Chapter 31 #2
And underneath it all, Julian. My secret mate who will have to watch me wear another male's mark and pretend it doesn't tear him apart.
"I can handle it," I say, and I mean it. "Can you handle knowing I'm not only yours?"
Jealousy flares through the bond before he locks it down, sharp and hot. "You're Silverpelt. Four mates. I knew that going in." He leans closer. "But I'm the one everyone will see. My mark. My public claim. And that has to be enough."
The possessiveness in his voice should bother me. Should feel like too much. Instead it sends warmth spreading through me.
"Yours first," I agree. "But not only yours."
"I know." He kisses my knuckles. "Doesn't mean I have to like sharing."
We finish breakfast and I reluctantly admit I need to go back to my dorm. I can't wear his shirt around campus without everyone knowing exactly where I've been.
He walks me to the door and kisses me one more time. His mouth is hot and demanding against mine, tongue sliding deep while his hands grip my hips hard enough to bruise. When he finally releases me we're both breathing hard.
"Come back tonight," he says against my mouth.
"Caspian..."
"I know you have Julian. I know you're not just mine." His hands grip my hips. "But I just claimed you and I'm not ready to let you go yet. One more night. Please."
The please breaks me. This dominant Alpha male asking instead of demanding.
"Maybe," I say. "We'll see."
His eyes flash with frustration but also understanding. "I'll take maybe."
His smile is worth it.
I leave his quarters and step into the hallway. It's nearly noon now and students are between classes. The moment I emerge from the Alpha wing, conversations stop and everyone turns to stare.
I can feel their eyes on me. On the claiming bite that's visible above the collar of my borrowed shirt. On my disheveled hair and how I'm walking, slightly sore from last night.
They all know exactly what I've been doing and who I've been doing it with.
I'm halfway down the corridor when Sera Whitlock "accidentally" bumps into me. Hard enough to make me stumble.
"Oh, sorry," she says, voice dripping false sweetness. Her eyes immediately lock onto the claiming bite on my neck. "Didn't see you there."
Two of her friends flank her, blocking my path. They're all staring at the mark.
"That's quite the... accessory," Sera continues. Her smile is venomous. "Though you should know, you're not the first girl Caspian's brought back to his room. Won't be the last either."
"Is there a point to this, Sera?"
"Just friendly advice." She steps closer. "Claiming bites can be broken. Bonds can be rejected. All it takes is the right pressure in the right places and that permanent mark isn't so permanent anymore."
One of her friends laughs. "She thinks she's special because he bit her. How cute."
"You're delusional if you think this changes anything," Sera hisses. "Caspian will get bored. He always does. And when he does, I'll be there. Like I've always been. Like I was always meant to be."
I look at her, really look at her. Beneath the rage and venom, I can see the desperation. The fear. She's losing everything she thought was guaranteed.
"You're right," I say quietly. "This doesn't change anything. Because he was never yours to begin with."
Her eyes flash with fury. "You little..."
"Walk away, Sera." I let some of my wolf show in my eyes. "Before you do something you'll regret."
For a moment I think she'll actually try something. Her hands clench into fists and her friends tense beside her. But then she sees something in my expression that makes her hesitate.
"This isn't over," she says.
"Yes, it is." I step around her. "You just don't know it yet."
They let me pass but I can feel their glares burning into my back as I walk away.
I lift my chin and walk toward the main building. Let them stare. Let them whisper. I'm Caspian's mate now and I'm not going to hide it.
Lily is pacing our dorm room when I walk in. She spins around and her eyes go wide.
"Nova! Oh my god, where have you been? I was about to call campus security and..." She trails off as her gaze lands on my neck. "Is that what I think it is?"
I touch the mark self consciously. "Yeah."
"From Caspian?"
"Yeah."
She stares at me for a long moment, then breaks into a grin.
"Holy shit. You're mated to the Alpha heir of the Academy.
" Lily's voice rises with excitement. "Do you know what this means?
Sera Whitlock is going to lose her mind.
She's been planning her future with Caspian since they were kids and now you.
.." She gestures at my neck. "You're his mate. Officially. Permanently."
"I know."
"This is huge, Nova. You're under pack protection now.
You have status. No one can mess with you without answering to Caspian and the entire Jett Pack.
" She pauses, expression turning serious.
"Although Sera is definitely going to try something.
She's vicious when she's threatened and you just took everything she ever wanted.
Watch your back with her. Claiming bite or not, she'll find a way to make you pay. "
"I can handle Sera."
Lily grins and reaches out to squeeze my arm. "I know you can. And honestly? It's amazing. Chase can't just drag you off campus anymore. You have the pack backing you now."
"I need to shower and change," I say. "We missed morning classes."
"Worth it?"
I think about last night. About Caspian's claiming, the bond snapping into place, how he held me after. About this morning and the possessive tenderness in his touch.
"Worth it," I confirm with a big grin.
I shower and the hot water stings against the bite mark but I don't care. I can feel the bond with Caspian humming contentedly in my chest and I can feel Julian's bond too, quieter but still there. Both of them. Both mine.
When I emerge, Lily helps me find a top that partially covers the claiming bite. No point hiding it completely now. Everyone is going to see it anyway.
We head to lunch and the dining hall goes silent when I walk in. Every eye turns to me, to the mark on my shoulder. The proof that I'm Caspian's mate.
I spot Caspian at the Dominion table. He sees me at the same moment and goes completely still. The bond pulls tight between us, pleased that I'm wearing his mark openly.
At the same table, I notice Nico. He's sitting with the other Dominion members but his eyes are locked on me.
On the bite mark visible above my collar.
His expression is unreadable but I can see the tension in his shoulders.
He stares for a long moment, then looks down at his plate and turns away, focusing intently on whatever his friends are saying.
I also see Julian at the faculty table. Our eyes meet across the room and I feel his careful control through our bond. He's trying not to react, trying to act like seeing me with another male's claiming bite doesn't affect him.
But I can feel the jealousy beneath his calm exterior. The desire to claim me just as publicly.
I'm sorry, I think through our bond.
Don't be, he thinks back. You needed this. I understand.
But understanding doesn't make it easier for him.
The rest of the day passes in a blur of stares and whispers. Professors who notice the claiming bite and quickly look away. Students who give me a wide berth. The constant awareness of the bond with Caspian, knowing he can feel me through it the same way I can feel him.
After classes, I know I should probably go see Caspian. The bond pulls at me, wanting to be near him. But I'm also drawn toward the faculty block, toward Julian. I want to talk to him and see him after everything that's happened.
I'm halfway there when movement near the training fields catches my eye. Knox. He's sitting alone on a stone bench, staring out at nothing. Something about his posture makes me change direction.
"Knox."
He looks up and his pale eyes immediately lock onto the claiming bite on my shoulder. His entire body goes rigid.
"Nova." My name comes out rough.
"I wanted to thank you again. For intercepting that wolf the other night. You didn't have to protect me."
"Yes, I did." He stands and takes a step closer. His eyes are locked on the bite mark and I can see the barely restrained hunger in his gaze. "Couldn't let that bastard hurt you."
His hand reaches out toward the mark. Without thinking, I grab his wrist.
"Don't."
He looks down at where my fingers wrap around his wrist, then back up at my face. Something flickers in his expression. Then he pushes out of my grip with effortless strength and his hand moves to the back of my neck.
"Knox, what are you..."
He pulls me toward him and crashes his mouth against mine.
The kiss is powerful and sudden, nothing like the gentle intimacy I shared with Caspian this morning or the skilled touch of Julian.
This is raw and desperate and consuming.
His mouth devours mine, tongue sliding past my lips to taste me.
One hand grips the back of my neck while the other wraps around my waist, crushing me against him.
Sparks explode through my body. The incomplete bond between us roars to life, demanding completion. I can feel his wolf pushing at the surface, barely contained, wanting to claim and mark and possess.
My hands come up to his chest, not sure if I'm pushing him away or pulling him closer. He tastes like winter and danger and something wild I can't name.
Then as quickly as it started, he releases me and jumps back, putting several feet of distance between us.
"I shouldn't have done that," he says roughly.
"What if I wanted you to?"
His laugh is bitter. "Trust me, you don't. You don't want what I am. What I'd do to you."
"You don't get to decide that for me."
"Yeah, I do." He runs a hand through his dark hair. "Go play happy family with your Alpha and your professor. That's what you need. Not me. I'll destroy you."
He starts to turn away but hesitates, like he's about to say something else.
"Nova!"
I spin around. Caspian is walking toward us from the direction of the dorms.
When I turn back, Knox is gone. Disappeared into the shadows like he was never there.
Caspian reaches me, eyes narrowing as he looks around. "Was that Knox?"
"Yeah." No point lying.
He tenses. "What did he want?"
"Just... talking." Not entirely a lie.
Caspian doesn't look convinced but doesn't push. Instead he takes my hand. "Come on. Walk back with me."
As we head toward his quarters, I can feel eyes on us from the shadows. Knox watching. The pull between us still magnetic from that kiss, demanding more.
I don't look back.