uzzed with chatter, a cavernous space fil

h, the car, and that electric jolt from Derek's touch. She tried to focus on her new notes, scribbled in a rush that morning, but the words swam. The Mega Alpha: a

like wildfire. Skye didn't need to look up. She felt him. The air s

awson ha

simple, but he carried himself like he owned the place. His crimson eyes, sha

w. Without a word, he slid into the chair beside her, shrinking the space around them

her name a low,

k, heart pounding. "What, lookin

ek leatherbound notebook on her desk, its quality screaming money. Next to it, a steaming

m and regretted it. Up close, he was overwhelming-sharp jaw, a faint scar s

gaze flicked to her bandaged ha

essor started droning about Greek Titans, but the word

e low and private, "most people say '

hing his tone, "most people don't check

lectric, turning his brutal good looks into some

the professor, though his eyes flicked to her now and then. Each glance felt like a touch, sending her nerves into o

ye grabbed her thing

," Derek said, standing to his fu

neces

ins

Not just for him-for them. Skye, the quiet scholarship girl, beside

strides easing to fit hers.

o to class, s

's wh

your bu

sound that turned heads. "You

uld

s halfcurious, halfdark. "Yeah," he said, v

unpack that, a sy

are. I've been sea

nked by her friends Chloe and Isabelle, she was a vision of poli

ll hobbling? Or is that just how you walk? Heard you took a

but she stood tall

his arm free, slow and delibera

arty tonight." She leaned closer, voi

erek said, eye

ask cracking. "What? You prom

to her, and Skye saw raw power in his gaze-commanding, u

om Derek to Skye, blazing with fury. "You're dumping me? For her?" She spat th

sharp, too knowing. It wasn't just an ins

e air turning cold. "Watch your words, Joanna,"

kye, lips trembling, but no apology came. With a choked

ents pretending they hadn

ed his relationship with Northbridge's queen for her

do that?" s

said, like it was obvious

is face shifted-tensed, jaw tight. The text was short, from a

id, all warmth gone

is eyes-not the confident campus king, but a boy carrying a we

tomorrow?"

words stuck

nd of hair from her cheek. The touch was brief, but that

ng through the crowd, st

his scent-forest and storm-lingering. In five minutes, he'd defended her, claimed her atten

. And part of her-a reckless, tra

ad. Her blood chilled as she read it: Skye. Come home after class. Don't s

ce was sharp with warning, and Skye felt its pull, like a

still in her hand. She hadn't drunk it yet, too rattled to decide if it was a peace offering or something more. Her bandaged palm ached, a reminder of

ws, ancient feuds-things her mom shared with a smile, but never the full truth. Skye was human, an outsider, loved b

re woven with blood and chaos. She'd always thought it was just a story, a myth to study. But De

here?" It was Mia, her roommate, a bubbly art m

me in," S

ou were walking with Derek Clawson today. Like,

down. "It's not like that. He j

anna's ego," Mia said, flopping onto the bed. "That's not no

Skye muttered. "I just want

doesn't just notice people. He's... intense. And th

o tell her she was in trouble. She felt i

The text from the blocked number burned in his mind. The forest was calling, and it wasn't a

cape, a place to play human for a while. But Skye had changed that. Her golden eyes, her defiance, that electric spark-they'd woke

e trees, the air heavy with the scent of pine and earth. The pack was waiting, their eyes

late,

ing his father's gaze. "

ns? We've got bigger problems. The forest is restle

that had passed between them. Whatever was comi