All Chapters of Bloodlines & Hearts: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

They made their way to Solstice Hall. If Elysian Hall was impressive, this was on another level entirely. The architecture was flawless. Security guards stood at the entrance, arms crossed, faces blank. These weren't school staff—these were private security, hired by students whose parents thought regular protection wasn't good enough for their precious heirs. "They have their own guards?" Lydia whispered, eyeing the men in dark suits.Vanessa just smirked. "Welcome to how the other half lives."But that wasn't quite right. At LuxeMount, there wasn't just one "other half." The school wasn't about unity—it thrived on a hierarchy so rigid even the blind could sense it. And the dorms reflected that. Everyone had their place, whether they liked it or not.Solstice Hall was at the very top, home to those who owned everything. Their families weren't just wealthy; they controlled entire packs, territories, and businesses that kept the supernatural world running. These were the Apex wolves,

A painful shriek tore through Riley's bedroom space. The bone-shattering sound produced an ear-splitting shriek which seemed to come from every direction at once. The loud noise caused so much vibration that it produced a shaking effect on both the window glass and her desk furniture while making her books crash to the floor.The sudden screaming made Riley intensely angry as she rose from her bed. Her whole body was on fire with anger. Whatever had the audacity to shatter her sleep was about to be utterly destroyed. Her teeth itched as her canines lengthened slightly and her muscles coiled, ready to strike.“I’m going to kill someone,” she snarled She stepped out of her room expecting chaos. After a noise like that, everyone should have been wide awake. Doors should be slamming open, people shouting, demanding to know what the hell just happened, but there was nothing. The hallway was dead silent. Dead silent in a way that made zero sense. No footsteps. No whispers. No lights from p

With her legs bent in front, Lydia supported her forehead by pressing it against her kneecaps. Every muscle in her body felt completely exhausted. She fell asleep momentarily before being awoken by a hard knock on the door.Her heartbeat spiked as panic took over. Alexandra? Her friends? Someone else ready to humiliate her?She jumped up, staring at the door and trying to figure out what to do. “Okay, okay…think. Was there anywhere to hide? A way to escape? Moon Goddess, if you exist, please just let me catch a break today. I am already at my limit.”The knock grew louder, more forceful. Then a voice called out. “Little Trouble.”Lydia blinked. Her shoulders slumped in relief, but she would never admit it. Ethan was the only one who called her that. Not that she wanted to see him, but between him and the pack of wolves waiting to tear her apart, he was the safer option. She quickly opened the door, squinting up at him. “Hello?”Ethan did not return the greeting. He just leaned agains

Lydia lay still, staring at the ceiling, feeling like her entire body had been drained of energy. What the hell had she been thinkingHer stomach twisted with embarrassment and shame wrapped tightly around her chest. Ethan’s words echoed in her mind, each one a fresh-cut“I would not touch you even if you begged."She squeezed her eyes shut. She had humiliated herself. She had let him see too much, let her emotions slip when she should have known better. And for what? A man who saw her as a burden? A joke?She turned onto her side, pressing her face into the pillow. God, let me disappearBy the time the first light slipped through the window, Lydia had not slept at all. Her eyes burned, her head ached, and she was emotionally wrecked.Her phone vibrated. She forced herself to sit up, grabbing it with shaking fingers.Ethan: Meet me outside in 30 minutes.Her heart dropped. She groaned and buried her face in the pillow, like hiding would somehow erase the absolute disaster of last nigh

Almost dying makes you see things differently. Colors look brighter. Sounds are clearer. Even the air tastes better when you know you almost stopped breathing forever.But fear sticks to you. It follows you like a shadow.Walking back to their cabin was so long for Lydia. She helped hurt Ethan through the scary woods, always thinking that the monster might jump out. Every sound made her heart jump. The weird trees seemed to laugh at them.Ethan's blood was wet on her shirt. It showed her that even strong people can bleed. Can get hurt. Can die.She kept thinking: What if things went wrong? What would she tell the Alpha? "Sorry, I got your heir killed?"She almost laughed. Who was she kidding? If Ethan had not fought that monster, she would be dead. Just a sad story people would tell. "Remember Lydia? Poor girl died."She looked at Ethan. His jaw was tight, eyes looking ahead. He had not spoken since they left. That's Ethan for you. Bleeding but too proud to show it hurts.But Lydia kn