Gideon's hand brushed mine, his voice silk and venom.
It started innocently enough. I was leaving my morning class, arms loaded with textbooks and notes, when someone bumped into me from behind. Books went flying, papers scattering across the hallway floor.
"Watch it!" a girl snapped, not even bothering to help before she walked away.
I knelt down to gather everything, frustrated and tired. I'd barely slept after seeing Darius outside my window. My wolf had been restless all night, whining and pacing, desperate for our mate.
"Need some help?"
I looked up. Gideon stood there with that familiar sharp smile, already picking up one of my textbooks.
"Thanks," I said, grabbing the scattered notes.
He collected the rest of my books efficiently, then stood and offered his free hand to help me up. His fingers were warm against mine as I took it, and when I was on my feet, he didn't let go right away.
"Rough morning?" he asked.
"You could say that."
"Here." He shifted my books into his own arms. "Let me carry these for you. Where are you headed?"
"I can manage."
"I'm sure you can. But why should you when I'm offering?" His smile widened. "Besides, we're going the same direction. I have Pack History next."
I didn't have the energy to argue, so I just started walking. Gideon fell into step beside me easily, carrying my books like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Students stared as we passed. Whispers followed us down the hall.
"Is that Gideon Wicke?"
"Why is he helping her?"
"This is getting interesting."
I tried to ignore them. Tried to focus on just getting to my next class without incident.
"You're popular these days," Gideon said conversationally. "The girl who made the Alpha heir bleed. That's quite a reputation."
"Not one I wanted."
"Maybe not. But it's useful." He glanced at me. "People respect strength. Fear it, even. You've shown them you're not someone to mess with."
"I just defended myself."
"You did more than that. You challenged the natural order." His voice dropped slightly. "And you won."
We reached my classroom, and Gideon handed back my books. His fingers brushed mine again, lingering just a second longer than necessary.
"See you around, Elara," he said.
I watched him walk away, something about the encounter leaving me unsettled. My wolf was wary of him, hackles raised, but I couldn't deny that the attention felt... nice. After days of being either invisible or mocked, having someone treat me like I mattered was almost intoxicating.
Even if I wasn't sure I could trust it.
Gideon showed up again at lunch.
I was standing in line at the cafeteria when someone cut in front of me. A senior Alpha with an attitude problem who clearly thought his rank meant he could do whatever he wanted.
"Hey," I said. "There's a line."
"And?" He didn't even look at me. "Move, newbie."
My wolf growled, but before I could respond, Gideon appeared beside the guy. He didn't touch him. Didn't threaten him. Just stood there with that sharp smile and said quietly, "I think the lady was here first."
The Alpha turned, ready to argue, but something in Gideon's expression made him reconsider. He muttered something under his breath and moved to the back of the line.
"You didn't have to do that," I said.
"I know." Gideon grabbed a tray. "But I wanted to."
We got our food and found a table. Not the one where I usually sat with Celeste, but one near the center of the room. More visible. More public.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked once we'd sat down.
"Doing what?"
"Helping me. Protecting me. Whatever this is."
Gideon took a bite of his food, considering the question. "Maybe I see potential in you. Maybe I think you're getting a raw deal. Maybe I just enjoy annoying Darius Fenrir."
"Which one is it?"
"All three." His smile was genuine this time, not sharp or calculated. Just... real. "You're interesting, Elara. And I have a feeling you're going to shake things up around here."
"I'm not trying to shake anything up. I'm just trying to survive."
"Sometimes those are the same thing."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just ate. Gideon kept up a steady stream of conversation, telling me about the Academy's politics, which packs had alliances, which professors to avoid.
Part of me wondered if he was using me. If this was all some elaborate scheme to get back at Darius through me.
But another part of me, the part that was tired and lonely and so damn exhausted from fighting everyone, enjoyed having someone on my side. Even if their motives weren't entirely pure.
We were finishing lunch when I felt it. The bond pulled tight, vibrating with barely controlled rage.
Darius.
I didn't have to look to know he was watching. Could feel his presence like a weight pressing down on me.
"He's staring again," Gideon said casually. "Has been since we sat down."
"I know."
"Does it bother you?"
"Yes. No. I don't know." I pushed my food around my plate. "It's complicated."
"Rejected bonds usually are." Gideon leaned back in his chair. "For what it's worth, I think he's an idiot."
"You've mentioned that before."
"It bears repeating." His expression darkened slightly. "Darius Fenrir thinks everything should just fall into his lap because he's the Alpha heir. Power. Respect. You. But the universe doesn't work that way."
There was old anger in his voice. Old hurt.
"What did he do to you?" I asked quietly.
Gideon's jaw tightened. "That's a story for another time. Let's just say we have history, and none of it is good."
Before I could push for more, movement caught my eye.
Darius stood abruptly from the Alpha table, his chair scraping loudly. The blonde tried to grab his arm, but he shook her off. His eyes were locked on our table. On Gideon.
On me.
"This should be interesting," Gideon murmured.
Darius crossed the cafeteria in long strides. Students scrambled out of his way, sensing danger. His wolf was right there, barely contained, gold eyes blazing.
He stopped at our table, hands flat on the surface, leaning forward. The air around him crackled with Alpha power.
"Get away from her," he said, voice low and dangerous. Directed entirely at Gideon.
"I don't think that's your call to make," Gideon replied smoothly. "You rejected her. Remember?"
"This isn't your business, Wicke."
"Actually, I think it is. She's sitting here with me. By choice." Gideon's smile was victorious. Smug. "Funny how that works."
Darius's control wavered. His wolf pushed closer to the surface, fangs extending slightly. "I'm warning you—"
"You're warning me?" Gideon laughed. "That's rich. Tell me, Fenrir, how does it feel watching someone else give her the attention you threw away?"
"Gideon," I said quietly. "Don't."
But it was too late. Darius snapped.
He lunged across the table, going straight for Gideon. But before he could make contact, someone intercepted.
Caleb appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Darius by the shoulders and hauling him back. "Easy! Not here!"
"Get off me," Darius snarled.
"Not until you calm down." Caleb's voice was firm. "You attack him in the middle of the cafeteria, and the council will have your head. Is that what you want?"
Darius struggled against Caleb's grip, but the Beta held firm. The entire cafeteria had gone silent, everyone watching the scene unfold.
Gideon just sat there, that smug smile still in place. Like he'd won some invisible game.
My wolf whined, distressed by our mate's rage. By the conflict. By everything.
"Let's go," Caleb said, physically steering Darius toward the exit. "Now."
Darius let himself be led away, but not before shooting one last look at me. The bond screamed with possessive fury and something that looked almost like betrayal.
Like I'd done something wrong by sitting with Gideon.
The cafeteria erupted in whispers the moment they left.
"Did you see that?"
"Darius almost attacked Gideon!"
"This is insane."
"The rejected mate is causing so much drama."
I stood up, suddenly desperate to get out of there. "I need to go."
"Elara, wait." Gideon caught my wrist gently. "Don't let him get to you."
"He just tried to attack you because of me. How am I supposed to not let that get to me?"
"Because that's exactly what he wants. He wants you scared. Isolated. Dependent." Gideon's grip tightened slightly, his voice dropping. "But you don't need him. You're strong enough on your own."
"You don't know that."
"I do. I've seen it." He stood, still holding my wrist, stepping close enough that I had to look up to meet his eyes. "Darius Fenrir had everything handed to him. You? You fought for every scrap of respect you have. That makes you dangerous. Powerful."
"Gideon—"
"Join me, Elara," he whispered, voice soft but intense. "Together, we'll destroy him."
The words hung in the air between us.
My wolf recoiled, horrified at the idea of destroying our mate.
But a darker part of me, the part that remembered every insult and rejection and moment of humiliation, wondered what it would feel like to make Darius hurt the way he'd hurt me.
To make him regret everything.
Gideon's eyes held mine, waiting for an answer.
And I had no idea what to say.