e Next M

a gentle yawn, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. The warm sunlight streaming through the bedroom window hig

rst time in days, she hadn't woken up gasping, heart

armth.

No nightmare-and sh

th floppy rabbit ears she refused to throw out, no matter how worn they were. The sof

bathroom to wash up. After brushing her teeth and splashin

sizzling bacon greeted her like an old friend. Sunlight poured throu

with a smile, as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Th

a quick hug. It didn't feel weird calling

" chirped Kai

, fair skin, and a mischievous grin that never quite faded. But his glowing red eyes gave away what he truly was. A vampire, born with power pulsing through h

eeted, ruffling his hai

bled, not looking

at beside him, pouring herself a glas

miliar sound, peering at them over the rim,"Stay out of trouble in school, kids. Tr

ria said with

d, "No p

Eat your breakfast and don't be late. You know h

y beneath the surface. Would Jason smile at her again? Say something more than hi this time? Mayb

bag?" Sa

thoughts and nodded. "Ye

d, the worry already sett

wered, standing and slinging

n," Sandra said, conc

i said, already he

them mom and dad since they had no child of their

hesitated just a second before stepping out-just lo

forest was far away

on was

♡⁠‿⁠

*At S

er shoes squeaking against the polished floor. First period was minutes away, a

ath catching in her throat as she sank into her seat by the

with his usual no-nonsense glare. Aria straightened insti

nt easy on her. Probably because she ac

g rhythmically against the board. Aria tried to focus, but

so

light framed his dark hair, catching on the curve of his cheekbone. Somethin

and gave a

es flicked

.. no

a blank look before he t

to her lap. A tiny po

ked at her like she mattered. Lik

g. Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he didn't s

Nights

voice yank

e board, marker in hand, eyebrow

up her neck

Then you can

eady herself. She approached the board, mind still

ly, her hand steady even as h

her seat, Jason hadn'

*Late

lingered in the hallway, scanni

m what was wrong. Or at least say hi. But

e cafeteria doors. She forced a smile and joi

hing'

asn't ima

♡⁠‿⁠

g, but Jason

heir goodbyes, footsteps shuffled out the door-but his eyes

o

bl

ur

l. Two seats away.

oft, expectant. Familiar, somehow. Lik

her

o

happened. Like something inside him sho

me the pres

static in his brain. A whisper without words, pushing down

ne too closely-especially her

t want him to

e the tension coiled beneath his skin. He hated this

right at him. Smiled like she knew

th

ut sa

ain sa

apped around his

his hands into his jacket pockets and stepped into the hallw

ed answ

t figure out what w

orget her

♡⁠‿⁠

the C

pty latte, the warm hum of the

t at her. Then-nothing." Ella's v

her sandwich. "Maybe he'

e whispered. "Something's wrong. He approa

uttered, scanning the café.

wer, a voice sliced thr

eads up

d her head

ter-black hair, arms crossed, expression carved from i

haired girl, her crimson

irl smirked, twirling a silver

-haired one-she'd seen her yesterday. The g

Jason's attention?" the leader h

tiffened. Her

" Ella snapped, rising halfway from her sea

rward, fangs bared. "Shut up,

ing across her face. "

ed, grabbing her friend's w

ying with its prey. "Stay away from Jason,"

t pounding. "You think

e. Maybe not. But he won't reme

in, and he'll reject you wor

her heel. "C

Aria felt a surge of defiance.

her voice firm. "W

glinting with amusement. "Someone who w

ating. "You'll find out soon enough.

e way he did today in class as long as I have him under my spell.... Let's go

ooth, dangerous. The air f

"That... was a

Ella growled. "She

eat, stunned. "That

ed near the café window. Aria

h t

his smile easy, his eyes light. Like non

under a spell." Rose

do something about it. We can't just sit h

whispered, her fists clenched. "Even i

ontinued to laugh and chat with the gir

that she had him under her spel

it guys " Aria said as she hit

when he's alone Ella will break the sp

fools won't keep an e

to be very care

♡⁠‿⁠

Lyrien's Pac

ss, the garden bloomed in a riot of color, untouched by the storm brooding in hi

nblinking. Inside, his beast stirred-restless, prowling. He could almost feel the soil beneath his pa

ddess had c

him-the strongest Alpha of the North-

mbraced it. His human mate now walked proudly

Ly

nd for the trembling truth buried beneath it all-that part o

r and polished wood clung to the air, mingling with the faint crackle of fi

nes snapping under his grip. One careless insult, one wrong glance, and the young

they were black as midnight-his beast rising. H

et here

he mind link like a blade

he room still in his pajamas, the collar askew.

fight or from bed-sometimes both. His face was usually unreadable, but there was a steadiness in his green eyes, a soldier's discipline under pressu

lp

oice was calm, but it held the weight of a command tha

"Your- Alpha, s

n Lyrien's jaw. He

always

u questi

m grew

surrender. "No, Alpha. I'll pr

s glowing, unreadable. "Good. An

backed out of the room, the d

again, heav

fore him, wild and endless. Somewhere out there, the human g

ld fin

ld bin

as a luxury he w

d, more to himself than to her. "I onl