Jasmin's POV
The commanding voice behind me belonged to the one person I desperately hoped to avoid at Blackthorne Academy.
His tone carried the weight of absolute authority, matching the devastating beauty of his features perfectly. Those piercing violet eyes promised nothing but destruction, sending my pulse into a frantic rhythm. Had my carefully constructed disguise already failed me? The scent-masking potion should have been foolproof, or pandemonium would have broken loose by now. If my preparations were solid, what had drawn his attention? Surely he had never encountered Evan Clemens before. I was a predator hiding among predators. Discovery meant more than mere expulsion from this place, it meant a death sentence.
That outcome was unacceptable. Fleeing now would only confirm his suspicions, so I forced my voice into the practiced masculine register I had perfected during my travels here. "Evan Clemens."
Something flickered across his features. Determined to end this interaction, I tried stepping around him, but he shifted to block my escape route once more. "Your scent differs from theirs," he murmured, lowering his head as if to catch a fragrance that my potion had carefully erased. "What secrets are you concealing, Evan Clemens?"
Terror clawed at my insides, triggered not just by his words but by his brazen actions. I fought to keep my face expressionless. Why was he the sole person to sense something amiss? I retreated before he could discover any telltale signs about my true nature.
"That concerns you how exactly?" I shot back, letting irritation creep into my tone. He radiated unpredictability and lethal intent, far more dangerous than his appearance suggested. Unknown to me, keen blue eyes observed our entire exchange from an overhead balcony, their owner's presence completely masked from my detection.
The surrounding Alphas drew sharp breaths as I dared confront the Academy's most formidable Alpha so boldly, my defiant stare locked with Max's in open challenge. I refused to allow him even a glimpse of weakness.
Abruptly, he cocked his head, and a small, enigmatic smile ghosted across his mouth. Ice flooded my veins. What was that expression supposed to convey? It screamed danger, nothing but pure peril. Both Heather, my wolf, and I grew more agitated in his vicinity for reasons we couldn't comprehend.
Without another word, I pushed past him, acutely aware of his burning gaze tracking my departure. I escaped the corridor without glancing back. Only when solitude finally embraced me did I press a palm against my thundering heart. Who exactly was this Alpha?
What drove his bizarre behavior? The way those eyes dissected me, his entire demeanor, it was absolutely terrifying. Perhaps my resistance to his aura had triggered this response? My hands clenched into fists. On my very first day, I had attracted the notice of someone like him. Nothing good could come from this attention. Avoiding him at all costs was now my top priority. We could never cross paths again.
A voice rang out behind me. "Evan Clemens?"
I spun to see a middle-aged man approaching, his uniform identifying him as dormitory staff.
"That would be me."
He studied me with obvious surprise, as though my presence at the Academy defied his expectations, then announced after a pause, "I am here to escort you to your quarters." He motioned for me to follow.
The dormitory building stretched endlessly, its hallways reverberating with the sounds of Alpha voices. My guide led me to a room positioned at the far end of an extended corridor.
"These will serve as your quarters," he declared, pushing open the door.
Relief flooded through me. At last, I had reached my destination without major incidents. All I craved was isolation and the chance to truly breathe, but the moment I crossed the threshold, my senses were assaulted by the overwhelming presence of males. The air was thick with musk, perspiration, and something far more primitive. I stopped dead in the center of the room, stunned. Three young men were already present, their conversations dying as they evaluated the newcomer.
This could not be happening.
I whirled toward the assistant with lightning speed. "I believe there has been an error!"
He consulted his paperwork, then replied, "These are the quarters you will share with fellow Alphas," before departing.
My world tilted. Share quarters? The reality crashed over me like a tidal wave. This was the male dormitory, and communal living was standard procedure. The revelation blindsided me completely. Drawing a steadying breath, I faced my new roommates.
One of them, a blonde sporting an arrogant smirk, lounged against his bunk. "So you are the fresh meat?" he drawled, his voice thick with disdain.
I held his stare, maintaining perfect composure. "Evan Clemens," I announced firmly.
He laughed, sharing a meaningful look with the others. "Hardy," he said, making no effort to offer his hand. "That one is Matthew," he indicated a dark-haired Alpha with penetrating blue eyes, who acknowledged me with a brief nod. "And over there is Clyde." The third roommate, a tall boy with reddish-brown hair, managed a timid wave.
I assessed the space. It was impressively large and well-appointed. Three beds showed clear signs of occupation, leaving one near the window. I approached it, but before I could set down my belongings, Hardy's smirk expanded.
He casually hurled his duffel bag onto the mattress. "That spot belongs to me," he declared, his eyes blazing with provocation.
Anger surged through me, but I forced it down. Drawing unwanted attention was not an option. Instead, I met his challenge head-on.
"Strange, I do not see your name anywhere," I replied with icy calm.
Tension crackled through the room like electricity. Matthew, recognizing the brewing confrontation, stepped forward. "Stand down, Hardy. Allow the newcomer to get situated. He will not survive here long regardless."
Hardy maintained eye contact for several more seconds before shrugging. "Fine," he grumbled, reclaiming his bag and throwing himself onto his own bed, but not before deliberately shouldering into me.
My identification card tumbled from my grasp, hitting the floor. As I bent to retrieve it, another hand reached for the same object.
"Here," Clyde said quietly, returning it to me.
"Thank you," I accepted it, noticing his intense scrutiny.
"Rumors say you resisted Alpha Max's aura. Truth or fiction?" His voice dropped to barely above a whisper.
I pressed my lips together. Apparently the entire Academy had heard this story. It was becoming problematic. "How could I possibly accomplish such a feat? People enjoy spreading tales," I lied smoothly.
"Is that so?" He appeared unconvinced. "I pray it is merely gossip because nobody has survived in this Academy once that Zach marks them as a target," he explained, his words making my blood freeze at Max's nickname.
"Zach?" I barely managed to whisper, remembering those intense eyes and that bone-chilling smile. Neither wholly evil nor divine, but a perfect fusion of both qualities. Exactly like a Zach.
Clyde simply nodded. "Exercise extreme caution," he advised before turning toward his own bed.
I pursed my lips as Max's whispered words echoed in my memory. Caution was definitely required.
As I arranged my possessions on the now-available bed, I focused on controlling my breathing. My gaze swept the room, landing on a fifth bed, a king-sized piece that seemed untouchable.
Curiosity consumed me. Who claimed ownership of it?
No nameplate was visible. No personal items surrounded it.
"Move," a deep voice commanded directly behind me.
Startled, I spun around quickly, only to discover Max standing inches away.
"You!" My eyes went wide with shock. "What brings you here?"
The other Alphas tensed at his arrival, and understanding crashed over me. The fifth bed belonged to him.
His lips curved into a predatory smirk as he leaned closer to my face and whispered, "Welcome to my den, little wolf."