SEBASTIAN I never felt so hungry for lips before but tonight I was. Since the dance with Ruby, I had been battling with everything inside me not to devour her mouth as my wolf reminded me of how her lips tasted the first time I kissed her at the school night party. I was drunk that night but I couldn't forget her taste.Even now as my gaze dropped to her lips, I fucking wanted to taste her. Her breath hitched the moment she realized where I was staring at and Immediately she snapped her head to look out the window. I smirked, licking my lips as I focused back on the road.I could still feel the warmth of her body from the dance. There was something about holding Ruby close that made it feel... less fake.There was something different about her, something I hadn’t felt with any other girl, but I knew she wasn’t my mate. If Ruby were, I should’ve felt the undeniable bond sparking between us. But there was nothing. Just emptiness where that connection should be.Why was I even thinkin
SEBASTIAN Annalisa had always been strong, but in this moment, she seemed fragile, and my heart squeezed. I had hurt her. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure what I was apologizing for exactly. For hurting her? For not loving her the way she wanted me to? Or maybe for the lie I’d just got myself into with Ruby.When her sobs started to quiet, she pulled back just enough to look up at me, her hands still gripping the fabric of my shirt. Her eyes, red and puffy, flickered between my lips and my eyes.“Sebastian… I love you. I mean it. I fucking love you. I’ve wished my whole life that the goddess will destiny us as mates,” she whispered, her voice shaky, filled with so much longing and hope that it broke something inside me."Annalisa, we..." I began, but before I finished, she leaned up and kissed me.I froze for a second, my heart thumping away. I knew I shouldn’t. But as her lips pressed against mine, I kissed her back. I didn't know if it was because of the familiari
RUBYFor the past few minutes, my annoying alarm clock had been ringing, urging me to get ready for school, but I didn’t move from my bed. Instead, I groaned, curling deeper under my blanket as last night’s events replayed in my mind. Suddenly, my body shuddered with fear, gripped by familiar trauma as Sebastian's voice asking about my wolf rang in my ears.No. No. No. I couldn’t let myself think about the past. I threw off the blanket, sitting upright in bed and gasping for air.Just then, my phone buzzed beside the alarm clock on my nightstand. Shit! I’d forgotten to turn it off after using it in the mid-night during the power outage.Groaning, I reached for it. The screen lit up with a notification."You've just received $150,000 from Sebastian Kings."I gasped, my hand almost covering my mouth. I had never seen that much money in my entire life. My mind raced, trying to process the shocking amount.Before I could make sense of it, another message appeared."Thank you, Ruby" Seba
RUBYAs Annalisa approached, the lively buzz in the air began to die down. Even the hockey boys, who had been singing just moments ago, lowered their voices to a murmur. Everyone knew or at least assumed that the goddess would bond Annalisa and Sebastian as mates. But now, the tables had seemingly turned.The thought hovered over the crowd like a dark cloud, stirring uneasy whispers through the courtyard.I stood still, my breath shallow, trying not to let the awkwardness overwhelm me."Uh-oh, looks like a storm’s heading our way," Cassie whispered beside me.My stomach twisted with nerves, but my eyes never left Annalisa, whose every stride felt like it trampled my heart. I had never crossed path with her before or seen her anywhere bullying omegas like others but I refused to believe she was different from them. "She must be losing it because of the news. After all, everyone thought she’d end up with Sebastian, but now it's..." Cassie trailed off as Annalisa reached usShe stoppe
RUBY"Don’t stress about Aiden," Cassie said, squeezing my arm. "He might not be Sebastian’s biggest fan, but he’ll get over it. He cares about you, you know."Of course, Aiden cared about me. I was scared he would even confront or hit Sebastian if he saw him flirting with other girls, now that we were supposedly mates.I forced a smile, pushing the feeling aside. "And hey," Cassie added, her brows lifting playfully. "You’ve got your school fees now, right?"I nodded, hoping she’d leave it there. But Cassie’s eyes narrowed as she studied my face, suspicion flickering in her gaze."Wait a minute…" She grabbed my shoulders, giving me a little shake like she always did if she wanted to know the truth. But that was just her own superstition. "Sebastian sent you the money, didn’t he?" She asked.I shifted nervously, glancing around before answering."Yes," I whispered.Cassie’s eyes lit up as she let go my shoulders, her triumphant gasp loud enough to draw a few curious glances."I kn
RUBYI stepped back quickly, confusion flickering across my face. Aiden stared at me, disappointment flickering in his eyes, mixed with something close to the pain of rejection. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but then he pressed them shut as I took another step back.He was always hard to read, but this time, I knew exactly what I saw or was I imagining things?“I... I’m sorry, Ruby. I wouldn’t have reacted like that if your mate isn’t Sebastian. He’s an asshole, you know that,” Aiden said with a sigh, dragging his fingers through his hair.I let out a bitter chuckle, anger still simmering, though not as sharp as before.“I know what Sebastian is like. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to reject him. I mean... it’s not like I had a choice. The Goddess chose him for me,” I said, my stomach twisting at how easily the lie slipped off my tongue.“Would you reject your mate just because of their past?” I asked, meeting Aiden’s gaze.He opened his mouth, then shu
SEBASTIANThe hockey rink echoed with the sharp slice of skates on ice, the clash of sticks, and the shouts of encouragement from our coach, Brody. He stood on the sidelines, watching us intently, assessing every move like he always did.Today’s practice was going smoothly, much better than before, when Brody would blow his whistle every five seconds, frustrated with my lack of focus.Back then, my mind had been tangled with my father’s expectations, and the constant pressure was throwing me off.The fact that I couldn’t find my fated mate had me worried sick. The pressure was suffocating, making me feel like there was no way out.But thanks to Ruby, I managed to pull through, even though what connected us wasn’t the bond of the Goddess. And now, everyone believed it was.I hadn’t expected my teammates to come out earlier, holding a banner with photos of Ruby and me from last night. I was really surprised to see them cheering for us. They’d been rooting for me, hoping the Goddess wou
SEBASTIANFuck! I ran my fingers through my hair. Mentally, I slammed my fist on the wheel before leaning back in my seat, uneasiness settling in my stomach. Ruby was right. My father could use his Alpha powers on her. She was an omega, and her wolf would easily submit to whatever an Alpha wolf instructed. She wouldn’t be able to resist, even if she tried.I turned my head to look at her, noticing the fear flashing in her beautiful blue eyes.“Maybe you should just find something to tell them as an excuse. I can’t go to this dinner with you, Seb,” she said, her lips quivering as if they were calling me to claim them.I hated to admit it, but Ruby was having an effect on me whenever I was around her, unlike any girl I’d slept with. The feeling was so strange that I couldn’t shake the sense that she could be my…'She’s not our mate' my wolf suddenly cut in. 'How many times do have to tell you I don’t feel any connection to her wolf,' he added, slipping to the front of my mind.Conside
RUBY I wasn’t sure what terrified me more. The thought of an intruder or the raw intensity radiating from Sebastian. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice rough and commanding. His grip on my wrist tightened, as if he feared I might vanish. My heart thudded loudly as he shielded me with his broad frame. His growl low and menacing sent shivers down my spine. I could feel his Alpha aura swirling powerfully as though his wolf might surface any moment to slash at whoever it his wolf might surface at any moment. “Who’s there?” Sebastian growled. A muffled yelp broke the silence, followed by hesitant footsteps and a timid voice. “It’s me. I—I’m sorry, Alpha.” My jaw dropped as I peeked around Sebastian’s shoulder to see Noelle rushing out of the kitchen. Her face was pale, and her wide eyes darted nervously between us. She looked genuinely terrified, fumbling with a white earbud she yanked from her left ear with trembling hands. “I didn’t know you arrived! I was just coming out of
SEBASTIAN "Sebastian..." Annalisa began, but I cut her off immediately as a sliver of irritation rippled through me. "Why are you making this so hard?" I blew out a frustrated breath. I almost regretted having this fake bond with Ruby instead of Annalisa. But Ruby was the only one who knew my secret, which was why I had this arrangement with her in the first place. Why couldn’t Annalisa just move on? I thought we were done having this conversation. I thought we’d ended things between us. I didn’t miss the tears that glistened in her eyes before she lowered her head, staring at the ground. My heart sank. Fuck... I hated how much I’d hurt Annalisa. She had sacrificed so much to earn my heart, but she deserved someone who could love her back in the way she needed. And that someone wasn’t me. "I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m sorry," I said gently. Her scent of arousal filled the small space under the staircase, making my cock twitch even as I'd been trying hard to ignore it. She rais
ANNALISAI had always believed Sebastian was meant to be mine. From the moment I became aware of the word "mate'', I couldn't imagine the perfect mate to spend the rest of my life with other than him.As the Beta's daughter, I grew up alongside him. I was supposed to be on Beta training but because of the love I had for him, I switched. I was there for every Luna training session, every meeting that Sebastian had to go. As the future Alpha, he had to learn the ways of the pack, and I made sure I was right by his side, preparing to be his Luna.We trained together and shared countless moments that convinced me we were destined to be more than just friends. Everyone around us thought we would end up together as fated mates. And although my parents always warned to guard my heart around Sebastian, especially my father. He constantly told me I shouldn't get my hopes up until I turned eighteen and found out for sure if he was my mate. But I didn’t listen. How could I, when every fiber
RUBY“I asked a question,” Mrs. Whitewoods said again, adjusting her glasses slightly down the bridge of her nose, her short raven hair neatly pinned back. Her tone, though calm, carried authority. “What’s going on here?”The girls around me shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. Lizzy hesitated, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for a way to twist the story. Renee and Ginger exchanged nervous glances, but neither spoke up.My heart pounded in my chest as I debated speaking up, knowing Lizzy could twist the story. But before I could say anything, Mrs. Whitewoods’ voice cut through the silence.“Skylar,” she called.“What exactly happened here before I walked in?”Skylar hesitated, her eyes darting between me and Lizzy. “There was… an altercation. Lizzy insulted... the future Luna and tried to assert that she shouldn’t be part of the group.”Mrs. Whitewoods’ expression darkened as she turned to Lizzy. “is this true?”Lizzy stammered, “I-I didn’t mean—”“Don’t lie to
RUBYThe room buzzed with murmurs, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Lizzy’s fiery gaze bore into mine, and for a brief moment, I felt like I was back in those days when she made my life unbearable. The memories surged forward, threatening to drown me, but I held my ground. I refused to let her see any weakness.She stormed into the room with her minions, Renee and Ginger, trailing behind her. Their smug smiles faltered the moment I met their eyes, and they quickly looked away.“Who gave this omega the audacity to join my group?” Lizzy snarled, her fists clenched as she stopped a few steps from me. Her sharp voice silenced the whispers. "Are you all deaf and dumb?!" Her sharp, cold gaze darting between me and the others.“She’s the future Luna of this—” Skylar began, only for Lizzy to cut her off.“Luna my foot!” Lizzy spat, her words laced with disdain. Gasps rippled through the room like a wave.Anger surged through me. I needed to put this girl in her place. Who did she
RUBY Monday morning came, and I was surprised to wake up just as my alarm would’ve rung even though it wasn’t here. I hadn’t brought it with me because it seemed old and cracked. As I got up and prepared for school, my mind wandered to everything that had happened between Sebastian and me over the past few days since the mating ball. Everything felt so fast, so strange. Sebastian's presence in my life had changed so much in just a few days. I couldn’t believe how little I thought about Graham now. Sure, it had hurt when he left me for his fated mate but now… I could barely feel it. I slipped into the gorgeous dress—one of many Sebastian had got me yesterday. The soft, luxurious material felt foreign against my skin, but it fit me perfectly, hugging my body in a way that made me feel… confident. It was strange to think about how it all happened. After our dinner, Sebastian had come into my room yesterday to grab some of his clothes to his quarters when he noticed how sparse my se
RUBYMy stomach knotted with uneasiness as I drew my brows together slightly.Had her mother recovered? Was that why she came back so soon?I scrolled through the group chat, reading the girls' messages to check if any of them mentioned it, but none did. Instead, the group was filled with happy emojis and flattering words.I sucked in a sharp breath. Something about this didn’t sit right with me. Or... did she come back because she’d heard I was now in the Queen K group?No. Lizzy wouldn’t abandon her mother, who was on the brink of death, just because of me... right?I shook my head, pushing the thought away, but the unease only grew stronger as another thought hit me.Like Sebastian said, I didn’t know what Lizzy was capable of doing.Was it possible she had something to do with Cassie’s phone being unreachable?I quickly checked my DMs, my heart racing with hope for a message from Cassie. Nothing. I tried her number, but the automated voice told me her phone was switched off.What
RUBYThe morning greeted me with a comforting heaviness. My body aching was a proof to how much fun I had yesterday. Memories of the outing filled my thoughts, and for once, they weren’t overshadowed by regret.Kiara had been a breath of fresh air, full of energy and excitement to have me as her brother's mate. She dragged us to places I had only seen on TV or through the windows of passing street buses: a quaint diner with milkshakes and the best pancakes I’d ever tasted, a lively carnival Mom once promised we’d visit together, and a serene park adorned with fairy lights.For the first time in years, I let myself enjoy the moment and allowed my wolf to communicate with me freely. I laughed without restraint, and my wolf felt giddy with excitement as she guided me to win games at the carnival. For once, I forgot the weight of my reality.Yesterday felt like a dream, I didn’t want to end.But now, as I shifted in bed, exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. I buried my face deeper i
SEBASTIAN Ruby’s laughter was light, melodic, and completely out of place in the moment. Even though I was confused, I couldn’t deny the pull her laugh had on my heart. It was sweet, almost addictive, and so contagious that I felt the corners of my lips twitching. I wanted to laugh along with her, but bursting into laughter without knowing why would be ridiculous. I blinked, trying to piece together what had just happened as Ruby laughed uncontrollably, her hand nearly covering her mouth. Why was she laughing? Was it because I told her my wolf wanted to fvk her? No. Ruby couldn’t be laughing because of that... could she? I glanced at her in confusion, then quickly looked down at myself as I leaned back in my seat. My shirt? Clean. No weird stains. My jeans? Intact. What could possibly be so funny? I even checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. Nothing out of the ordinary. My confusion deepened as I turned back to look at her, my brow furrowing. My patience was