Chapter 21
+8 Paints
“Hey, Prof.” A few of my students greet me with smiles as I walk past their table. Their energy is infectious. One of them even pulls out a chair for me. “Join us! We’re just about to order.”
laugh softly, feeling the warmth of their invitation. “Sorry, guys,” I reply, shaking my head, though the grin on my face refuses to fade. It feels surreal. They genuinely like me. It’s not the forced politeness of students tolerating a professor; it’s genuine camaraderie.
They don’t roll their eyes or whisper behind my back. They don’t push me to the fringes of conversation. For the first time, I feel…accepted.
“I’m actually here with someone,” I say, a bit sheepishly.
“Someone?” Tyler’s voice cuts in as his arm casually drapes over my shoulders. His move feels natural, almost like we’re teammates in a huddle, and I can’t help but laugh.
“No way!” One of the girls, who I often spar with, looks between Tyler and me with raised eyebrows. “You’ve been holding out on us!”
Another guy, clearly intrigued, chimes in. “Yeah, you never mentioned this at practice.”
“Practice?” asks someone unfamiliar, a guy I’ve never seen before. His confusion is apparent, and before I can clarify, Tyler takes it upon himself to answer.
“This is the she–wolf I was telling you about,” Tyler announces, pointing at me like I’m some
kind of celebrity. “The one who kicked Hudson’s ass.”
“Oh, sht,” the guy perks up immediately. His expression shifts from mild interest to outright
amazement. “You’re the She–Warrior? Hudson was fuming after you beat him. Good for you.”
“Wait.” One of my students raises her hand like we’re back in class. “You’re the She–Warrior and my professor? That’s wild.”
The attention makes me laugh nervously as Tyler eagerly dives into the story of how I sparred
with Hudson–a particularly arrogant wolf with biceps bigger than his brain. The memory
makes me smirk. He had it coming. His ego always slowed him down, and he reminded me
too much of a Spartan warrior–impressive at first glance, but predictable in a fight.
As Tyler enthusiastically reenacts the sparring session, we hear someone clearing their throat
behind us. Instantly, the atmosphere changes.
Matthew.
The aura he emits is unmistakable–commanding, magnetic, and tinged with authority. His
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+8 Point
Chapter 21
presence draws every pair of eyes toward him, including mine.
Everyone straightens instinctively, as if tethered to his power. Even Tyler removes his arm from my shoulders, his posture stiffening as his head bows slightly.
“Alpha,” they chorus, almost in unison.
Matthew’s piercing gaze sweeps over the group, but it lingers on me. For a second, I can’t read
him. Is he annoyed? Or is this just Matthew being…well, Matthew?
“Shall we?” he says, his deep voice slicing through the tension as he extends a tattooed hand
toward me.
I hesitate, glancing at my friends. “See you guys Monday,” I manage, grabbing Matthew’s hand.
The instant our skin connects, my pulse skyrockets. His touch is warm, his grip firm yet gentle, and I feel that magnetic pull toward him–like I’m orbiting his gravity. My wolf
practically preens under his attention, basking in his closeness.
He leads me through the restaurant toward a secluded patio. The deck outside is small but
breathtaking, with an uninterrupted view of the lake. The surrounding mountains curve
elegantly along the horizon, their peaks kissed by clouds. The trees lining the lake sway gently
in the breeze, their reflection rippling on the water’s surface.
I can see why Matthew picked this spot. It’s quiet, intimate, and feels like a world apart.
“Here you are, Alpha,” says a server, setting down an extra chair. She retreats quickly, leaving
us alone.
Matthew pulls the chair to his side of the table before sitting down. The move surprises me- it’s deliberate, intimate. Our knees brush as he settles in, and I feel a rush of heat climb my
neck.
“I already ordered for us,” he says, leaning back slightly, his posture casual yet composed. “I hope that’s alright.”
“I trust you.” My smile widens, and I lean my elbows on the table, facing him fully.
Matthew’s gaze remains on me, though his body faces the lake. For a moment, the silence
between us is comfortable, almost serene. But the weight of his attention stirs something
inside me–nerves, excitement, maybe both.
I clear my throat, deciding to break the silence. “Well, you’ve met some of my friends and
students now.”
“You seem quite close,” Matthew observes, his thumb idly spinning a ring on his hand.
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Chapter 21
୭
+3 Point!
I shrug. “Only to a few of them. Some students come to my office hours, but I’m mostly close with my sparring partners–Tyler, especially. We’re the top of our class, so we practice together on Thursdays.”
The moment I say Tyler’s name, a low growl rumbles from Matthew’s chest.
I glance at him, arching an eyebrow. His fist tightens on the table, and his eyes close briefly, as if he’s trying to regain control.
“You’re not jealous, are you?” I tease, my voice soft.
Matthew’s eyes snap open, the intensity of his green gaze locking onto mine. His lips curl into
a devilish smirk. “And if I were?”
His words send a shiver down my spine. The way he looks at me–like I’m the only thing in his world–makes my pulse quicken.
“He’s just a friend,” I reply firmly, though my voice wavers slightly.
Matthew leans forward, his chair scraping softly against the wooden deck as he closes the space between us. His movements are fluid, deliberate, and he adjusts my chair so effortlessly that I barely register it until our knees are fully pressed together.
“Your presence,” he murmurs, his voice low, “is intoxicating. Like rosewood and books.”
His admission steals the breath from my lungs.
Do you think he’ll kiss us? my wolf whispers, her voice laced with excitement.
I hope he does more than that, she adds slyly.
I shove her thoughts aside, trying to focus on Matthew.
“I…” My words falter as his gaze deepens.
In a small voice, I manage to say, “I’ve grown quite fond of you too.”
Matthew’s grin widens. His hand finds its way to my leg, the heat of his touch seeping through the fabric of my jeans.
I can’t breathe. My wolf is practically howling in the back of my mind, urging me to close the distance between us. His proximity is overwhelming, his scent a heady mix of amberwood, coffee, and something uniquely him.
Matthew leans in, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine. The air between us crackles
with unspoken tension, and I can feel my heart pounding against my ribcage.
Then, the patio door creaks open, shattering the moment.
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+B Points
Chapter 21
I jerk back, heat rushing to my cheeks as a waitress approaches with our food. She sets the plates down without a word, seemingly oblivious to the charged atmosphere.
“Anything else, Alpha?” she asks politely.
“No, that’ll be all,” Matthew replies, his voice steady but his eyes never leaving mine.
The waitress retreats, and I can feel Matthew’s gaze boring into me. He’s waiting for me to say something, to react, but my mind is a chaotic mess.
I decide to play it cool, smirking as I point at his plate. “Your food’s going to get cold.”
Matthew chuckles, his grin full of mischief. “That’s alright. I’m more of a dessert man anyway.” His words send another wave of heat coursing through me. I focus on my plate, trying to calm the flurry of emotions swirling inside me.
But even as we eat, I can’t ignore the way his leg brushes against mine or the occasional glances he throws my way. The tension between us remains, unspoken but undeniable, like a storm waiting to break.
