Caspian's POV
I watched her laugh at something the witch said and wanted to punch something.
She
laughed. A real laugh. Not forced. Not fake. Genuine joy.
I'd never heard her laugh before.
"You're staring again," Marcus said from beside me on the observation deck. "It's getting creepy."
"I'm observing," I said through gritted teeth. "It's my teaching assistant job."
"Right. Because you observe
all the students with that murderous expression."
Down in the training room, Iris and Thaddeus Grimwood were sparring. Not real combat. Practice drills. He was showing her defensive moves.
And touching her.
Adjusting her stance. Guiding her arms. Correcting her footwork.
All perfectly innocent. All completely professional.
All making my wolf absolutely
insane.
HE'S TOUCHING HER, my wolf snarled.
OUR MATE. HE'S TOUCHING OUR MATE.
"She's not our mate," I whispered. "We rejected her. Remember?"
So claim her back!
"I can't."
Then stop watching!
But I couldn't do that either.
Two months since the rejection. Two months of watching her transform.
She was down to eight knockdowns per session now.
Eight. From seventeen.
She was faster. Stronger. Her movements more controlled. She'd started winning exchanges sometimes. Brief ones. But wins.
The impossible was becoming possible right in front of me.
And that witch was helping her do it.
I'd done research on Thaddeus Grimwood. Top of his class. Magical combat enhancement specialist. Published three papers already. Brilliant.
And he looked at her like she was the sun.
"They make a good team," Marcus observed. "She's improving faster since she started working with him."
"I noticed," I bit out.
"He likes her."
"I
noticed."
Marcus sighed. "You know you have no right to be jealous, right?"
"I'm not jealous."
"You're gripping that railing so hard it's starting to crack."
I looked down. The metal was actually denting under my fingers. I forced myself to let go.
"She deserves someone who sees her worth," Marcus said quietly. "You had your chance."
I knew that. I
knew that.
But watching another guy make her smile? Watching her trust him? Work with him? Maybe even start to care about him?
It was killing me.
"I have everything," I said, more to myself than Marcus. "Perfect grades. Father's approval. My position secured. Everything I wanted."
"Except her."
"Except her," I agreed quietly.
My phone buzzed. A text from my mother.
"Astrid arrives tomorrow. Dinner with her family Saturday. Be presentable."
Astrid. The she-wolf my parents had chosen for me. Beautiful. Strong. Perfect bloodlines. Everything they wanted in a future Luna.
Everything I was supposed to want.
I looked down at the training room. Iris was laughing again. Tad had said something funny. She smiled at him with genuine warmth.
My wolf howled.
"I need to leave," I told Marcus.
"Good idea. Before you do something stupid."
Too late for that. I'd already done the stupidest thing possible two months ago.
I left the observation deck. Went to class. Aced my exams. Attended pack business meetings. Did everything perfectly.
But I couldn't stop thinking about her laugh.
That night, I barely slept. My wolf was restless. Pacing. Snarling.
She's happy, he said.
Without us. She's happy without us.
"Good," I whispered into the darkness. "That's good."
But it didn't feel good. It felt like dying.
The next afternoon, I was leaving class when I saw them.
My parents. Standing in the quad. And with them, a girl.
Astrid Nightshade.
She was beautiful. Tall. Long dark hair. Perfect features. She moved like a predator. Confident. Powerful.
Everything a future Alpha's mate should be.
My mother saw me and waved. "Caspian! Come meet Astrid."
I walked over. Every step felt heavy.
Astrid smiled. It was a nice smile. Warm. "So you're the famous Caspian. I've heard so much about you."
"All good things, I hope," I said automatically. The words felt like ash in my mouth.
"Mostly." She laughed. It was a pretty laugh.
But it wasn't
her laugh.
"Why don't you show Astrid around campus?" my mother suggested. "Get to know each other."
"I'd love that," Astrid said.
What could I say? No? I had no right to say no.
"Of course," I said.
We walked across campus. Astrid talked about her pack. Her training. Her plans for the future. She was smart. Accomplished. Everything my parents wanted.
And I felt absolutely nothing.
"Is that the training arena?" Astrid asked, pointing ahead.
My stomach dropped. "Yes."
"Can we watch? I love combat training."
No. No no no. Not there. Anywhere but there.
"Sure," I heard myself say.
We walked into the observation deck. A training session was in progress.
And there she was.
Iris.
Fighting a vampire. Moving fast. Controlled. Beautiful in her focus.
She got knocked down. Fifth time this session.
But she stood back up. Always stood back up.
"Who's that?" Astrid asked. "The human?"
My throat closed up. "Iris Hale."
"She's good," Astrid said, impressed. "Really good. For a human."
"Yes," I managed.
Then Iris's eyes found mine across the arena.
For one second, our gazes locked.
And I saw her see Astrid standing next to me.
Something flashed across her face. Too fast to read. Then it was gone.
She turned away. Went back to fighting.
But that moment. That one second.
My wolf went completely still.
She still feels the bond, he whispered.
"Is she someone special?" Astrid asked casually.
I should have said no. Should have laughed it off. Should have done the smart thing.
Instead, I told the truth.
"She's my rejected mate."
The words hung in the air between us.
Astrid went very still. "Your... what?"
"My mate," I repeated. Couldn't stop myself. "The Moon Goddess chose her for me. And I rejected her."
"Why?" Astrid's voice was careful.
I watched Iris dodge a punch. Almost successfully.
"Because she was human," I said. "Because she was weak. Because I was an idiot who thought bloodlines mattered more than fate."
Silence. Heavy and thick.
Then Astrid laughed. It wasn't a kind laugh.
"Your parents want us to get to know each other," she said slowly. "To potentially become mates. But you're in love with her, aren't you?"
I couldn't answer. Couldn't speak.
Astrid shook her head. "This is going to be a disaster."
She was right.
Because down in the arena, Iris had just knocked her opponent down for the first time ever.
The arena erupted in shocked applause.
And Thaddeus Grimwood ran onto the mat and hugged her.
She hugged him back.
Laughing. Celebrating. Together.
My wolf started howling. Loud. Desperate. Broken.
And Astrid, standing next to me, watched it all with knowing eyes.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "This is definitely going to be a disaster."