Kimi's POV
The morning air felt crisp against my face as I walked through the university gates. Students clustered around expensive cars, their laughter echoing across the courtyard.
I pulled my oversized cardigan tighter around my body. The loose fabric hid my figure completely. Just the way I needed it.
"There's the nerd," someone whispered as I passed.
"Look at those ugly glasses."
"Her clothes are so baggy. Does she even have a body under there?"
I kept my head down and quickened my pace. Their words stung, but I'd learned to build walls around my heart.
The main building loomed ahead. Its stone facade reminded me of a fortress. Fitting, since I felt like I was entering enemy territory every day.
My first class was Literature. I slipped into my usual seat in the back corner. Olive waved from a few rows ahead, but she was surrounded by her popular friends.
"Did you see Kolton Zachary this morning?" a girl behind me gushed.
"He looked so hot on his motorcycle."
"I heard he got into another fight last night."
"That's so sexy. Bad boys are the best."
My heart skipped at his name. Kolton Zachary. The future Alpha who haunted my dreams and made my wolf restless.
"He's dangerous though," another voice chimed in. "My sister said he sent three guys to the hospital not long ago."
"That just makes him more attractive."
I tried to focus on my textbook. But their gossip pulled me in like quicksand.
"Kolton never dates anyone seriously," the first girl continued. "He just sleeps around."
"Maybe that's because he's waiting for his mate," her friend suggested.
"Or maybe he's just a player who doesn't believe in love."
The professor entered and called for silence. But my mind wandered to dark eyes and a dangerous smile.
After class, I hurried toward the cafeteria. The hallways buzzed with energy and expensive perfume.
"Kimi!"
I turned to see Bennett jogging toward me. His blonde hair caught the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Hey, Bennett." I managed a small smile.
"Can you meet me at the basketball court after your last class? I want to talk to you about something."
My stomach fluttered with nerves. Bennett was kind to me when others weren't. But I worried about giving him the wrong impression.
"Sure," I agreed.
"Great. See you later." He flashed his perfect smile and jogged away.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and note-taking. I ate lunch alone while Olive sat with her wealthy friends.
A little before our meeting time, I walked toward the outdoor basketball court. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty bleachers.
I expected to find Bennett waiting. Instead, three boys from Kolton's basketball team lounged on the benches.
My blood turned to ice.
"Well, well. Look what crawled out of her hole," Logan sneered.
I recognized him immediately. He was Kolton's teammate and one of the cruelest bullies on campus.
"I'm just waiting for someone," I said quietly, backing away.
"Oh, we know. Bennett asked you to meet him here." Logan stood up, his friends flanking him.
"He's not coming though. We told him you were sick and couldn't make it."
My heart hammered against my ribs. I was completely alone with three predators.
"Please, I need to go." I turned to leave.
"Not so fast, nerd girl." Logan grabbed my wrist. "We want to have some fun first."
"Let me go." My voice came out as a whisper.
"What's under all those ugly clothes? Let's find out."
His fingers reached for the buttons on my cardigan. I yanked away and stumbled backward.
"Help!" I screamed, but the court was isolated from the main campus.
"No one can hear you," Logan laughed.
I turned and ran. But I only made it a few steps before slamming into something solid.
A chest. A very hard, muscular chest.
Strong hands gripped my shoulders to steady me. The scent of leather and sandalwood filled my nostrils.
I looked up and froze.
Kolton Zachary stared down at me with dark, intense eyes. His black hair fell across his forehead in messy waves. The silver piercing above his eyebrow caught the light.
Tattoos covered his muscular arms. Even through his fitted t-shirt, I could see the definition of his chest and abs.
He was everything dangerous and beautiful rolled into one devastating package.
"S-sorry," I stammered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
His gaze flickered over my face. For a moment, something unreadable crossed his features.
"Kolton!" Logan called out. "Perfect timing. We were just having some fun with the omega nerd."
Kolton's expression hardened. His jaw clenched as he looked past me toward his teammate.
"We don't have time for your nonsense, Logan," he said coldly.
Logan's confident smirk faltered. "But—"
"I said we don't have time." Kolton's voice carried the unmistakable authority of a future Alpha.
The three boys exchanged nervous glances before shuffling away without another word.
I stood frozen, barely breathing. Kolton Zachary had just saved me. The most feared boy on campus had defended a nobody like me.
"Are you hurt?" he asked quietly.
I shook my head, not trusting my voice.
He studied my face for another moment. Then he stepped around me and walked away without another word.
I watched his retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner. My heart was still racing, but not from fear anymore.
"Kimi! There you are."
Bennett's voice snapped me back to reality. He jogged toward me, concern written across his features.
"I got your message about being sick, but then Rylie said she saw you walking this way."
*Rylie, our mutual friend, must have seen me from the library window.*
"Message?" I frowned.
"Logan said you couldn't make it because you weren't feeling well."
Understanding dawned. Logan had lied to him to get me alone.
"I'm fine," I said quickly. "Just tired."
Bennett didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue.
Later that evening, Olive dragged me to a party at one of the sorority houses. I tried to refuse, but she insisted I needed to get out more.
The house pulsed with music and laughter. Students danced and drank while I hugged the walls like wallpaper.
"Come on, let's play a game!" someone shouted.
A circle formed in the living room. I tried to escape, but Olive pushed me forward.
"It's just a harmless party game," she laughed.
Before I could protest, someone blindfolded a player in the center. The rules were simple - catch someone and guess who they were.
I pressed myself against the back wall, praying to remain invisible.
The blindfolded figure moved with predatory grace. Even without seeing his face, I recognized that powerful build.
Kolton Zachary.
He stalked around the circle while everyone giggled and squealed. His head turned toward different sounds, hunting his prey.
Then he moved in my direction.
I held my breath and tried to melt into the wall. But it was too late.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me against his chest. The familiar scent of leather and sandalwood enveloped me.
My heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
"Got you," he murmured near my ear.
His hands lingered on my waist longer than necessary. Heat radiated from his body into mine.
The crowd cheered and whistled around us. But all I could focus on was Kolton's solid warmth pressed against me.
He reached up and pulled off his blindfold. A playful smile curved his lips.
Then his eyes met mine.
The smile vanished instantly. His face went blank with shock.
"You!" he exclaimed.