ERIC

As soon as we stepped out of the hearing hall, I jerked my arm free from Nelson’s grip.

He glared at me, his jaw rigid with anger. "Your recklessness just cost us that many points!" he snapped.

"My recklessness is the reason this house even has points to lose!" I shot back.

Unlike the other house Alphas who sat back and enjoyed the privilege of watching their members earn glory for them, occasionally stepping into competitions only when it benefited them, I did everything.

Not because there weren’t capable people in House Cassian. But because of my father.

That constant need to prove myself to him—as his son, as someone worthy of existing—drove me into taking on every task, even the degrading ones no one else wanted.

And still, none of it mattered. To him, I was nothing more than an inconvenience.

A mistake. A son he never truly wanted.

Someone he would gladly replace with a daughter if it meant gaining fortune and influence instead of being stuck with the useless boy who could never become the best.

Nelson bared his teeth and stepped into my space.

"Is this your idea of proving yourself to your father?" he snarled.

"You swore you’d behave yourself for once, and instead you humiliated yourself over some fucking vagina!"

A growl rumbled from my chest before I could stop it. I grabbed Nelson by the front of his shirt, my teeth grinding together as I glared at him.

"That fucking vagina is my mate!"

Nelson immediately caught my wrist and tore my hand away from him before shoving me back hard.

"It hasn’t been proven yet!" he barked.

I didn’t need anyone to prove it to me. I already knew. The kiss had confirmed it. Raze had confirmed it too.

Sure, false mate bonds existed. We had been taught about them countless times growing up. They came with all the same symptoms—attraction, obsession, emotional attachment, possessiveness.

Everything felt real. Except it wasn’t.

But I had never actually met someone who experienced one before.

And this? This wasn’t fake. It couldn’t be.

"And another thing..." Nelson stalked closer again, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. "House Alpha or not, I am still the Head of House Cassian. You will show me the respect that comes with it."

A humorless laugh escaped me. "You want respect?" I scoffed.

Nelson’s eyes narrowed further.

"When exactly have you ever respected me?" I shot back.

He hissed through his teeth, but I didn’t wait for him to answer. I kept going.

"You spent years making me feel inferior under the guise of helping me," I spat. "You act like nothing I do is ever enough when in reality, I’ve given my best every single fucking time!"

I stepped closer, fury rolling off me in waves. For years, I had ignored it.

The criticism. The control. The way he constantly watched me like I was waiting to fail.

But not today. Not anymore. I jabbed a finger hard against his chest with every word.

"You spy on me. You treat me like shit. And yes, you might be the Head of House Cassian, but you are not my head."

I swallowed hard, holding his hardened stare without backing down.

"If you’re so desperate for respect, there are hundreds of people in House Cassian willing to hand it to you."

My expression hardened further. "But not me."

I turned swiftly and took a step away.

Before I could get farther, Nelson grabbed my arm and moved in front of me with the unnatural speed only a werewolf possessed.

His fingers clamped around my arm painfully.

I held my breath but kept my face blank despite the ache spreading through my bones.

He was using his strength now. And yes, Nelson was stronger. Older. More experienced.

Outside the academy, he served as Beta to a smaller pack, and everyone knew it. Whenever he wasn’t here overseeing House Cassian, he was out handling pack affairs.

But none of that intimidated me.

"Callahan," he sneered.

His eyes darkened as pressure flooded the air around us, thick and dangerous. Again, I held my ground.

The moment I showed fear, Nelson would use it against me.

"Watch your mouth," he warned.

"I should be the one saying that," I said evenly.

If he had approached me calmly, maybe this conversation would have gone differently.

But I was already drowning under my father’s disappointment. I didn’t need Nelson adding to it.

"I’m still above you," he reminded me coldly.

"And I still don’t care."

I ripped my arm free from his grip and straightened the creased sleeve of my blazer.

Nelson stared at me, frustration written plainly across his face.

"Last warning," I said.

Even I knew the words would come back to bite me later, but at this point, what difference did it make?

I had already made a mess far bigger than this. Punishment was inevitable.

Maybe they’d throw me into the kennel with the damned three-headed beast again. Or worse.

A silver-lined cell soaked in wolfsbane and oleander.

The academy called it discipline. Everyone else knew it was torture. Still, I had survived before.

And if it came down to it, I’d survive again. My voice lowered dangerously as I stepped closer one final time.

"Say one more disrespectful thing about Elyse, and I swear on Goddess Selene herself..." I held his gaze without blinking. "One of us won’t walk away from it."

I turned sharply and walked away from him without another glance.

"Callahan!" Nelson’s growl echoed behind me, carried by the wind.

I didn’t stop walking. I didn’t look back either.

"How dare you threaten me?!" His voice grew louder.

"You little shit! Waste of space!"

"Heard worse," I muttered under my breath.

Nelson kept shouting after me, his curses following me down the path until eventually they faded into the distance.

I was already halfway to my residence when the feeling hit me. Someone was following me.

All students lived in the dormitories, but House Alphas were granted special privileges. We had private residences outside the main buildings.

Unfortunately, that also meant seeing those bastards far more often than I wanted.

My ears twitched slightly as I listened for footsteps. Nothing.

After a moment, I continued walking down the narrow isolated road. Then the sensation returned.

The back of my neck prickled. Footsteps. This time, I stopped.

Without turning fully, I glanced from the corner of my eye, pretending to study the scenery around me.

"Archer. Hart," I murmured.

Of course it was them. Even with countless scents drifting through the air, theirs stood out immediately.

Eventually, I turned properly, my gaze locking onto the two people I had the most complicated relationship with.

Kol Archer. Lance Hart.

Both had their hands shoved into their pockets, both staring at me with identical scowls.

"What do you want?" I asked casually, tilting my head slightly as I looked between them.

"Elyse," Lance answered first as he stepped forward.

"What about her?" I questioned, irritation rising instantly at the way her name rolled so easily off his tongue.

"You called her your mate." Lance’s mouth twisted slightly, like the idea itself disgusted him.

"She is," I answered calmly.

Then my expression hardened. "But that still doesn’t answer my question." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"How the hell is she your mate?" Lance snapped, veins standing out sharply along his jaw.

He stepped closer until only inches separated us. I watched his throat bob as he swallowed, his fingers curling tightly at his sides.

"She’s my mate, Hart," I said coldly. "If anyone should be asking questions, it’s me."

My gaze darkened. "Not you acting like you weren’t trying to get into her pants five minutes ago disguising it as the bond."

I closed the remaining distance between us, my fists clenching instinctively. My eyes flickered around briefly.

The area was mostly empty. Nearly everyone was still in class, and this road sat farther from the main campus near the Alpha residences. Just trees surrounded us.

Perfect.

Because I fully intended to return every hit these bastards landed on me yesterday.

With interest.

"Answer me," I demanded.

Then I looked toward Kol. He hadn’t spoken once since arriving.

"I thought you came here for the same reason, Archer."

Kol stepped forward casually, his expression unreadable as he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"I only have a few words for you, Callahan," he said coolly.

I tilted my head slightly, provoking him on purpose. "And what would that be, your royal dickness?"

Kol’s nostrils flared slightly. For a brief second, his eyes flashed red before settling back into their usual dark green.

"Stay away from Elyse."

I went still. Then I threw my head back and laughed. Hard.

The sound ripped out of me in harsh waves, my shoulders shaking as amusement flooded through me stronger than it should have.

When the laughter finally died down, I looked at him with open mockery.

"Was that supposed to scare me?" I asked, wrapping my arms around myself dramatically as I pretended to shiver.

"Oh no," I mocked in an exaggerated feminine voice. "Kol Archer threatened me and told me to stay away from Elyse."

Then my expression dropped instantly. My voice lowered into something dangerous.

"Elyse," I repeated slowly. "You expect me to stay away from my own mate?"

"Stop fucking calling her that!" Lance snarled as he swung at me.