BOY BY DAY, THE ALPHA’S MATE BY NIGHT

CHAPTER 4

SAGE POV.

I stood near the cafeteria entrance, holding my food tray while scanning the place. Every table was filled except for Roman’s.

He sat alone at the far end of the hall, casually twirling a knife between his fingers as he glared at me. It was as if he was making it clear that no one was welcome to sit beside him.

But I wasn’t stupid enough to want to sit with him—not after he threw me out of our room, and definitely not after the way he had been watching me since I walked in.

I swallowed hard, shifting my tray. s**t. Where do I sit?

Then, out of nowhere, someone called out.

“Oi! New kid!”

I turned toward the direction of the sound to see a blond boy waving at me.

He scooted closer to his friend, tapping the empty space on the bench between them. “C’mon, before you embarrass yourself standing there.”

I hesitated for half a second before heading toward them.

“Thanks,” I muttered, sliding onto the bench.

The moment I sat down, their scents hit me. Alphas. Both of them.

The blond one rested his elbows on the table, still grinning. “Henry,” he introduced himself. “And this serious-looking one is Kai.” He said, pointing toward his quiet friend with brown hair.

Kai nodded slightly, observing me.

I nodded back. “Sage.”

Henry rested his chin on his palm. “You must be one of the new recruits.”

I took a bite of my food before answering. “Yeah.”

He tilted his head. “ Figured. Don’t recognize your face.”

“Who’s your father?” Kai asked.

I stiffened just a little. I should have expected that question. Here, lineage meant everything.

I swallowed. “Bernard. My father was a retired warrior.”

Kai’s brows lifted slightly. “Was?”

I nodded. As far as I was concerned, my father was dead to me.

Kai didn’t push, but he didn’t look away, like he was studying me, trying to fit the pieces together.

“Did he train you?” he asked after a while.

I shrugged, keeping my face neutral. “A little.”

Kai hummed, but the way his eyes lingered made me think he didn’t believe me.

Henry suddenly grabbed my hand. “Damn,” he muttered, turning it over. His thumb ran over my palm, and I had to fight the instinct to yank it back.

“Your hands are soft as hell. Like, softer than a girl’s.”

I scowled, jerking my hand away. “Shut up.”

He laughed. “Nah, I’m serious. Have you ever lifted a single weight in your life?”

I straightened my shoulders. “I train.”

Henry snorted. “Yeah? With what? Feathers?”

Kai sighed beside him, but I could see the hint of amusement in his expression.

I deepened my voice, frowning. “I don’t look anything like a girl.”

Henry just grinned wider. “That is a compliment, pretty boy.”

I froze.

Henry slung an arm over my shoulder like we were old friends. “That’s actually why I called you over. You are gonna be useful.”

I stared at him. “For what, exactly?”

He leaned in, smirking. “Have you ever been to a courtesan house, Sage?”

I nearly choked on my drink. “What?”

Henry grinned. “I mean, look at you. That face? It’s a gift. If we stick together, the ladies will be all over us. More women, more drinks—hell, we will have the best nights of our lives.”

Kai finally cut in. “Henry.”

Henry groaned. “What? It’s true.”

Kai ignored him and turned to me instead. “Don’t let it get to you. There were plenty of weaker Alphas who came here before you. Now, they are just as strong.”

But I knew he was only saying it to make me feel better.

Henry let out a low whistle. “Easy there, lad. You will choke at that rate.”

I paused mid-bite, cheeks stuffed, and swallowed quickly. “Sorry,” I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed.

I hadn’t meant to eat so fast, but I could not help it. It had been so long since I had a proper meal. At home, I only ate whatever scraps were left after my stepmother and her children had their fill. And most nights, that meant going to bed hungry.

I had just picked up another piece of bread when Kai leaned forward. “Why does Alpha Roman keep looking this way?”

I froze for a minute before taking another bite. “Huh?”

Henry turned to glance in Roman’s direction, then grinned. “Yeah, he’s been staring this whole time.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Did you do something to piss him off?”

I sighed, setting my fork down. “I guess? I was supposed to be his roommate, but he threw me out.”

Kai didn’t even look surprised. “Sounds like him.”

Henry smirked. “The great Alpha Roman, a lone wolf in every sense.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “I used to admire him. The stories, the tales of his strength… But now?” I lowered my voice so he wouldn't hear me. “He is nothing but an arrogant brute.”

Both of them burst out laughing.

I smirked a little before shoving another bite of food into my mouth. “Anyway,” I mumbled between chews. “I don’t have anywhere to sleep. Mind if I stay in your room?”

Henry scratched the back of his head. “Not gonna lie, our room is already tight. Barely any space for another person.”

“But,” he continued. “ We have extra mattresses. You can stay if you don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”

I brightened immediately. “That’s fine with me.”

But before I could finish my next bite, the loud scrape of a chair against the stoned floor made my stomach drop.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Roman stood up from his table and walked towards our table while maintaining eye contact with me.

He stopped in front of me, towering over where I sat. “You are not sleeping with them.”

My throat dried up.

I hadn't noticed how intoxicating his scent was earlier; maybe I was disoriented then. But now, with him so close, I could smell everything—his fragrance was rich with sandalwood and another note I couldn't quite describe. It created an overwhelming urge in me to bury my face in his chest and inhale more of his scent.

He reached down and grabbed my wrist firmly. “You stay with me.”

I blinked, taken aback. “What?”

Roman turned to face me, his grip on my wrist tightening slightly. “The room is already overcrowded,” he said. “You stay with me.”

Something in the way he said those words stirred up my wolf and in the same breath, I realised why I had this unbearable attraction towards him.

Alpha Roman was my just my new roommate

But he was also my fated mate.