Mated to Four Heirs

Chapter twelve

DARIUS ASH

If there was one thing I hated more than losing, it was being bored.

Unfortunately, Professor Griffin had somehow managed to turn combat strategy into the most boring lesson in the history of Nightshade Academy. He spent nearly two hours talking about formation patterns, battle discipline, and why every Alpha should think before charging into a fight.

Think first?

Where was the fun in that?

Stretching lazily in my seat, I barely held back a yawn as the final bell rang. Before Professor Griffin could finish dismissing us, I was already halfway to the door.

"Mr. Ash," the professor called behind me, his brows knitting together in annoyance.

Without bothering to turn around, I lifted one hand into the air. "You were going to dismiss us anyway, Professor," I called back with a grin, drawing a few muffled laughs from the class.

"You are impossible," he muttered with an exasperated sigh.

"I've heard that before," I replied cheerfully before disappearing into the hallway.

The cool afternoon breeze greeted me the moment I stepped outside, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe again.

"Darius!"

I looked over my shoulder just as three members of Ember Claw jogged toward me.

Jace was the tallest among them, broad-shouldered and constantly serious. Mason had a permanent grin plastered across his face, while Felix was shorter than the rest of us but talked enough for three people combined.

"There you are," Mason said, throwing an arm over my shoulder before laughing. "We thought you escaped through a window again."

I chuckled. "I considered it."

"I believe you," Felix replied, shaking his head dramatically before the four of us started walking toward the training grounds.

The conversation drifted from classes to sparring sessions, then to the upcoming inter-pack tournament. It didn't stay there for long. Nothing did these days.

Eventually, Samantha's name came up.

"I still can't believe it," Mason said, letting out a whistle before folding his arms behind his head. "Four mates."

Felix nodded repeatedly. "The whole Academy is talking about her."

"They've been talking about her since yesterday," Jace added calmly, adjusting the strap of the sword resting across his back. "I doubt it'll stop anytime soon."

A slow grin spread across my face.

"Can you blame them?" I asked, shrugging casually. "She's interesting."

Felix snorted. "Interesting?"

I laughed. "Very."

Mason raised an eyebrow. "I thought you'd be angry."

"Why?"

"Because you have to compete with Karl, Adrian, and Carla."

I burst into laughter. "Compete?"

Still laughing, I ran a hand through my bright red hair before shaking my head.

"I'm not competing."

The three of them exchanged confused looks.

"What does that mean?" Jace asked.

"It means," I replied confidently, flashing them my most charming smile, "she'll choose me anyway."

Felix stared at me for a long moment. Then he groaned loudly. "There it is."

"What?"

"Your ego."

I placed a hand dramatically over my chest. "My confidence."

"It's the same thing," Mason replied, rolling his eyes.

"No," I argued with a grin. "Confidence is attractive."

"Ego isn't."

"Well, I have both."

The three of them laughed despite themselves.

Jace sighed, though amusement flickered across his face.

"You've known Samantha for barely two days."

"So?"

"You don't even know what kind of person she is."

"I know enough."

"Oh?," Felix frowned.

I nodded confidently. "She doesn't pretend."

They looked at me expectantly.

"When everyone stared at her during the initiation," I continued, my grin fading into something softer, "she looked terrified."

I paused briefly.

"But she still stood there."

None of them interrupted.

"She could have cried."

I shrugged. "She didn't."

Mason slowly nodded. "I noticed that too."

"And today," I continued, remembering the Moon Magic lesson, "everyone laughed when the crystal didn't react."

My jaw tightened slightly.

"She still apologized."

Felix blinked. "You've been paying attention."

"I always pay attention."

"To pretty girls," Mason corrected with a laugh.

"Especially to pretty girls."

The three of them groaned simultaneously.

"You never stop flirting, do you?" Jace asked.

I flashed him another grin. "Life's too short not to flirt."

"You flirt with waitresses," Felix chuckled.

"I appreciate beauty."

"You flirt with librarians."

"They deserve compliments too."

"You flirted with Professor Iris last semester."

I gasped dramatically. "I complimented her handwriting."

"You called it beautiful."

"It was."

The three of them burst into laughter.

Jace rubbed his forehead. "One day, your mouth is going to get you into serious trouble."

I shrugged. "It usually gets me out of trouble."

"Not always."

"No," I admitted with another grin. "Sometimes I have to run first."

We reached the courtyard just as a first-year accidentally collided with my shoulder. Books scattered across the stone path.

The boy immediately looked terrified.

"S-sorry, Alpha Darius," he stammered, kneeling to gather his things.

Instead of getting angry, I crouched beside him and helped pick up the books.

"It happens," I said, handing the last one back to him with a smile.

His eyes widened. "T-thank you."

"Next time," I added playfully, pointing a finger at him, "watch where you're going before someone grumpier than me walks through here."

He nodded so quickly I thought his head might fall off.

The moment he hurried away, Mason smirked. "You pretend to be scary."

"I am scary."

"No."

"I absolutely am."

Felix laughed. "Children aren't afraid of you."

"They should be."

"They ask you for directions."

"That's because I look approachable."

"You look noisy."

I clutched my chest in mock offense. "You people are terrible friends."

"We're honest friends," Jace corrected.

I laughed again.

Maybe they were right. Maybe I wasn't as intimidating as other Alpha heirs.

I never wanted to be.

There were enough cold people inside Nightshade Academy already. Someone had to make people smile, even if they rolled their eyes while doing it.

As we reached the marketplace just outside the Academy gates, something inside one of the display windows caught my attention.

I stopped walking.

"What?" Mason asked.

I ignored him. Inside the small artisan shop sat a silver bracelet. It was simple and elegant. A tiny crescent moon charm hung delicately from its chain, catching the afternoon sunlight.

For some reason, it reminded me of Samantha… not because she liked jewelry.

I had no idea whether she did.

It reminded me of her because it simply felt like her.

"What are you looking at?" Felix asked curiously before following my gaze.

"Oh no," he muttered immediately.

"What?" I asked innocently.

He pointed toward the bracelet. "Don't."

"Why not?," I grinned.

"You've known her for only two days."

"So?"

Mason folded his arms. "You're actually thinking about buying that?"

"I might be."

Jace sighed deeply. "Darius..."

"What?"

"You'll scare her away."

I laughed. "I won't."

"You absolutely will."

Still smiling, I walked into the shop anyway. The elderly shopkeeper greeted me warmly as I picked up the bracelet.

The moon charm shimmered softly beneath the light.

Perfect.

Without giving myself another chance to reconsider, I reached into my wallet.

"I'll take it."

As the shopkeeper carefully wrapped the bracelet inside a small black box tied with a silver ribbon, a slow smile spread across my face.

Tomorrow, I'd find the perfect excuse to give Samantha Carter her very first gift.