Chapter 4
iselle
The academy was everything I expected it to be–merciless, brutal, and utterly exhausting.
Two days in, and I was already sore in places I didn’t know could ache. Our first class had been a strategy course, which mostly consisted of third- and fourth–years dominating discussions while the rest of us first–years took notes like good little students.
1 quickly learned that the academy didn’t bother with gradual learning. Either you kept up, or you got left behind.
And I refused to be left behind.
“You looked like you wanted to claw your eyes out back there,” Eva muttered as we stepped out of the lecture hall and onto the stone path leading back to the dorms.
The academy grounds stretched endlessly before us, bordered by dense, towering trees that separated us from the outside world. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine, damp earth, and wolves.
“Tell me, was it the class itself or the way the guys kept talking over you?”
huffed. “Both.”
Eva snorted, adjusting the strap of her bag.
“Welcome to Alpha Training Academy, where if you don’t have balls, you might as well be invisible.”
“Right. Great.” I rolled my eyes. “By the way, we haven’t gotten a roommate yet. Think we might luck out and get the dorm to ourselves?”
Eva wiggled her brows. “A two–person room without a third wheel? That’s the dream. Fingers crossed the system forgets to assign us one.”
I smirked, feeling a rare sense of lightness. Eva was the first person here who didn’t treat me like an inconvenience.
As we walked, my mind drifted to a more pressing concern. I glanced sideways at Eva. “So…. do you know how to fight?”
“Of course,” she snorted before shooting me a look like I’d asked her if she knew how to breathe. “Seven brothers, remember? Fighting was a survival skill growing up.”
I swallowed hard. “Lucky you.”
“Why? Do you?” she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
My silence was answer enough. She stopped walking, turning fully to face me “Wait–you seriously don’t know how to fight?”
I crossed my arms, shifting uncomfortably. “I never trained. My parents didn’t think I needed to. I tried to self–teach, but I’m starting to think that
was an error.”
Eva let out a low whistle. “Damn. And you signed up for this place?”
“It wasn’t exactly an accident.”
She studied me for a moment before shrugging. “Well, good news. We’ve got free sessions, and I’m bored. I’ll teach you.”
Relief flooded me so fast. I almost staggered. I had Ethan, sure, but I knew his training time was limited. Having Eva’s help could be the difference between surviving my first challenge or getting completely annihilated.
“I” I hesitated. “I appreciate it.”
Eva smirked. “You better. I don’t offer to train just anyone.”
Before I could thank her again, my gaze caught something or rather, someone–up ahead.
Nathaniel.
He was walking with a group of third–years, laughing at something one of them had said. The sight of him laughing–actually laughing–sent a strange pang through my chest. I’d spent the past two days catching glimpses of him, but Eahan was always with him, or vice versa. I hadn’t had a single chance to corner him alone.
Until now.
1/3
Eva caught the direction of my stare and smirked. “Ooooh. You’ve got eyes for a third–year? Ambitious, I like it,” she teased.
I exhaled heavily. Maybe I could trust her. Maybe.
“Screw it,” I muttered under my breath. “He’s my mate.”
Eva choked on air. “Excuse me?”
Before she could start demanding details, I was already moving.
“We will talk about this later!” she called after me, her voice still laced with disbelief.
I barely heard her. My pulse pounded in my cars as I marched straight toward Nate, who had his back turned, completely oblivious to the fact that his past had just caught up with him.
I didn’t stop until I was right behind him. “Nathaniel.”
He froze. The guys around him went silent, sensing the shift in the air. Slowly, he turned, his sharp blue eyes locking onto mine. I watched as the recognition flared, followed by something else–something dark and conflicted.
He didn’t speak.
The others glanced between us, sensing the tension. One of them muttered, “We’ll catch you later, man.”
And then it was just us.
Alone, after two years.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I had planned a million ways this confrontation could go, but standing here, face–to–face with him, my thoughts jumbled.
I clenched my fists. “Are you seriously going to act like I don’t exist?
His jaw tightened. “Jiselle-”
“No.” I cut him off. “You don’t get to say my name like that. Not after everything.”
“Jiselle,” he said just the same and I actually shivered. Freaking traitorous body.
He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. “You shouldn’t be here.”
I scoffed. “Wow. That’s the first thing you say to me?”
“I’m serious, Jiselle.”
I took a step closer, tilting my chin defiantly. “Well, I am here. And I’m not leaving So tell me what the hell happened that night? Why did you leave? Was i that bad?”
A pang of hurt and insecurity ate away at me for a moment before I masked it with determination.
His eyes fiickered, a battle waging behind them. For a split second, I thought he might actually answer. But then his expression hardened.
“You don’t belong here,” he said, his voice cold and final.
The words hit like a slap. My breath caught, and my fingers twitched with the urge to hit him back–maybe not physically, but with words sharp enough to cut.
I swallowed the hurt. “You’re a coward, Nathaniel.”
His eyes darkened. “And you’re reckless. This place will eat you alive, and I won’t be there to save you.”
I stepped even closer, just enough for our bodies to almost brush. “I never asked you to save me.”
His nostrils flared, and for a heartbeat, the space between us was thick with something electric, something neither of us wanted to name.
Then, just as fast as it came, he shut it down. His expression went blank, and he stepped back
“Stay out of my way, Jiselle.” He sighed, as if my presence was a burden. “And do us all a favour and don’t die. Ethan would be devastated.”
“Yeah… Ethan.” I scoffed. The nerve of this asshole.
2/3
Chapter 4
I should have let him walk away. I should have ended this conversation and spared myself the pain.
But I wasn’t that kind of girl.
“I’ll prove you wrong,” I said quietly, my voice laced with steel. “And when I do, you’ll regret every word.”
For the first time, I saw something flicker in his gaze–something dangerously close to regret.
And then he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding and a promise burning in my chest.
I was so stupid. I was so freaking stupid.
I risked my life for this? For him to tell me that my death would be awful for Ethan?
Screw this. Screw him.
He wouldn’t break me again.
Not this time.
