Chapter 5

Freya has been a real supporter and backbone for the whole week while we settled into campus, a true reliable friend indeed. I didn't know what I did to deserve her but I was super grateful to have her in my life.

The big move from the Crested Mountains Pack To Ivory Spire University felt like wake-up from a black-and-white dream into a world of high definition color.

Everywhere here was beautiful and bustling with so many activities, there were so many fun places we saw together, the reason being that we resumed much earlier than most.

Back home, the energy that surrounded me was dull and suffocating as many treated me less, my family members included of course, i was never happy there, But Here? it was different. No one knew me. I was new and free!

During our first week, Freya and I were a blur of organized chaos if that makes any sense. We’d spent our days hauling boxes into our new dorms; they were minimalist suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city.

For me, just having a room that my step sisters didn't barge into whenever they felt like was a luxury I hadn't fully processed yet.

We met Sofia on our second afternoon. A brown haired girl with petite frame, She looked soft and easygoing, She was a second year student and a high ranking werewolf judging from her distinct aura though we never asked anything about her personal life

Over the next few days, Sofia became our lifeline. She too didn't ask about my rank or my bloodline. We became close in time like the three musketeers.

She just showed us around, told us which cafes had the fastest Wi-Fi and which rooftop gardens were the best for watching the sunset.

For the first time ever in my life, I wasn't the defect or the rejected girl.

I was just Jasmine.

By Friday night, the three of us were sprawled across the floor of my dorm room. We had snacks we were munching on, salty popcorn and sweet tangy grapes.

My textbooks were cracked open, but my mind was miles away.

"I’m telling you, Jas," Freya said, leaning back against the foot of my bed while munching on the snacks.

"This scholarship has changed everything for you. We can actually live here."

"I still keep waiting for the floor to drop," I admitted, hugging my pillow to my chest.

"Back at Crested Mountains, silence always meant trouble was coming. Here, it’s just... quiet."

Sofia, who had been lazily scrolling through her phone while eating a bowl of grapes, suddenly sat upright.

“Wait! were you admitted through the Queen’s Scholarship program?” She asked?

I nodded slowly not understanding why she asked.

“That's cool, Jas! That means you are a literal Genius! Now I have a friend who’d help with studying and assignments” she giggled like a five year old in excitement.

Freya and I laughed so hard at her little play.

Sofia had this mischievous glint in her eyes that I was starting to realize usually meant trouble—the fun kind.

"Okay, enough," Sofia announced, clapping her hands together. "The vibe in here is a little poor.

It’s Friday night at the Ivory Spire girls. We have been eating junk food and reading about 'Lunar Rotations' for four hours. My brain is turning into actual mush."

"What are you thinking, Sof?" Freya asked, her eyebrows shooting up in curiosity.

"I'm thinking that The Den has a guest list with my name on it," Sofia said, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "It’s the biggest club in the city. Everyone goes. It’s loud, it’s dark, and the music is so heavy you can't hear yourself think—which is exactly what we need tonight."

“Up up up everyone” she was dragging us to a sitting position.

I looked down at my oversized hoodie and the messy bun I’d thrown my hair into.

"I don't know, Sof. I was kind of looking forward to finishing this chapter and actually sleeping for eight hours."

Sofia groaned, throwing a grape at me. "Sleep is for summer break, Jasmine! You are nineteen, you’re gorgeous, and you are officially a city girl now. You are not spending your first Friday night on campus hiding in your room even if it is a very nice room."

"She has a point, Jas," Freya nudged me, a spark of excitement catching in her eyes. "We haven't even seen the city lights yet. Just one night? Let's go dance, we come back. No drama. No werewolves from back home."

I looked from Freya’s hopeful face to Sofia’s determined one. The rejection bond still felt like a dull, hollow ache in the back of my mind, but for the first time, I wanted to drown it out with something louder than my own thoughts.

"Fine," I laughed, standing up and tossing my pillow aside. "But if I trip in front of half the school, I’m blaming both of you."

"Deal!" Sofia cheered, jumping up and heading for my closet. "Now, let’s get you out of that hoodie. I have a dress in my room that was practically made for someone with your eye colour you'd kill in it."

~~~~~~~~

The Den was nothing like the forest bonfires back at the Crested Mountains. It was a building of shadow and light, vibrating with a bass so deep I could feel it thrumming in my marrow.

Sofia led the way, weaving through the crowd with the confidence of someone who owned the place.

"Stay close!" Sofia shouted over a remix of a popular track. "The VIP booth is just around the corner!"

I felt exposed in the black shimmering dress Sofia had practically forced me into. It felt less like a dress and more like a second skin. For the first time, I didn't have my oversized hoodie to hide behind. I feel... well… seen.

We we just begining to settle in, when I felt it...

A sudden spike of heat against the back of my neck, like someone was holding a match to my skin.

I turned my head, my eyes scanning the sea of moving bodies until they landed on a corner booth shrouded in deep amber light.

Sitting there, leaning back with a glass of bourbon in his hand, was a guy who looked like he had been sculpted from perfection itself.

He was just watching me with two pretty blondes hanging off each side of his arms.

His eyes were the most incredible and beautiful set I’d ever seen—liquid honey, bright and piercing even in the dim club light.

He didn't look away when our gazes locked.

Instead, a slow, predatory smirk curled the corners of his lips.

"Sofia," I whispered, leaning in close to her ear. "Who is that? The one in the back booth who looks like he’s trying to read my soul?"

Sofia followed my gaze and let out a little gasp.

"I didn't know he was back yet, that's Caspian. He’s my cousin. Come on, girls let me introduce you guys!"

My heart pulse increased as Sofia pulled me and Freya toward the booth. Every step closer felt like walking into a magnetic field.

Up close, Caspian was even more devastatingly gorgeous. He had a sharp, clean jawline and dark hair that fell perfectly over his forehead and he looked like he would smell delicious, too bad I'm smell blind...