Anderson's POV I stood outside Sarah’s apartment complex, gripping the two bags of groceries in one hand. Most of the items inside matched what she had dropped last night when that panther shifter attacked her—different brands, of course. I did not want her to get suspicious.If you’re wondering, yes—I was the lycan who saved her last night and killed the panther shifter before he could finish what he started. If I had let him live, he would have returned to finish what he started once he had healed because I sense the bloodlust in him, driven by a personal vendetta that coursed through his veins to avenge his useless son's death. That was why I had to step out of the shadows last night.I had been following her ever since she left her ex-fiancé’s house that night. I was actually surprised when she revealed to the panther shifter that she knew he had been secretly following her. Only if she knew it was me. Well, she wouldn't, because I had make sure to be extra careful henceforth.
Anderson's POVI was shocked when I arrived at the police station for questioning and found out that Sarah was arrested as a suspect in the murder case because she was the prime suspect in the three previous killings. She was smart not to mention her encounter with the three panther shifters in the alley. If she had, they would have locked her up for something she had nothing to do with—or at least, not entirely.The officer, Claire in her late thirties with sharp features, flipped through the case file. "Mr. Holt, you said you had an alibi for Mrs. Cole last night?"I nodded. “Yeah, I was with her in her apartment almost all night."I shrugged. "Left close to midnight.” Her brows arched as she leaned forward. “And your relationship with her is…?” I let out a chuckle. "How does this force even recruit people? Didn’t I already tell you at the start of this interrogation that she’s my teacher?"One of her brows arched in disbelief. “And what exactly were you doing in her apartment
Anderson's POVI tossed and turned in bed, the silence of the night doing nothing to quiet the questions running through my mind. The murder should have been all over the news by now upon the police investigation, but yet, nothing. Not even a whisper from the media. It made no sense. It's just like the last case. Although it was less of my concern, I could not get my mind off it.Curious to find out the reason, I decided to put a call through to Lila. At first she did not pick up, but on the second ring, she did.“Anderson? Don't you have an idea what time it is?" She grumbled, her voice groggy with sleep. I deepened my voice, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "Couldn't sleep, Lila. Thought maybe hearing your sweet voice that soothes souls would do the trick."She was silent for a moment before responding in a confused voice, "Wait—what?My voice?”"Told you, angel, I just wanted to hear you," I teased, stretching out in bed.I imagined her blinking rapidly as her breath hitched i
Anderson's POVNeon lights flickered above as the bass from the speakers reverberated through the hall, giving the entire place an almost surreal glow as clusters of people crowded the dance floor, dancing.At the bar, Lucas and I both threw back shots as the conversation drifted lazily from one topic to another. Then, his eyes shifted across the room, a smile playing on his lips. I followed his gaze, locking onto Cara standing near the dance floor.“You know, if you keep staring that hard, she might just start feeling it on her skin,” I said, setting his glass down. He scoffed. "You always think you know everything. There's nothing going on between us."I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. “Mm-hmm. Sure.” I set my glass down. “So, that explains why you smiled the second you saw her?”He scoffed, looking away. “I smile at a lot of people.”"You and I know that that's a blatant lie," I scoffed.“Besides, I’m sure your late-night conversations with her are just you discussing schoo
Anderson's POV The ladies' restroom was dimly lit, the faint hum of the club’s bassline vibrating through the walls. I pushed the girl into a stall, our lips crashing together before the door even fully closed. Her hands were already tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as our tongues danced in a heated rhythm, and she moaned softly in my mouth. The urgency of the moment was electric as her body pressing into mine, every inch of her begging for more. “What the hell are we doing here?” she whispered breathlessly, pulling back just enough to lock eyes with me. Her lips curled into a sly smile, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. But I did not answer because there was no need to. Instead, my hands slid down her sides, feeling the curve of her waist and the softness of her hips. She let out a soft sigh, clutching at my hair and the wall for support as I moved my mouth to her earlobe before trailing my tongue down the side of her neck. T
Sarah's POV"You call yourself a teacher? Look at this place. It's a total dump! Even a rat lives better than this! A year and a half! You’ve owed me rent for a year and a half! No shame, no conscience! If I’d known you were such a walking disaster before renting this place to you, I never would have done it. I swear, I regret that day!" My landlord’s voice echoed through the hallway, sharp and furious.I stood frozen in the doorway, my grip tightening on the chipped wooden frame. I knew this was coming—I had been ignoring his calls and texts for months—but nothing could have prepared me for the pure rage in his voice. “Seriously, what kind of teacher lives like this? Huh? What’s even the point of your job if you can’t pay rent?” He shot me a look of pure disgust, like I was the lowest of the low. "Misfortune must have made you its favourite child, Sarah."He scoffed. "What am I even saying? You are misfortune itself!""Or do you think I built this house for charity? If my childre
Author's POVWhen Alaric entered Alpha Derek's chamber, he found Alpha Derek sitting in his usual high-backed leather chair by the fireplace, a teacup in hand and his expression unreadable.The scent of Earl Grey tea wafted through the air.A guard had informed Alaric that Alpha Derek had asked to see him upon his return from visiting Sarah."You wanted to see me?” he asked.Alpha Derek glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly."Sit,” he said, gesturing to the sofa across from him.Settling down on it, Alaric poured himself a drink from the same teapot, the rich aroma of tea rising as he lifted the cup to his lips.Before he could even settle in properly, Alpha Derek spoke. "So, how was the visit to that girl?"He watched Alaric with calculated eyes."It was fine,” Alaric replied, reaching for the teapot."Nothing out of the ordinary.”Alpha Derek arched a brow and chuckled darkly, setting his cup down with a soft click. "Cool? You know that's not what I meant. Did you accomplish anyth
Anderson's POVI had no idea what was happening, but ever since I drove into the college yard and stepped out of my car, all eyes had been on me.Whispers of “he’s the one,” “did you see the video?” and other fragmented gossip reached my ears as they followed me like shadows, but I could not piece together what they meant.Entering the classroom did not make things any better—it was the same thing.Tasha smirked, leaning back in her chair as she announced, “Look who’s here.”Lila, on the other hand, sat silent, her expression unreadable—a rare sight for someone who usually could not hide her emotions.Curiosity got the better of me, and I stopped in front of Tasha's chair."Alright, what's going on? Why has everyone been staring at me like I’ve got horns growing out of my head?" I asked her.Her eyes widened in disbelief, and with a teasing grin, she said, “Wait…you mean to tell me you really don’t know?”“No clue. What happened?” I replied.She raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer,
SARAH'S POVThe Blackwood family—what do they think they are? Just because they sit at the top of the chain in this city, wielding power like a birthright, does that give Alaric the audacity to walk into my office, unannounced, during closing hours, as if his presence was some kind of privilege?The nerve.The knock on my door had been ordinary, something I barely acknowledged as I continued wrapping up some paperwork, assuming it was a staff member or perhaps a student. Never in my wildest thoughts did I expect him.And the funniest part? The door opened, and there he was, standing there with that damn smug smile as if we were old friends meeting up for coffee."Hey, Sarah," he greeted as if he did not almost turn my life into a mess with his lie.I did not even bother hiding my irritation as I folded my arms across my chest."What do you want?" My tone was sharp, leaving no room for pleasantries.His smile faltered, a flicker of confusion passing through his sharp features."What ha
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