GINGER:
Gasps ripple through the crowd as all eyes turn to us. Caspian’s hand flies to his burning cheek, his jaw tightening as he stares at me in silence.
“What the hell, Ginger?” he yells, startling me.
My breath seizes for a moment as I feel the judging eyes of the crowd. Fear grips my heart as I wait for him to hit me or do something worse. I hit him, and I deserve to get hit for disobeying him—that was always my father’s response to Mum.
Before I can answer, Caspian’s eyes dart to the onlookers. He lets out an irritated growl.
“What are you all staring at? Mind your business!”
The murmuring dies down, and the crowd scatters at once. Then he grabs my hand, pulling me away. His grip on my hand is too tight for me to pull free.
He leads me through the house, walking past the buzzing students. He doesn’t stop until we reach a dark corner at the back of the house. My back hits the rough wall, and I conclude he is definitely going to hit me.
“I... I’m sorry,” I stammer, shielding my face with my hands in fear. “It wasn’t intentional. I was just... upset. Please, don’t hit—”
“What?” he cuts me off as I tremble beneath his towering figure. “Why would I want to hit a girl, let alone you, Ginger?” His hands find mine, gently pulling them down.
I glare into his grey eyes, realizing they differ from my father’s cold black ones. His brows furrow, his lips pressing into a thin line as if he is carefully choosing his next words.
“I know it was just a dare, but I shouldn’t have invited you if I was going to do that to a girl. I’m truly sorry, and I deserved that slap,” he whispers, then gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “But please, don’t hit me next time.”
The tension in my chest eases slightly, but my heart still races as his hand brushes a stray strand of hair from my face. His lips curve into a smile.
“You’re not used to parties, huh?” he asks, and I shake my head shyly.“High school parties can get wild, but I’ll try to tone it down for you.”
He leans in to kiss my lips softly, and I find my body wanting him. Mentally, I battle with my mind to forget the image of his face on that girl’s chest. He deepens the kiss as his hands descend my back, wrapping around my waist, but then he pulls away just in time.
“I missed you so much!” he exclaims, lifting my chin with a finger. “Here is inappropriate for someone like you. We need privacy.”
“Yes, please,” I reply desperately, immediately regretting how needy I sound. “I would love a break from the noise,” I add.
He glances at his watch and frowns. “I’ve got a meeting with the hockey team in five minutes. Wait for me upstairs in the second room on the left. I’ll be quick.”
Before I can respond, he grabs my hand and leads me back inside. He stops at the base of the stairs, giving my hand a quick squeeze and planting a kiss on my cheek, causing my stomach to do a thousand cartwheels.
“There’s wine in the room if you get bored,” he says with a wink before disappearing into the crowd.
I make my way upstairs, my thoughts spinning with everything that has gone wrong today. When I get to the door, I open it to meet a dark room with only the faint glow of streetlights streaming through the blinds illuminating it. I don’t bother turning on the light. Instead, I move to the edge of the bed, sitting down and staring at my trembling hands.
I try to steady my thoughts to think about the good Caspian. Yes, I walked in on him with a girl, but surely it meant nothing to him. He makes me feel safe; he is my happy place. I can let go of one silly mistake. But as I focus on him, my thoughts shift to only the bad things.
“Fuck this,” I mutter, standing up and walking to the table. I grab the bottle of wine sitting there. Uncorking it, I bring the entire thing to my mouth and start drinking.
It takes only a quarter of the bottle to get tipsy, and when I can barely feel my feet, I collapse on the bed. Shortly after, the door creaks open, and Caspian’s muscular and sexy figure appears in front of me. He staggers into the room, falling onto the bed beside me.
“You’re here,” I say in a small voice.
“Mmm,” his gruff tone rings out. His voice and scent aren’t quite what I remember, but my hazy mind dismisses it as the wine clouding my senses.
“Are you done with the meeting?” I ask, trying to cut the tension.
“I left because I can.”
He throws an arm across my chest, causing my pulse to quicken as I lie there. Then he inches closer to me, and before I know it, his lips are on mine. They feel better, and softer than before. His hands roughly run along my body, settling on my breasts, which he gives a gentle squeeze before moaning into my ear. The sound sends shivers coursing through my body.
“I could fuck you right now,” he groans, sliding his hand lower and stopping at my pants. My chest pounds faster, and the heat between my legs rises. I want this—maybe even more than he does.
Before I know it, my jeans are off, leaving me in nothing but my panties. He slides his hand inside them, rubbing my wetness as a gasp escapes my lips. Then he slides in a finger, sending a sharp but thrilling pain through me. He pumps into me for a moment before sliding in a second finger. It barely lasts before he climbs on top of me.
He pulls out a condom and slides it on before pushing into me gently. There’s a little pain, but then he fits into me perfectly, like we were made for each other. I wrap my arms around his back, running my hands from his thick muscles to his hair.
Suddenly, the smell of honey and chocolate engulfs the room, and I see a glow in his eyes. The word mate echoes in my ears, intensifying the feelings in my body. Joy ripples through me as I hold on to him. I have found my mate. Caspian is my mate.
“You feel different and warmer,” he whispers in my ear, breaking my bout of joy. I’m tipsy, but his statement feels strange. I have never had sex with Caspian. Is he talking about sex with another girl while with me,or worse, is this not him?
Quickly, I run my hand up his arm, searching for the familiar scar, but the space is clear as day. Fear crosses my heart, and my throat runs dry.
“Who…”
“Yes,” he cuts me off as his voice comes out in a needy moan. My heart thumps in my chest as I realize who it is. It’s Hu, Caspian’s best friend, and he thinks I’m someone else. “Today feels better than the last time,” he whispers, as his lips graze my ears.
“Because I’m not who you think I am,” I say softly, slowing his movements. “It’s Ginger.”
“Fuck!” he groans, pausing as he glares into my eyes. My mind spins, trying to process the fact that Caspian’s best friend is my mate.
This is wrong, but it feels too good, and I don’t want him to stop. He is my mate, so how could it be wrong?
“Do you want me to stop?” he questions as though reading my mind.
“No,” my wolf takes over, replying instantly. I wrap my arms around him, sinking his body further into mine. The bond glues me to him.
He feels and tastes even better as our sweaty bodies rub against each other. Soon, my legs begin to wobble, and he lets out a loud grunt, pulling away and collapsing beside me. My body jerks uncontrollably as I drown in the waves of orgasm, my eyes shutting tightly.
The ecstatic moment fades quickly, replaced by the gravity of what just happened. I have just had sex with my potential boyfriend’s best friend. My heart races as I turn to Hu, who lies beside me, zipping his pants.
Finally, my mouth opens to form a sentence. “We are…”
“I should go,” he cuts me off, standing abruptly. Then he leaves the room without another word.
I lie there trying to understand why he left. Did he not feel the mate bond? Or he is just an asshole?
GINGER:Without wasting time, I dress up and leave the room. I know Caspian will be here any moment, and the last thing I want is for him to know I had sex with his best friend. Trying to steady my breath, I make my way downstairs as I text Hana.“Where are you?”“Downstairs. At the back of the house, and I just saw Caspian now. He is heading inside.”I dash out the front door as I read the text. At that moment, my mother’s text comes in with the address of the new house.“My mother texted, and she is angry. I am leaving now, and I am so sorry she has to do this,” I text Hana as I flag down a taxi. The moment I get into it, I give the driver the address of the house and then throw my head backward.**The next day, I wake up a little sore, and when I turn on my phone, it is flooded with notifications. I pray they include a text from Hu, apologizing for leaving abruptly and making me feel filthy. But when I check, it is all Caspian. This heightens the guilt in my chest.“What happened
GINGER:Students take out their phone to record the moment, and their judging eyes makes it difficult for me to breatheTurning at once, I see Caspian on one knee, holding a bouquet of roses.“Will you?” he asks, and I am about to speak when the smell of peppermint and spiced citrus hits me. Instantly, Caspian’s eyes light up. The word ‘mate’ echoes in my head. My heart skips a beat, and I feel my knees weaken as a strange warmth spreads through my chest. What is happening?Before I can grasp what is going on, the word “Yes” falls out of my mouth, and Caspian gets up at once, wrapping his hands around my waist and pressing his lips into mine.At that moment, the bell for the first period goes off. Even the bell can’t save me, as the deed is already done. I have sealed my fate as the girl who messed around with her boyfriend’s best friend, and the girl who messed around with her best friend’s brother. But worse, I have two mates, and neither of them can recognize me.The taste of Caspi
Ginger:Doom is an understatement of the condition I am in at the moment. Seeing Hu watching from his window makes it worse. It’s like he feeds off my misfortune and enjoys it.“I have to make this right,” I mutter, slumping onto the bed and pulling out my phone.I type the words, “How to fall utterly in love with my boyfriend,” into the search bar. For minutes, I scroll endlessly, looking for the perfect solution to forget Hu and focus on Caspian, but I find nothing. With a frustrated groan, I toss my phone aside, throwing my head back onto the bed with my eyes shut.Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind. A part of me thinks it’s crazy and dirty, but nothing beats sex with a guy who doesn’t care about you. I take a deep breath, sliding my hand down into my panties.I feel my throbbing clit beneath my hand, then I pull my hand out, reaching for the sheets to cover my body. I slide my fingers in again, and this time I do not stop. With my eyes shut, I bite my lips as I massage my needy c
GINGER:The entire evening, I can’t stop thinking about the text. I want to back out now, but Caspian already has the notion I don’t really like him—which isn’t totally true. Everything was fine until last night, and boy, do I wish I could erase Hu from my memory.“Remember, you have to be home before nine!” Mother yells as I make my way out the door.I wish I’d get hit by a truck, I mutter under my breath, flagging down a taxi.**As the taxi pulls up in front of Caspian’s house, I feel like a heavy weight is crushing my chest. I pay the driver and step out, my legs heavier with every step toward the front door. It’s only a stone’s throw away, but it feels like I’m on a journey of a thousand miles. Fuck… is this what guilt feels like?The front door swings open before I even knock. Caspian stands there, my ever-loving boyfriend, with a huge grin stretched across his face.“You came,” he says cheerfully, pulling me into a hug. His hand rests on my waist, while I stand there motionless
HU:I should’ve never come to this stupid get-together after what happened between Ginger and me. But what excuse could I possibly give Caspian? Oh, I had sex with your girlfriend, so I won’t make it. Fuck. I’m screwed, and I knew it the second Ginger walked through that door.It’s unlike me to think about a girl twice. I’ve got enough life problems without adding her to the list. But she’s everywhere in my mind. For the past twenty-four hours, I’ve barely thought about my father—just Ginger. Her beautiful face. Her perfect body.“Fuck,” I sigh, running a hand through my hair as I pull open the back door and step onto the soft grass, the cool night air hitting my skin.I thought maybe I’d get over this weird feeling twisting in my chest, but every time I see her, it flares up like wildfire. Watching Caspian’s arm slung around her like she belongs to him… Wait, she does belong to him. But that only makes the strange energy coursing through my veins worse, urging me to rip his fucking h
Ginger’s POV:I remain on Caspian’s body, and he keeps caressing me gently, making me feel even worse. The room is cool with the fans on, but I can hardly breathe. When I can no longer take it, I let out a forced breath and stand up.“Are you okay?” he asks, and I nod with a smile.“I was thinking we could do something—maybe watch a movie,” I say, and he nods.“That would be great. I should get some snacks downstairs.” He starts to leave, but I quickly reach for his arms.I need an excuse to leave, and this is my chance.“Why don’t you pick out the movies while I grab the snacks?” I ask, and he nods. I push myself out of bed quickly and head out of the room.Once in the corridor, I pause with my back against the door to catch my breath. This is one hell of a rollercoaster, and it’s making me lose my mind. The only upside is that I haven’t thought of my dad. My body is too busy processing these stupid feelings for a boy who doesn’t giv
HU:Last night was literally one of the worst for me. I could barely sleep after I opened my big mouth. How can I sleep when Ginger is walking around with the thought that I have feelings for her? Yes, I do, but she isn’t supposed to know—not like this. In fact, never. Caspian would end my life if he knew, and I’m not ready to lose years of friendship.The entire night, I watched her window like a police guard on patrol. She doesn’t want me around, and I know it’s wrong to even think about sneaking in at midnight, but a part of me wants to.**The buzz of my alarm pulls me awake, letting me know I finally got some sleep. The first thing I do as I stand is look out the window. Hers is still shut—she is really standing on business. I let out a sigh, then quickly dress for school, rushing downstairs to have my breakfast before the entire family makes it to the dining room.“Leaving so early?” Mother asks
HU: I am about to turn around and leave like I didn’t see them, but Caspian yells out my name. “Hu, my man!” I curse under my breath and plant a smile on my face, walking up to him. He extends his hand, and I shake it before he pulls me close, our shoulders brushing. “You’ve been scarce and quiet these days. What’s up?” he asks, and I fight hard not to meet Ginger’s gaze. “Nothing. I’m cool. Just on the low,” I reply, but my chest tightens when I see Ruby walking toward us. I don’t know what she’s going to do, but I know it won’t be good. Running isn’t an option, so I stay still, hoping she won’t open her big mouth. “Hey, guys,” she greets with the biggest grin, then turns to Ginger. “Hi.” Her tone is too friendly. It’s not go
GINGER:Ginger’s breath comes in ragged gasps as she rushes down the hallway, her vision blurred with unshed tears. The echo of the crowd’s cheers for the Blue Shadow Pack rings in her ears, each sound amplifying the shame tightening in her chest. She cost them the game. She fell at the most critical moment.She doesn’t stop until she reaches the empty corridor leading to the locker rooms, but heavy footsteps pound behind her, gaining on her fast.“Ginger!” Hu calls out, but she doesn’t slow down.She clenches her fists, trying to ignore him, but within seconds, he is beside her. His longer strides close the distance between them, and before she can pull away, his hand curls gently around her wrist, forcing her to stop.“Leave me alone, Hu,” she whispers, her voice cracking.He doesn’t let go. “Why are you beating yourself up?”
GINGER:The locker room is buzzing with high energy as we prepare for the match against the Blue Shadow Pack. Everyone is talking over one another, debating who should go on the field first. I sit on the edge of the bench, tying my skates, trying to block out the noise. Then I see a pair of familiar shoes walking toward me, stopping inches away.Ruby speaks before I can look up. “She shouldn’t play.” Her tone is laced with disgust. “She’s too fat, and she’ll slow us down and make us lose.”My fingers freeze over my laces as I lift my head to see her standing with her hands on her waist.Silence falls for a brief second before a few girls start giggling, while others shift uncomfortably. My chest tightens as heat rises to my face, and I will myself to look unaffected, but my nails dig into my palm.“Ruby might be right,” someone says
GINGER:I push the door open, my body still damp from the pool, Hu’s oversized shirt clinging to me. My heart sinks the moment I step inside and find Janet’s side of the bed empty. Worse, my property is all over the place. My clothes are on the ground, and they are wet.A shaky breath escapes me as I scan the room. I walk over to one of my shirts, lifting it off the ground, watching as water drips from it. Tears well up in my eyes, and I try so hard to ground myself, but they keep falling. I know I hurt someone, but this is too much karma for my sins. A choked sob slips out, and suddenly, I sink onto the cold floor, pulling my knees to my chest.I try to breathe, but it feels like I’m suffocating. Like the walls are closing in. And then it happens before I can stop it. The darkness I dread envelops me, pulling me under like quicksand, dragging me back to a place I never want to be.The room fades, and it is just me, standing with my father, watching him p
GINGER:“Hey! Stop!” I call out to Janet as she catwalks away toward the pool exit.I cannot believe I bought into her nerdy girl nonsense because, looking at her now, I can barely see that. She is the typical mean girl—the ones who spend their entire lives investing in heavy skincare, starving themselves to have an enviable build. She is… Ruby!“Hey! Stop!” I try again, pushing myself against the edge of the pool, but she only laughs, tilting her head.“Why?” she taunts. Then she pauses, a smile curling on her lips as we hear the voices of approaching students. “You better stay in there because I doubt anyone wants to see your mom tits.” She glares at my bra. “I cannot believe those boys are fighting over this. Ew.”I suck in a shaky breath, trying to hold myself together. “Don’t do this, please. It isn’t fair.&r
GINGER:Janet and I swim around for a while, splashing each other and floating lazily in the cool water. The sun shines down on us, warming my skin despite the chill of the pool. It’s peaceful having just the two of us here, and a part of me dreads that this will soon end when the other students arrive.Janet swims closer, resting her arms on the edge of the pool. “You know,” she starts, her voice softer than before, “I just want to say… I’m really sorry for everything. The bullying, the rumors, all of it. You don’t deserve that.”Hearing her say this doesn’t make me feel better about myself, because a part of me feels like I deserve it. I hurt Caspian, and this is probably my karma.I shake my head at her.“I know I can’t change what’s happened,” she continues, “but I just want you to know that I’m here for you,
Ginger:The blare of a loud alarm sends both Janet and me flying from our beds. I land back on the bed on my butt. It hurts a bit, so I rub it slightly while Janet tries to stand on the ground where she has fallen.“Attention, students! This is Coach Billy, and I am here to officially welcome all of you.” I groan at his voice, which scratches my ears as it blares through the speakers. “I know I met some of you yesterday, but on behalf of the Red Pack students who arrived late, I am welcoming you guys once more.”The Red Pack is here? I question myself.I had no idea my pack had a hockey team now in high school. I pray silently that I do not see anyone I know, because I do not want to answer questions.“The first match is tomorrow, but for today, you can mingle, make friends, and have fun together because it is a Sunday.” He yells a slogan that I can barely make out. &
GINGER:Sometimes I wonder why Hu will not just leave me alone, and other times I am kind of glad. If he did not care about what his actions did to me, then I probably would have killed myself.Today, the hockey team is traveling to the Blue Shadow Pack. My luggage is almost empty, because over the past two weeks, I have put on a lot of weight. As I stare at myself in the mirror, all I feel is disgust. My arms look flabby, and I cannot help but pull at the bulging fat on my back. I have stress-eaten so much that I did not realize it until now. No wonder I have been getting bullied so much.My heart aches as I think of the best way to mask the fat. I rush to my wardrobe, pulling out a tape. Drawing out a long streak, I place the end on my left armpit, then wrap it around, looking at the mirror. It looks good, so I continue until I feel comfortable. Then I grab my shirt, draping it over my body. Examining myself in the mirror,
HU:The days go by fast, and with each passing second, my life keeps crashing down. Every day is torture, watching Ginger get bullied because of my stupid ass, but I always make sure to go after whoever is responsible. Yet, they never seem to stop. Worse, I cannot even tell who is behind it. It could be Ruby or even Hana. I want to confront them, but I don’t even know what to say.It’s been two weeks, and it feels like hell. Today is Friday, the last day of school before we travel for the hockey match. I am in my room packing, and I cannot help but stare at Ginger’s window. I wish we were still on good terms because we would be talking by now. Maybe I would send her a pic of my room and how horribly packing is going. Then I would probably sneak into her room to help her with hers, sleep over, and end up hurriedly packing the next day.The thought of it sends heat through my core as a smile forms on my face. Her curtains are shut, but I can picture her perfectly.“I can’t believe that
GINGER:I don’t wait after practice is over. The moment Coach Greg dismisses us, I grab my bag and head straight for the exit. A lot of thoughts swirl in my head, especially the coldness I saw in Caspian’s eyes when I expected him to defend me. I know I did him wrong, but god, it fucking hurts, and I wish there was something I could do to make it stop.I barely make it down the hallway when a hand grabs my wrist, yanking me into the janitor’s closet. I know it is Hu, and the moment he flicks the lights on, I stare at him, my brows crumpling.“What the hell is wrong with you?” I ask when our eyes meet. His eyes look troubled, but I remind myself that it is not my place to comfort him, especially considering the fact that he acted like an asshole.“Ginger, please,” he says in a low voice, and I hold his gaze for a moment. “I am sorry for what happened at the wedding. I wasn’t in the right state of mind, and believe me, the last thing I want is for you to be hurt.”Not even an ounce of p