Chapter 1: Must have a death wish
RAYE
“Hello, Raye Manchester. You passed the screening test! You're officially a student of Blackthorn university.” I got this message three days ago, and right now, I'm walking through the hallway of Blackthorn university, fingers digging into my bag as nervousness crawls up my spine.
Getting a scholarship into the most prestigious university in the whole city would have ticked the box for any girl—but I'm not any girl. I'm only here for someone, my elder brother, Jace.
For almost a year, I've heard nothing from him. No calls. No texts. Nothing. He’s one of the best bikers in Blackthorn, but he disappeared without a trace.
He just….went for a race and never came back.
In my pack, I'm always viewed as the outcast.
When I clocked sixteen, I was supposed to get my wolf and mate—I got none. My brother kept encouraging me. He gave me books to read, made me learn some fighting skills in the hope that I'll get my wolf soon.
When I clocked eighteen, we really thought I was going to get a wolf—but I f****d up again.
Anyone in my pack would know the cursed girl who didn't get her wolf twice.
Jace never laughed at me, never bullied me, instead he made me understand I can be special with or without a wolf. He's my safe haven, my only family, and I'm definitely going to find him.
The tour guide stops in front of a small door. She points at it, urging me to go in. “You have a roommate,” she says, lowering her voice. “Keep it quiet and stick to the rules.”
I nod, pushing through the door to find my way in.
It's summer, the sun's scorching hot, giving a certain glow to each object out there—but my room’s as dark as the night.
I stand there at the threshold for a second.
Then I hear it—a soft moan, followed by a groan.
I take a step backwards. What in the world is going on? I fumble for my phone in my bag. Pulling it out, I turn on the lights, eager to settle in and hit the bed.
A loud hiss catches my attention. “You have no manners, do you?” A girl stalks towards me, her breast making slight movements as she moves closer.
I turn off the lights quickly. “I'm sorry, I just have to—”
“You're the new roommate, aren't you?” She asks, her voice dripping with curiosity. She smells like sweat, a familiar cologne that Jace’s obsessed with, and…. spice. “I'll take that as a yes,” she says after a frustrating beat of silence.
Suddenly, the lights are turned on.
Tilting my head to the sides, my eyes meet a young man's chilling gaze. A black rose tattoo runs from his forearm, stretching over his taut muscles and hard chest. He's shirtless—he seems used to it, but I'm not. I feel my cheeks heat up as his icy blue eyes burn through my skin.
“Tell the newbie to stop staring,” his deep, throaty voice runs out as he walks out of the room.
Few seconds later, the naked girl standing in front of me lets out a soft sigh. “Is he gone?” She asks me, peeping over my shoulders to confirm her own words.
I swallow a lump.
“Since he is—” her lips curl into a smile as she pulls me into a hug. “You don't know how excited I am to have a roommate!” She squeals, her t**s pressing against my chest.
Uncomfortable, I push her slightly. “Too close.” I cough out.
She apologizes, taking a few steps backwards. “I've always wanted a roommate,” she says, walking towards the bed to grab her shirt, “but I had to act infront of Cassius. He has some kind of hate for soft women.”
That makes me chuckle. I mean, who hates soft women? “Are you sure?” I ask her, “or you just assumed he does?”
My roommate shakes her head dramatically, “oh, I'm sure,”she laughs, revealing a double piercing on her tongue, “Cassius Voss definitely hates soft or weak women. He likes them tough.” she continues, “by the way, what's your name?”
I stretch my hands, beaming with a smile at how welcoming she is. “I'm…uh…Raye. Raye Manchester.”
“I'm Lena,” she winks, pulling my bags from my tight grasp, “and you're coming to the fresh blood's party tonight. An excuse to go this year for me, isn't it?”
My eyes widen. “I…I don't do parties.”
She gives me a glance that makes me want to crawl into a cupboard to hide. “Not when I'm here, sweetie. Now let's get you dolled up.”
~~
Loud bass pulses through my veins as I push through the sea of people. Dressed in some skinny jeans and white tee, I squint my eyes, fixing them on the red head that keeps shaking every guy that comes her way—Lena.
Finally stopping at a particular place, she waves at me, lips pulled in a tight smile. “Raye, over here,” she pushes her weight on a brown couch quickly, swinging a glass filled with some amber liquid towards her mouth.
I stumble forward, running my sweaty fingers over my pants. “Hi,” I force a smile, sitting at least a few meters away from the guys staring at me. “I'm…uh….” I point at Lena, “her roommate.”
“We know,” a girl says with a soft voice, lips tilting into a smirk. She stretches her palm and I take it. “Did she tell you?” She asks, “about the little newbie celebration we have here?”
I shake my head.
Lena places her glass on the table, “she..she isn't that kind of girl.”
“Oh, she's weak?” The girl's still holding my hand, almost like she wants to crush my bones. I pull my hand from her grasp, taking a moment to stare at Lena. “I'm not,” I whisper, “I'm not weak.”
“You heard the girl.”
“Give us some little show then,” someone else says.
Lena shakes her head, biting her pierced lips, “are you sure about this?”
I ignore her. “What do you want me to do?” I ask the girl.
She points at a secluded space, where two slightly identical young men are sitting. I met one of them earlier, in my room, and now he's staring at me like a newfound interest.
“You see that guy over there,” the girl says, “Cassius Voss? Go kiss him.”
My eyes widen.
I turn to stare at Lena, but she's staring at something else, obviously avoiding my gaze.
To survive in the midst of vultures, you need to act like one. That's something Jace always tells me. I can't back down from a little challenge like a kid.
I reach for Lena’s unfinished drink, ignore the burn and swallow the whole thing.
Getting up slowly, I advance towards the supposed Cassius, ignoring the gasps that follow me like a plague. I stand in front of him, swallowing down the lump in my throat and leaning my palm on his thigh.
His lips curl up. He seems to say something, but I can't hear it due to how loud my heartbeat is. Without a word, I lean forward to kiss him.
He leans closer too, his lips brushing mine, and just when his lips part above mine, I lean backwards and place my finger above his lips. “This was easy.” I smirk, turning to stare at Lena and her friends. “Easiest challenge ever, isn't it?”
The whole party's silent.
I have no idea If it's due to the drink I had, but it feels like I just made a terrible mistake.
Cassius grabs my wrist and lets out a low growl. His eyes flash an unnatural color, like his wolf's awakening, his grip almost crushing my bones. “You just made a terrible mistake, newbie.”