When instinct took over
1688 Words
Chapter 4
Morning settled softly over Brooklyn Hills High School, the cold breeze carrying the usual noise of students flooding through the large campus gates.
Cars pulled in one after another while conversations and laughter echoed across the parking lot. Some students hurried toward the building with coffees in hand while others gathered around the front stairs before classes began.
A black car slowly pulled up near the sidewalk.
Daniel stepped out with his backpack hanging loosely over one shoulder before thanking his father quietly through the window. The car drove off moments later.
The second he turned toward the school building—
“Daniel!”
Daniel looked up instantly.
Brian was jogging toward him from across the parking lot.
And somehow… Daniel smiled immediately.
Brian slowed once he reached him, slightly out of breath though the small smile on his face made it obvious he didn’t care.
“Hey,” Daniel greeted softly.
“Hey.”
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Brian reached for the backpack hanging off Daniel’s shoulder naturally.
“Here.”
Daniel blinked. “I can carry it.”
“I know,” Brian replied calmly while pulling it onto his own shoulder anyway.
Daniel laughed quietly.
“You always this controlling?”
Brian smirked faintly. “Only a little.”
Both of them started walking toward the building together, their conversation flowing easily despite how little they actually knew each other.
“So,” Brian spoke after a moment, “nobody threw your shoes on the lockers today?”
Daniel groaned immediately. “Please don’t remind me.”
Brian laughed softly under his breath.
Daniel glanced at him briefly before speaking again.
“You seem different today.”
Brian frowned slightly. “Different how?”
“I don’t know,” Daniel admitted. “Less tense.”
For the smallest second, Brian’s expression shifted.
Because if Daniel knew what his morning had actually looked like— elders, meetings, security patrols, his father’s silence—
he probably wouldn’t be saying that.
But somehow standing beside Daniel made everything feel quieter.
“I guess I’m just in a good mood,” Brian answered lightly.
Daniel smiled again.
Behind them, another car slowly pulled into the parking area.
Jasmine stepped out gracefully before lifting her eyes toward the school entrance.
Then she froze.
Her gaze landed directly on Brian.
Not unusual.
What was unusual…
was the boy walking beside him.
Jasmine frowned faintly.
Brian was smiling.
Not the polite controlled smile he used around elders and ceremonies.
This one looked real.
Her eyes slowly followed the way he casually carried Daniel’s backpack while both of them talked like they’d known each other forever.
Something about it immediately unsettled her.
“Who is that…?” she murmured quietly.
And for the first time since the ceremony—
Jasmine felt jealousy twist sharply inside her chest.
—
Miles away from Brooklyn Hills High School, tension lingered heavily inside the royal palace of the Blood Moon Pack.
The Alpha King paced restlessly across his chamber, frustration written all over his face while Luna Evelyn watched quietly from the edge of the bed.
Ever since the attack on the council chamber, he hadn’t rested properly once.
“You’re overworking yourself again,” Evelyn said softly.
“This is beyond stress, Evelyn.”
His voice sounded rough.
“Something is wrong with Brian.”
Evelyn’s expression softened slightly. “He’s confused.”
“Confused?” the Alpha King snapped before turning toward her. “A future Alpha rejecting his Luna in front of the council is not confusion.”
The room fell silent again.
“The neighboring packs are already watching us,” he continued angrily. “And now rogues attack our territory during a council gathering? Do you realize what that means?”
“We survived it,” Evelyn answered calmly.
“For now.”
His jaw tightened sharply.
“The ceremony was supposed to secure this pack’s future. The elders want answers. The Moon Goddess grows impatient.”
Evelyn slowly walked closer.
“Then give him time.”
The Alpha King laughed bitterly.
“Time?” he repeated. “We don’t have time anymore.”
He turned away again, tension visible across his shoulders.
“Every day Brian delays this bond, the stability of this pack weakens further.”
Evelyn studied him silently before speaking again.
“You’re afraid.”
The Alpha King didn’t answer immediately.
Because she was right.
“The rogues knew exactly when to strike,” he admitted quietly. “That wasn’t random.”
Silence settled heavily between them.
“And if Brian keeps resisting this bond…” he murmured darkly, “we may lose far more than the ceremony itself.”
—
The cafeteria had grown quieter by the time evening settled over Brooklyn Hills High School.
Most students had already gone home, leaving only a few scattered conversations around the nearly empty room while rain tapped lightly against the glass windows.
Daniel sat across from Brian with a tray of untouched fries in front of him.
“You’ve been staring at that fry for like two minutes now,” Daniel pointed out with amusement.
Brian blinked before looking down.
“I’m thinking.”
“That serious?”
Brian smirked faintly. “Maybe.”
Daniel laughed softly before leaning back in his chair.
Neither of them seemed eager to leave.
“You know,” Daniel started casually, “you’re not as intimidating as everybody says.”
Brian raised a brow. “Oh really?”
“Yeah.” Daniel nodded dramatically. “You actually smile sometimes.”
Brian laughed quietly.
“Careful. You’re ruining my reputation.”
Daniel grinned.
And for a moment, everything around Brian felt easy again.
No pressure. No expectations.
Just Daniel.
Then—
“Brian?”
Both boys looked up instantly.
Jasmine stood a few steps away from the table.
Brian stiffened immediately.
What is she doing here?
His eyes flickered briefly toward Daniel before returning to her.
Jasmine noticed.
And somehow… that bothered her more than it should have.
“Hey,” she greeted calmly while looking directly at Daniel.
Daniel smiled politely. “Hi.”
Jasmine stepped closer slowly.
“And who’s this?”
Before Brian could answer—
“I’m Daniel,” he replied kindly. “Brian’s friend.”
Something about that word tightened inside Brian’s chest.
“Jasmine,” she replied smoothly. “Brian’s girlfriend.”
Silence.
Brief. Sharp.
Daniel’s smile faltered slightly before returning.
“Oh. Nice meeting you.”
“You too,” Jasmine answered sweetly before sliding into the seat beside Brian.
Close enough for her shoulder to brush lightly against his arm.
Brian immediately tensed.
Daniel noticed.
“So,” Jasmine continued casually, “Brian never mentioned he made a new friend.”
“Jasmine,” Brian warned quietly.
But she ignored him.
“That’s surprising honestly. Brian usually keeps to himself.”
Daniel laughed awkwardly. “Guess I got lucky then.”
Jasmine smiled.
But something cold sat behind it.
Brian suddenly stood.
“Excuse us for a second.”
Before Jasmine could react, Brian lightly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the far corner of the cafeteria.
The second they stopped walking, Jasmine pulled her hand away.
“What was that?” Brian asked under his breath.
“What was what?”
“You told him you were my girlfriend.”
Her expression hardened slightly.
“And is there something wrong with that?”
“Yes.”
The answer came too quickly.
Jasmine stared at him in disbelief.
“We are literally bound to each other,” she whispered sharply. “You are my future Alpha.”
“We are not together.”
The words landed colder than Brian intended.
Jasmine’s face shifted immediately.
“Not together?” she repeated quietly.
Brian dragged a hand through his hair tiredly.
“Jasmine—”
“No.” She shook her head quickly. “Tell me what this really is.”
Brian frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Her eyes narrowed toward Daniel.
“You’ve been acting different ever since he appeared.”
Brian’s chest tightened instantly.
“You’re overthinking this.”
“Am I?”
Neither of them spoke for a second.
Then Jasmine stepped closer.
“You pull away from me like I’m nothing,” she whispered, “yet you look at him like—”
“Stop.”
Brian’s voice came out firmer this time.
Jasmine fell silent immediately.
The tension between them thickened heavily.
Then finally—
“I should go,” Brian muttered before turning away from her completely.
Daniel looked up once Brian returned to the table.
“You okay?”
Brian forced a small nod.
“Yeah.”
“My dad’s still running late,” Daniel said after checking his phone.
Brian glanced toward the dark windows outside.
“I’ll walk you home.”
Daniel blinked. “You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
“But it’s getting dark.”
Brian grabbed his jacket already.
“That’s exactly why.”
Daniel stared at him for a second before laughing softly.
“You’re weirdly protective.”
Brian smirked slightly.
“Come on.”
The streets were quieter now as both boys walked side by side beneath the dim streetlights.
Cold evening air moved softly through the empty sidewalks while distant headlights passed occasionally across the road.
For once, neither of them rushed the silence.
“You and Jasmine looked serious back there,” Daniel said carefully.
Brian’s jaw tightened faintly.
“It’s complicated.”
“Girlfriend problems?”
Brian looked away briefly.
“Something like that.”
Daniel didn’t ask further.
But the heaviness in Brian’s voice lingered in his mind.
As they turned into another quiet street, Daniel suddenly hissed softly.
“Ouch—”
Brian stopped immediately.
Daniel frowned down at his hand.
A sharp edge from the broken fence had sliced across his finger.
Blood surfaced instantly.
Brian staggered back suddenly like something hit him.
His breathing turned uneven as he grabbed his head sharply.
Then his eyes flashed gold beneath the streetlight.
Daniel froze.
“Brian…?”
- Writer
