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 clit, sliding my fingers down my folds while I try to think of Caspian. His face forms in my mind, and I imagine drowning in his kiss. Everything goes well until I almost hit my climax, and suddenly Caspian’s face is replaced with Hu’s.
I want to stop, but my body cannot. The mere thought of Hu’s lips on my skin drives me to the edge, and in no time, my body jerks as I am bound in the most ecstatic pleasure.
“Hu.” his name leaves my lips in a breathy moan.
“Yeah,” his voice cuts through the silence, making my blood run cold. My eyes snap open, and I see him standing inches away from me.
“Argh…” I barely finish my sentence when Hu places his hand over my lips, closing the space between us.
My heart races as I stare at him. He takes a deep breath, then speaks in a low tone.
“Do not scream, please.”
I nod, and he slowly takes his hand away from my lips, his eyes still locked on mine. His hands press down on each side of the bed, trapping my body in between.
“How did you get in here?” I ask in a trembling voice.
He cocks his head toward the window.
“And how long have you been here?”
“Long enough to see you finish,” he says, and his words make my face heat up as embarrassment washes over me.
“I liked the way you said my name,” he adds, inching closer. My heart pounds as I glare into his eyes, getting lost in them for a moment. His lips brush against mine, but something snaps in me at once, and I press my palm to his face, pushing it away.
“You are fucking sick!” The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them. The warmth and love I feel for him instantly turns to disgust. My wolf growls angrily.
He backs away, holding up his arms in mock surrender.
“Okay, okay, let’s take this slowly.”
I open the cover on my body as he says this, then swing my legs off the bed.
“Why the hell are you here?” I demand, my brows furrowed.
“To apologize,” he answers immediately, his voice softer now. He runs a hand through his wavy black hair. “Last night, I was tipsy, and I had no clue it was your first. I knew we should’ve stopped, but it felt so right, and I didn’t want to stop.”
His words make my stomach churn.
“Were you tipsy this morning when Ruby bullied me and made the entire school laugh? And what did you do? Kiss her.” I scoff, and he sighs.
“I’m sorry about that too, and I knew I should’ve—”
“But you didn’t.”
“Ginger, I don’t want to argue. I’m here because Hana wouldn’t stop talking about you and Caspian. Then she mentioned he would be your first, and I felt terrible knowing it was me.”
“Is that really it?” I ask, and his brows furrow into a frown.
“Or do you just not want me to be with Caspian?” He falls silent.
“Tell me, Hu!” My voice rises.
“I want you,” he whispers, and I shake my head, getting to my feet.
“You want me, but you can never date me because you don’t do girlfriends. But the Moon Goddess forbid Caspian should have me because you feel something between us, and you want to hold on to that while we keep fucking.” I scoff, looking into his eyes. He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
“You don’t want me, Hu. You don’t even know what the fuck you want. Or do you think I don’t know you’re an eclipse baby?”
“Well, Caspian isn’t any different!” he shoots back.
“He loves, and he is loyal. That is different, Hu. Caspian wouldn’t have walked away from me after having sex with me, but you did.”
“…And I said I’m sorry,” he mumbles.
“Yeah, just like you said it was a mistake.” I remind him, then try to turn away, but he catches my wrist, pulling me to his chest. I meet his gaze, and as I look into his beautiful eyes, I wonder how someone can be this beautiful with a dark heart.
“We both know someone will get hurt in this relationship, and that person is Caspian. I walked in on you, touching yourself to the thoughts of me. I have no clue what this is, but I know you feel it too, Ginger,” he whispers into my ear, his lips brushing against it slightly.
I swallow hard, debating whether to tell him about the mate bond, but I don’t want to get hurt further. Caspian is my mate too, and I would be a damned fool to choose someone who would hurt me.
“I’m not going to let you just fuck around with me, Hu. I did whatever I could to get the thoughts of you out of my system. It is called first-time sex for a reason, and once I get with Caspian, you’ll be history. So don’t feel too good about yourself.”
I try to sound confident, and the way his eyes narrow shows his ego is faltering.
“Get out!” I grit my teeth, and his lips curl into a cocky smirk as he tries to regain his composure.
Before he can respond, my mother’s voice shoots through the corridor.
“Ginger!”
Panic surges through me, and I feel my soul leave for a moment. I grab Hu’s hand, shoving him toward the closet.
“Quick, hide,” I say in a low tone, and he frowns, but gets in just in time as my mom opens the door.
I walk toward her.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, and I nod, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as I try to maintain a smile.
“It sounded like you were having an argument, but I didn’t see anyone walk through the door, and—”
“I was rehearsing,” I say, and she raises a brow. “I signed up for this drama club Hana introduced me to.”
The lie comes out naturally, and I feel relief as she nods.
“Glad you are fitting in. Well, dinner is ready,” she says, and I nod as she turns to leave.
“Can I go to Hana’s after dinner? We have to go across town to her friend’s place, Wendy.”
She is about to speak, but I beat her to it. “I won’t stay out late, and I am fitting in perfectly.”
“Sure. As long as Hana is there,” she says, then she leaves.
I shut the door, leaning against it as I inhale deeply.
At that moment, Hu opens the closet.
“Lying to your mother to see a guy?”
“Does the Luna know her son climbs through girls’ windows?” He stays silent, and I walk to the window, opening it. “So, stay out of my business and get out!”
He leaves at once, and I throw myself onto the bed, rubbing my temples.
I didn’t know what I wanted before, but now I do. Hu is too much of an asshole, so I will just choose Caspian, and no one will know of that night with Hu. I take out my phone to text Caspian.
“I’ll see you in thirty minutes. I love you.”
I sigh, tossing my phone away, waiting for his message.
In less than a second, it beeps with a notification. I reach for it, hoping to see a reply from Caspian, but it is an unknown number texting me.
“I know what you did last night with Hu. See you at Caspian’s, and I hope he is eager to know, too.”
My blood runs cold as I read the message. Someone knows our secret, but who could it be?
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
HU:The rink falls silent, and I immediately regret my action. Worse, I have no explanation to give Caspian for why I yelled at him that way. All eyes shift to me, but my focus stays locked on Caspian. His brows shoot up, and Ginger stiffens in his arms. A second passes, then another, before he tilts his head and lets out a chuckle.“Damn, Hu. I didn’t know I was disrupting a dictatorship.” He tries to make a lighthearted joke, and I immediately understand that he thinks I’m having one of my episodes, but this isn’t it.Some students murmur as my grip tightens around my hockey stick, my jaw aching from how hard I’m clenching it.“As I was saying!” I raise my voice, further solidifying his suspicions. The rink falls silent again. “We’re starting with drills. Speed laps first. If you can’t keep up, don’t bother showing up next time!”Caspian shakes his head at me, silently
HU:As I make my rounds on the rink, I spot Ruby skating toward me, and I let out a sigh. When she gets close enough, I come to a stop.“What on earth has been going on?” she demands, a frown forming on my face as I stare at her.“I have no idea what you are talking about.”She scoffs at my response, folding her arms. She nearly trips, but I instinctively reach out and grab her hand.“Oh, please do not save me. Your hands have already been on her!” she growls, and I release her with another sigh.“Are you serious right now? She was about to fall, and—”“You yelled at Caspian because of her, and I know that.”I stop speaking as she cuts me off. For a moment, there is silence between us.“You claimed you had no feelings for her, but you are just a liar. Worse still, you are not even trying to hide it. People have already noticed because I heard the gir
GINGER: Shock is an understatement for what I feel right now. It’s like the universe is conspiring against me, determined to make me suffer. I could have trained with Caspian, but somehow, fate decided against it. The coach continues speaking while I remain frozen, Caspian stroking my hand in reassurance. Meanwhile, he is assigned to some random girl. “Hey, loosen up,” Caspian whispers in my ear to calm me. I glance up at him, my breath caught in my throat. “Hu is my best friend,” he continues. “I promise, you’re in excellent hands. He can be tough, and yeah, he has his issues, but not everything is his fault. Deep down, he’s a good guy.” I force a smile and nod, even though my stomach is churning. If only Caspian knew that Hu’s outburst earlie
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