Bella's POV:
Stepping into the crowded hallway was like walking into a wall of sound and motion. My nerves, always frayed in public spaces, tightened. A deep breath. *I'm doing this for them*, I reminded myself, and took a few steps before turning to make sure Noah and Mia were behind me.
But the space where they should have been was just a shifting sea of unfamiliar faces.
A cold knot of disorientation formed in my stomach. I was suddenly, acutely alone, adrift in the very chaos I'd agreed to brave for company. The university hallway, though my own, felt alien—a roaring river of backpacks and chatter I'd never learnt to navigate. Maybe they went ahead. The cafeteria. They'll be at the cafeteria. It became a mantra, a fixed point to move toward.
I pushed forward, eyes down, focusing on the scuffed tile floor, trying to make myself small. The noise seemed to peel back a layer of my composure, letting other thoughts seep in. The memory from the morning surfaced, vivid and unbidden: the startling, impossible violet of his eyes and the way his broad shoulders seemed to block out the light, making the air feel still and tight. A strange, unsettling familiarity clung to the image, like a name on the tip of my tongue. I don't know him. But the certainty felt thin. His cold dismissal, however, was crystal clear.
The crowd was denser than usual, a current of excited energy. Is there an event? I didn't care. I was just hungry and trying to get to a table, to the anchor of my maybe-friends.
My downward focus was so complete I didn't see the solid form until it was too late. I walked directly into someone, the impact jolting me back a step with a soft gasp.
Jack's POV:
Leaving Knox to simmer in his own popularity was always a pleasure. Served him right. I was almost to the exit when a small figure collided with me—all soft impact and a startled gasp.
The first thing that hit me wasn't her, but her scent. Sweet. Intoxicating. Like ripened berries and fresh rain, a fragrance so potent it could drive any alpha feral. My instincts flared before my mind caught up.
I looked down. Dark red, wide eyes stared back, liquid with apology. An omega. And not just any omega—a bunny. From a cascade of baby pink hair emerged a pair of long, silken ears, pure white with the faintest blush of pink at the tips. They twitched nervously, mapping the soundscape of the hall. A glimpse of a snow-white tail, an impossibly soft puff, peeked from beneath her hoodie.
Cute. Devastatingly so. And currently, she looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. A faint, flustered blush painted her cheeks.
Now I understood Knox's fixation completely. This wasn't just disregard; it was a walking temptation. The pull was visceral, a hook in the gut. I felt my own control tighten.
She was apologising again, her voice a soft, fluttering murmur. "I-I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking." Her gaze darted away, then back, a quick, nervous cycle.
I forced a mask of casual ease, wrestling the alpha intensity back into its box. "Easy there," I said, my voice coming out smoother and calmer than the sudden, possessive heat in my blood warranted. "No harm done."
A wicked, provocative thought ignited. Watching Knox's cold, controlled world tilt off its axis was my favourite pastime. The idea of seeing that icy composure shatter over this tiny, mesmerising creature… it was too delicious.
The corner of my mouth lifted in a smile that was all friendly charm. "You okay? You look a little lost."
She gave a small, hesitant nod, her ears drooping slightly with what seemed like self-reproach. "Just… heading to the cafeteria. It's busier than I thought."
"No worries, bunny," I said, the nickname slipping out. I saw a flicker of something in her eyes at the term—no offence, but a wariness, a gentle bristling. She was soft but not passive. "The crowd's a bit wild today. There's a… popular guy over there. The whole circus is for him." I gestured vaguely at the throng surrounding Knox.
She tilted her head, those long white ears swivelling as she tried to peer past the bodies. Her wide, dark ruby eyes blinked up at me, pure, unfeigned confusion in their depths. "Who?"
My own small, rounded rhino ears twitched atop my head in sheer disbelief. *She doesn't know?* How could anyone, especially an omega this captivating, not know Knox? The shock was so complete my carefully crafted charm faltered for a second. "You don't know him?!" I asked, my voice tinged with genuine puzzlement.
Her brows drew together in a delicate frown. She seemed to withdraw slightly, her shoulders tensing as if bracing for judgement. "I… really don't," she said softly, and the sound of it—a blend of honesty and quiet defiance—did something dangerous to my composure. "Could you tell me about him?"
Her innocent request was a direct hit. I felt a strange, protective possessiveness surge alongside the wicked urge to cause trouble. *I might just ask Knox to give me this little ruby,* I thought.
I cleared my throat. "Of course. See that guy there, holding court?" I pointed to where Knox stood, an immovable, icy pillar in the sea of admirers. I watched her face closely. "That's Knox."
Her eyes followed my gesture. She studied him, her head cocked, not with longing or admiration, but with the detached curiosity of someone examining a puzzling artefact. Her eyes widened slightly, not in awe, but in dawning recognition—likely of the morning's rude encounter. Her pink ears flattened back against her hair, a subtle sign of dislike or wariness. Her voice, when it came, was not awed. It was simple, clean perplexity. "Oh. What's so special about him?"
For a moment, I was speechless. Then, a slow, genuine grin spread across my face. *Out of the mouths of babes…* She wasn't playing hard to get; she was genuinely unimpressed. The clarity in her ruby eyes was stunning. *'I am more handsome,'* I joked silently to myself.
The thrill of the game spiked. My heart hammered against my ribs. I leaned in, closing the space between us. Her scent intensified, that lush berry sweetness underscored by the sharp, intriguing note of wine Knox had mentioned. But her gaze, fixed on me now, was utterly sober—clear, watchful, and deeply cautious.
I let my voice drop to a husky whisper near the delicate curve of her ear. "You find out, princess."
I felt the fine tremor that went through her, a full-body shiver she couldn't suppress. I saw the way her ears were pinned back tight, a clear sign of being flustered. A deeper blush swept over her cheeks. But she didn't step back. She held her ground, even as her wide eyes stared up at me, now filled with a mixture of surprise, intrigue, and a spark of something that looked like challenge.
Grinning, I pulled away and walked past her, leaving her standing there amidst the flow of students. Her scent now carried the sharp, clean note of surprise, cut through with that persistent, fascinating sweetness. I glanced back once.
She was still watching me, one hand unconsciously touching the ear I'd whispered to. She wasn't smiling. She looked… thoughtful. Successful. Like she was solving a complex equation I'd just handed her.
*'Knox was right about the wine,'* I mused. But he was utterly wrong about everything else. This wasn't a timid, intoxicated omega. This was a girl with a quiet, resilient core, who met intensity not with flight, but with a puzzling, steady observation.
This was going to be *so much* more fun than I'd thought.
Bella's POV:
After what felt like an eternity, he finally answered. My eyes widened as he leaned closer to my ear, and heat rushed to my cheeks. He smelt like sunflowers, calm and soothing. So different from Knox.
His breath fanned against my neck as he whispered huskily, and a shiver ran down my spine.
"You'll find out, princess."
My heart started beating so fast when he said that. I froze in place, replaying everything I had absorbed from this conversation. He is… popular yet rude. I didn't know you could even be popular at university. My father once told me to avoid alphas like that; they only bring mischief. His purple eyes glow from afar…
I look in his direction. Knox… if I'm not mistaken, that's a Scottish name but from English origins. I feel a tug in my heart. My eyes fall on the girls getting touchy with him. Without warning, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around to see.
"Bella!"
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Mia and Noah. Finally, my shoulders relax. However, from the corner of my eye, I see his ultramarine eyes still on me, like a hunter catching new prey. Our eyes meet, and another shiver runs down my spine. Flutters fill my stomach. I am definitely crazy. I break eye contact and turn to Mia, relaxing a bit as I say,
"Oh my god~ I've been looking for you!"
Despite my relief, I'm taken aback by her flushed face. My eyes narrow unconsciously; I'm more wary than concerned. I glance at Noah, who seems angry. That pair of hunter's eyes still burns into my back, but I try to ignore it.
"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.
Noah laughs sarcastically. I look at him, confused by his weird attitude. He then says, annoyed,