Andria’s POV
The fight was over; there was no need to feel what I was just feeling monts ago. It was just a spur-of-the-mont.
We lowered our stances, both of us breathing hard but steady. My chest heaved, but not from exhaustion. From the way Kaelric’s eyes locked onto as though he’d seen every flicker of hesitation, every ounce of surrender.
Zade leaned closer as we walked off the ring. "See? Not so bad when you stop being stubborn."
I shot him a sharp look. "Don’t push it. That was a one-ti thing."
"Sure," he smirked, clearly not believing a word.
We returned to our seats, and I tried to steady my heartbeat, though my body was still humming with restless energy. One by one, the rest of the groups battled.
So were disasters, wolves clashing like enemies instead of partners. Others were surprisingly good, though none matched the quiet synergy of Becca and Arlo.
When the last group finished, Kaelric stepped into the center of the hall. His presence silenced the murmurs instantly.
"This was not just another class session," he began, his voice carrying with ease. "This was a test. A surprise test."
The hall erupted in groans and protests. So students cursed under their breath. Others exchanged panicked looks. But none of it fazed him. He stood tall, unfazed, his eyes sharp as steel.
"I told you from the beginning, teamwork isn’t optional. It’s survival. Today, many of you showed just how unprepared you are to fight beside soone else. So of you fought alone. So of you let your egos drag you down. And so of you forgot entirely that you even had a partner in the ring."
He paused, scanning the room, his gaze briefly locking on . My throat went dry.
"But others," he continued, "showed glimpses of what true cooperation looks like. Not perfect. Not flawless. But unified enough to pass."
He began calling out groups, ranking their performances one by one. So were praised, others scolded. Grades were handed out like silent judgnts, hanging over each of us.
When he reached our nas, I held my breath.
"Aria and Zade," Kaelric said, his tone unreadable.
"You struggled. You fought more against each other than with each other. But you found your footing at the end. Barely. You could do better than this, so I give you two a pass, just a pass."
A mix of relief and irritation flooded . Narrowly passed. Of course. I wasn’t about to jump for joy at that. Still, it was better than failing.
You wouldn’t bla a wolf with trust issues for not knowing how to trust her partner, I thought bitterly to myself.
I grew up knowing I couldn’t even trust my family. How could I just hand myself over to soone else in a fight? Especially my ex, if it were to be anyone but Zade, I would have strived. Maybe next ti, I’ll do better. Maybe.
The class was finally over, I was gathering my things, ready to leave, when Kaelric’s voice cut across the room again.
"Aria."
The sound of my na on his lips made my stomach twist. I looked up, trying to keep my face neutral, but my heart thudded against my ribs.
"See in my office after classes today," he said simply, his gaze never leaving mine.
The room seed to tilt. My breath hitched. I could hear the echo of his words from that night, the dream I couldn’t shake. "See after classes" seed like a phrase right out of my dream. The mory tangled with reality, and for a mont, I couldn’t tell the difference.
I only managed a nod. My voice wouldn’t co out even if I tried. My chest was hot, my body restless, and I knew it wasn’t just nerves. It was the pull, the mate bond mixed with the feromone lust clawing at my control.
I forced my expression blank, pretending it didn’t matter. Pretending I wasn’t a fluttery ss inside. Pretending I could ignore the way my entire body betrayed whenever his eyes lingered too long.
Aven, Tristan and Damon turned to look at as soon as they heard Kaelric say the word, and then they ignored and walked out of the hall.
"Yes, sir," I replied, and then he walked out of the hall, probably moving to his office, and I followed behind, but kept a reasonable distance between us.
It felt awkward following him behind, but he had already given his orders and disobeying a staff mber in the academy has its own consequences.
Can’t add another problem to the nurous issues on my table now, can I?.
The walk to his office felt longer than it should have. Every step echoed too loudly against the polished floor, the sound from our footsteps, bouncing back into like my heartbeat was amplifying it.
My hands felt cold, but my neck and cheeks burned as though fire was beneath my skin.
I wished these whole new feelings caused by the feromones would stop. Today, it’s all on Sir Kaelric; tomorrow, it could be the Alpha successors or even worse, Zade.
I didn’t even bother looking back to see if anyone was watching trail behind him.
Who cares, besides, I don’t rember anyone who disobeys a teacher’s instruction to see them after class. The only difference is that this teacher happens to be my mate, which only I know about.
When I reached the tall door, my throat tightened. His office door seed more intimidating than usual.
Even though I had entered this office before, the events of last night have exaggerated everything about him. My knuckles hovered mid-air for too long, gathering my breath and my composure, before I finally knocked.
"Co in," his voice rolled out, firm but almost too smooth, like velvet dragging over stone.
I pushed the door open and slipped inside.
He was standing by the wide window, his back to , the sunlight spilling over his shoulders. This was almost the sa as how I t him the last ti I entered his office. I wonder why he always faced that window.
For a mont, I just stood there, my eyes dragging across his broad shoulders, the tension in his stance, the way he seed lost in thought and yet fully aware of my presence.
"You asked to et you after class," I managed, my voice softer and more raspy than I intended. "I’m here now."
He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched, heavy and pressing, until my nerves were screaming. Finally, he spoke, still not turning around.
"Yes. I sent for you."
His tone was clipped, precise. But sothing about it ward all over again, like every command of his was wired straight into my chest and my core.
When he finally turned, the weight of his gaze hit . My pulse accelerated, my heart fluttered, and my core ached. He walked to his desk, sat, and gestured at the chair opposite him.
"Sit," he commanded. "Why is his voice so smooth and thick just the way I like it?" I asked Athena.
"That’s because we crave him, let eat him up like a favourite al," Athena blurted excitedly. Athena doesn’t even care about the storm I’m fighting. It’s as if she were all about fighting for and consummating the mate bond, that’s all.
But I get it, she is my wolf and has been ever loyal. But she was a sharp contrast with ; she is the part of I pretend not to see. She was always happy and excited about everything; she didn’t have any worries, and I enjoyed her company anyti she surfaced.
I hesitated, just for a second. My feet felt glued to the floor because the command in his voice wasn’t just academic; it vibrated through , settling low in my core. But then I sat down.
The mont I did it, my heartbeat accelerated even more. The office was too quiet, too intimate, and there was so much proximity to him.
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "Your scent," he started, his voice dropping just a little, low enough to crawl under my skin, "Is unlikely to be ignored. Especially not by a Dravari like , you know."
Heat rushed to my face instantly. My nails dug into my palm under the desk.
Then he paused, a smirk tugging at his lips, before continuing, "Your scent is especially more unique today. I wonder why..." His eyes glead as if he already knew the answer. "Is soone in her heat?"
My stomach dropped. My body betrayed in the worst possible way.
A wave of warmth tore through , twisting with the bond, making clench my thighs under the table just to keep myself steady.
He was right, and that embarrassed more than anything. Why would he know everything? Why couldn’t he just let be?.
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