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Part 3

“Oh come on, Emma!" My best friend poked my shoulder once again, her pout visible through the peripheral view. There's one thing about Allie I have admired all these years—her sheer ability never to give up. At this moment, however, I couldn't hate it anymore.

“Please”

“No”

“With a cherry on top?”

"No!" I said, my eyes narrowed and furiously typing the keys. The teachers asked us to review the coursework and prepare for upcoming classes. I didn't want to let them down on my first week by going out to party.

"Ugh! Come on! Live a little, will you? That's the entire reason we are here."

Swivelling in my chair, I met her eyes pointedly, my arms coming to cross against my chest. "No, Allie, that's the reason you are here," I emphasised.

Allie Thompson came from one of the wealthiest families to exist in our pack. Her family owned lands across the territories, and she's the daughter of Pack Alpha. The silly girl did not even apply for college as she believed life experiences taught us more than books. She followed me to the city under the guise of learning.

The omega dared to look flushed, her cheeks turning pink under the ceiling lights. She was already dressed in a sheer black dress, her light brown hair curled and pinned on one side. My best friend could easily be the most pretty person in any room with her warm brown eyes, porcelain skin and long milky legs.

"Potato potato." She rolled her eyes.

"It's my first week—" I shook my head, correcting myself, "—my first day of college. I cannot go clubbing with you."

"Exactly!" She placed a hand on my shoulder, a grin on her lips. "All the more reasons to party."

"You're impossible."

"So I have been told."

"Allie..."

"Emma..."

It went on for a while before I caved in and let her drag me out of my room.


As soon as we entered the club, all eyes were fixated on Allie as expected. We even got free drinks sent to our table, which I politely declined. My friend, on the other, was soaking in all the attention, giggling and thanking them. She also knew the bartender, which came as a surprise to me.

It turned out Allie dropped an application for a job this morning, and they hit it off. I tuned out as she talked with the bartender, my eyes roaming around. The high ceiling, the DJ in the corner, plush chairs and neon lights was such a strange sight for me. Back in my pack, we don't own anything like this, and it's my second time having experienced this.

A shiver ran past as I tried I think of the first time.

"Emma!" I felt a sharp elbow to my side, breaking me out of my thoughts, the loud music almost making it impossible to hear.

"Sorry?"

"I am going with Jimmy around the corner. Can you please wait for a while?"

Hesitance showed on my face, but Allie quickly assured me that she would join me soon. I watched as she walked away, my body slumping forward.

A while turned into almost an hour, but there was no sign of my friend anywhere. I stood up and tried to go around, but the bartender declined sharply, asking me to use another entry.

The cold night air hit me, the smell of grass and concrete sharp in my throat when suddenly someone grabbed my arm. It all happened too fast for me to comprehend. I was dragged backwards, a hand clamped on my mouth as I tried to scream. A frisson of fear shot through me, nails sharply digging into the intruder.

The next moment, I was pressed into the alley wall, rough edges of stone digging into my shoulder blades as an Alpha pinned me, almost effortlessly, with his forearm. He slowly slipped his other hand off my mouth, eyes turning dark, a snarl slipping out of him. "Don't scream, or I will rip your throat off. Got it?"

I meekly nodded.

"What are you doing here?"

I leaned my head back and to the side, dragging in a wet rattling breath, my eyes pointing towards his arm. "It would be much easier for me to answer," I heaved, "if you'd just ease up on my throat."

“How dare an omega disrespect me?!" He let out an angry growl, making my heart race, all the semblance of cool slipping off.

An elegant hand slid over the Alpha's bicep, manicured fingernails gentle on his skin. My eyes narrowed as the beta came to stand still next to him, her movements deliberate and slow, like she was trying to be the voice of reason. Tilting my head, I noticed three other betas lazily starting at me, leaning against the pole.

"Leon, babe, ease up on her; I can see she's already terrified enough as it is."

He exhaled sharply. "This is a fucking wolf. I want to know what is she doing in our territory."

Territory? That has another spike of fear jolting through me at those words. We have territories, ones that belong solely to a particular pack. Anyone who trespasses is punished accordingly.

A lump formed in my throat. "B-But I was told the land surrounding the university is not claimed."

The Alpha huffed, tightening his grip around my neck, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, because wolves go around advertising it." Leon stared at me as if I may be the dumbest thing he's ever encountered. I didn't want to challenge this guy, not at all. My only goal was to get through this night in one piece, not piss off the enraged alpha foaming at the mouth while effortlessly pinning me against the wall.

"Leon," The beta tried again, her voice lower while eyes still shooting daggers. "Alpha, just let her breathe."

"She came unannounced in our territory. That's a fucking challenge, Rimi."

"Not a challenge," I promised, raising my hand in the air while the other dug into the corded muscles of the arm still pressing against my neck. I was starting to see black spots in the corners of my vision from lack of air and, in the process, almost let the glasses slip off my nose. "I am sorry, but I had no idea, Alpha Leon."

"Leon," A voice echoed from the shadows. My eyes swivelled to the sound, but the nearby streetlamp had my night vision blurry, glasses still clattered on the floor.

It was enough to make the Alpha take a step back, a low growl echoing in his throat and his arm dropping from my neck.

As soon as that happened, I doubled over, coughing and dragging in deep lungfuls of air, head bent down. Tears formed in my eyes, my arms awkwardly dangling by the sides. It was challenging to find my glasses through a blurry vision when shoes were stepping towards me.

"Here." The stranger said, his voice clear yet entirely raspy and ridiculously sultry.

"T-Thanks..." I shakily said while slipping them on and standing upright.

My mouth parted at the stranger in front of me, almost towering with his shoulders neat and muscular beneath the band tee and pair of jeans. He was overwhelmingly handsome, and the slight, upward curve of the corner of his mouth had something almost playful sparking in his eyes—an Alpha. I quickly realised.

He came by my side and immediately wrapped his arm around my waist, a grin spreading across his lips. "The lady is with me."

Huh? I looked around to find the lady he was talking about, only to realise his eyes were trained on me. Startled, I kept staring at him without blinking.

"Oh, really, Avon?" Someone from the trio of betas scoffed, taking a step forward. "You came back yesterday and already met someone?"

Avon. I rolled the name off my lips, eyes focused on the sharp jawline. He leaned a bit into my space and nudged me. "You don't believe me? Babe, why don't you tell them about us?"

"Huh?" I blinked.

Avon flickered his eyes between us, mouthing something to me when I tried to read his lips. Play along. That's all I could decipher, so I turned to the beta and dumbly nodded my head.

"Yes!" I said a little too loud, trying to force on a smile. "We are lovers." As soon as the words slipped past me, I cringed internally.

Leon arched his brow. "Lovers? How did you meet?"

Colour drained my face, and I immediately stared at the Alpha next to me. He did not let the question deter him, effortlessly chuckling. "Today. We met in the university while I went to collect my card, and she's there."

I nodded my head. "Yes, I was the one handing cards today, so it was sort of love at first sight..."

Avon hummed. "Aww, babe!"

Leon crossed his arms together. "If you are lovers..." He rested his heavy gaze on Avon. "Why don't you tell me her name then?"


New character alert! Also, Merry Christmas :D

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