CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

NIKLAUS

I stood at the entrance of The Mayhem: School for Gifted, feeling the weight of the moment, like a ton of bricks on my chest. Today, the big shot, Alpha Skylar, head of the Alpha council, wanted to introduce me to the crew I'd be working with. I decided to slap on that custom-made fake eye, trying not to freak out the professors. I strolled past all the curious looks, heading in with purpose. And there he was, Alpha Skylar, looking all commanding and serious, like Negan from The Walking Dead. "Hey, Niklaus," he greeted, with his Luna Sparrow right beside him, radiating warmth compared to Skylar's tough vibe. "We've been waiting for you."Thanks, Alpha Skylar," I said, playing along. Then Skylar's eyes landed on my lonely self. "So, where's your Luna, Niklaus?" he asked, with a touch of concern. I let out a bitter laugh. "Haven't found her yet."That's a tough break," Skylar sympathized. "You hit 35 this year, and that's pretty late for an Alpha not to have a mate."I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that. "Those are just some crazy rules made up by folks out of touch with reality. I'm a rogue, I make my own rules. These traditions don't hold me back. And who's to say I won't find my mate right here?" I declared, my defiance loud and clear.

So, I followed Alpha Skylar into this room, and let me tell you, it was a real freak show in there. Weirdest bunch of professors you've seen. The ladies were eyeing me like I was their next meal, all seductive and whatnot. Meanwhile, the guys were either giving me these nasty looks or just straight-up hating on me, mixed in with a healthy dose of fear. Then Skylar pipes up, announcing my gig as the wolf-whisperer for the young ones, teaching them how to throw a punch and plan a fight. You'd think I'd suggested setting the place on fire with the reaction I got. They all started shouting, saying they wouldn't stand for it, waving their pitchforks in my direction because I'm the big, bad rogue wolf. I let them have their moment, but eventually, I couldn't hold back. I stood tall and told 'em straight, "Hey, don't forget, I'm not just a rogue. I'm an Alpha, and that comes with some respect, even if I had to go off the grid. There's a story behind every path we take, and you'll get mine in due time."That dropped a silence on the place, my words hanging there, daring anyone to challenge 'em.

I turned to Alpha Skylar, getting a bit fed up. "Alright, that's plenty of meet and greet for today," I stated firmly. "I think it's time for me to bounce."Skylar nodded, offering some advice. "Go snoop around the campus. Get the lay of the land."I gave a nod of acknowledgment, my eyes doing a final sweep of the room, silently promising I wouldn't forget this little welcome party. Then, I trailed after Alpha Skylar. As we strolled, I dropped some wisdom on him. "Don't let their yapping get to you," I told him in a low tone. "I know my own value. I've pulled off plenty, even after you gave me the boot five years back over that whole mess."A flash of the past zipped through my mind, my jaw clenching for a split second. I covered it up well, meeting Skylar's gaze with a resolute look. "Yeah, I'm worth every bit of it. And I also know why you brought me here. You're worried I might be scheming some rebellion with your council pals, sneaking their pack members in for hush-hush training."

Walking away, I noticed Skylar's smile fading. It brought back all those memories of how he'd shown me the door after that brutal attack that took my parents, right on the day I was meant to take on the Alpha role, five years back. All of that was on my mind as I strolled into a joint, half cafe, half bar. I'd heard it was a regular haunt for Matt Salvador's Mate, Crystal Maynard. The place had that special draw, pulling in folks with ties to the supernatural world, like magnets to metal.

I pushed through the glass door and got hit with a sweet vanilla scent that sent my wolf instincts into overdrive. I had to fight it down, looking around to find the source. There she was, a girl sitting at the bar, her ginger hair flowing down to her hips. Before I knew it, I was next to her. I took note of the glass in her hand, filled with some strong stuff. I nodded to the bartender, and he slid a glass of rum my way. Our eyes locked, and I was lost in the hazel green gaze that seemed to see right through me.

I have seen her in photos and some videos clips that my beta Marcle brought me. But all of that was nothing compared to what she looked like when she's sitting in front of my eyes.

Her eyes, glazed from the booze, hinted that she wasn't used to this kind of hard drink. Out of nowhere, my wolf pushed me to talk to her. It was weird, 'cause I really shouldn't be chatting her up. She was Crystal Maynard, Matt Salvador's mate—the girl I was supposed to kill. But my wolf was feeling something else, maybe a protective streak. It kicked in when a bunch of drunk idiots started causing trouble, and I instinctively shielded her, using my body as a barrier.

Things got wild, and I ended up messing up my hand while dealing with those drunk idiots. Crystal, in her tipsy state, seemed to snap back a bit when she saw my busted hand. She fished out a first-aid kit from her bag, blabbering about how she always carries one, just in case. She patched me up, saying she only had a Peppa Pig bandage to offer.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her candidness. "Well, Peppa Pig or not, it's doing the job just fine," I remarked, trying to keep the mood light. She giggled, her hazel eyes sparkling with a mix of tipsy amusement and gratitude. "I'm glad you think so."

Her touch sent this unexpected jolt up my arm, waking up something primal. I couldn't take my eyes off her, like a wolf sizing up its prey.

I couldn't help but ask why she was hitting the bottle solo, "So, why'd your mate stand you up?" I asked, leaning in a bit, genuinely curious.

She spilled the beans, admitting that this wasn't her usual scene. "I don't know. He's been distant lately, and I thought maybe this would be a chance for us to reconnect. But... I guess I was wrong."

It got her doubting herself, thinking she must not be all that. My wolf growled in my head, angered by the thought of someone neglecting a mate like her. "Well, he's a damn fool for letting someone like you down," I said, my voice carrying a touch of conviction.

But I couldn't let myself get drawn in deeper. I reached out, brushed a strand of hair from her face, and told her straight up, "You're beautiful." Then, I turned and split, reminding myself that I'd have to do the inevitable soon, and getting too close would only make it harder.

I'm sure she won't remember any of this tomorrow. She surely wouldn't remember that she met me.