Homewrecker!

Vienna's POV: 

I finally reached the classroom and sat down in my seat with a thump. It took a few more minutes for my shaky breaths to become stable. 

And as the anger that had been boiling in my chest slowly started to simmer down, it left me with a horrifying realization. 

‘What have I done?’

I had kissed someone. Not just someone, but a complete stranger… in public! My cheeks started to burn, and I quickly laid my head down on the desk. 

‘Although I have spent the last twenty one years as a werewolf, today is the first time I have behaved more like an animal than a civilized human!

I was getting secondhand embarrassment from myself… I had kissed him without consent, and I didn’t even know if I had apologized to him after. 

“Maybe it wasn't so bad. He did kiss you back, you know?”

A voice echoed in my mind, trying to console me– but I crushed it within seconds. Whether he liked it or not, it didn’t change the fact that I had crossed a line. 

I sighed in frustration. 

It was my first kiss. My first kiss ever, given to some random guy I didn’t even know. I didn't even know when or if I'll see him–

“Good morning, class."

A deep voice broke through my spiraling thoughts, and the classroom immediately went silent. 

I raised my head, curious to see who it was; but the next moment, my heart dropped into my stomach.

Hazel eyes. 

A set of very familiar hazel eyes. 

I gulped, it was him. 

The guy I’d kissed. 

Here? In my class? Was he a new student or something? 

Before I could gather my thoughts, his voice rang out again.

“I’m Kai Maddox, your new English professor."

I could have sworn the room ran out of oxygen right at that moment, because my lungs surely weren't getting any. He was my professor!?

A cold shiver ran down my spine. ‘Congratulations, Vienna Belmont. Your birthday is also the date you die. How convenient!’

I knew I would run into him again, sooner or later. After all, I had kissed him at this very college. Honestly, a part of me wanted that too; so that I could apologize, or explain…or something. 

But Moon Goddess, why now! Why did I have to face him, just minutes after publicly assaulting him with that kiss? 

“Turn to page 112, Act 2, Scene 4 of Much Ado About Nothing…”

I sat frozen in my seat, absolutely mortified as he spoke. On the other hand, his voice was steady and calm, completely unbothered. 

Maybe he hadn't spotted me yet– that was entirely possible in a class of thirty students. Maybe he didn't recognize me at all… or maybe, he didn't think it's that big of a deal!

After all, not everyone had been saving their first kiss until their twenty-first birthday, right?

Just when I had managed to convince myself that I was exaggerating it in my mind, he turned his head towards me, holding my gaze for a few seconds before turning away.

‘Crap! I've even lost the option to hide under the table now!’

Yet, despite my immense shame, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. 

However, every time he so much as turned in my general direction, my eyes automatically snapped back down to the book, my heart racing like I had been caught stealing. 

Again and again, without my permission or control, my eyes were automatically being pulled towards his tie resting against his chest, the same tie I had grabbed… and those sweet lips–

I gulped, feeling my face heat up again. What was wrong with me? 

Anyhow, I needed to get out of this class without making a fool of myself.

That was the priority. 

At last, as if the Moon Goddess had heard my pleas, the bell rang. For me, that loud, shrill sound was like music of the heavens above. 

I wanted to bolt from my seat and run out of the room, but I waited for some time, forcing myself to stay put as a few students filed out first. I didn't want to draw any more attention towards myself. 

Once it was safe enough, I dashed out of the room as fast as my legs could carry me, and didn’t stop until I was down the corridor, far away from that suffocating atmosphere in the classroom. 

I exhaled sharply, leaning against the wall as my head spun. 

God, that was so awkward! 

I couldn’t believe I managed to actually sit through the whole class and come out alive… at this rate, how was I supposed to survive the rest of this semester? 

I needed something to calm my nerves, and I headed to the canteen to get an iced tea. 

I hadn’t eaten anything at the Party from Hell earlier, not that I had much appetite left after all that chaos. 

But of course, just when I thought I would get a moment of peace, I saw the one person I didn’t want to see.

Gemini. 

Just great!

Cursing my rotten luck, I turned around, hoping to leave unnoticed. But before I could take a single step, two of her friends blocked my path.

“What’s the matter? Too embarrassed to face me?”

Gemini taunted from behind, and just her voice was enough for my anger to flare up again. I turned around, glaring.

Just then, Isla, one of her minions who had been standing in my way, said happily;

“Oh, come on! Why would she be embarrassed? She must be proud of whoring herself out to our new professor.”

Gemini’s lips curled into an evil smile. “Don’t be so mean, Isla! Poor Vienna can’t help it. It's in her blood, because she has taken after her whore of a mother. She is as shameless as her weak, Omega mother who tries to sleep around with whoever has the most power.”

I had tried to ignore her, I really did. But that crossed the line. I shot back. 

“Right? And you are just like your mother, a homewrecker and a pick-me! She didn’t think twice before stealing my mom’s husband, and you didn’t hesitate before making out with my boyfriend. Like mother, like daughter.”

“How dare you speak about my mom, you slut!”  

Gemini’s eyes flashed with rage before she lunged towards me, raising her hand to slap me. But I caught her wrist, holding it in mid- air. 

“And again, you are remembering it all wrong. You are the one who tried to insult my mother first, just like you were the one to pimp yourself out to Asher, despite knowing that we are together.”

I sneered as Gemini yanked her hand free.

“So what! Your pathetic mother deserves to be insulted. And how is it my fault if your boyfriend thinks I'm hotter than you?”

“Gemini is right! Anyone with eyes can see that she is much prettier than you, so why won't Asher like her more than you, a damn nerd? Let her be, Gem, she is just bitter and jealous.”

Mollie, another girl who was more like Gemini's lap dog, barked at me while Gemini made a sympathetic face. 

“Mollie, I think she just can't deal with the fact that Asher chose me–”

“Oh yeah? He chose you, when? Because as far as I remember, he clearly said that you were nothing more than a temporary distraction! Until he finds someone new to replace you–”

"How dare you!" 

Gemini screamed as she shoved me hard. 

I stumbled backwards, my shin slamming painfully into a table, and I lost my balance. 

For a brief moment, I was sure I was going to hit the ground. Until someone came up from behind and caught me, just in time. 

“Careful there! You okay?”

I nodded, wincing because of the pain still shooting up my leg. Once he had helped me to my feet, I turned to see who had saved me. 

My heart stopped for a second… the same high cheekbones, those hooded hazel eyes, that sharp nose and strong jaw. 

It was Kai Maddox.

My own jaw practically hit the floor, but before I could remember that I had a voice, he stepped in front of me with authority, standing between me and Gemini. 

“And you… leave my sight, right now. Consider this your first and last warning, don't let me see you near this girl, or I'll make sure all of you are expelled for this!”

His body language alone was confident and commanding, and on top of that, his firm tone left no room for any excuses or arguments.

Gemini and her friends scattered without another word, retreating from the cafeteria quickly.