ASHER
The infirmary smelled like antiseptic and blood.
I sat on the examination table, shirtless, while the Academy's nurse, a stern Beta woman named Ms Chen, recorded my injuries with clinical efficiency.
"Three cracked ribs," she muttered, her fingers probing my side, and I winced. "Severe bruising across your torso and back. Split lip, broken nose, and a mild concussion." She stepped back, shaking her head. "You're lucky Reed Jackson didn't kill you."
"Lucky," I repeated flatly. "Right."
Ms Chen's expression softened slightly. "I've been treating students here for fifteen years, Mr Graham. I've seen what Reed Jackson can do when he really wants to hurt someone. This?" She gestured at my injuries. "This was him holding back."
That should have made me feel better, but it didn't.
"Can you fix me up?" I asked. "I have class in two hours."
She gave me a look that clearly said you're insane, but she started pulling out bandages and healing salves. "Your Alpha healing will handle most of this within a few days. These ribs will take longer, maybe a week. I'm giving you painkillers and a prescription for accelerated healing ointment."
"Thanks."
As she worked, wrapping my ribs in tight bandages, I stared at the wall and tried not to think about the fight, about how Reed had looked at me at the end, and about the way my traitorous body had responded even while he was beating me bloody.
About the fact that he'd been hard. That we'd both been hard.
What the hell is wrong with us?
We should be enemies, and not get turned on for each other. This is was insane and utterly stupid of both of us
"Mr Graham?"
I blinked, her voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I focused on Ms Chen. "Yeah?"
"I asked if you wanted me to report this to the Headmaster."
I almost laughed. "Report what? It was a sanctioned fight. Reed won fair and square."
"That may be, but—" She hesitated. "There are protocols for injuries this severe. The Headmaster should be informed."
"No," I said firmly. "I don't want special treatment. I challenged Reed, and I lost. End of story."
Ms Chen didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Very well, but if you experience dizziness, nausea, or blurred vision, come back immediately. Concussions can be serious."
"Got it," I told her with a smile plastered on my face.
She finished bandaging me up and handed me a bottle of pills. "Take these every six hours for the pain, and Mr Graham?" She met my eyes. "Be careful. Reed Jackson has his sights on you now. That's... not a good position to be in."
'Tell me something I don't know.' I said to myself, thanking her, I pulled my shirt back on, wincing at the pain, and headed out of the infirmary.
The hallway was packed with students moving between classes. The moment I appeared, conversations stopped, and everyone turned to stare.
I kept my head high and walked past them, ignoring the whispers.
"—can't believe he survived—"
"—Reed destroyed him—"
"—still walking, though. Gotta give him credit—"
"—stupid for challenging him in the first place—"
I made it to my dorm room without incident and locked the door behind me. Marcus wasn't there, which was a relief. I didn't want to deal with anyone right now.
I collapsed on my bed and stared at the ceiling, my body throbbing with pain despite the drugs Ms Chen had given me, and suddenly my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out and saw a text from my mother.
How's your first day going, sweetheart? Have you made any friends?
I almost laughed, and almost cried at the same time, but I held it back before replying.
It's fine, I typed back. I made a friend named Scott, and classes are good.
All lies, of course, but she didn't need to know the truth, she didn't need to know that I'd gotten my ass kicked by the most dangerous Alpha at Stone Claw Academy. She didn't need to worry even more than she already did.
That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you, Asher. Stay safe. Love you.
Love you too, Mom.
I set the phone aside and closed my eyes.
Sleep should have come easily because my body was exhausted, and beaten to hell, but every time I started to drift off, I saw Reed's face, I felt his hands on me, and I heard his voice whispering in my ear.
"You should have submitted. Would have hurt less."
"I'm going to break you. Just not the way you think."
What the hell did that even mean?
A knock on the door made me jolt upright, immediately regretting it as pain shot through my ribs.
"Asher? It's Scott."
I debated pretending I wasn't here, but Scott's voice sounded genuinely worried. I dragged myself off the bed and opened the door, and Scott's eyes widened when he saw me.
"Goddess, fucking hell" He exclaimed
"It looks worse than it is," I lied.
"Bullshit." He pushed past me into the room and shut the door. "You look like you got hit by a truck."
"Close, I got hit by Reed Jackson."
Scott didn't laugh. "I'm so sorry. I should have… I don't know. Done something, said something, or stopped you before—"
"Scott." I held up a hand. "This isn't your fault. I knew what I was getting into."
"Did you, though?" Scott sat on Marcus's bed, his expression troubled. "Because from where I was sitting, it looked like Reed was two seconds away from killing you."
I thought about lying again, and about brushing it off, but Scott had been nothing but honest with me. He deserved the same.
"Yeah," I admitted quietly. "I thought he might kill me too."
"But he didn't."
"No."
"Why not?"
That was the question, wasn't it? Reed could have ended the fight at any point, he could have broken my neck, crushed my skull, done permanent damage. Instead, he'd... held back. Hurt me, yes. Dominated me completely, but stopped short of anything that would cause lasting harm.
"I don't know," I said finally.
Scott studied me for a long moment. "The way he looked at you at the end... it was weird."
"Weird how?"
"I don't know how to describe it. Intense, possessive like..." Scott trailed off, shaking his head. "Never mind. I'm probably imagining things."
But I knew what he meant. I had felt it too.
That look in Reed's eyes hadn't been just about dominance or victory. It had been something darker. Something that made my skin prickle with a mixture of fear and unwanted desire.
"What happens now?" Scott asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion
"I mean, Reed beat you. He proved he's stronger. So what happens next? Does he leave you alone now, or...?"
"I don't know," I said honestly. "I guess we'll find out."
Scott didn't look reassured. "Just... be careful, okay? Reed is dangerous, and now that he's got his hooks in you—"
"His hooks?"
"You know what I mean. He's fixated on you. That's not good. When Reed fixates on someone, he doesn't let go until he's destroyed them completely."
I thought about the way Reed had whispered in my ear during the fight. The way his body had pressed against mine. The unmistakable evidence of his arousal.
"I can handle Reed Jackson," I said, with more confidence than I felt.
Scott gave me a look that clearly said famous last words, but he didn't argue. Instead, he stood and headed for the door.
"If you need anything, and I mean anything, you know where to find me, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Scott."
He left, and I was alone again. I lay back down on my bed, staring at the ceiling, and my mind racing.
Reed Jackson was obsessed with me. That much was clear but the question was: what was I going to do about it?