Deceiving my Big Bad Alphas

I was raised as a boy for one reason: survival. “One day, she'd be captured, her body used as a vessel for breeding, for she's a rare golden wolf.” The chilling prophecy forced my pack's hand: hide my identity at all costs. And it worked. Until now. The King decreed every Alpha send all their sons to his new training program. So here I am, rooming with two ruthless Alphas—brutal, feared, unforgiving. “You're sleeping in the same room as two shirtless Alpha gods. Just let me enjoy it. Please. Just one lick. One sniff.” I had to wrestle with my wolf Summer's hormonal commentary vibrating inside my skull. “We're supposed to be undercover,” I snapped internally. “And what? Alphas don't sniff each other in locker rooms?” Goddess. I flipped her off mentally. I was folding a hoodie when the bathroom door creaked open. Steam billowed out like a bad vampire movie. Then Dalton stepped out. Glistening. Dripping. Towel in his hands—not around his waist. I saw his member. Arrogant prick shouldn't be that sculpted. Like he fought for a living and rested only to make love. “Ohhhh, no,” my wolf moaned."We're so screwed. And not even in the fun way.” KAI POV The airport smelled like humans and cheap coffee. Not exactly the welcome I had in mind for the start of the most dangerous year of my life. I tugged the hoodie lower over my head, rolling the handle of my duffel behind me as I walked past the gates. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I fished it out without breaking stride. Mom: Let us know as soon as you get to the Academy. Please. Me: Landed safe. Will call once I’m settled. Promise. Three seconds later: Mom: Be careful. I rolled my eyes. I’m always careful, Mom. That’s the whole point. I had been trained for this moment since I was born. Even before that maybe. Since the day they decided I couldn’t be Kai the girl—but had to become Kai the ghost. The warrior. The lie. My blond hair was cut short—almost too short. Sharp angles framed my face, no softness left to give me away. The masking pendant around my neck suppressed my natural scent and cloaked me in something neutral, masculine. My body wasn’t bulky like an Alpha-born male, but it was lean, agile. Strong. I didn’t have my mother’s hourglass figure or her goddess-tier chest, thank the Moon. What curves I had were tucked away beneath baggy jeans, a loose sweatshirt, and a layer of tight, binding fabric beneath it all. No one would know. No one could know. The Werewolf King's Academy was no place for mistakes. And I wasn’t here to make any. I stepped through the sliding doors into the sticky Washington air, the roar of traffic and voices hitting me like a wall. That’s when I saw him. A giant of a man—no, wolf—standing near the curb, holding a sign with blocky letters: ‘KAI SAVAGE’ Well. I guess I found my ride. The man looked up as I approached, lowering the sign but not smiling. His eyes were sharp—too sharp for someone just doing an airport run. His entire frame screamed Royal Guard: tall, broad, perfectly still, like he could go from zero to rip-your-throat-out in a heartbeat. “Savage?” he asked, voice rough and clipped. I nodded once. “Yeah.” He didn’t offer to help with my bag, which I appreciated. Less attention, less risk. I shoved it into the back of the SUV and climbed in, buckling my seatbelt out of habit. “We’re making a stop,” he said as he got behind the wheel. “One more Alpha to pick up at the train station.” “Fine by me,” I muttered, leaning back and letting the hum of the engine settle in my chest. The drive was quiet. No small talk, no questions. Just soft instrumental music playing low in the background, the kind they probably used in wolf spas or high-end packs. I focused on the road ahead, both literally and metaphorically. One year. One year of physical and mental training, auditing, discipline, and deception. One year of lying with every breath I took. I already knew I’d stand out. My size alone would make me a target—shorter, leaner, lighter than the typical Alpha male. They’d think I was weak. Let them. I’d been raised with four older brothers who used me as a sparring dummy and taught me how to take a hit without flinching. I could disarm an opponent in five moves or less—three, if they were stubid. Pressure points, momentum, leverage. Speed over strength. They’d try to knock me down. And I’d bury them, smiling. The car slowed and turned into the train station’s lot. The driver put the vehicle in park and stepped out, moving with the same controlled stillness as before. He waited by the sidewalk, scanning the crowd for the next recruit. I stayed inside, watching through the tinted window. A tall figure stepped off the platform and made his way toward the car. Broad shoulders. Designer jeans. Perfectly tousled hair that probably took half an hour and a personal stylist to get just right. Great. He moved like the world belonged to him—confident, arrogant, with that lazy swagger only rich, spoiled Alphas could pull off without getting punched. The Royal Guard gave him a slight nod, barely moving. “You’re Reyes?” The brat smirked. “Obviously.” His eyes swept over the SUV, then landed on me behind the window. And just like that, I knew. This wasn’t going to work. All the cautious hope I’d allowed myself to feel—the idea that maybe, just maybe, I’d find someone to talk to, someone who wouldn’t treat me like a freak or a threat—shriveled up and died in that moment. He gave me one long, dismissive look, like he was already ranking me in his mental pack hierarchy and found me lacking. Perfect. Hatred, I could handle. I’d trained for worse. I gave him the same look back, adding just enough disdain to make sure he caught it. Mutual loathing. How comforting. The brat slid into the car like it was his throne, tossing his designer bag across the seat and sprawling with the entitlement of someone who’d never been told no in his life. He didn’t even glance my way as he clicked his seatbelt in, but of course, the silence couldn’t last. “So,” he said, stretching the word like gum between his teeth, “I’m Reyes Silver, from Silvermoon pack .” Of course he was. I fought the urge to gr0an. New York. “Kai,” I replied flatly. He turned his head, giving me an appraising look now that we were locked in close quarters. Something flickered in his eyes—recognition. Interest. Trouble. “Kai… Savage?” he asked slowly, his gaze sharpening. And just like that, my stomach dropped. Great. My name just made everything worse. “You’re the other son of the Savage triplets?” Was he serious? “Yeah. Kai Savage. Same surname. Alpha. What do you think?” I shot back, deadpan. He blinked, lips curling with amusement. “So your brothers are the Savage quadruplets now?” This conversation was not really happening. I stared at him. “Again. Kai Savage. Still not a clone. But thanks for the math lesson.” He laughed—actually laughed—and leaned back like we were sharing some kind of joke. “Oh my, you look so different from them!” he said, grinning. “I met your brothers at the last mating ball in New York. I never would’ve thought you—” “What?” I cut in, voice icy. He blinked. “That they’d have a brother like me?” I finished, my tone sharp enough to draw blood. Reyes hesitated. For once, no smirk. Just a flicker of something else—surprise? Annoyance? Intrigue? Didn’t matter. I turned to face the window before he could answer, jaw tight. One hour into this journey, and I already wanted to choke a cadet. If the Moon Goddess had a sense of humor, it was twisted. The SUV rolled back onto the highway, trees whipping past the window in a blur of green and gray. I stared out at them, arms crossed, jaw clenched. I could feel his gaze flicking toward me every few minutes, like a mosquito that refused to die. Eventually, of course, he cracked. “So… do you talk?” Reyes asked, dragging out the last word like I was some exhibit behind glass. I didn’t even blink. “Not to people who ask dumb questions.” He huffed a laugh. “Touchy. Let me guess—middle child syndrome?” “I’m the youngest,” I said. “Ah. That explains the attitude.” I glanced at him. “And you must be an only child. You’ve got that ‘my mom told me I’m special every morning’ energy.” He smirked, stretching his arms behind his head. “Actually, I’m a firstborn. Future Alpha. Trained to lead, not to sass strangers in the back seat.” “Good thing you’re not doing either very well,” I muttered. He laughed again. He had a good laugh, I hated that. Deep, smooth, like he hadn’t had to worry about anything real a day in his life. “You’re funny, Savage,” he said. “I’ll give you that.” “Wasn’t asking for stars on a report card.” He turned to me then, head tilted like he was seeing something new. “You’re not what I expected.” “Yeah? What were you expecting? Someone who'd beg to sit with you at lunch?” Reyes grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes this time. “Honestly? I figured all the Savage boys were clones. Big, loud, te'stosterone-scented nightmares.” “And instead, you got me,” I said, voice flat. “Exactly.” He looked me over again, brow raised. “You’re not loud. You’re just… sharp. Coiled.” I held his gaze. “You’re not nearly as silly as you look.” “Thanks,” he said, smirking. “I think.” Silence fell again, thick with static. The road curved through the forest now, long shadows danced across the windshield. I could feel the press of the pendant against my collarbone—my borrowed identity humming against my skin. He didn’t know. Nobody did. But the longer he looked at me like that, like he was curious, the more my gut twisted. “Let me guess,” I said suddenly, needing to shift the mood. “You’re the type that brought his own protein powder to the academy, aren’t you?” He gave me a mock gasp. “How dare you. I’m offended. I only use imported.” I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do.” Reyes leaned back with a grin, tapping the edge of his sneaker against the seat in front of him. “This year’s gonna be fun.” “Not if you talk the whole time, it won’t be.” He laughed again. “I’m starting to like you, Kai Savage.” I turned back toward the window and muttered, “That’s unfortunate.” But part of me, the part that had been bracing for hatred and punches and being ignored, felt strangely… relieved. I’d take cocky over cruel. Annoying over suspicious. I just had to make it through the first day. And make sure no one never looked close enough to see the truth. KAI POV The next two hours were the longest of my life. Seriously. I’ve faced down rogue wolves with murder in their eyes, sparred with three-hundred-pound Alphas who wanted to break every bone in my body just for fun (aka my brothers) even spent a week in the mountains surviving on squirrels and snowmelt—but nothing had prepared me for being trapped in a moving vehicle with Reyes Silver, Alpha Heir and certified motor mouth. He didn’t shut up. Not for five freaking minutes. I almost missed the moment when he thought he hated me. That, at least, had been quiet. “I mean, it’s not like I wanted to get kicked out of prep school,” he was saying now, voice full of casual bravado. “But the headmaster totally overreacted. It was one exploding locker. Come on. Who even uses lockers anymore?” I stared out the window, counting pine trees like they were lifelines. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Where was the off switch? The mute button? Something? “And then there was this girl—totally obsessed with me, not my fault—who tried to sneak into the boys’ dorm at midnight. And of course I got blamed for that too.” “Shocking,” I muttered. He grinned at me through the rearview mirror like we were in on a private joke. “I know, right? Alpha heir problems. We’re so misunderstood.” I blinked slowly. “Tragic.” If sarcasm were silver, I’d be rich. But Reyes didn’t take the hint. In fact, he leaned into it. Literally. He shifted so he was half-turned in his seat, elbow on the headrest, watching me like I was a particularly entertaining movie he couldn’t stop watching. “Anyway,” he continued, like I’d begged him to go on, “I think we’re gonna be good friends.” I stared at him. Then laughed. “You think what?” “Friends,” he said brightly. “You’ve got a vibe. Not the usual ‘I’ll-kill-you-in-your-sleep’ Alpha recruit thing. More like… ‘I-don’t-want-to-be-here-but-I’ll-stab-you-if-you-ask-why’ thing. I respect that.” Wow. What a glowing personality profile. “Thanks,” I said, deadpan. “I was going for ‘leave me alone,’ but I guess I overshot.” “Noted.” He winked. “But I like you anyway.” Unbelievable. The worst part? He wasn’t even being fake. He genuinely thought we could be friends. Just like that. Because I hadn’t bit his head off hard enough to deter him away. Apparently sarcasm was some sort of invitation in Reyes-speak. It was… weird. Unexpected. And absolutely not going to happen. I wasn’t here to make friends. I wasn’t here to get close to anyone. My secret was too big, my life too carefully built on smoke and shadows to trust anyone—not even a funny, cocky, oddly charming alpha brat who smiled like he didn’t have a care in the world. Especially not him. Summer scoffed in my head, her presence rippling like a sigh of fur and moonlight. ‘You could just admit he gives off a good vibe.’ That earned an internal glare. ‘We don’t trust vibes. We trust facts. And instincts. And so far, all of mine are screaming “dangerously annoying.’ ‘He’s not a threat,’she said with a shrug. ‘Just loud. And… warm.’ ‘Loud is a problem,’ I shot back. ‘Friendly gets you killed. Warm makes you lower your guard.’ ‘Only time will tell,’ Summer murmured, half to herself. Time. The word lodged in my chest like a stone. There was still a couple of weeks before I turned eighteen. Until then, my mate bond was locked behind biology I couldn’t cheat -just a few days and i would be eighteen, able to scent a mate, a man. one I would not be able to hide from, one that would see through the cracks of my act—even if I wore a pendant that masked my scent and changed my life. And with the pendant around my neck they would never scent me. Which meant for now, I was safe. But what if... ‘What if he’s our mate?’ Summer asked softly. I frowned. I hadn’t planned to find my mate at the Academy. That wasn’t part of the mission. That wasn’t part of anything. I wasn’t ready. h-ll, I’d barely accepted what I was pretending to be—how could I handle a mate bond on top of that? Especially if it was an Alpha. Especially if it was Reyes. The idea made my skin crawl. Not because he was awful. He wasn’t. Objectively speaking, he was good-looking. Funny. Energetic in a way that lit up a room. But that was the problem. He was too much. Too loud. Too forward. Too everything. ‘Being mated to someone like Reyes would be my personal h-ll. The kind you get locked into and the Moon laughs watching.’ ‘Worse than being a breeder?’ Summer asked dryly. I flinched. Low blow. Obviously not,’ I muttered. “But do you really think we could handle him stuck to our side all day, every day?” Summer paused. “Fair point.” ‘I don’t even find him attractive in that way… I mean, he’s good looking and all but… just not my type… at all!,’ I added for good measure. Summer rolled her eyes. ‘You never find anyone attractive. You’re like a one-woman iceberg.’ I didn’t argue. It was true. Maybe it was fear. Maybe trauma. Maybe some deep, broken part of me that refused to let anyone in. I didn’t know. I just knew I wasn’t the kind of person who looked at someone and felt butterflies or fireworks or any of the cra'ap they put in books. There was only strategy. Survival. Sharp edges and escape plans. Reyes cleared his throat, pulling me back to the present. I blinked. “Sorry. Zoned out.” “No problem,” he said cheerfully. “I figured you were reliving some tragic moment or plotting my death. Either way, I respect the dedication.” He was smiling again. Like everything was a game. “Just thinking,” I said. “Dangerous habit.” “Not for me.” He laughed. Again. How did he laugh so much? What had his life been like that he could afford to laugh so easily? I wanted to hate him for it. For the ease he has. For the sun in his voice. But I couldn’t—not fully. There was something about him that refused to be hated, even when I wanted to. Which made him more dangerous than anyone else I’d met. “I like the way your mind works,” Reyes said after a beat. I gave him a look. “You haven’t seen my mind work.” “No, but I’ve seen your face while it does. You’re very expressive. It’s like watching a chessboard light up.” Was that supposed to be a compliment? I turned away. “Maybe stop watching, then.” “You keep saying things like that,” he said, not offended in the slightest, “but I think you like that I notice.” I didn’t answer. Mostly because I wasn’t sure if he was wrong. Not completely, anyway. The Academy loomed like a fortress carved into the woods. Stone walls, iron gates, and watchtowers. It wasn’t Hogwarts or some ivy-covered school where dreams were made. This was where legacies were broken. Where power was shaped and sharpened like blades. Where failure wasn’t an option—because it meant death. The SUV slowed at the front checkpoint. Reyes looked out the window and whistled low. “Looks like summer camp for psychos.” He wasn’t wrong. I stared through the glass at the gates that separated this place from the world I used to know. My heart thudded once—heavy. Final. This was it. No going back. The driver handed over our documents, nodded once, and the gates creaked open. Welcome to h-ll. We were dropped off at the central building, where a sleek, suited Beta, at least he smelled like one, with a clipboard gave us our schedules, room assignments, and a lengthy list of rules that included things like no unauthorized challenges, no-fighting out of the training field, and absolutely no shifting. Reyes raised an eyebrow at that last one. “What about lunch breaks?” But I exhaled, the last one was a blessing for me. In wolf form everybody would know that I was a female and a golden wolf. Which meant… trouble. The Beta did not laugh. I didn’t either. The Academy didn’t tolerate stupidity—or weakness. We were split into dorm wings randomly. No exceptions. Everything was designed to reinforce alliances between packs, forge new friendly relationships and strengthen our kingdom. Luckily—or unluckily—I was placed in the second wing. Reyes, of course, was thrilled. “Room 215,” he read, grinning. “Bet you’re next door.” “214,” I muttered. Of course. We climbed the stairs together, Reyes dragging his obnoxious designer bag like it was a trophy. The hallway smelled like te'stosterone and pine-scented cleaning products. I kept my head down, ignoring the eyes that followed us—mostly him. Some of them landed on me, lingering. Too long. Too curious. I pulled my hoodie tighter, instinctively checking that my pendant was still in place beneath the collar. Still masking. Still safe. No one knew. Yet. Reyes unlocked his room with a key card and threw the door open with a flourish. “Home sweet home!” he said. “Guess I lucked out with the window view. You get to hear me snore through the wall.” “Do you ever stop talking?” I asked. He paused. “Nope.” And then, infuriatingly, smiled at me again. Like this was just the beginning of a bromance. I stared at him for a long moment. His ridiculous grin. His ridiculous confidence. His ridiculous everything. And felt a twist of something in my chest. Not attraction. Not curiosity. Just a question, rising slowly in my mind. What if he really meant it? What if he did want to be my friend? What would that even look like? Was that… allowed? I shook the thought off before it could bloom. No. I wasn’t here to connect. I was here to survive. KAI POV “I’ll see you at dinner, yeah?” Reyes called behind me, annoyingly cheerful. “Sure,” I muttered, not slowing down. The second the door to Room 214 clicked shut, I let out a breath and pressed my back to it. That boy could talk the paint off a wall. Summer snorted in my head. “He likes you.” “He likes the sound of his own voice,” I corrected. I scanned the room, expecting it to be empty or maybe filled with the usual clutter. What I didn’t expect—what I definitely did not sign up for—was to walk straight into the aftermath of a god@m war. There were three canopy beds, neatly arranged. they looked lovely, comfy even. But the room was anything but peaceful. Two shirtless Alphas stood toe-to-toe in the center, tension thick enough to choke on. Muscles tight. Nostrils flared. Glares sharp enough to slice. They hadn’t heard me yet. Too busy growling at each other like one wrong word would set off an explosion. But I knew them. Not personally. Not yet. But I’d done my research before coming to the Academy. The tall, bearded one with dark eyes like spilled ink with tattoos crawling up his chest and throat? That had to be Derrick, the Redfangs’ second-born heir. A bad-boy reputation so solid it might as well have been printed on his forehead. Arson charges, brawls, and the kind of bedroom rumors that made even the nastiest girls blush. The other? Leaner, a shade prettier, but with a smirk that made you want to punch his teeth in? That had to be Dalton from the BloodClaws. Hazelnut hair, smug green eyes, and the look of someone who'd broken bones just for fun. I’d heard his pack called him “The Snake.” And not just because he liked to strike from behind. Redfangs and BloodClaws. Oil and fire. And now I was the lucky idi0t stuck in a room with both. Fabulous. As if on cue, the tension snapped and both of them turned toward me—shoulders squaring, eyes narrowing like they’d just smelled a new threat. Well. Technically they had. I could kick their @ss with my eyes closed. But Goddess, I could see them. Really see them. And for the first time in my life I got what the other shewolves said about my brothers or Gunter. Those males were too hot to be fair. And Summer? She was practically panting in the back of my mind. “They look delicious,” she whispered. “They look like trouble,” I replied, ignoring how my throat had gone a little dry. My eyes betrayed me, sweeping over Derrick’s sculpted abs, down the ink twisting around his ribs, lingering on Dalton’s lean torso and sharp jaw. S-xy, yes. Ripped, absolutely. Safe? Not even close. I dropped my bag with a heavy thud. “Don’t stop the d**k-measuring contest on my account,” I said, voice dry. “I was starting to take bets.” Dalton’s head snapped to me like a hound catching a new scent. “Who on eаrth are you?” “Roommate number three,” I said, strolling in like I hadn’t just walked into a powder keg with a lit match. “Don’t mind me. I’m just your emotionally unavailable third wheel.” I added, walking right past them and surveying the beds. One was already a mess—sheets twisted, hoodie thrown on the pillow. The second had a laptop plugged in and weights stacked underneath. The third was untouched. Mine, then. Derrick’s mouth curled slightly. Dalton, not so much. “Name?” “Kai Savage.” Derrick raised a brow. Dalton snorted. “Fitting.” I gave him a flat look. “That supposed to be a joke, or are you always this original?” Dalton stepped closer, head coked. “You’re the new one, right? The underage little—very little—Winter Pack heir? Fifth-born or something?” “Wow,” I said, tilting my head. “You memorized my pack bio. I’m flattered.” Derrick smirked. Dalton’s eyes sharpened. Strike one. “Listen, kid,” Dalton said, circling slightly. “This isn’t your playground. You’re not gonna impress anyone with your attitude and baggy clothes. You’ve got no weight, no rep, and you sure as Hll don’t look like you belong here.” And that was strike two. I moved before he could blink. One step. One motion. I grabbed his collar and slammed him into the wall so hard the window shook. My forearm pressed to his throat—not enough to crush, just enough to remind him what fear tasted like. His hands flew up too late. I was already leaning in. My mouth brushed his ear. “Wanna say that again?” I whispered. His eyes flared. Surprise. And... interest? I pushed a little harder. “I’m not what I look like. And I’ve dropped bigger аs holes than you before breakfast.” A strangled sound escaped him—a mix of a growl and choked air. I stepped back smoothly. He stayed against the wall just a beat too long. Good. Let it burn. Derrick whistled low. “Dam. Maybe this year won’t suk after all.” Dalton rubbed his neck and glared. “You got a death wish or something?” I stretched and cracked my neck. “Only if I have to keep listening to your voice. Honestly, I hope you go home early. Tail between your @ss and all.” “He’s fun,” Summer practically purred. “He’s an idi0t,” I shot back. Dalton didn’t say anything, but the glare he threw my way was sharp enough to skin me. I threw myself onto the empty bed. “So,” I said casually, “are we agreeing not to murder each other in our sleep, or should I keep one eye open?” Derrick chuckled. It was deep, slow, and rich like black coffee on a bad night. “No promises.” Dalton grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom without a word. “Enjoy the quiet while it lasts, pup,” he muttered. Pup? I grinned. Big mistake. “Call me that again, and you’ll be pissing blood.” His back stiffened, but he didn’t respond. I leaned back on the mattress, staring at the ceiling. Room 214 was gonna be h*ll. But at least it wouldn’t be boring. KAI POV Unpacking wasn’t supposed to feel like a D@m battlefield. But every time I folded another pair of jeans, I had to wrestle with Summer’s hormonal commentary vibrating inside my skull. The excited wolf had zero chill. “You’re sleeping in the same room as two shirtless Alpha gods. Just let me enjoy it. Please. Just one lick. One sniff.” “We’re supposed to be undercover, dumbass,” I snapped internally. “And what? Alphas don’t sniff each other in locker rooms?” she asked. I didn’t dignify her with an answer. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected moving into the Fangar dorms, but sharing a room with two overgrown te'stosterone machines wasn’t it. Especially not when I was the only girl pretending to be a guy. Which meant I had to act like seeing abs and muscles and d**k in every direction didn’t bother me, and it was kinda weird because, I mean, in my pack I'vw always been surrounded by barely c0vered body men. correction, hot barely c0vered body men. Like my brothers' gamma or beta, the guys have like two cheering teams each time they train shirtless. and they were training with me, against me. touching me. That's how I stupidly supposed it would be the same. boy was i wrong My entire survival depended on it. One year. Just one d@m year to graduate, get my title, and disappear before someone figured out I wasn’t exactly packing in the shorts department. Summer was practically vibrating behind my eyes, pacing like a excited hyena, her voice breathy and full of wicked ideas. “You should’ve let them fight. It would’ve been sooo hot. The sweat, the growls… the muscles—” “Shut. Up.” “Just saying. Imagine if one of them pinned the other to the floor and grunted a little—” I slammed the drawer shut harder than necessary. “Not helpful,” I hissed aloud. The last thing I needed was two overtestosteroned Alphas trying to settle their dominance like we were in a f**king jungle. If they punched each other, it’d be my @ss dragged into the Headmaster’s office. And sure, maybe they’d get punished too, but knowing my luck? I’d get the worst of it. Disrupting the “peaceful” environment of Fangar Academy was a serious offense. And I just knew Derrick and Dalton were going to be a problem. “You’re welcome,” Summer purred. “For what?” “We’re going to have such a fun year.” I flipped her off mentally. I was halfway through folding a hoodie when the bathroom door creaked open. Steam poured out like a scene from a cheap vampire flick. I didn’t look up. I refused to look up. Then I did. And Goddess help me. Dalton stepped out, glistening with leftover shower droplets, completely n8ked except for the towel he was aggressively scrubbing into his hair. Let me clarify. The towel was in his hands, not around his waist. I saw his manhood. And not just that—pretty one. Which was an insult, honestly. Arrogant prick shouldn’t have the nerve to be that well-built. His body was leaner than Derrick’s, but still cut with the kind of definition that only comes from a lifetime of obsessive training. Like he fought for a living and only rested to f'k-. I blinked. Hard. I turned my eyes toward the closet. Refused to let them drift back. They did anyway. Because I’m human. And alive. And apparently suicidal. “Ohhhh, dayum,” Summer moaned. “We’re so scr'wed. And not even in the fun way.” My mouth was dry. My hands were sweaty. I hated it. “Goddess give me strength,” I muttered. “Oh she did,” Summer sighed. “Strength, and an appreciation for veiny Alpha c—” “NOPE.” I focused on my suitcase. My socks. Anything. Dalton didn’t even glance at me. Just walked past like I wasn’t there, muscles flexing, steam rising off his body like he was posing for a f-kn werewolf calendar. Of course, to him, I was just another guy. A short, quiet, probably gay guy, but still. “Don’t choke, roommate,” he said casually, his voice rough with post-shower gravel. “I’ve seen a small stick before, thanks,” I shot back. Dalton laughed like I was joking. Spoiler: I wasn’t. I’ve seen small and big ones. Now a huge one too. “Well, you’re welcome for the reminder,” he said, finally pulling on a pair of black joggers. They sat way too low on his hips, like his abs were allergic to fabric. From the corner of the room, Derrick chuckled. I glanced over. Another shirtless Alpha leaning on the wall, arms crossed, tattoos on full display like a dayum poster child for wolf supremacy. “Thought you’d pass out for a second,” he grinned. “Didn’t think you were that shy.” “I’m not shy,” I said flatly. “Just prefer when people keep their sticks inside their clothes. You know, where society intended.” Dalton flopped onto his bed, towel still in his hair, completely unbothered. “It’s just skin, dude.” “Yeah, but it’s attached to you,” I muttered. Derrick raised a brow. “You always this uptight, Kai?” “Only when I’m forced to live in a fking sausage fest.” Dalton barked a laugh. “Careful. Someone’s gonna think you’re into guys if you keep complaining.” I froze for a second. Then forced a smirk. “Maybe I am,” I said with a shrug. “That a problem?” Dalton blinked. Derrick straightened a little. Then, quickly, Dalton said, “Nah, nah—not at all. Totally cool. We don’t care, man. We’re, like, totally with the LGBTQ+ community. No judgment.” “Yeah,” Derrick chimed in. “Love is love, man. We just didn’t mean to offend you or anything.” I held back a snort. It was kind of cute how fast they backpedaled. “No offense taken,” I said coolly. “Just… maybe be mindful before flinging sticks around next time, yeah?” Dalton grinned sheepishly. “Duly noted.” They both relaxed again. And I… I exhaled. Truth was, I didn’t give a cra'ap if someone thought I was gay. Being gay wasn’t the problem. The problem was being a girl in a place where I wasn’t supposed to be one. That’s the secret that could get me kicked out, or worse. Pretending to be into guys was a bonus disguise. If they bought it, good. If they left me alone? Even better. “Cool,” I said, grabbing my jacket. “Glad we’re all so comfortable with each other’s genitals. I’m going to the commons before I have to start a support group.” As I moved toward the door, Dalton called, “Hey, if you run into any girls who are into brooding, sensitive types, send ‘em my way, yeah?” “I’ll send you a bouquet of rejection letters,” I shot back, slamming the door behind me. “You’re doing great,” Summer said between wheezing laughter. “Really blending in.” “I hate you.” “You hate that you can’t f'k- either of them.” “Shut up.” But she wasn’t wrong. Living with two Alphas who looked like they walked out of a fantasy novel? Torture. Pretending I didn’t have a cave while doing it? Worse. “Oh Kai! My best friend!” A male voice shouted. Reyes. fking perfect. KAI POV I had exactly 3.5 seconds of peace after slamming the dorm door shut behind me. Three and a half seconds of glorious silence. Then— An arm—warm, heavy, casual in the way only guys who had zero personal boundaries could manage—slung over my shoulders like we were best buds in a coming-of-age movie. I tensed. He didn’t notice. Of course he didn’t. Reyes had that golden retriever energy. Tail always wagging. Smile always easy. The kind of guy who could throw his arm around a stranger and make it feel like a handshake. Or at least, that’s what it seemed like. To me? It felt suffocating. Partly because Summer, the insufferable wolf in my head, started laughing her @ss off the second he touched me. “I’m so hungry I could eat a fkn bison,” Reyes announced, steering me effortlessly down the hall like I’d agreed to go anywhere with him. “Let’s see what the Alpha Academy has to offer tonight. Maybe they’re sacrificing vi'rgins or serving roasted traitors. Either way, I’m in.” “You say that like it’s a good thing.” He snorted. “As long as it’s not tofu, I’m good.” I side-eyed him. “Pretty sure tofu isn’t on the King Pack menu.” “Exactly. That’s why we’re here, hermano. The Fangar elite don’t mess around.” We rounded a corner, passing two other wolves—both of whom gave us a wide berth. Not because we were intimidating (okay, maybe he was), but because Reyes and his pack had a reputation for being unpredictable. You’d never know what set them off until their wolves were surrounding your pack, ready to take you down. People didn’t know whether to pet him or run. Me? I kept my head low and my hoodie lower. The less attention I got, the better. But maybe an ally like him wouldn’t be the worst thing. A friendship with him could save me from a lot of messed-up situations and nosy people poking into my business. Reyes could be the key to surviving this year in one piece. “You always this dramatic before dinner?” I asked, shrugging his arm off as casually as I could. He didn’t take it personally. Just grinned wider and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Only when I’ve skipped lunch because I was stuck in that dayum train.” Figures. He walked with the easy confidence of someone who was always at the top of the food chain—and knew it. His dark brown hair was still damp from a late shower, curls bouncing slightly with each step. He wore a navy shirt tight across the chest, sleeves rolled to the elbows like a casual afterthought, revealing tanned forearms marked by thin scars and ink. His smile had that reckless Alpha edge, but there was something boyish under it—something warm that made people let their guard down. Dangerous combo. We reached the dining hall doors, already cracked open and buzzing with voices inside. The scent of roasted meat and melted cheese hit me like a freight train. Summer nearly passed out from excitement. “Oh my goddess, they have garlic bread,” she moaned. “Shut up,” I muttered under my breath. Reyes didn’t hear me. He pushed the doors wide like he owned the place and strolled in like it was his castle. I hesitated a second too long. “You coming, Kai?” he called, already halfway to the tables. I sighed and followed. The room was massive—vaulted ceilings, dark wood beams, iron chandeliers glowing with soft amber light. Wolves in uniforms and casual gear filled the rows of long tables, most already seated and halfway through dinner. At the center of it all was the King Pack table—elevated slightly, circular, and annoyingly symbolic. Reyes didn’t go there. He veered off to the left, sliding onto a bench at one of the standard tables like a regular guy. Bold move. I hovered beside him, unsure if I should sit. But before I could awkward myself into another panic, Reyes waved to someone behind me. “Dalton! Derrick! Over here!” My heart almost stopped. No. No, no, no. The two towering Alphas I was trying to avoid until I could emotionally recover from their whole “shirtless Greek statue routine” were now walking toward me with matching predator smirks. Derrick was in a black Henley, his tattoos half visible and his eyes bright with amusement. Dalton had gone full savage in a loose tank top and joggers, damp curls falling in his face. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. Instead, Derrick clapped Reyes on the shoulder and nodded toward me. “This one following you around already?” Reyes laughed. “I told you. He’s my emotional support buddy and best friend now.” Dalton slid onto the bench across from him and glanced my way. “Hope he’s got thick skin.” “Thick skull more like it,” Derrick muttered, dropping beside him. I didn’t sit. I stood there, frozen, pulse loud in my ears. Summer whispered, “Don’t freak. Don’t freak. Don’t look at his arms. Don’t—” I sat. Reyes shoved a tray toward me that he must’ve grabbed on the way in. “You’ll thank me later,” he said, already loading his own with roast beef, mashed potatoes, and what looked like some kind of glazed ribs. I picked at the food without really seeing it. This was dangerous. Being near them. Letting them get used to me. Letting myself get used to them. Reyes grinned, mouth full, and said, “So, Kai, tell me something weird about you.” I blinked. “What?” “Weird stuff. Everyone’s got something. Like, I once ate an entire squirrel raw on a dare when I was twelve.” “Why would anyone dare you to do that?” Dalton snorted. “Because he’s Reyes. H... www.argbook.com