laughing That idiot Shin was the last one across the line , " one snorted . " Should be grateful he made it back in one piece , unlike those poor bastards who didn't make it out of that cursed forest ." Their words made my steps slow . Images of death and madness clawed at my memory . The Alphas might've looked polished on the outside , but inside they were monsters . Predators . Killers . And then there was Dante - feeding on his own friend , The most horrifying thing I'd ever seen I barely had time to brace myself when a hand shot out of the shadows and slammed me hard against the cold stone wall . I hissed in pain , the impact rattling my bones . My gaze snapped up to furious blue eyes . Dante . " Where the hell were you ? " he snarled , his fingers twisting in the fabric of my shirt , dangerously close to my chest . I shoved at him , growling . " I don't answer to you . " But he slammed me back against the wall again , teeth bared . " You saw something you shouldn't have , and then you . disappeared like a damn ghost . " His face was close now , blue eyes gleaming with fury beneath thick lashes . His grip tightened , his voice a low , guttural rasp meant for my ears alone , " Where the hell were you , Seth Darven ? " The rough scrape of his words made my skin crawl , but I refused to flinch I scowled , shoving him hard enough to force a step between us before his hand could stray any closer . " I don't owe you anything ." The tension crackled like static between us . His jaw clenched so tightly a muscle twitched in his cheek . He crowded me against the wall again , his face so close I could feel the heat rolling off him . " You do ," he ground out . " The moment you set foot in this academy . The moment you bumped into me . The moment you crossed line . His gaze sharpened . " Where did you go during the challenge ? my I narrowed my eyes . " Why the hell do you care ? " His eyes narrowed further , his voice dropping to a dark , dangerous whisper . " You were with Ronan , weren't you ? " My heart stuttered in my chest . I stiffened … a fraction of a second , but it was enough . Dante's expression turned coldly triumphant . His hand clamped down on my arm like a vice . " Stay away from him . " I tried to wrench my arm free , glaring . " Who the hell do you think you are … " Before I could finish , a new presence rolled in behind us like a brewing storm Heavy . Lethal . The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end before I even turned . It was Ronan His steps s were slow , deliberate , the kind of careful , coiled threat that didn't need to shout to be heard . His dark gaze landed on where Dante's hand had been on me , and his expression darkened into something lethal . His irises glinted like molten obsidian , gleaming with a cold warning . " If you've got something to say , Blackwood , " Ronan said , his voice a low , lethal promise , " say it . " Dante didn't back down . His hand still hovered by his side , itching for a fight . " This doesn't concern you ." " And who the fuck decided that ? " Ronan stepped in , close enough that their shoulders brushed . The hallway thickened with pure , suffocating dominance . Dante smirked darkly , his shoulder brushing mine possessively . " Of course I'm the who decides when it comes to this wolf " Then it happened . Ronan shoved Dante's hand off me with a sharp flick of his wrist . " Touch him again , and you'll regret it . " A furious smile played on Dante's lips instantly . " If that is the case , I fucking want to regret it right now . " Both of them raised their fists but before either of them could connect . I yelled . " Enough ! " They froze . Not out of fear , but because they both knew if a fight broke out here , it would draw attention . And both had too much to lose . Their eyes locked over my head the promise of violence postponed , not forgotten . I swallowed hard Two Alphas . Both dangerous . Both crazy in their own way . Both determined to keep me in their orbit . Two Neither knew the truth about me . It wasn't just my secret at risk anymore . If I wasn't careful … if I didn't find a way to control this . something far worse than exposure was going to come crashing down around me. And I had no idea which one of them would be the first to light the match . Send Gifts