Third-person POV"It's you!" Liam's voice was low and menacing.Ashley's heart raced, her entire body seeming to lose its warmth. Why did Liam suddenly guess it was her? What had she exposed?Was it her words just now?! No! No... as long as there's a phone, everyone in the school can see that video; she only stated a fact!Ashley panicked, thinking perhaps Liam was just trying to scare her into confessing.Her throat felt constricted, painful even, as she struggled to speak."What?? I don't know what you're talking about, Professor," she managed to say.But suddenly, Liam laughed. That smile made Ashley dazed; it was the first time Liam had smiled at her. It felt like his smile swept away all the gloom in her heart, replacing it with sunshine and a gentle breeze.But the next moment, Liam's eyes turned cold again."That video."Ashley denied it outright, "It wasn't me. I saw it from someone else's post...""If it wasn't you, and all you know is this useless information, then you can l
Faye's POVEven though I was mentally prepared, stepping into the school still startled me with countless gazes.As yesterday's gossip center, it's not that I'm narcissistic, but really, everyone was looking at me.Fine, I woke up early and did my makeup beautifully just to boost my confidence for this kind of situation.But it wasn't just the stares; even worse, there was a buzzing chatter reaching my ears."Was that girl in yesterday's video?""Is she really dating Liam?! Why her!""She actually has two fated mates?! Isn't anyone jealous of her?! I envy her so much..."Various voices assaulted my eardrums, so I had no choice but to put on my headphones, pull up my coat's hood, actively blocking out their gazes and discussions.When I walked into the classroom building, the commotion didn't ease up; instead, it multiplied several times over.The not-so-spacious corridor was packed with people on both sides. I felt like an animal living in a zoo, and they were the spectators."Faye, y
Faye's POVYou know what?A good way to cover up or end a hot topic event is to divert attention to another hot topic.Most people's memories are no different from goldfish, they forget what happened before real quick.As I walked into school again, I knew something new had happened.Nobody was throwing probing, gossip-filled glances at me anymore, because that was just a waste of time. After all, I was just a washed-up gossip queen.Now, a new gossip star is rising.Classmates are eagerly devouring the latest issue of "Moonlight Detective".I couldn't help but show one of the few relaxed smiles I've had in the past few days.Hedy asked me to meet her at the school café.As I walked into the café, I spotted Hedy in the corner, wearing a hat which was unusual for her (she loves wearing hats), trying to shrink her body at the small round table."Hedy!" I called out to her.She lowered the brim of her hat and quickly got up to pull me down to sit with her. "Shhh, shhh!""What's up?" I co
Third-Person POVThe video only lasted on the school's bulletin board screens for less than half an hour.However, gossip spreads as fast as a deadly virus.Rumors about Ashley were like a stone thrown into an already turbulent pond, with ripples spreading far and wide.Days passed, and the gossip not only didn’t die down but became even more intense. It seemed as if some magic was turning the rumors into real events.More and more people started to anonymously expose Ashley. The informants claimed that Ashley had been bullying others on campus since middle school, continuing through high school and into college.The revelations were disturbing. Ashley seemed like a bullying machine, as if her life revolved around bullying others, with attending school being just a side task.Ashley’s most common tactic was using her position as cheerleading captain to gather girls who idolized her, forming cliques to bully those who didn’t conform, including weaker boys.The most shocking revelation
Third-Person POVThe day of the match had finally arrived.Ashley arrived early backstage at the stadium. For some reason, she felt inexplicably nervous.She thought she should be more relaxed. After all, this wasn’t Silver Moon University. There weren’t many prying eyes here, and those annoying "bugs" wouldn’t be present.She disliked the feeling of being scrutinized; she was always the one to gaze at others.Here, not many people knew her. She was still the "star" in tight outfits and short skirts, performing high-difficulty stunts in the cheerleading squad.She should have felt free, but she didn’t.Nervousness felt like an invisible collar around her neck, nearly choking her.Ashley took deep breaths, “Relax, you can do it, Ashley.”This was a very important match. Two major leagues were competing for the season championship, and the cheerleading performance had to be flawless.As the cheerleading captain, her role was crucial.Ashley exhaled deeply in front of the mirror, putting
Third-Person POVThe halftime break between the second and third quarters was long.Nate walked toward the resting area, helmet in hand.Coach Vince stormed over, pointing at Nate and yelling, “What the hell were you playing out there?!”Already furious, Nate snapped back even more defiantly, “What’s wrong with my performance?! Who scored the 6 points?”“That was just a field goal! Before the game, I told you to aim for touchdowns! Do you understand that?!”Nate threw his helmet with a loud “smack.” “Of course I know we need touchdowns! But what’s the use when these idiots can’t defend?!”The teammates, initially dejected, now looked up in disbelief at Nate’s words.“What did you say?” One guy stepped forward, eyes blazing with anger. “Nate, what do you mean? It’s your strategy that got us into this mess, so why are you blaming us?!”Nate erupted, “What’s wrong with my strategy?! Aggressive offense is the fastest way to score!”Coach Vince was barely containing his frustration.The gu
Faye's POVThe game was over.Unsurprisingly, Leander led Silver Moon to another championship victory.I knew he could do it. I always knew.Liam and I exchanged a silent glance, sharing our emotions. After being attacked by the fox, we didn’t let Mom and Louis know about it. We didn’t want them to worry, so only we knew how difficult a time Leander had endured.But now, he was back!Flowers and applause surged like waves towards Leander at the center of the field. He was a natural athlete, a star quarterback.Leander's teammates hugged him, all of them removing their helmets, their smiling faces enlarged on the big screen. Coach Vince also appeared, and the Silver Moon fans recognized him, giving him more applause. Vince took off his cap, rubbed his eyes, and covered his face.In a corner where the camera couldn't reach, Nate slowly walked towards the team, but no one paid him any attention.I couldn’t help but cry. I didn’t know why, but seeing this scene moved me deeply. Thankfully
Faye's POV“I do!”I said those words to Liam and Leander, extending my right hand towards them.Liam was about to slip a ring onto my finger when a sudden gust of wind blew them away like sand.I reached out wildly to grab them, but my hands found nothing.“Don’t go!!”I jolted awake, finding myself in an unfamiliar place. It was a large, luxurious room, looking like a hotel.Was I dreaming just now...? Did Liam and Leander really propose to me, or was it all a dream?I fumbled around the bed and noticed there was still a faint warmth on both sides, indicating someone had been there not long ago and had just left.There was a strange little thing on the ring finger of my right hand. I lifted my hand and saw a ring I had never seen before, the diamond’s light glaring in the morning sun.Luckily, it wasn’t all a dream!Sunlight poured onto my face, warm and comforting. I smiled foolishly. When I raised my hand to shield the sun, I realized my body felt sore as if I had been badly beate
During that time, Joanna was always off somewhere, traveling by herself. No one knew where she went. She would leave for long stretches, sometimes disappearing for years, and didn’t bother checking in with anyone. Naturally, her parents freaked out, not knowing if she was safe or if something bad had happened to her.As I sat there by the water, Sasha handed me a drink. It was this weird, green liquid that I wasn’t sure about at first, but after a sip, I realized it was lemon tea, with a hint of mint. Not bad at all, really refreshing."And then?" I asked, curious about what happened next with Joanna.Sasha sighed, shaking her head like she regretted it a little. “Well, her parents eventually went to Michael's dad for help. Since Michael was good at handling this kind of stuff, his dad put him in charge of finding Joanna.”I sipped my drink again, enjoying the way the mint cooled me down from the inside. "So, Michael went after her?"Sasha looked at me with a mix of guilt and understa
Joanna might be an amazing actress, but honestly? She's not fooling me. It's like she's playing a role, trying to be someone she's not—probably because she can't stand that Michael and I are together. I could feel her trying to mess with us, but I wasn’t about to let her win. If she wanted to act, well, I could act too.The sunlight felt warm on my skin as I stood there watching her. I smiled confidently, letting Joanna see me looking totally unbothered. She dove into the water with all the grace of a fish. I had to admit, she did have an incredible body—she was rocking a white bikini that had these thin straps crisscrossing over her chest and waist, making her look like some kind of living sculpture. Even the lower half of her bikini had those same crisscrossing straps under her belly button. Honestly, it was a look.Meanwhile, Sasha was already in the water, her swimsuit much louder and flashier than Joanna's. She was wearing this fluorescent green bikini with stripes and a skirt th
Joanna’s POV“So, I’m not the kind of girl who lets a man push her around. After all that happened, I left anyway. But no matter how long I stayed away, I’d always get messages from Michael. Some of them were about family stuff, other times he’d talk about finding his mate or being engaged or something. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for me during that time.”Despite saying she was troubled, a small smile crept onto Joanna's face as if remembering something amusing.“Eventually, I figured out that all of those excuses were just Michael’s way of trying to get me to come back. There was never a fiancée or mate. It was all just a big story. So, I was a little surprised when I heard this morning that you two were mates. But, hey, you’re mates arranged by the Moon Goddess, so everything should be fine, right?”Joanna finished her little story with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with herself. But me? I was furious. My fists were clenched so tightly, I could feel my nails digging into
It wasn't until Michael had completely disappeared from view that I became aware of the unsettling stare from behind. I could feel Joanna’s eyes boring into me, but I refused to acknowledge her directly. Instead, I turned and made my way toward my room, hoping to escape the tension she brought with her presence.But, of course, Joanna just happened to be standing in my path.She wore that same infuriating smile, the one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Your relationship with Michael seems... strong. You’re quite adorable when you're with him, Cecily."Her words dripped with something—sarcasm? Malice? It was hard to tell. I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but I didn’t care to find out. I wasn’t in the mood to engage with her."I'm heading back to my room," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible."I know I upset you yesterday, and for that, I’m truly sorry," Joanna replied, taking a step closer as if that would make her words more sincere. "I didn’t mean to offend you. Le
Joanna's giggle echoed through the room, its beauty contrasting with the venomous intent behind it. Her voice was as sweet as a siren’s, but I could feel the malicious undertones. "Former friends, Sasha? That's not quite accurate. Michael and I were more than friends."I knew Joanna was up to no good. I had seen it in her eyes the moment I met her. Whatever her goal was—whether to make me jealous, provoke anger, or worse—I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.She turned her gaze toward Michael, who remained focused on his coffee cup, now almost empty. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence, which gave me some comfort, but Joanna wasn’t finished. "If you two are truly mates," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "may I ask, was it the Moon Goddess who arranged this, or did Michael choose you?"Her question cut deep, even though it was wrapped in a seemingly casual tone. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf surging with rage. Joanna was impl
"Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up to you?" Michael asked, his voice soft and tender. As he spoke, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a warm shiver down my spine, the closeness between us undeniable.I found myself smiling at Michael, wondering how I hadn’t fully appreciated this side of him before. I had always been so caught up in our arguments, his domineering ways, and the battles for control that I had somehow missed these moments where he could be... sweet. The realization washed over me—there was more to him than the arrogance and possessiveness I had been focusing on. If I allowed myself to let go of the tension between us, there was an undeniable pleasure in being with him.“I’d like to go downstairs to eat,” I replied with a soft smile, feeling more at ease than I had in a while.We walked down the stairs together, and I found myself momentarily at peace. But as we descended, my mind wande
The night had ended in a comfortable silence, with both of us content in each other's presence. By the time I had finished my tasks, Michael was still seated at his desk, absorbed in a pile of paperwork. His brow furrowed in concentration, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb him, nor did I want to leave his side. So, I watched him, feeling the steady calm he radiated.Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the warm cocoon of the study, lulled by the scent of Michael that filled the room. It wasn’t long before I felt someone gently lift me. I knew it was Michael, and feeling safe in his arms, I allowed myself to drift deeper into sleep.When I finally woke up, the morning light was already creeping in through the curtains. My body felt well-rested and refreshed. At some point during the night, I had been changed into my pajamas, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had been the one to wash and dress me while I slept. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought.I glanced to my
"Oh god, absolutely not," Michael exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, we had a relationship in the past, but we broke up a long time ago. Joanna came by a few times after that, but it wasn’t for me. She had business with Samuel and others. I was too busy to even notice when she came or left. But I swear, Cecily, nothing happened between us after we ended things."I turned to face him, my mind clouded with uncertainty. Should I believe him? Jealousy burned inside me, poisoning my thoughts. The mere idea of him being intimate with Joanna made my skin crawl."My little wolf," Michael's voice softened as he lifted my chin gently. His expression was tinged with regret. "If you want me to apologize for my past, I can. But remember, I’ve lived a long life, Cecily. I’m not a saint—I’ve had relationships, felt emotions, just like anyone else. But if you're blaming me for something more than that, it's unfair. I’ve never been in two relationships at the same time. When I met you,
"I can't just pretend nothing happened, especially after my wolf reacted the way it did." I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I need to know, Michael. I'd rather hear it from you than find out through Sasha."Michael hesitated, his brown eyes locked on mine as if weighing his options. I held his gaze, determined to get the truth. If he wanted honesty between us, he needed to practice it too."Okay," he muttered, running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "She's... a friend."A friend? Joanna's behavior toward Michael was far from friendly. It was passionate, intense—nothing like the casual interactions between Sasha and him. I took a deep breath and asked the question I had been avoiding but couldn't ignore any longer."An ex-girlfriend?"Michael's expression stiffened. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t shake his head either. Silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I knew the truth was coming, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. If Michael wanted me to be honest with