Chapter 12
Anila POV
Outside the bedroom doors were golden plaques; one of which had my name on it. I knew right away that meant this was my bedroom. I was amazed at how prepared this school was for my arrival.
I opened the door, and my eyes grew large as I stepped into the beautiful room. There was a full bed already made with a purple and black bedspread. The window that overlooked the campus had long silky, transparent purple drapes that reached the ground. There was a plush purple carpet in front of the bed and the floors were hardwood.
There was a closet and a dresser along with a couple of nightstands beside my bed. On the far side of the room was a loveseat and an empty bookshelf.
This was three times the size of my room at home.
Sitting on my bed was a card that I reached for immediately.
On the front of the card, it said: Welcome to Lunar Academy Anila Montgomery!
My eyes grew large as I opened the card to read the inside.
It read:
You are beginning a new magical journey where you will discover magnificent things about yourself. Orientation is held on Tuesday, January 9(th) at 10 pm where you will receive your schedule and supplies for a successful school year.
If you are reading this, it means you have made it to your dorm room! This is your space and can be decorated however you want.
The community dormitory kitchen is located downstairs and will always be stocked with the essentials for quick meals, snacks, and drinks. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the dining hall.
Meal hours are:
Breakfast: 8 pm – 8:45 pm
Lunch: 12 am – 12:45 am
Dinner: 5 pm – 7 pm (last call).
Curfew is between the hours of 8 am – 7:45 pm, and classes are from 9 pm – 4 am. We expect all students to be timely and prepared for class. This is your opportunity to prove yourself and become a stronger, smarter, and overall better version of who you already are.
With any questions or concerns, or just a little bit of guidance, please see your dorm advisor Kendra Wilson.
- Lunar Academy Board.
As I read the card, excitement boiled through me. This was my new life. This was my bedroom. I could do whatever I wanted with this room. I was honestly already impressed with the design of this room. It was beautiful and my favorite colors.
But as much as I loved this room, I wanted to go exploring.
As I walked out of the room, I took a quick look around the living room. Smiling at the space. It was so much bigger than my old room.
I couldn’t help but wonder where my roommate was. Xaden said she must have gotten here earlier today so she was probably out exploring.
Taking a deep breath, I left the dorm room and stumbled into the hallway. It was quiet in the hall, probably because it was 3 am and most were in class for the next hour. I wondered what the students here were like. The excitement I once felt in my chest quickly turned to nervousness. But I swallowed that feeling down and went downstairs and into the community living room.
There was a door on the far side of the room near the elevator and when I peered through the door, I saw a big hallway with a balcony that overlooked the interior of the dorm castle, all the way down to the main foyer where more new students started to gather.
The grand stairs were nearby, but I wanted to take the elevator, so I slipped back into the room and went to the elevator, pressing the down button.
After a minute, it dinged and then the doors slid open.
I stepped inside and stared at the large panel with numbers and letters. There was also a button with only a star; I assumed that was the ground floor, so I pressed it and waited for the doors to close. I wanted to see as much of this school as possible, so I knew what I was getting myself into it.
On the small screen next to the panel, I noticed there was a little icon that told me where the elevator was headed. Beside the icon, it said that it was making 1 stop on the way.
What a strange place, I thought to myself.
I held onto the railing while the elevator did some weird things. It doesn’t just go up and down; it also goes side to side, and seemingly diagonal as well. Thankfully it went slow enough that it didn’t knock me off my feet, but I still found myself hanging on tightly.
When the elevator finally stopped the doors opened.
I wasn’t prepared for who entered the elevator next.
To my utter shock, Zach stepped through the doors.
His eyes locked on mine and for a moment, he looked shocked as well. But that shocked expression only lasted a moment and that sexy half-smile appeared on his lips.
“How did I get so lucky to end up in such a confined space with such a gem?” He asked, just as the doors shut behind him.
I jumped away from him. The smirk on his face looked as though he wanted to eat me alive.
I clamped my mouth shut, straightening and turning towards the elevator doors, waiting for them to open so I could bolt as fast as I could. Though, part of me felt like he would enjoy that way too much. When I took a small breath through my nose, I internally cursed myself as his delicious scent worked its way into my senses.
My body sighed at the smell, and when I risked a glance in his direction, he was closer.
Much closer.
This wasn’t happening to me. All I wanted was to explore and now I was stuck in the elevator with Zach Gresham. My body was practically melting.
The smile on his face was the most charming I had ever seen. His hand planted itself next to my head, his other came up to direct my chin to his face. His fingers were hot against my flesh, and my skin vibrated beneath him.
I found that my thoughts were growing cloudy, much like they did on the plane with Xaden, and I tried to keep it clear.
I’m not afraid of Zach.
Not in the way I should have been at least. But I was aware of the effect his scent had on my body.
His face drew closer to mine as if he had every intention of kissing me right here without my permission.
“What are you doing? Didn’t you make a deal to leave me alone?” I whispered.
Zach laughed, deep in his chest, his body rumbling and making my cheeks flush.
“Oh please, baby girl, nobody can make me do anything.” He released my chin, his mouth drew closer, and his breath ghosted my lips, “But I can make you do anything.”
He waved his hand, and my body went rigid.
Well, not exactly.
It was like all my muscles tensed and froze, but I stayed in the exact, provocative position that I was in, which was between the wall and his massive frame. Strands of his blonde hair fell in front of his blue eyes, like a hurricane out at sea.
Zach grinned, sticking his nose into my neck, and took a long drag. I felt him shudder at my scent, and my heart pounded at the sight. Something about witnessing his reaction to, well, me, got my body excited. Even if I didn’t want to be.
I could feel the threads that tied us together tugging in my chest, begging to be closer to him, to be consumed by him in every possible way.
Such a vast, and stark contrast to his brother. I thought.
Though Xaden was kind and patient to me all the time, he had a composed and more domineering side to him; especially when it came to his brother. I shouldn’t have been surprised though; Xaden was an Alpha wolf. It was in their nature to be domineering.
Zach, on the other hand, is seductive, the way he moved, or spoke is like a flirtatious melody for any woman he comes across. I’ve seen him on TV on many occasions and he always had a female on his arm. I could tell just based on our first meeting that he was a womanizer and certainly not someone I should want to be with.
Zach pulled his face away from my neck, and his mouth drew close to my ear as he drawled, “Do you like my scent as much as I enjoy yours?” It was like the question elicited an inhale, and the sharp citrus scent that accompanied him forced its way into my chest. “If I was the one to pick you up, things would be so, so different, you know. You’d be wrapped around my finger, and I wouldn’t make you choose.” The smile that spread across his lips made my heart race in panic. “I would share you with whoever you wanted.”
He inched closer, my blood raced in my veins, and I squeezed my eyes shut tight, unable to look at his handsome face any longer. If I do, I’d melt before him, and betray myself before I would be able to think.
Then, I heard the elevator dinging and the door opened. The new voice that spoke had my body paralyzed.
It was deep, angry, and so familiar.
“What are you two doing in here?”
My eyes sprung open, locking with two pools of honey that were a complex of emotions. I could see anger, but I could see so much more. Confusion, loyalty, and hesitation.
Harley took a step into the elevator, his form took up most of the spare space. His red hair shifted about his shoulders, with round bear ears twitching atop his head as his eyes narrowed at us, disgusted.
