The Chronicles Of Willow High

CHAPTER THREE

***Adriel***

“Where were you last night?” My father’s voice thundered, bouncing off the walls like a whip. His eyes locked on me with that disappointed glare I knew too well. “You’re the son of an Alpha. You’re not supposed to be found wanting in the pack!” His words slammed down harder with every syllable, cutting into me like claws.

“I’m sorry, Dad, I… I just needed time alone.” The lie burned in my throat as it came out. I hated lying to him, but what else could I say? That I was the monster everyone whispered about in the dark? That the thing attacking nearby packs wasn’t a stranger, but his own son? No. If he ever found out about my curse—if he knew what I really was—it would break him. Maybe even kill him inside.

He stared at me for a long moment, jaw clenched tight, breathing sharp through his nose. “School resumes next week. You’d better get your s**t together.” The words came out low, like thunder right before a storm. Then he turned and stormed out, the door shaking behind him as it slammed shut.

Silence pressed against me after he left. The tension, the guilt, the weight of everything—it all came crashing down at once. I let out a frustrated grunt and dropped onto the couch, elbows digging into my knees. My hands trembled as I buried my face in them. The pressure of being an Alpha’s son was already suffocating, but hiding my secret made it unbearable. Every day felt like carrying a ticking bomb inside my chest.

The beast in me stirred sometimes—at night, in dreams, or when my anger got too sharp. And every time, I feared losing control again.

The door creaked open without warning. “And what’s my big boy doing all depressed on the ground?”

Gustavo’s voice cut through the silence, playful and loud as always. He didn’t even knock. He just strolled in, grinning like the i***t he was, hands shoved in his pockets. Reading the room? Never his strength.

“...Nothing,” I muttered, trying to straighten up. I tilted my head so he couldn’t see the shine of moisture in my eyes. “Just tired.”

He raised a brow, squinting at me like he didn’t buy it, but didn’t push either. “You know, there’s this crazy hybrid that’s been attacking nearby packs, right?”

My body went rigid. The words hit me like a punch to the ribs. My chest tightened, heartbeat pounding loud in my ears. I forced myself to breathe evenly, to not react, but inside, every nerve screamed.

He couldn’t know. He couldn’t.

Because that hybrid—was me.

No one else could ever find out. If they did, if the pack learned that the Alpha’s heir was a cursed hybrid—a half-breed abomination—they’d tear me apart before I could explain. I wasn’t supposed to exist. My father’s whole legacy would crumble.

“I’m sure he’ll be caught,” I said quickly, forcing a grin that felt painfully fake. My voice cracked slightly, but Gustavo didn’t notice. He never did. He laughed and started pacing the room like the gossip excited him. I just wanted the conversation to end, to breathe again.

“That reminds me,” he said suddenly, smirking. “You should definitely get a girl this year. It’s your last in school, man.”

I blinked. “A girl?”

He nodded seriously, the corner of his mouth twitching up. “Yeah, dude. You’ve been acting like a monk. You can’t graduate all broody and single. You gotta loosen up.”

I let out a dry laugh despite myself. He was ridiculous. “Sure… I will,” I muttered, smacking my palm softly against my face. Somehow, even when I wanted to sink into despair, Gustavo always managed to pull me out of it. Without realizing it, he reminded me what normal felt like.

When school finally resumed, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—relief. Not joy, not excitement, but a strange kind of freedom. Leaving the pack grounds meant leaving the tension, the rules, and my father’s shadow behind.

The morning air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of oak and damp soil. The whole campus buzzed with noise—students laughing, calling out, slamming lockers, comparing summer stories. The chaos should’ve been overwhelming, but for me, it was grounding. It reminded me that I could still blend in, pretend, breathe.

For once, I could be Adriel the student, not Adriel the cursed heir.

I pushed through the crowd, brushing shoulders with people I barely remembered. Laughter echoed around me, and sunlight spilled through the trees like molten gold. For a brief second, I felt almost… normal.

I was just about to slip into a quiet hallway to avoid the noise when a hand grabbed my arm.

“Hey.”

I turned, and there she was—Emily. Her dark curls framed her face perfectly, and her smile was blinding. She looked effortlessly perfect, like she had stepped out of some teenage movie.

“Hi… good to see you,” I said, forcing a small smile. My voice felt awkward, like it didn’t belong to me. I didn’t want to be rude, but something about her always made me want to retreat. Emily had been chasing me for months—subtle at first, then bold. I didn’t feel what she wanted me to feel, but I couldn’t get her to stop trying.

She stepped closer, her perfume hitting me—a blend of vanilla and something sharper, maybe cedarwood. It wrapped around me before I could step back. Her hand brushed my shoulder gently, deliberate. Then her lips curved, and she whispered, “I’ll be sure to get you.”

Cold prickles ran down my neck. My body froze. The way she said it wasn’t playful—it was a promise.

And then, just as easily, she let go and walked away, hips swaying, leaving me standing there speechless.

“Guess you’re finally going to get laid,” Gustavo’s voice boomed from behind, slapping me on the back. I jumped, nearly swearing. His laughter filled the hallway.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips. “If only you knew, man,” I thought. “If only you knew what I’m really running from.”

I stuffed my shaky hands into my pockets, forcing a calm exhale. Just another normal day, right?

“Are you guys having a party without me?” David’s voice rang out as he appeared from the hallway, smirking. His energy was different—smoother, darker. Being a vampire, he always had that quiet confidence that pulled attention.

“Nah, man, we were just getting started,” I said, bumping his shoulder as he joined us. The three of us fell into easy banter, heading toward the cafeteria.

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter. The smell of food and coffee clung to the air, and sunlight spilled through wide windows, catching in people’s hair and laughter. For a moment, it felt like life had hit pause on my problems.

That’s when it happened.

A sudden jolt at my side—something soft collided with me. I looked down just in time to see a girl stumble, her bag hitting the floor, books scattering in every direction.

“Watch it!” Gustavo snapped, annoyed and irritated, I could only step in and calm the situation the best way I could.

Time seemed to slow.

She dropped to her knees to gather her things, and when I crouched to help her, our hands brushed. I froze.

Her fingers were cold—almost too cold—but her touch sent an electric pulse through me. When I looked up, my breath caught. Her eyes… they were unlike anything I’d ever seen. Not just beautiful—haunting. A shade of storm-gray with tiny flecks of gold swirling in them, like sunlight breaking through clouds.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The noise of the cafeteria faded, leaving only the sound of my heartbeat in my ears.

“I’m— I’m so sorry,” she stammered softly, gathering her papers. Her voice was melodic, fragile but certain.

“It’s fine,” I managed, though my throat felt dry. I helped her stack the books, our fingers brushing again. Something deep inside me stirred—an unfamiliar pull. My wolf stirred too, restless beneath my skin, recognizing something my mind couldn’t name.

When she finally looked at me again, there was something in her gaze—confusion, curiosity, maybe even recognition. Then, without another word, she nodded, muttered a quiet “thank you,” and disappeared into the crowd.

I stayed there, crouched, staring after her long after she was gone.

Back in my dorm room that night, I couldn’t get her out of my head. No matter how hard I tried, her eyes followed me, vivid as lightning behind closed lids.

Every time I blinked, I saw them—her beautiful figure. There was a pull, something magnetic and divine, humming just under my skin. It wasn’t like anything I’d felt before. Not attraction. Not l**t. Something deeper. Something different.

I leaned against the window, staring out at the forest line beyond the school. The moon hung low and heavy, painting silver over everything.

The wind rustled the trees like whispers. My reflection in the glass looked half-human, half-shadow, and for the first time in a long time… I didn’t feel completely alone.

Somehow, I knew that girl wasn’t just anyone. She was connected to me—to him—to the beast that lived inside me.

Destiny, maybe. Or something darker.

Either way, I could feel it.

Something had just changed—and there was no going back.