Witch in wolf's clothing - Namaari

Chapter 13: University Slut

Sunday passes slow. Tazzym is gone all day, off with another fling. Zyméo and Seraphina are lovey-dovey, their noises filtering through the walls, making it clear they're spending most of their time in the bedroom. Kaynim, on the other hand, seems to be avoiding me. Every time I come into his line of sight, he quickly leaves the room.

By the time Monday morning arrives, I'm relieved to be heading back to the university. I grab my things and walk towards my car, feeling a sense of freedom. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the triplets heading towards their own vehicle. It’s a brand new car, gleaming in the morning light.

I can't help but chuckle to myself, unable to resist, I call out, "New car? What happened to the old one?"

Tazzym, looking frustrated, replies, "Some loser scratched up our car. I still can't believe someone had the guts to mess with the car of their future Alpha’s..."

I have to stifle my laughter. Kaynim's cold gaze turns towards me as he says, "Maybe it was one of Ari's boyfriends."

Zyméo first glares at Kaynim, then looks at me with a mix of confusion and suspicion. "What are you talking about, Ari having multiple lovers? We're not talking about Casanova Tazzym here," he retorts, before turning to me with uncertainty. "Ari?"

I say nothing, just stare back at him. Tazzym, looking utterly shocked, exclaims, "What, are you some kind of slut?"

I bristle at the accusation and fire back, "Look who's talking! You're the biggest hypocrite, Tazzym!"

Our argument escalates quickly, voices rising in anger. Kaynim interrupts, his tone icy. "If you're going to throw yourself at the boys on campus, at least stick to the lower-ranked ones and keep our friends out of your escapades." He smirks and climbs into the car, ready to drive off.

Zyméo pulls a disgusted Tazzym into the car, giving me one last disappointed look before the triplets' car speeds away from the driveway.

I slap my hand against my forehead in exasperation. "Well, I guess I shouldn't expect Tazzym or Zyméo to be friendly to me anymore," I mutter to Zephyr.

Zephyr snickers, "Yeah, you really have a talent for making friends, don't you?"

I roll my eyes and get into the car, starting the engine. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," I say sarcastically, pulling out of the driveway. Zephyr settles into his usual spot, and we head back towards the university, the tension of the morning lingering but slowly dissipating as the familiar sights of the campus come into view.

I spot Ezekiel waiting for me near the entrance to our Resource Management class. He waves and smiles as I approach.

“Hey, Ari! Do you have those notes from last week’s lecture?” he asks, flipping through his notebook.

“Yeah, sure,” I reply, leaning in to scribble a few key points on his page. As I do, I catch a glimpse of Kaynim standing nearby, staring intently at me. Our eyes lock for a moment, and I scowl at him. Kaynim turns away, whispering something to one of his friends, who also glances at me with a smirk.

I feel a wave of discomfort wash over me, but I push it aside as Ezekiel and I head into the classroom. The lesson goes smoothly, and by the end, I’m beginning to relax again. As Ezekiel and I gather our things, Kaynim walks by with a group of classmates.

“Wow, I see you’ve wasted no time throwing yourself at the guys on campus,” Kaynim sneers, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Be careful, Ezekiel. Hang around this Omega too much and you might catch something.”

My mouth falls open in shock. I can’t even find the words to respond. Kaynim continues walking, his friends chuckling as one of them mutters “slut” under his breath while passing me.

Ezekiel looks at me with concern. “Are you okay? I can’t say anything to Kaynim — he’s our Alpha — but that was way out of line. Why is he acting like this?”

I take a deep breath, fighting back the anger and humiliation. “Just let it go, Ezekiel. I’ll see you later.”

I gather my belongings and stride purposefully towards the women’s training room, needing to channel my rage into something physical. Once inside, I drop my bag and start my workout, my movements fueled by the injustice and frustration boiling inside me.

As I practice, I can't shake the feeling of Kaynim's gaze and his cutting words. Each strike, each kick, is an attempt to rid myself of the anger and confusion swirling within. Willow, Ebony, and Kieko enter the women's training room. They notice my intense demeanor and approach cautiously.

"Hey Ari, what's up?" Kieko asks tentatively, eyeing me with concern.

Still muttering under my breath, I vent about the triplets getting on my nerves. "They're so hypocritical. They can devour women left and right, but heaven forbid we women have more than one man."

Willow chuckles lightly. "Are you a man-eater then? I didn't peg you for that, Ari."

I pause my workout for a moment, looking at the girls seriously. "I'm as much a virgin as can be, but that's beside the point."

The girls exchange knowing glances and then join me on the training floor. Ebony admits she's slightly intimidated by anyone who picks a fight with me, admitting she's exhausted from the intense session. She insists she never wants to be on my bad side.

The girls laugh together, and gradually, I find myself able to join in, the tension from earlier dissipating with each shared moment of camaraderie.

Over the next four weeks, I settle into a routine. I attend my classes, quietly study spells in my room, and regularly call my parents and brothers. Nikolaj often inquires about the triplets and how they are treating me, but I always find ways to downplay his concerns or reassure him. I don't want him to worry too much.

During theory classes, Ezekiel becomes my rock. Unfortunately, some people start speculating that there is more between us than just friendship. Meanwhile, rumors spread that I am the "university slut," and occasionally I receive distasteful requests from male students. Thankfully, Ezekiel ensures that I am mostly left alone, and I'm not afraid to put male students in their place myself. But it isn't pleasant.

Fortunately, I have my girlfriends who stand by me through it all. They tell me not to pay attention to the rumors, assuring me that they will blow over. We spend a lot of time together, training hard even in secluded dunes on weekends. I try to avoid the triplets as much as possible, and it seems they don't mind either. Especially when Alpha Mornan is home, I prefer not to be at the packhouse during the weekends.

It's Monday again, and I've decided that we should try to train with the men from now on. Over the past month, the girls have shown that they have fighting talents that definitely rival or even surpass some of the men. The girls are a bit less confident, but they follow me as we make our way to the men's training room.

As we step into the training room, the men, including Tazzym, are already warming up. Some stop and stare at us, while a few whistle.

Trainer Jethro approaches us with irritation, "What are you doing here? You're distracting the men." He suggests we leave. I square my shoulders and tell him firmly, "We're here to train with the men from now on."

Laughter erupts around us. Tazzym chimes in, "Yeah, cheerleading tryouts are next week! Don't forget your short skirts!" His friends give him approving high fives.

I clench my fists in frustration. Just then, Zyméo walks in. Tazzym calls out to him, mocking our intention to train with them. Zyméo glances at us and decides, "Let them if they're so eager."

Trainer Jethro protests, "They're just going to get in the way. This isn't for girls."

Zyméo insists firmly, "They'll see how tough it is. Let's demonstrate our fighting style."

Trainer Jethro directs a student to stand in the center while others form a circle around. I stride confidently into the circle, urging Kieko, Ebony, and Willow to join me, though they seem hesitant.

The student in the center, Alrik, selects a lower-ranked opponent to spar with. They engage in combat, and as expected, Alrik easily defeats his opponent. I can't help but yawn audibly and mutter "boring." The surrounding students look shocked at my comment. Zyméo, however, appears to regard me with what seems like a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Alrik, emboldened by his victory over his lower-ranked opponent, glances at me with a smug expression. His chest puffs out slightly as he directs a derogatory remark towards me, his tone laced with contempt. "Looks like the Omega wants to try her luck now. Probably thinks she can fight as well as she spreads her legs," he sneers, eliciting a few snickers from nearby students.

Tazzym, standing nearby, hears Alrik's comment and his expression darkens. He growls disapprovingly, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the onlookers. "Watch your mouth, Alrik," Tazzym warns, his tone low and threatening.

Alrik, caught off guard by Tazzym's stern rebuke, shifts uncomfortably on his feet. His confidence visibly wavers as Tazzym steps forward, acknowledging the lackluster nature of Alrik's previous fight. "Enough of this," Tazzym declares, his voice carrying authority. "I'll spar with you. Let's see if you're as skilled as you think you are."

Alrik's face pales at the sudden challenge from Tazzym, his bravado evaporating in the face of the Alpha's direct confrontation. He swallows nervously, exchanging a hesitant glance with his friends standing nearby. The tension in the training area mounts as everyone watches to see how Alrik will respond to Tazzym's challenge.