked about earlier.Some of my classmates’ pitying glances only made my anger worse. I hated being seen as someone who needed sympathy. The more it made me think about the bullies, the more determined I became to teach them a lesson without exposing my identity.Lucas and I grabbed lunch together during the break
Anderson's POVAt that moment, I did not care about staying out of trouble with Alpha Derek’s family when Axel dared lie about Sarah and me.Not that I had not already planned to make their lives hell, but lying? That was a whole new level of pathetic. He and his brother were the biggest frauds I had ever seen, and I was not about to let them get away with it. Watching Axel squirm as I tore his little dominance act to shreds in front of everyone? Absolutely satisfying. His every stutter, every flicker of uncertainty and confusion—I relished all of it.If Principal Gaines had not shown up, I honestly had no idea what would have happened next. A full-blown fight? Probably. My instincts had taken over, and I was ready to wreck Axel.But then Sofia—the weakest link in their little dynasty—had gone running to the principal.Hearing both sides of the story, Principal Gaines made his decision: Axel got slapped with a two-week suspension for lying, and me? I walked out scot-free.Axel stormed
Sarah's POVA teacher, Ms Turner, whispered to Mr Hale, "No wonder she was defending him earlier. Pathetic."My heart clenched. This—this was exactly why I had been hesitant about Anderson’s demands. His reckless words and lies were about to destroy me.The moment my eyes met Lucas’s, my heart skipped a beat. His sharp glare and raised brows made it clear, knowing the reason behind it.But he can't blame me. I mean, it's his brother's fault for lying against me. But even if I told the truth that there was nothing romantic or sexual between us, who would believe me?Anderson stood slowly, his gaze unwavering as he met Axel’s fury head-on.Lucas rose too, frowning. "Axel, what the hell are you talking about?"Axel smirked darkly. "Oh, come on, Lucas. You really think you can cover for him?""I know the truth, and I think everyone else should too," he smirked.The whispers grew louder."So, he's not lying?""What the actual fuck?!"I stood there, frozen. Shame, humiliation, and devastati
Sarah's POVThe long rectangular table at the centre was cluttered with paperwork and a few pens rolling aimlessly.Principal Gaines had just finished having a brief meeting with us—the teachers.After he left, a few teachers leaned back in their chairs, arms crossed, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and irritation.At the head of the table, Mr Callahan, a history teacher with greying hair and tired eyes, recounted with frustration how Anderson had disrespected him earlier when he confronted Anderson for arriving late and walking in confidently."I just can’t believe this." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head."On a normal day, what Anderson did would warrant at least a three-week suspension. But no, he decides to just let him off the hook? Unbelievable."A few teachers nodded in agreement.Mr Douglas, the strict mathematics teacher, scoffed. "Gaines is getting soft. A kid shows blatant disrespect, and instead of consequences, he gets a slap on the wrist?"Ms Harper, the fiery E
Anderson's POVI turned, my expression frozen in disbelief. It was as if I did not hear her right. It was too ridiculous. So ridiculous that I scoffed before I even processed my own reaction."What did you just say?" I asked."I love you, Anderson. I've always do." She repeated.“You’re joking, right?” I said, my voice laced with mockery.But Sofia, standing there like a wounded animal, did not waver. Her eyes held that desperate glint that irritated me more than anything else.“No,” she murmured.A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it."You?” I gestured at her, disbelief evident in my tone."You love me?" I let out another chuckle, shaking my head."Wow. That’s a new level of delusion, even for you.”"And that's why I’ve been acting this way. I know it’s stupid. You can call me anything you want—I’ll accept it. I deserve it. I just…”“Well, thank God you know how stupid this is,” I muttered under my breath.She exhaled shakily. “I just can’t help it, Anderson. Seeing y
Anderson's POVThe classroom was heavy with silence as I scoffed at Sofia’s request."Discuss something privately?" I leaned back in my seat, tilting my head mockingly."What for?” I asked, my tone laced with mockery."Or wait—” I let out a humourless chuckle, leaning back slightly."Are you here to finish what your father failed to? You know, actually kill me this time?”Gasps echoed across the room.Someone muttered, “What’s going on?”Another voice followed, confused, “Wait—what does he mean?”—not directed at me, just thrown into the air like the weight of my words had stunned them all.Sofia exhaled sharply, visibly pissed but trying to keep her composure."Please, just follow me,” she said."It won’t take much of your time. I promise. I just want to talk.”I narrowed my eyes."If you can’t say whatever you need to right here, in front of everyone, then forget it,” I said, my voice cutting through the air like ice."I’m not moving an inch.”She flinched slightly at my tone but did
Anderson's POVMr Callahan wasted no time launching into his complaints the moment we stepped into Principal Gaines’ office.“He was rude, arrogant, and completely disrespectful in front of the entire class. He refuses to acknowledge authority, and his behaviour is completely unacceptable.” His voice was tight with anger.Principal Gaines turned to me, studying me carefully."Anderson,” he said slowly, “is what Mr Callahan said true?”I tilted my head. "Well, he’s not lying."Principal Gaines blinked. He clearly hadn't expected me to be so blunt.Mr Callahan gave Principal Gaines a look that practically screamed I told you so.Clearing his throat, Principal Gaines said, "First off, Mr Callahan, I'm sorry about what happened, but I'll take it from here.""You can go back to your class," he added.With a curt nod, Mr Callahan turned to leave, but not before shooting me a murderous glare. I just smirked in response.Folding my arms, I stood there, waiting for whatever came next.To my su
Anderson's POVSomething about this city was cursed for me. I had known triumph, dominance, and control for as long as I could remember, but since moving here, I had tasted defeat twice. Twice. And it was humiliating.The powerlessness I felt last night at the Blackwood Pack still lingered. It weighed on me, making it impossible to sleep after I got back from the loan shark’s office, as I spent the entire night rolling restlessly in bed, like a man drowning in his own thoughts, gasping for a breath that never came.I could not bring myself to go to school today because my mind was still in shambles.Lucas, clueless as ever, had knocked on my door before leaving, telling me to hurry up or we’d be late.When I lazily told him I was skipping school, barely lifting my head from the pillow, he asked me why."Nothing," I replied."Just go without me." I struggled to sound convincing.However, when he kept asking why there must be an exact reason, I ended up lying that I just did not feel li
Sarah's POVThere was no explosion, no earth-shattering moment, but my life still felt like a ticking time bomb. The ultimatum Anderson had given me—God, even thinking about it sent an itch crawling under my skin. Did it really bother me, though? I was not sure.The deadline had passed, and yet, I remained restless, my mind tangled in the question of whether he had truly let go or if this was just another one of his sick games. A display of power.The most unsettling part? He had stayed away. Or rather, I had avoided him. But he was not the type to be deterred by avoidance. If he still wanted to sleep with me, he would have already done it. So maybe he’s actually over me.I should have felt relieved. Instead, an uneasy feeling gnawed at my insides.That same unease followed me into my office after I finished taking his class because he was not in attendance. And the Anderson I knew would never skip class.He thrived on the attention, soaked in the way his people—the students in this c
Anderson's POVBlood was everywhere—splattered across the walls, pooling on the marble floor, even dripping from the ceiling like some gruesome rain. The whole office reeked of death, turning the space into something out of a nightmare.I stood in the middle of it all, my breaths ragged, chest rising and falling as I shifted back into my human form—naked and covered in blood.The last time I had lost control like this was during my first shift. Back then, the massacre had been a mistake—innocent people torn apart in a blood frenzy I could not control. But this time… this time, I had been fully aware. The carnage was not an accident. It was a sentence carried out. And every single one of these bastards deserved it. They were all guilty.Every last one of them worked for the loan shark company Sarah owed—a company that thrived on preying on the desperate, feeding off their misery, and stripping them of everything until they were left with nothing but despair.While secretly following he