Dahlia ~
“So what are you telling me?” Sienna asked me with one brow arched up in suspicion. “I’m not loosing my virginity to these mindless savages!” “Oh come on! Do you want to get fucking caught? Our virginities are nothing compared to what is at stake!” I whisper yelled. We were in the bathroom of our dorm room and we had to practically skip a class to have this conversation in private. “We won't get caught, Kaden is just trying to get into our pants cant you see that?” She countered. “Our scents aren't half as strong as that.” “Not yet, but soon enough it will get stronger and we won't be able to control it and by then it would be too late already.” After a pause, Sienna slid against the wall until she was fully seated on the floor with her face in her palms. “I hate my life!” she cried. “Me too, but we have to—” I was interrupted by the sound of voices in the dorm room. Were they back already? Classes weren't over until an hour at least so what the fuck were they doing here? “We need to go,” I said and Sienna rose to her feet after me. I turned the door knob and I noticed a moment too late that someone was standing in front of me and before I knew it, I stubbed my toe and collided face first into a hard wall of flesh. We both crashed to the floor and I ended up straddling him with my chest directly on his in a very— wrong — position. I pushed myself up sharply and flinched when I saw Kaden’s face. “Oh I'm so sorry,” my feminine voice slipped through and I instantly pressed a palm to my mouth as though that would rewind time, the boys were all in the room and they heard my squeaky voice. I cleared my throat sharply in a sorry attempt to cover it up— “Get the fuck off me,” that was Kaden’s voice as he practically shoved me off him like I was an unwanted bag of trash. He rose to his feet sharply with an annoyed scowl on his pretty face as he looked down at my small frame. I don't know why but my eyes darted down towards his pants and I saw an unmistakeable bulge there. But it was only a glimpse before he turned away sharply and entered the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him. “That was awkward,” I deepened my voice to say. Silas and Aurelian had their hands in their pockets with clenched jaws as they looked at the both of us and Orion pushed his glasses up with intense scrutiny — I had never felt more like prey in my entire life. Why were they looking at us that way? Just as Aurelian was about to say something, Sienna interrupted him. “We have to go get lunch now,” she said as she grabbed a perfume from the stand and hurriedly sprayed me, and then she practically dragged me out of the room. The hallways were empty and when we had walked a good distance away from our dorm room Sienna turned to face me so sharply that I nearly bumped into her. “I understand what you were talking about now,” she started and I raised my brow at her in confusion. “They could smell your arousal, they know what we are now.” she ran her hands through her hair, as she paced around. “Fuck!” I swore. I had thought we would only need to fuck Kaden but now they all knew— “Caleb and Theo!” Mr. Vincent’s voice boomed from the other end of the hallway startling us visibly. “You both look a mess,” he approached us. “Why weren't you in classes? I have been looking everywhere for you.” I could not form a proper excuse on the spot and Sienna was going through the same predicament. “Never mind, the Proprietress wants to have a little chat with you both,” he said and motioned for us to follow him. Sienna and I shared a confused glance. We reached her office soon enough and she was seated behind her desk as usual. This time her full curly red hair was left to cascade down her shoulders in beautiful waves that caught the light of the sun that filtered in through the massive window behind her. I couldn't help but think about how much she looked like Orion as we sat in front of her. She motioned for Vincent to leave and with a small bow, he left the room. “Your majesties, I welcome you to this prestigious school, I have been expecting you.” Sienna and I exchanged yet another utterly confused glance. “Y- you know?” the words left my mouth in a jumble. Instead of responding, she unbuttoned the first two buttons of her shirt and dragged it across her shoulder to reveal a sigil just underneath her collar bone. The Scarvyn Sigil, she was one of us. “I want you girls to know that you are not alone here, our people rally strongly behind you and we are rooting for you to help us avenge the deaths of our people and the destruction of our kingdom.” she explained. “I am Naima and I was sent to this very school for the purpose of helping you girls find the Kingmaker gemstone.” she explained. “Do you know where it is?” Sienna spoke first. “Not yet, I have only been here for about a month but surely, soon enough we will find it.” “How will you guys feed?” she asked the question that had been pressing on my mind for so long. Scarvyns needed to feed on fresh blood daily to prevent us from going rogue and becoming savages. Back at home, our foster parents knew what we were so they always provided us with blood from blood banks and it sufficed. But here, there was no donor in sight. Only a bunch of alpha’s with delicious looking necks. Fuck… it had been days since I last fed and I was starving already. “We haven't really thought of that yet, perhaps we can just control it until we find the gemstone.” Sienna said and Naima chuckled knowingly. “You both wouldn't last a week without going rogue,” she said. “My best advice to you both is to do like our people have done for years— find some trustworthy donors and feed, I have Vincent.” she said. “And it would not be wise to let him know your identity so you unfortunately cannot feed on him too.” Find a donor? The thought of doing that stressed me out beyond belief. “I am leaving for a staff meeting now,” she buttoned her shirt back and rose from the desk grabbing her laptop. “You girls be good and stay focused on the goal.” With that she left us in her office. “What the fuck?” Sienna asked. “How in the world wll we approach some alphas and say ‘hey, allow me to drink your blood please’ without us getting reported?” “I have an idea.” I said to Sienna. By nightfall, everyone had gotten back from prep and getting ready to sleep. “So when we're you going to tell us you were girls?” Kaden asked and I widened my eyes in shock at his outright betrayal. Before I could say anything, Orion tossed something at Sienna and I turned to see it was a sanitary pad. Oh well. “I was going to tell you guys tonight, because we would like to make a deal with you,” I did not bother deepening my voice. Kaden tilted his head to the side as a knowing smirk graced his lips. I could see the gears turning his head, he was probably asking himself if I was insane enough to do what I was about to. He had no fucking idea. “Offer us your blood and the four of you can fuck us both to reduce our pheromones.”Kaden ~ “Well, not exactly fuck fuck, you could use our mouths and hands,” Dahlia said and Sienna, Obviously the more reasonable one, realized this foolishness for what it was and she stayed quiet. What could be their reason to go through such lengths? If they knew what I planned to do with their pretty bodies they wouldn't have dared propose this. But unfortunately for them, they did, and I would make sure they regretted every fucking moment. Yes, I was a hate filled bastard that yearned to make everyone around me hateful as well. I would make their lives hell.I knew what they were the moment they made mention of needing blood, Scarvyns, blood sucking witches. I was repulsed to say the least. But these goons obviously did not care about what they even were. “Fuck yeah!” Silas said with a crazed smirk on his face. “I always thought you both were smoking hot but now,” he leaned down to toy with a strand of Dahlia’s hair, “as girls, you're even better… I'm taking the first ro
Sienna ~Orion’s blood was sweeter than anything I had ever tasted in my life, my head spun as my nails sunk even deeper into his skin, tearing flesh and drawing blood.I knew I would regret doing this by morning, but I honestly couldn't care less, I was turned on beyond belief… and those deep sounds that erupted from the back of his throat were not helping matters at all.Scarvyn venom was powerful, and these alphas were no match, no matter how deadly or dangerous they were, they would become ours now, unable to harm us and bound to protect us because we were the only ones who could give them this feeling.I sank my fangs even deeper and my legs wrapped around his waist while his hands snaked down to grab my ass roughly. I could feel the hot bulge of his desire against my skin but I ignored it… I had to… or else I would lose my mind and do something I would definitely regret in the morning.His hand slid inward, nearly touching my most sacred parts—“That's enough,” that was Silas’s
Dahlia ~“I can't believe this is what our life has come to,” Sienna wailed as we headed to class.I truly did not want to be reminded of the previous night.“Can you stop wailing for once and just focus, you're not the only one going through shit,” I whispered as a group of males rushed past us, nearly knocking me over. “Hey!” I protested and the male turned back to give a wink and a middle finger to both of us.I rolled my eyes, I was getting used to their lack of morals.“We don't have to do it for like another week or so,” Sienna said. I turned to her and arched a brow in question. “Kaden said we needed to get fucked to reduce our pheromones, but he obviously overestimated it, the blowjobs were more than enough to do that, and it should be about a week from now before our pheromone levels rise again,” Sienna said. Dahlia did not like the sudden flutter of butterflies in her belly at the mention of his name.Not butterflies— roaches… she tried to convince herself.“As long as
Dahlia ~“So the first training is the Dominance and Leadership Training, as Alpha’s you need to learn how to take control of your packs. This involves learning conflict resolution, establishing authority, and commanding obedience even under pressure,” Naima explained. Then she pointed to the words projected behind her. “Next is Hunting and Tracking, you will be trained to lead packs, stalking prey, and organizing group attacks.”She kept explaining, number three was combat and self defense training, we would engage in physical training in both human and wolf forms, focusing on hand to hand combat training.How on earth were we supposed to fight in wolf forms? I let out a heavy exhale… we will cross that bridge when we get there.Number four was pack bonding, here we would participate in mock rituals under the full moon to increase the connection between pack members.We would participate in three tests after the training. Territory defense, crisis, and survival. They sounded impo
Dahlia ~The sound of movement around me dragged me from my slumber, and I groaned as Sienna stirred in the bed beside me.“Wake up,” she muttered, but her voice was thick with exhaustion. “I think we’re late.”My eyes peeled open to see that she had gotten up to make her bed. It was way too early for all this.It was barely even first light.“You mean ‘late’ as in a little late,” I said, dragging the words out, “or late as in we’re screwed?”Sienna glanced at me pointedly, her short hair wild. “Considering I just saw Aurelian and Silas walk out the door fully dressed, I’m guessing we’re screwed.”She wasn’t wrong. By the time I slid out of bed, the others were almost ready. To my right, Kaden stood near his bed, buttoning up a black shirt that fit him entirely too well. I caught glimpses of hard muscle beneath the fabric, the cursed black markings twisting over his skin glimmered as though tiny stars lived within them.And then there was Orion. He leaned against the wall as he waited
Sienna ~“Well, unfortunately, they’re our roommates,” I heard Dahlia say. Naima’s sharp eyes widened at us like we’d just confessed to treason.She sighed dramatically and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Roommates. Of course, the goddess loves to be entertained?”“There’s nothing we can do about it,” Dahlia said with a shrug like this was just another Tuesday.Naima raised a brow, lips curling in disbelief. “Have you fed on them yet?”I froze mid-breath. Dahlia, too. The air suddenly felt too thick.Naima’s gaze darted between us, her face twisting with frustration as understanding dawned. “Oh, for the love of—” She let out a string of curses so creative I was impressed.My brow also arched in confusion.“But—” I started, “in our defense, you told us to find males to feed on.”“Yes,” she hissed, waving her hand like I was missing the point. “Males. Could have been anyone, not them.”Her glare could’ve burned through steel.“You two listen to me,” she said, her tone icy and low. “Th
Dahlia ~ I searched around for Kaden for about a minute and I was starting to get irritated, why did he make me search for him? I considered approaching Naima and demanding for a partner change, but I knew the likelihood of that happening was low because everyone was already paired up— My thought processes came to a halt when I bumped into hard wall, the force knocked the air out if my lungs and sent me flying to the floor.What the—An imposing shadow covered the light of the sun and I looked up to see Kaden, his mismatched eyes glaring down at me with delight at causing me pain.He did not make a single attempt to help me as I scampered to my feet. His broad shoulders appeared stiff, and his dark hair curled at the edges, just messy enough to make him look dangerously good… as usual.“Are you just going to stand there?” I asked as I crossed my arms.He tilted his head slightly, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. “What do you want, Caleb?” His voice was low, rough, and so calm
Dahlia ~“I really think you should stop getting on his nerves so often,” Sienna muttered as we strolled through the dimly lit hallway toward the dining hall. Her voice carried a half-joking, half-serious tone.“It’s not completely my fault,” I replied, flicking a strand of hair out of my face. “He’s utterly insufferable. I hate him, I hate all of them.”“How couldn’t you?” Sienna sighed. “I’ve been trying to hide how much they disgust me.”I clenched my jaw. “It’s getting harder to pretend I don’t want to set this entire school on fire with everyone in it.”The words had barely left my mouth when we rounded the corner and ran straight into some students. Four of them… it was a pack. The Alpha stood in the middle and his sneer was instant. He shoved Sienna so hard and she hit the ground with a thud that echoed through the hallway.“Watch it, dimwits,” he said with a voice that dripped with disdain, “You both reek of abominations.”My blood boiled instantly. I grabbed Sienna’s arm a
KadenThe day of the Claiming ceremony had finally come. And anticipation filled the air.The entire kingdom had gathered, their eyes fixed on the altar where I stood, waiting.For her.I rolled my shoulders and adjusted the heavy ceremonial robes draped over my skin, but no fabric could ease the weight pressing against my chest.The wait was becoming unbearable.And then a hush fell over the crowd and Dahlia emerged, I had no doubts in my heart again, I was looking at my mate.Dressed in white, the fabric looked soft and light as it flowed like water around her, delicate gold chains draped over her collarbones, and circled her wrists before wrapping around the slender curve of her waist. Her red hair was woven into intricate braids, pearls and moonstones glinting under the sun.She was breathtaking.And she was walking straight to me.My jaw tightened.The hatred I felt for her was gone completely and now all I felt was want.A raw, aching hunger that burned deep in my bones.She sto
Dahlia ~I needed to get out of my head and stop thinking so damn much.The moment I stepped into the massive shower that was decorated with silver tiles, I turned the water on full blast and let the scalding heat wash over my skin. My fingers pressed into my temples, trying to rub away the ache that had been sitting there since this morning.Everything was a mess.Everything was too much.The way he looked at me like I meant something to him, the way his eyes burned into me like he knew something was off. Like he was piecing it together, bit by bit.And now the claiming ceremony was in two days, meaning I had less than two days to seduce him and kill him. A muscle jumped in my jaw.This mission should have been easy.He was arrogant. Overconfident. The kind of man who thought himself untouchable. He had let me in, trusted me enough to fight beside me, to put his hands on me, to kiss me like he meant it.And yet he had saved my life during the Jorran war.I let out a slow breath and
Kaden ~Something was wrong with Maeve.Or maybe something was wrong with me.Because the more I watched her, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something obvious. Like a puzzle with one piece just barely out of place, an image almost complete but not quite.And I hated it.I hated that she made me think so much.I was still stewing over it when Orion found me.He leaned against the stone archway with his arms crossed, looking entirely too smug for someone who had just experienced a war. There was something different about him, his scent was dull and his pulse was slower.A Scarvyn had fed on him.I narrowed my eyes. “I thought you had better self-preservation instincts than that.”Orion ran a hand through his hair. “She needed it.”I let out a slow breath through my nose “You let a Scarvyn bite you again?”“Couldn’t exactly say to Scarvyn venom, you should know this.” He pushed off the wall and walked toward me, he stopped just close enough to make a point. “But
Sienna ~The pain seared through my body and I had to bite my lip to the point of bruising to keep myself from crying out.I sucked in a breath and pressed my hand to my side where the silver blade had cut deep. The healers had done everything they could, but silver wounds were rather tricky to heal.I needed blood… fresh blood to heal.I lay on the med in the private healer’s quarters, my head rolled to the side and my body was weakened. The white sheets beneath me were already stained red, and the scent of my own blood was making me nauseous.Then the doors were opened and someone stepped in.I didn’t have to look to know it was Orion. I usually felt him before I saw him.“You look like hell, sweetheart,” he said to me in that smooth deep voice.I opened my eyes.And gods.He looked good, especially better to my hungry eyes.His copper hair was damp, strands falling across his forehead in that effortlessly messy way. He had a few smudges of dried blood on his jaw, but it didn’t make
Kaden ~The Jorrans were defeated and what was left of their forces retreated.It was pathetic to say the least.One moment, they were an unstoppable force, with their war cries that shook the ground. And the next? They were nothing but desperate men and women fleeing for their miserable lives.My grip on my sword tightened as I surveyed the battlefield. Mangled bodies lay scattered everywhere, the scent of blood was thick in the air. The thrill of war still hummed beneath my skin, and then my skin prickled with awareness.Maeve was watching me, only her gaze caused this visceral reaction from me.I turned slowly to find her standing a few feet away from me.Blood streaked her cheek and there was a smudge of dirt along her collarbone which I had the ridiculous urge to wipe away.“We won, Kaden, they're gone,” she said with a smile on her face. Instead of speaking about the battle, I said, “You saved me.”She lifted her chin in a defiant gesture. “Don’t mistake it for loyalty.”A shar
Dahlia ~The battlefield was flled with screams of the dying and struggling.Steel clashed against steel, and flesh, the scent of blood and smoke was thick in the air. The Jorrans were relentless in their fierceness.Kaden was a storm.He moved like he was born for battle, his black sword seeped with smoke anc he handled it as though it was an extension of his body. He cut through enemy after enemy without hesitation, his expression was calm, cold and calculating… I came to the realization that back in the training room, he had let me over power him for some reason.And I should have hated it.Should have hated seeing just how much of a challenge he would be to kill. But there was something maddeningly intoxicating about the way he fought. Like war was nothing more than a game he knew he would win. Like death was an inconvenience he didn’t have time for.He turned and his back was to me for just a second as he struck down a warrior to his left. Another enemy lunged from behind him wi
Sienna ~The battle had barely begun, and already, Orion was at my side.Where has he materialized from? I have no idea. I should have been annoyed.I should have rolled my eyes, brushed him off and told him I didn’t need a bodyguard.But the way he looked at me as though I was the only person in this entire palace that mattered… yeah, made my pulse stutter.His voice was rough, urgent. “Are you alright?”I blinked and gripped my machine gun tighter. “Why do you care?”His jaw clenched. “That’s not an answer.”I hated that my heart fluttered at the way he said it. Like my well-being was something personal to him.I forced a smirk. “I’m fine. But really, Orion, don’t you have more important people to protect?”He didn’t hesitate. “No.”I swallowed.Damn him.I shook off the warmth threatening to settle in my chest. “You know nothing about me.”Something changed in his eyes.“You remind me of someone,” he said slowly. “Someone I once knew, she meant a lot to me.”My breath caught and m
DahliaKaden drove fast and hard until we got to the area where the smoke was coming from. I rushed down from the car and a massive fire was set to the kingdom.Bombs were dropped from fighter jets and explosion after explosion rattled my bones.For a second, I couldn’t move. The smoke plumes curled into the sky, thick and dark, the scent of burning wood and blood clogging my lungs. My heart slammed against my ribs.Gunshots rang out and my eyes darted to the kingdom where people fought with guns and knives. A scream tore through the air and a warrior charged at me. He was fast and deadly. His golden blade gleamed in the light as he swung toward me. I willed my body to move, to dodge, to fight, to go anything, but my feet stuck to the ground.But Kaden was quick to counter his attack.His dagger sank into the warrior’s chest before I could even gasp. The man choked, eyes wide, before crumpling to the ground.Kaden swore under his breath and yanked his blade free, his other hand alre
Dahlia ~The training session was a total mess. I had barely made it back to my chambers before the shaking started.I slammed the door behind me and pressed my back against it, trying to catch my breath. My pulse was still unstable and my skin was on fire from Kaden’s proximity.Damn him.Damn his strength, damn his eyes, damn the way he got under my skin without even trying.This wasn’t supposed to happen.I squeezed my eyes shut, but all I could see was the way he had looked at me—like he saw something beneath the surface, like he was trying to read me. Like he knew I was Dahlia.He can’t know. He can’t.I shoved off the door and paced the length of my room. My muscles were still tight from our fight, my body still wired from the way he had pinned me, so close, so solid, so unbearably there.I should have laughed it off. I should have played along. I should have leaned in and let him fall deeper into the trap I was supposed to be setting.But instead, I had panicked.Like a foo