We eat strays like you alive.
Aria's POV
I stood there for a long moment, the cold stone still pressing against my back, long after Zayne's scent began to fade. My legs felt like jelly, and my hands were shaking so badly I had to clutch them together to stop them from trembling. The encounter had left me raw, exposed. Zayne's words, his touch, his terrifying possessiveness – they had stripped away the fragile facade of normalcy I tried to maintain.
He wasn't just a bully. He was a predator, and I was, to him, nothing more than prey. And the worst part? A part of me, a tiny, buried part I desperately wanted to deny, felt a perverse jolt from his attention. It was terrifying, yes, but also… electrifying. The primal omega in me, the one I kept locked down, was responding to their alpha dominance, a desperate, dangerous pull towards the very danger I should be fleeing.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I pushed myself away from the wall. I needed to get to my dorm, to the relative safety of my tiny, unremarkable room. I practically stumbled up the stairs, my mind replaying Zayne’s words. “What clearly belongs to us.” “We eat strays like you alive.” And then, the chilling whisper, “Right now, we want you.”
What did they want? They were the Blackthorns, the most powerful family in the shifter world, their lineage stretching back centuries. They had everything – wealth, influence, raw, untamed power. What could an orphaned, scholarship omega like me possibly offer them?
My dorm room was blessedly empty when I finally pushed the door open. I flicked on the single overhead light, illuminating the cramped space. A narrow bed, a rickety desk, a small wardrobe – it was a stark contrast to the opulence I imagined the Blackthorn brothers lived in. I dropped my books onto the desk with a thud, the sound jarring in the sudden silence.
I walked over to the small, grimy window and looked out into the moonlit academy grounds. Shadows stretched long and distorted, turning familiar trees into monstrous figures. The academy, usually a place of learning and ambition, now felt like a gilded cage, and I, the helpless bird trapped within.
The encounter with Killian earlier had been unsettling enough. His silent intervention, his warning. It was so out of character for the reclusive Blackthorn. And then Zayne, emerging from the shadows like a viper, confirming that all four of them were watching me. It felt like a net was slowly closing in around me, each brother a tightening strand.
I hugged myself, trying to quell the tremors that still ran through my body. I had to be strong. I had to resist. But how do you resist something so powerful, so pervasive, when it seems to be coming from every direction?
I thought back to my conversation with Maya, my roommate, earlier that day. She was a sweet, timid beta, always afraid of offending anyone, especially the higher-ranking shifters. She’d warned me to keep my head down, to be invisible. "Don't draw attention to yourself, Aria," she'd said, her voice laced with genuine concern. "Especially not from the Blackthorns. They're like sharks. Once they smell blood, they don't let go."
Well, it seemed I had not only drawn their attention, but I had practically painted a target on my back. And now, I was bleeding.
I stripped off my clothes, feeling grubby and exposed, and stepped into the small, communal shower down the hall. The hot water did little to soothe my frayed nerves. I scrubbed my skin raw, trying to wash away the lingering sensation of Zayne's touch, the phantom weight of his presence. But it clung to me, a persistent echo of his dominance.
The next morning, the academy felt different. Or maybe it was just me. Every shadow seemed to hold a lurking figure, every whispered conversation seemed to be about me. Paranoia, I told myself, but it was a cold comfort. The incident with Zayne had solidified something in my mind: the Blackthorns weren't just a distant, intimidating presence anymore. They were actively involved in my life, whether I liked it or not.
During breakfast, I tried to blend in, to make myself as small and unnoticeable as possible. I chose a table in the furthest corner of the bustling dining hall, surrounded by lower-ranking omegas and betas who paid little attention to anything beyond their own plates. But even there, I felt eyes on me. I risked a quick glance towards the Alpha table, where the Blackthorns usually held court.
My breath hitched. They were all there. Zayne, his silver eyes sweeping over the room, a lazy, dangerous smile playing on his lips. Rylan, broad-shouldered and intense, his gaze fixed on some point beyond me. Cassian, quiet and watchful, sipping his coffee, his eyes, I swore, flicking towards me when he thought no one was looking. And Killian, a shadowy presence even in the well-lit hall, his dark head bent slightly, seemingly engrossed in his own thoughts.
A cold knot formed in my stomach. They were a formidable quartet, each distinct, yet bound by an undeniable aura of power and shared purpose. And that purpose, it seemed, was me.
I quickly averted my gaze, focusing on my unappetizing toast. It was ridiculous. I was being ridiculous. They were probably just looking in this general direction. But the knot remained.
The day dragged on, each class feeling like an eternity. I found it hard to concentrate, my mind constantly replaying Zayne’s words, Killian’s intervention, and the unsettling feeling of being watched.
During my break, I decided to seek refuge in the library. It was usually quiet, a sanctuary of dusty books and hushed whispers. I found a secluded table in the back, tucked away behind a towering shelf of ancient texts, and tried to lose myself in my textbook on Shifter History.
I managed about ten minutes of peace before a shadow fell over my book.
I looked up, my heart sinking. Rylan.