Ranon’s POVThe next day, I found her alone in the library. She sat by the farthest window, her face buried in a book, trying to disappear into the background like she always did. But there was no escaping me.I made my way over, deliberately taking my time. Her scent hit me first—warm, soothing, and maddeningly addictive. My wolf stirred, whining softly.“Don’t do this, Ranon,” he growled, his tone pleading. “She’s innocent. She’s ours.”I ignored him, forcing a smirk onto my face as I approached. She didn’t notice me at first, too lost in her own world, but the moment I pulled out the chair across from her, her head snapped up.Her wide, startled eyes met mine, and I could see the wariness there, the fear she tried so hard to hide.“Ranon,” she said quietly, her voice steady but guarded.“Relax, Elowen,” I drawled, leaning back in the chair. “I’m not here to bite.”Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she closed her book with a soft thud. “What do you want?”I let my smirk deepen,
Elowen’s POVThe sun was setting, casting long golden streaks across the campus grounds as I walked back to my dorm. The air was crisp, a quiet calm settling over the evening. For once, I felt a sense of peace—no mocking voices, no sidelong glances, no triplets breathing down my neck. At least, that’s what I thought. I turned the corner, and there he was. Alaric. He stood leaning against the low brick wall near the path, his arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my steps falter. “Alaric,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. He pushed off the wall, his movements smooth and predatory, and closed the distance between us in a few long strides. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, his tone low and accusing. I glanced away, the weight of his gaze too much to bear. “I haven’t been avoiding you.” “Don’t lie to me, Elowen,” he said sharply, his voice softening at the edges. “I can feel it. The bond doesn’t let me ignore when you’re pulling away.” I
Theron’s POV I had been watching them for a while, hidden in the shadows, my gaze never leaving the pair of them. Alaric and Elowen. The way she looked at him, the way his gaze softened as he touched her, his body leaning in just a bit too close for comfort. It irritated me. I hated it. At first, I tried to convince myself it was nothing. That I was simply concerned, protecting my brothers, keeping an eye on our mate. But deep down, something clawed at me—something unfamiliar and far too...raw. My wolf growled in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of the bond or something more. I had ignored the bond for so long. The attraction, the tug of that connection, all of it. It had been easy to dismiss, to pretend it wasn’t there. But now? Now it was real. It was undeniable. Elowen’s laugh floated toward me, soft and sweet, and it caused a sickening twist in my gut. I didn’t like it. Not when it was directed at him. As she leaned in closer to him, I fel
Alaric’s POVI stood there, watching Theron retreat, his words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. His eyes had burned with something I hadn’t seen from him before—something raw, possessive, and filled with a jealousy that felt out of place coming from him. I had always known my brother had a temper, but this was different. This was... something else. He had spoken to her like that. My mate. And I could feel the anger surging in me, my wolf snarling, furious at how he had dared to speak to her like that, to treat her like she was beneath him.“Don’t listen to him, Elowen,” I said, my voice more forceful than I intended. The need to protect her, to shield her from the darkness of our past, was rising to the surface. I reached out, gently cupping her cheek in my hand, my touch tender but firm. She flinched, just a little, and it stung me more than I’d care to admit. But I understood. Theron had a way of manipulating people, even those closest to him. And I knew that, deep down, Elow
Theron’s POVI sat at the edge of the courtyard with Camille draped on my arm, her giggles grating against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. The warmth of the sun filtered through the trees, but all I could feel was the fire raging inside me. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them—her—kissing Alaric. My brother. My damn brother. My wolf growled low in my mind, pacing furiously. That should’ve been us. “Shut up,” I hissed under my breath, though the words were as much for myself as for him. Camille tilted her head at me, her lips curving into a pout. “What’s wrong, Theron? You’ve been distracted all day.” She leaned closer, her perfume too sweet, too cloying. I used to enjoy her attention, her flirty touches and empty words, but right now? It all felt like static. Because she’s not Elowen. My wolf’s voice was sharp, cutting through my thoughts like a blade.I clenched my jaw, my fingers twitching against my thigh. “Nothing’s wrong,” I said curtly, though my tone clearly betray
Theron’s POVI saw her in the hallway after class, her head bent low, her shoulders hunched as if she wanted to disappear. She was walking with that friend of hers, Lisa, the only person who didn’t seem to hate her. My chest tightened at the sight of her, and my wolf stirred immediately, clawing to the surface. There she is. Go to her. Fix this.I wasn’t sure what “fixing” it even meant, but I knew I couldn’t keep avoiding her. Not after everything I’d been feeling, not after the jealousy that had consumed me since the courtyard. “Elowen,” I called, my voice sharper than I intended. She froze, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag. Slowly, she turned, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me. Her fear hit me like a punch to the gut. Lisa stepped in front of her, glaring at me. “What do you want, Theron?” she demanded, her tone full of defiance. “Stay out of this,” I said coldly, my gaze fixed on Elowen. “I need to talk to her.” Lisa didn’t back down. “She doesn
Elowen’s POVThe next few days were a blur of avoidance. I stayed close to Lisa and kept my head down, doing everything I could to avoid running into Theron, Alaric, or Ranon. Every time I thought about the scene in the hallway—or the kiss with Alaric—my stomach twisted into knots. It wasn’t just the embarrassment or the whispers that still followed me in every corner of the school. It was the bond pulling me in three different directions, tearing me apart. My wolf whimpered constantly in the back of my mind, begging me to let her take over, to fix what she called the “damage” I was doing to our connection. But how could I fix anything when every encounter with the triplets left me feeling more broken than before? Lisa and I were walking to class one afternoon when it happened. “Hey, Omega,” a cold, familiar voice called from behind us. My stomach dropped. Lisa stiffened beside me, her hand tightening on my arm as we both turned. Theron stood at the end of the hallway, lea
Ranon’s POVThe common room of the packhouse was quiet, the air heavy with the scent of wood smoke and leather. Alisa leaned against the armrest of the couch, her long legs draped across my lap as she smirked at me. She always looked like she had the upper hand, her sharp features glinting with arrogance. "You're quiet tonight," she purred, twirling a strand of her golden hair around her finger. I leaned back, letting my head rest against the cushions, and gave her a lazy smirk. "Just thinking," I said, running my hand absentmindedly along her thigh. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Thinking about your precious little Omega?" she teased, her tone dripping with mockery. I chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "She's a part of the game, Alisa. Nothing more." Alisa tilted her head, studying me with sharp eyes. "Game, huh? You sure about that? Because the way you look at her sometimes..." I cut her off, my voice cold. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I told
Elowen’s POV I should have pulled away.I should have walked away, left him standing there beneath the stars with that arrogant smirk and those stupidly intense eyes.But I didn’t.Because for the first time in forever, I didn’t want to.Ranon’s touch still lingered on my skin, warm and possessive, as if he had no intention of letting me go. His lips had traced fire down my neck, and I hated how much I felt it.Hated how much I wanted more.His forehead was still pressed against mine, his hands settled on my waist like he belonged there. Like I belonged there.And it terrified me.“You’re staring,” Ranon murmured, his voice low and teasing.I scoffed, trying to summon whatever pride I had left. “You’re in my space.”He grinned. “And yet, you’re not moving.”I hated that he was right.Hated that my body wasn’t fighting him the way my mind told me to.Instead, I leaned into him.Just a little.Just enough.His thumb traced lazy circles against my hip, his other hand coming up to brush
Ranon’s POV The silence between us stretched, thick with unspoken words.Elowen wasn’t the type to trust easily—not after everything she had been through, not after everything I had done to her.But she also wasn’t the type to ignore the truth.And the truth was, I wasn’t leaving.I leaned back against the tree trunk, watching her out of the corner of my eye. She was still guarded, still wary, but she hadn’t walked away. That had to count for something.“Do you always sit out here alone?” I asked, breaking the silence.She shrugged. “It’s quiet.”“Quiet is overrated.”That earned me a small smirk. “Says the guy who used to make my life a living hell just to hear me yell at him.”I huffed a laugh. “Fair point.”She shook her head, but there was no anger in her expression. If anything, she looked… tired. Like she was holding too much inside, and for once, she didn’t know what to do with it.“Elowen.” I kept my voice steady, serious. “I don’t expect you to trust me overnight. But I mean
Ranon’s POV The next few days at the academy were a test of patience. Elowen didn’t make things easy. Not that I expected her to. She wasn’t cold—not exactly. But she didn’t trust me, didn’t let me close the way she did with Theron and Alaric. And I understood why. Of all the things I had done to her, trust was the one thing I had shattered beyond repair. So, I didn’t push. I didn’t try to force my way back into her life with grand gestures or pretty words. Instead, I did something I had never done before—I showed up. I was there. When she walked into class, I had already saved her a seat—not beside me, but near enough that she noticed. When she sparred in training, I partnered with her—not as a challenge, but as a teammate, offering support when she needed it. When Lisa or anyone else dared to whisper about her behind her back, I was there to shut them up before she even had to hear it. I didn’t expect gratitude or recognition. I didn’t expect her to look at me a
Ranon’s POV The night had settled into a thick silence, the kind that carried weight—the kind that came before a storm.Elowen had allowed me a chance, a moment of fragile trust, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough. Not yet.I had spent too many years as the bastard who tormented her, and even if her lips had met mine tonight, I knew that the wounds I had left wouldn’t disappear so easily.She had walked away after that kiss, leaving me standing beneath the moonlit arbor, my chest heavy with something foreign—hope.But as I turned to leave, the sharp scent of wolves in the wind made my body go rigid.I wasn’t alone.A slow clap echoed through the darkness, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.Then, a voice—taunting, laced with amusement.“Well, well, well… look at you, Ranon. The mighty bastard prince reduced to chasing after a woman he once spat on.”I didn’t need to see him to know who it was.Alaric.I turned, my jaw clenching as I faced my brother. He leaned against the s
Ranon’s POV I had spent so many years hiding behind sarcasm and cruelty, convinced it was the only way to survive in this harsh world. But now, as dusk settled over the academy and the chaotic echoes of our past began to fade into a tentative silence, I found myself longing for something different—something genuine.I wandered into the academy gardens alone, seeking solace among the ancient stone statues and blooming night jasmine. The garden, bathed in the soft light of lanterns and the cool caress of the evening breeze, felt like a sanctuary. Here, the whispers of gossip and the biting laughter of yesteryear were replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the murmuring water of a small fountain.I paused at the edge of a winding path, my heart heavy with regret and hope intermingled. I remembered all the times I had taunted Elowen—my words, laced with cruelty, had cut her deeply. I remembered how she had endured our abuse with quiet dignity, the hurt in her eyes that I once thou
Elowen’s POV Dawn broke slowly over the academy, its gentle light filtering through the stained-glass windows of my small room. I awoke with the echo of last night’s festival still playing in my ears—the laughter, the whispered promises, the tender, tentative touches that had woven a fragile new tapestry between us. Yet, as I lay there in the early morning hush, a subtle heaviness tugged at me—a mix of hope, uncertainty, and the lingering sting of old wounds.I rose and drew aside the heavy curtains, watching the sunrise paint the courtyard in soft hues of peach and gold. Somewhere among those awakening beams, I wondered if the scars of yesterday could begin to fade. The night had been a celebration of new beginnings, but the next day always brought with it a moment of reckoning.Before I had time to gather my scattered thoughts, there was a soft knock on my door. I opened it to find Alaric standing in the corridor, his eyes a gentle mixture of determination and concern. The cool mor
Elowen’s POV The academy’s courtyard was transformed the next evening into a riot of color and light—a celebration of renewal and hope. Ribbons in every hue fluttered from ancient stone arches, lanterns cast a soft, enchanting glow, and laughter mingled with the music that filled the night air. It was as if the darkness of our past had finally been pushed aside by a promise of a brighter future.I stepped into the throng of students with cautious trepidation, my heart still tender from recent battles and fragile reconciliations. In the midst of the celebration, I could almost forget the cruelty of yesterday—the whispered insults, the venomous glares, and the harsh judgments of those who once sought to tear me down. Tonight, it was as if the academy itself was daring us to believe in new beginnings.I spotted Alaric near a cluster of brightly lit trees, his dark eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for me. His presence was magnetic—even amidst the jubilant chaos, he seemed to stand
Elowen’s POV – Twilight WhispersThat evening, as the last vestiges of daylight faded into the soft embrace of twilight, the academy’s grounds transformed into a quiet sanctuary. I found myself wandering along a secluded stone path leading to a hidden courtyard, a place that had once been filled with echoes of our past conflicts and now promised a fragile new beginning. The gentle hum of evening stirred in the air—a murmur of crickets, the soft rustle of leaves—and all around, the academy seemed to exhale, releasing the weight of the day.I hadn’t expected to see Alaric there. But as if drawn by a silent magnetism, he stood near a weathered marble bench beneath a flowering arbor. The cool, amber glow of lanterns danced over his features, softening the edge of his once-ruthless demeanor into something unexpectedly tender. His dark eyes met mine with a mixture of intensity and unspoken apology, and for a moment, I felt the lingering scars of yesterday’s pain ebb away in the glow of this
Alaric’s POV The cold light of morning filtered through the academy’s tall, narrow windows as I stepped out into the courtyard. The echoes of last night’s tumult still clung to the stone walls, but now there was an air of calm—a fragile, tentative peace that I was determined to nurture. I could almost taste the promise of a new day, even as the bitter whispers of scandal and gossip from the previous day still lingered in the corridors. I walked slowly toward the main entrance, the faint murmur of students’ hushed voices floating around me, but I paid them no mind. My focus was singular: to find Elowen. I needed to see her smile again, to hear her gentle laugh that had, for a moment, made me believe that perhaps the past could be mended. There, beneath an ancient oak in a secluded corner of the courtyard, I found her. She stood alone, her gaze fixed on the horizon as if she were waiting for something—or someone—to come rescue her from her own haunted thoughts. Her dark hair cascade