Chapter 128

Anila’s POV

My excitement boiled over when I saw that Xaden was back at school and he was looking well. I couldn’t help myself; I ran towards him and wrapped both my legs and arms around his body. He wrapped his arms around me as well and held me close to him as he peppered kisses along my jawline.

“I was so scared,” I whispered, tears pouring out of my eyes before I could stop them. I hated showing everyone this weakness, but I couldn’t help myself. Not when it came to Xaden, the first boy I had ever truly loved.

“Did you think I wouldn’t return to you?” He whispered in return.

“Okay, nothing to see here,” I heard Harley saying. “Give us some space guys.”

I could hear their upset murmurs, but nobody would go against any of these guys. They all turned and started to talk amongst themselves as they walked back towards the buses to scope out the rest of the competition. The only ones who remained in the crowd were Penny and Becca, who were with me to begin with.

“We’ll give you some privacy,” Penny said, grabbing a hold of Becca’s arm. “We are hungry and heading to the dining hall.”

“Okay,” I told them as I untangled myself from Xaden’s body. I waved goodbye to my friends and waited or them to leave before I turned to face Xaden. I put my hand on his forehead. “How are you feeling?”

He smiled down at me and before he could answer, I was lifting up his shirt to see the wound on his body. My breath nearly hitched when I saw his abs. It’s been a while since I’ve been with Xadne and my body, along with my wolf, was desperately craving him. I had to bite my tongue for now though and make sure he was truly okay before I thought about anything else.

“I’m feeling fine, Anila,” he told me, cupping my face with his warm hands and making my head lift to look up at him. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m completely fine now.”

I nibbled on the corner of my bottom lip.

“I’m always worried about you, Xaden,” I whispered, my cheeks burning. He ran his fingers through my disheveled hair, a smile on his lips as he lowered himself to me and kissed me gently. I closed my eyes, basking in his kiss and his warmth, not wanting him to let me go.

Not even for a second.

“I promise, I’m okay. I’m completely healed. The doctor wouldn’t have let me leave otherwise,” he assured me.

I nodded as he wiped away the stray tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.

He glanced over his shoulder at his brother and best friend. Zach was leaning against a tree with his hands tucked in his pockets and his head down. He was trying hard to not look at us and I knew he was trying to keep his emotions blocked from me.

Harley stood a few feet away from him; he was staring off in the direction of the school like he was waiting for someone to show up at any moment.

“I need to speak with Principal Rapport,” Xaden told them, drawing their attention to him. “Can you take her to my cabin?”

Harley turned to look at us, his eyes meeting mine, and then he nodded.

“Yeah, of course,” he said simply. “The sun will be rising soon so it’s best if we go there now.”

Xaden nodded; I didn’t want to part with him, so I grabbed his arm, my eyes pleading.

His face softened and he gave me a small smile before kissing me gently on the forehead.

“I won’t be long,” he whispered. “I’ll join you soon.”

I pressed my lips together, hating that tears were stinging in my eyes. But I wasn’t going to be a brat so I nodded and hugged him again before parting ways. Zach was the first to walk away and towards the cabin. Harley waited for me to get into step beside him before he started to walk as well. Xaden watched us for a moment, his eyes longing. I knew walking away from me was just as difficult for him as it was for me. It took everything I had not to turn back around to look at him.

I was being completely ridiculous; I knew this. He was only going to be gone for a little while. He was healthy and safe now, so there was no reason to be worried about him right now. I couldn’t seem to shake the sense of dread though; I had a feeling there was something wrong and I worried about what that might be.

I stared up at the sky; it was starting to become a hazy pink as the sun rose for the day, indicating the time to sleep for the Lunar Academy. My eyes narrowed at the darkening clouds that appeared in the distance and for a moment I wondered if they were truly clouds, or if it could be smoke.

I quickly brushed the thought out of my head; Jaxon promised me that the dragon wouldn’t do much damage, and he would stop it before she did. But what if he couldn’t stop the Alpha King on his own? What if something happened that wasn’t in his plan?

“What’s on your mind?” Harley asked, glancing at me. “Worrying about Xaden or the competition?”

“Both,” I admitted. “But right now, all I can think about is Jaxon and what he’s doing with the Alpha King.”

“He’s still working with the Alpha King?” Harley asked, his brows raised so high that they disappeared into his hairline.

“Yes,” I murmured. “He said he has it under control, but I’m not sure I believe him.”

“Of course you shouldn’t believe him,” Zach barked from way ahead of us. The cabin came into view, and I was relieved to see it. It’s been a while since I spent any amount of time at this cabin, at least not since my dream with Damien. “He’s no good, Anila.”

“He’s still my mate,” I replied, narrowing my eyes at Zach’s back. “I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“You don’t have to do anything,” Zach muttered.

He reached the cabin’s front door and used the key hidden in the flowerpot by the door. Once he got the door unlocked, he put the key back in its hiding spot and pulled the door open, stepping inside.

Harley and I reached him a minute later and followed him into the cabin. The whole place still smelled like Xaden. My wolf perked at the idea of us being surrounded by his scent. It was a scent she had missed dearly this past week.

“We are bonded, Zach. I— oof!!”

Before I could finish that sentence, Zach grabbed me and threw me against the wall, pinning me between his body and the wall, making it so I was unable to move. He gripped my wrists above my head, his entire body pressing so firmly into me that I found it difficult to breathe.

“Z…Zach….” I stammered.

His lips pressed against my ear, and he spoke in a tone that was low and deadly.

“Don’t remind me,” he smeared. “The fact that you let that man mark you…. And touch you. It’s driving me insane, Anila.”

“Back off, Zach,” Harley tried to intervene.

As soon as Harley touched Zach’s shoulder to pull him away from me, Zach’s wolf flashed through his eyes and a low growl escaped his lips. The part of me that grew up human wanted to be afraid of the big bad wolf… but the new me… the me that feels she has a greater purpose in this life than being my stepmother and stepsister’s slave… wanted to see how far she could push him.

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you,” I said, my eyes narrowing up at him.

His nostrils flared and his lip curled up in disgust.

“Don’t push me, Anila,” he said through his teeth.

He was so close to me that if I tilted my head just a little, we’d be kissing. I looked down at his plump lips, my heart racing and pounding against my ribcage.

“Or what?” I asked, my voice coming out as nothing more than a whisper.

“I wouldn’t provoke him,” Harley said, but he had a grin on his face as if he knew what I was doing, and he thought it was funny. Harley was smart like that.

“Listen to the bear,” Zach said, pushing off me. I nearly fell to the ground as he walked away from. Thankfully, Harley was there to steady me.

Zach started to walk towards the bedroom as if nothing had happened; he was taking off his shirt which was his sign that he was about to take a shower. I stared at his muscular back and the small dimple on his lower back. My mouth practically watering at the sight of him; Zach might be an asshole, but he was hot.

All my mates were hot and being around them drove my inner animals crazy.

I folded my arms across my chest as I followed Zach into the bedroom, not wanting him to have the last word. Harley was right behind me and leaned against the doorframe as I grabbed Zach’s arm before he disappeared into the bathroom.

“Whether you like it or not, Zach. Jaxon is part of this too. Just like you, he is my mate. You can’t get jealous every time I—ah!!” I shrieked at the end as Zach grabbed me and threw me onto the bed, with him on top of me within seconds.

He pinned my arms above my head and his teeth were elongated as he fought with his wolf for control. I should have been afraid… very afraid. Even Harley was about to intervene and pull Zach off me. But I wasn’t afraid… I was turned on.

I leaned up and whispered in Zach’s ear, “Let him have control.”

Chaos followed after.