A Room With The Enemy
1267 Words
Ash's POV
I dragged myself back to the dorm long after midnight, every step a dull throb in my ribs. The wrap Rowan had given me was soaked through, but the bleeding had finally slowed and stopped, even. A miracle, really. Most wolves would’ve been down for days after a beating like that, especially without silver in the mix to explain the excessive blood loss. My body clung to life like it was terrified of letting go.
I slipped through the side entrance, hood up, praying no one would notice the limp or the metallic scent clinging to me. The halls were quiet, mercifully. I made it to my single room…rogues didn’t get roommates, and collapsed onto the bed without bothering to turn on the light.
Rowan Dreager. Of course I knew it was him. I just knew.
Of all the wolves in this goddess-forsaken academy, why him?
The one whose father had stood beside mine, laughing, calling him brother, right up until the night he drove the blade into my father’s heart.
The Draeger alpha had led the charge on the blood red moon, torch in one hand, betrayal in the other. And now his son wandered the forest like some dark god, handing out bandages to the very bloodline he was born to erase.
I pressed my face into the pillow and laughed, quietly, more like hysterical. The sound muffled against the fabric.
He was beautiful. Devastatingly, infuriatingly beautiful. Tall enough that I’d had to tip my head back to meet his eyes. Shoulders broad enough to block out the moonlight.
That voice…low, rough, husky like he just woke from sleep…had slid over my skin and made me want to sit up and pant like an i***t. Sinful. That was the word. I wanted to slit his throat just so I wouldn’t have to hear it again.
What a waste it would be.
Killing someone that fine.
Dale had pretty eyes, soft smiles, gentle hands. Rowan was something else entirely.
Raw power carved into muscle and shadow. He made me feel small. Feminine. Fragile in a way that terrified me. I hated him for it. I hated that my pulse had stuttered when our fingers brushed.
I hated that I’d noticed the way his shirt clung to his chest after training.
Maybe Silverbornes could only be loved by their own kind.
And since I was the last… well. Options were slim.
I fell asleep still tasting blood and forest air, dreaming of dark eyes watching me through the trees.
A lot was going on when morning Came.
I was halfway through pulling on a clean hoodie, wincing as the fabric scraped over fresh scabs…when the alarms started.
Definitely not a morning bell.
It was the emergency siren: three long wails that rattled the windows and sent every wolf in the building bolting upright.
I yanked the door open just as wolves poured into the hall, shouting, shoving, half-dressed.
“What the hell—?”
“Gas leak!”
“No…it's an explosion!”
“East wing’s on fire!”
The rumors collided like panicked bodies. I pushed against the tide toward the common area, where the dorm supervisor, an older beta named Mara—was standing on a table, arms raised, trying to shout over the noise.
“Everyone calm down! Listen!”
No one listened.
Then the sprinklers kicked on.
Ice-cold water blasted from the ceilings, soaking us in seconds. Screams erupted. Someone slipped and crashed into a group of teachers. Bags flew. A third-year alpha roared and punched the wall in frustration, cracking plaster.
What kind of hormones were Werewolf heirs built with? What's with the display.
I stood frozen, water streaming down my face, as Mara finally bellowed loud enough to cut through.
“The east dormitory wing has been compromised! A ruptured gas line in the basement caused a small explosion, nobody was hurt, thank the Goddess—but the entire building is unsafe until inspections are complete. The academy has declared an emergency rehousing!”
Groans and curses rippled through the drenched crowd.
“Room assignments will be posted in the main hall within the hour. Note that it will be randomly assigned, there's no time to pair you up with your bff's!”
Randomly assigned.
My stomach dropped.
I trailed the soggy herd toward the main academy building, hoodie clinging cold and heavy. The great hall was already packed, hundreds of wolves milling, dripping, arguing. Giant screens had been rolled out, scrolling new room pairings in glowing white text.
I scanned for my name.
Rivers, Ash.
My eyes moved across the line.
Paired with…
The world narrowed to a single name.
Dreager, Rowan.
Suite 412. North Tower.
A collective gasp went up around me as others noticed impossible pairings—enemies, besties, rival pack heirs forced together. Someone started crying. Two alphas in the corner looked ready to shift and fight right there.
But me?
I couldn’t breathe.
Rowan Dreager.
The boy I was supposed to kill. Not the only one but…
THE BOY.
The boy who’d found me bleeding in the forest and hadn’t turned me in.
The boy whose voice still echoed under my skin.
I turned slowly, water dripping from my hair, and there he was—across the hall, leaning against a pillar like the chaos didn’t touch him. Black hoodie darkened with water, arms crossed, expression carved from stone.
His eyes found mine instantly, like he'd been waiting for me to catch his eyes.
He didn’t move, just stared back.
Like he’d known.
A slow, dangerous smile curved his mouth—barely there, gone in a second. But I saw it.
My heart thumped loudly in my chest. How randomly fated was this?
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to launch myself across the room and claw that smug look off his perfect face.
Instead, I stood frozen as the crowd pushed around us, voices rising in outrage and disbelief.
Mara’s voice crackled over the speakers again. “Assignments are final! No requests for changes will be considered! Report to your new suites immediately for safety checks!”
Someone shoved past me, muttering, “This is a nightmare.”
Yeah.
Nightmare didn’t begin to cover it.
Rowan pushed off the pillar and started walking, straight toward me.
The crowd parted without him asking, some authority he held here.
He stopped a foot away, towering, water still beading on his lashes. Up close, he smelled like rain and pine and something darker—power barely leashed.
His voice was quiet, meant only for me.
“Looks like we’re roommates, Rivers.”
I lifted my chin, forcing my voice steady even as my heart slammed against my ribs.
“Looks like.”
He tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he intended to solve.
“Try not to bleed on the furniture.”
My mouth went dry.
“If there's blood it definitely won't be mine.”
And now we were locked together.
His eyes darkened, something hot and dangerous flashing through them. “I'm serious, I can't have a Were who gets beaten up as a roommate.”
“I won't bleed.” I said meaning it…if I did…who knew what would happen?
“Promises, promises,” he murmured.
Then he brushed past me, shoulder grazing mine, and walked toward the north tower like he owned the world.
I stood there long after he disappeared, water dripping, pulse roaring in my ears.
This wasn’t a room assignment.
This was war.
And the Goddess help me…
I couldn’t wait to fight it.
- Writer
