💘 HIS RELUCTANT MATE 💘 (Hate To Love You)

Newest piece

CHAPTER FIVE >>>

_JAYDEN’S POV_

RIZZ HOSTEL – 7 PM

Nighttime at the hostel was the wildest time of day—especially for the upperclassmen.

Freshmen? They were advised to stay in once the sun went down. For good reason. The senior students were, quite literally, wild animals.

Music blasted through the halls from oversized speakers. Bodies danced and ground against each other. Shouts, laughter, and the scent of weed filled the air.

Alcohol flowed like water. Some students were making out in full view, with zero shame. Some girls were on their knees, mouths busy. Some guys had their heads between thighs, feasting without care.

Total chaos.

And yet, I walked through it all like a shadow—calm, cold, and completely uninterested.

I was still pissed. Still boiling inside.

Since the incident with that little spitfire, something had been gnawing at me—a sense of familiarity. Like I’d seen her before. And it wouldn’t leave me alone. It kept poking at my mind, demanding answers.

So I decided to find out.

I stormed into the housing office. The man in charge was already packing up to leave.

“Get me the list of freshmen who rented rooms this semester,” I ordered flatly.

He paused, clearly uncomfortable, but one looked at me, and he obeyed. He powered up his laptop.

I didn’t wait.

I snatched it from him and scrolled through the list myself, eyes scanning the attached ID photos one by one.

“Is there a problem, sir?” the man asked, voice laced with nervousness.

I ignored him, too focused.

Then I found it.

Jarvis Dobrev.

Her face stared back at me, confident even in a static photo.

A slow, dark smile crept onto my lips.

“She.....she applied last week,” the man said, watching me carefully. “But she hasn’t been officially admitted yet. I was about to cancel her form—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off.

He hesitated, but just then, his phone rang. He picked it up.

“Hello?”

A familiar voice came through the speaker. “Hi, this is Jarvis. I hope my room is still intact. I’m finally resuming tomorrow.”

My smile widened.

“Really? Uh, sure… You’re welcome,” the man replied, casting a quick glance at me before ending the call.

Our eyes met, and I patted his shoulder lightly, still smiling.

“Well done.”

Then I turned and walked away—my mind was already spinning with plans.

The next day, just before dusk, I went to the rooftop of a neighbouring hostel—one with a perfect view of Rizz.

I needed to be sure she hadn’t chickened out. That she hadn't backed out of coming.

A cigarette dangled lazily from my fingers, smoke curling upward and dancing with the wind. The sun dipped low behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the campus.

I leaned against the railing, eyes scanning the students trickling into the hostel. Some walked in groups, laughing. Others looked lost. But I was watching for one face—her face.

Jarvis Dobrev.

The name echoed through my head like a haunting melody—soft at first, but growing louder every time I tried to shake it off.

She was bold. Reckless. Disrespectful. And yet... there was something about her.

She was starting to get under my skin.

Then I saw her.

She and her friend had just arrived, dragging their bags behind them as they waved goodbye to their relatives. Their laughter drifted upward, carefree and unbothered—as if the world hadn’t shifted on its axis the moment she crossed me.

I watched from above, a devilish grin creeping onto my face.

They were heading to the room assigned to Scarlett. That much I knew.

Perfect.

I could already see the cracks forming—because I was going to be the one to break her.

This was going to be fun.

Clara stood next to me, arms crossed, tracking my gaze.

“Who are they?” she asked, eyes narrowing when she spotted the girls below.

I didn’t answer. Didn’t need to.

I took another long drag from the cigarette, letting the smoke escape my lips like a warning.

“I asked you a question,” she pressed, her tone edging on annoyance.

I finally glanced at her—cool, emotionless—then turned and disappeared into the shadows.

She didn’t follow. She wouldn’t dare.

Clara may act tough, but she knew better than to press me when I was like this.

I descended the stairs slowly, each step deliberate.

This wasn’t over.

It was just the beginning.

And things were about to get very interesting.

I lit another cigarette the moment I stepped outside the building. The nicotine did nothing to calm the storm in my chest, but the burn in my throat distracted me enough.

Jarvis Dobrev.

Even just thinking her name irritated me. Not because I feared her. No. I didn’t fear anyone. But because… I couldn’t get her out of my damn head.

The way she looked at me—like she wasn’t afraid. Like I wasn’t a big deal.

I was a big deal.

Future Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. Feared by half the campus. Worshipped by the other half. And this girl… this freshman, who barely reached my shoulders, spat on my face and walked away like she owned the world.

The audacity.

I exhaled smoke through gritted teeth, my jaw tight as I leaned back against the cool brick wall. From where I stood, I could see the entrance of their hostel building clearly. I didn’t know what I was waiting for—maybe another glimpse of her, maybe an opportunity.

All I knew was, I wasn’t done with her.

Not even close.

I pushed off the wall and started walking, cigarette still between my lips. The night air was loud—music, laughter, cheap perfume, sweat, s*x—but it all blurred together, muted compared to the thrum of thoughts running through my head.

I needed a plan. Not just some petty payback. No, it had to be slow. Psychological. Something that would shake her—crack that smart mouth and those bold eyes until she realized who she’d messed with.

Until she regretted ever crossing Jayden Braun.

A voice called out from behind me. "Yo, Wolfie!"

Craig.

I didn’t stop walking. “What?”

“Gabby’s hosting a poker night. You in?”

I didn’t even look at him. “Not tonight.”

“Damn. What’s gotten into you lately?”

What got into me? A girl with fire in her eyes and spit on her tongue.

“She pissed me off,” I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.

Craig blinked. “Who?”

But I was already walking away, disappearing into the shadows again—where I did my best work.

I had a new game to play.

And Jarvis Dobrev?

She was my newest piece.