Chapter 40

Zach’s POV

“Zach, sweetie? Are you okay?” Emma, the girl that was pressed against the wall and peering up at me asked as she twirled her long brown curls around her perfectly manicured fingers. She batted her long lashes up at me and I realized I had completely zoned out.

I stepped away from her, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. This was the second time I hadn’t been able to perform properly in front of another woman. Earlier I was humiliated in front of Stella who was expecting me to rock her world, but I couldn’t even get it up for her and sent her away early.

Now it was about to happen with Emma as well.

Two incredibly hot women were in the palm of my hand, and I was failing miserably.

I had no idea what the fuck was wrong with me.

Actually, that was a lie.

I knew exactly what was wrong with me.

Anila Montgomery.

My supposed fated mate.

The moon goddess has a fucked-up sense of humor to make me have the same fated mate as my stupid brother. As soon as she walked into my life it was like I couldn’t think of anything or anyone else other than her.

I even had a wet dream about her.

I don’t have wet dreams. Wet dreams were for prepubescent boys. I was a goddamn werewolf man.

But damn it felt so real; I could literally taste her on my tongue and feel the warmth of her core rubbing against my face. My cock twitched at the very memory of it. Lately, the only thing that made my cock active was the thought of Anila in my bed.

My wolf grew agitated when I even thought about fucking anyone else.

I clenched my fists in aggravation and let out a low growl that emerged from the depth of my throat, which caused Emma to pale immediately.

“Forget it,” I said through my teeth. “I’m done here.”

“What?” Emma asked, looking as if she wanted to cry with her puckered bottom lip and her misty eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”

I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair again; I knew I probably looked pathetic. I wasn’t completely heartless; I didn’t want her to think it had anything to do with her.

“No,” I answered, sighing. “It’s not you. Let’s revisit this another time.”

Before she could protest, I turned away and disappeared through the crowd that formed in the student lounge. Combat class was starting soon, and I was going to have to deal with these emotions I was having before I faced Anila again.

She already hated me, so this should be rather interesting.

As I stepped outside and began walking toward the arena, I paused when I saw Principal Rapport walking toward me.

“Mr. Gresham, can we have a word?” He asked.

I had to stifle a groan in aggravation. What did this asshole want?

“Sure,” I muttered, trying not to allow the aggravation to show on my face.

“It’s about your werewolf course last semester, as you know you failed the class and you were expected to make it up this semester,” Principal Rapport told me, his voice firm as he spoke.

I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t exactly great at academics; I was better suited for the gym and combat training, not learning from books.

“You were serious about that?” I asked, furrowing my brows together. “You expect me to take the werewolf history class again?”

“Yes, Zach,” Principal Rapport said, looking at me like I had just grown another head. “We already discussed this. You can’t keep the top student slot with your current grade in that class. I went over your schedule and I saw that you removed the werewolf history course. Can I ask why?”

“I’m a top student because I excel in all my other classes. I’m not taking a class with a bunch of 1(st) years,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m a 2(nd) year. I’d look pathetic.”

“If you don’t retake this course, you won’t be able to graduate once you reach your 6(th) year,” Principal Rapport told me, shaking his head with dismay written all over his face. “Wouldn’t you rather just take this course again now rather than later when it looks even more pathetic.”

I groaned, my wolf feeling even more annoyed. He didn’t like being told what to do by anyone, even the principal. But the logical part of me knew he was right. I had to graduate if I wanted to prove myself to Father and show him that I was the best Alpha to take over the pack, even if Xaden’s fate was already set in stone.

The very thought annoyed the shit out of me.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Put me in that stupid werewolf history class.”

Principal Rapport nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response.

“Good. Starting tomorrow you’ll be in Werewolf History with Professor Santina at 11 pm. I’ll get a new schedule printed for you and let the professor know.”

I didn’t say anything as Principal Rapport walked ahead of me and toward his office. I only rolled my eyes, shaking my head at his retreating back.

I made my way to the arena center where students were already gathering for their first day at combat. This was where I exceeded the most and when Professor Atlas asked me to help him out this semester, I didn’t even hesitate. But when I found out Anila was going to be in this class, I grew excited at the very thought of getting her all to myself.

I finally had an advantage over my stupid brother.

My eyes instantly found Anila and I saw that she was wearing a tight pink tank top with a black workout bra and black yoga pants that hugged every single one of her curves perfectly. Her long blonde hair was braided down her back and my god she looked hot.

I had a lot of women in the past, but I never had anyone quite like her. My wolf was growing restless inside of me, wanting to claim her as ours and take her away from anyone else who had eyes for her.

Instantly my cock twitched at the very thought, and I had to adjust myself before I made a fool out of myself in front of this entire class of 1st-year students.

Anila’s eyes narrowed as she took me in, and I swear I saw a little pink rising in her cheeks. She must have noticed me adjusting myself and I threw her a playful wink as I passed her and headed straight for Professor Atlas.

He nodded to me as he reviewed his plan for the day. After he shared it with me, I went toward Anila and grabbed a hold of her wrist.

Immediately I felt sparks flying from the touch and I had to stifle the tremble that crept up my spine. She gasped at the contact, and I felt her body warming under my touch as I pulled her away from the others and toward a more secluded part of the arena.

Others went with their partners as well, not noticing us in the least.

“What do you think you are doing?” Anila finally asked, her voice breathless.

I kept my hold on her wrist as I turned to face her.

“I am your partner,” I reminded her. “I’m doing what is expected of me as your partner.”

She pulled her hand out of my grip and rubbed her wrist as if I had hurt her, but I knew I didn’t. She was just giving me a show and I could appreciate that, but my wolf still grew irritated at the very thought of possibly causing her any kind of pain and made it known as he growled in my head.

“Let’s just agree to get along for the sake of this class,” she said, folding her arms across her incredible chest. My eyes found the beginning of her cleavage before trailing up her form and meeting her beautiful grey eyes.

It was a connection I never had with anyone else and that terrified the living shit out of me. I smirked at her words.

“I’m not going easy on you just because you’re new,” I murmured.

Her brows raised and then she surprised me by returning my smirk.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

My right brow arched from her response.

I lied about not going easy on her; at first, I showed her some of the basic moves that were on Professor Atlas’ curriculum.

Basic combat was essential in the shifter world, and I wanted her to be trained properly so she could be prepared in case I… or whoever… wasn’t around to protect her.

“I’m going to flip you,” I told her. “Once you are fully trained, you’ll know how to attack from the ground once you land.”

She raised her brows at my words but didn’t complain as I grabbed her by the arms with one hand and placed my hand on her lower back with the other. I went slow so she could see exactly what I was doing, and she could mimic the movements later.

As the palm of my hand cupped her lower back, I felt her entire body tense as she peered up at me with those big grey eyes of hers.

I smirked at her closeness.

“You know I didn’t appreciate that little stunt you played earlier in the elevator?” I said, keeping my tone low for ears alone.

I swear she trembled as my breath hit her features. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, she was airborne as I flipped her onto her back, and she landed on the ground with a thud.

I landed with her, making sure my arms cushioned her fall. I leaned over her, my arms caging her in and my body only inches from pressing into hers. She was breathless, breathing heavily as she stared up at me. My eyes shifted to her parted lips, and I thought about concurring them for myself and taking her as mine. I thought how they would feel wrapped around my cock and on cue, I felt it twitching between my legs.

She pressed her lips in a thin line as she placed her hands on my chest and shoved me so hard that I actually stumbled back; she swung her leg out from under me and I tripped under her leg, falling backward.

It all happened so quickly that I was too stunned to react.

She quickly stood to her feet and pressed her foot against my chest, pinning me to the ground, and smirking down at me, though her body trembled as nerves consumed her.

“And I don’t appreciate being harassed by you,” she said, folding her arms across her chest as she peered down at me. “One thing I’m learning since being here is that I’m way more capable than I look. Don’t underestimate me, Zach.”

As my name left her lips, my heart fluttered in a way that it never had before, and my wolf immediately submitted to her.

From that alone, I knew I was in deep shit.