Fucking pathetic.
This—this was the best his beta could manage.
A math teacher.
At a miserable, insignificant high school.
Fernando clenched his jaw, rage simmering beneath his skin. Of all the roles Ricardo could have saddled him with, this had to be the worst. As if dealing with rising tensions between packs, traitors lurking in shadows, and enemies sharpening their knives wasn't enough now he was expected to stand in front of a classroom full of bratty teenagers and teach them math.
Math.
He dragged a hand over his stubble just as his phone began to ring. The name flashing on the screen only deepened his scowl.
"What's up, Fernando?" Ricardo's voice came through, casual far too casual.
Fernando's teeth ground together. "I'll show you what's up when I come back," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "In hell."
Ricardo chuckled softly, clearly unbothered. "Sorry, brother. This was the best cover I could arrange. No one would ever suspect the Alpha of the Ancient Blood Pack is teaching mathematics at some ordinary high school."
That did nothing to soothe him. If anything, it stoked the fire burning in his chest.
"Come on," Ricardo continued, teasing now. "It's not all bad. You'll be surrounded by young girls. Maybe you'll like one"
"Shut up." The word came out as a warning, thick with restrained violence.
Ricardo sobered immediately. "Meet me tonight. There's information you need."
"Fine." Fernando ended the call without another word and hurled his phone onto the king-sized bed.
His thoughts betrayed him almost instantly.
Blue eyes. Too big for her face. Innocent. Unaware.
The image of her slipped into his mind without permission.
He remembered the first time he'd seen her how her expression had twisted into pure shock when she looked up at him. He couldn't blame her. Teachers didn't usually look like him. Tattoos crawled over his arms and neck, inked stories of violence and dominance. He didn't radiate politeness or safety.
He radiated danger.
Gangster. Predator. Alpha.
And then there was the moment her soft body collided with his solid one. He'd felt it felt her. He'd seen enough to know she was full-figured, her generous curves hidden beneath oversized clothes and a baggy sweater meant to shield her from the world.
Guilt stirred faintly.
He shouldn't be thinking about her like this.
She was his student.
And yet
He'd seen her again later, peeking at him through the window of the abandoned classrooms on the top floor. What she'd been doing there, he still didn't understand. But he'd felt her gaze before he'd ever looked up.
Her shock when their eyes met had been unmistakable.
She didn't know what he was. Didn't understand what he was capable of. How could she? Humans never did.
Against his better judgment, he'd pulled her file from the school system. The discovery had surprised him. Scholarship student. Living in a cramped apartment with her grandfather.
Seventeen.
Too fucking young.
When she'd stood in his office, trembling slightly, all he'd been able to do was watch her. She was nervous terrified, even and he'd liked it. She hadn't lifted her gaze once, her fingers twisting together as if bracing for something terrible.
Then she'd looked up.
Their eyes had locked.
Hunter had stirred violently within him, a possessive growl rumbling through his chest.
Before he could stop himself, his hand had risen. His fingers brushed her cheek, compelled by Hunter's urging. Her skin had been soft—softer than he'd expected.
She'd recoiled instantly, horror flashing across her face.
Reality slammed into him.
He'd crossed a line.
Still… he wouldn't deny that he'd enjoyed her reaction. The fear. The awareness.
That was why he'd ordered her to return to his office after classes on Monday.
The memory of her bolting from the room, as if he might kill her, curved his lips into a slow, dark smirk.
It was forbidden.
And that was exactly why it called to him.
He wasn't a saint.
He was closer to a devil.
To the outside world, Fernando Ruiz wore the mask of a respectable man. But beneath it lay countless sins so many that if any sane soul knew the truth, they'd flee in terror.
In his world, he was ruthless.
Merciless.
A beast carved from blood and dominance.
Alpha Fernando Ruiz of the Ancient Blood Pack.
Love and gentleness had never been his language. His very presence dripped with brutality and control. Dominance and intimidation followed him like shadows.
He was cold-hearted.
A barbarian. An assassin. A monster who lived and killed for one thing alone his pack.
Every crime he'd committed had been for their protection.
His name was whispered in bedtime warnings. Mothers used his legend to frighten disobedient children. Tales of his cruelty stretched across territories and generations.
He was the most feared Alpha alive.
The most powerful.
And power bred enemies.
Many had tried to kill him. Rogues. Witches. Fools who dreamed of bathing in his blood.
They thought they'd succeeded once.
They were wrong.
He was alive. Waiting. Watching. Preparing.
He wasn't hiding behind a teacher's desk.
He was readying himself for war.
One final war one that would wipe his enemies from the lands and crown him king of them all.
That night, Fernando left his place to meet Ricardo. They'd chosen a secluded stretch of land, far from prying eyes.
He skidded his car to a halt and stepped out, dominance rolling off him in suffocating waves.
Ricardo smiled when he saw him and approached.
"Andrés has been working with vampires," Ricardo said grimly.
Fernando's eyes hardened. Rage snapped through him like lightning. That rogue bastard thought he could destroy the Ancient Blood Pack with the help of bloodsuckers?
He had no idea who he was dealing with.
"Tell Azure to start the game," Fernando said coldly.
Ricardo's smile turned sharp. He nodded. "I'll"
Fernando froze.
A scent hit him sweet, intoxicating, unmistakable.
Hunter erupted inside him, snarling violently, clawing for control.
Before he could think, his feet were already moving.
He followed the scent.
Ricardo stared after him in confusion, then hurried to follow.
Fernando stopped abruptly when the scent grew overwhelming.
His gaze locked onto familiar black hair.
She was sitting with a guy.
The male's hand was in her hair.
Rage detonated.
A primal growl tore from Fernando's throat, raw and animalistic.
The word ripped from his chest, echoed by Hunter's fury
"MATE!"