Chapter 3 Chapter 3
The Breaking Point
Ansel’s POV
If I had to spend one more hour looking at Kendric’s smug face, I was going to lose my mind. But the universe wasn’t done messing with me. To promote "athletic synergy," the administration had scheduled a cross-training wrestling session.
The wrestling room was a humid hellscape. It smelled of rubber mats and the thick, suffocating pheromones of fifty Alphas trying to prove who was the biggest dog in the yard.
"Captains on the center mat!" the coach barked.
I stepped forward, trying to keep my expression like stone. Kendric was already there, snapping his head side to side to stretch his neck. He looked bigger in a singlet—all broad shoulders and thick thighs. Why did I have to go head on with an Alpha, a dominant one at that?
"Don't worry, Princess," Kendric leaned in, his voice mocking. "I'll try not to bruise that pretty face."
"Worry about your own ego, Zillman," I shot back. "It’s a lot harder to move me when you don’t have a ball to hide behind."
The whistle blew.
Immediately, Kendric lunged. I was fast, but he was clearly physically stronger than me. He grabbed my waist, the heat of his hands seeping through my thin gear.
Oh boy…
I gasped, twisting my body to break his grip, but he was relentless. We went down hard, the air leaving my lungs as his weight pinned me to the mat.
The physical closeness was agonizing. My heart was racing—not just from the exertion, but from the sheer amount of pheromones radiating off him.
And there again was my wolf, clawing at my skin, his persistence causing me to whimper slightly.
Why couldn't Alphas keep their pheromones in check? This was so annoying, especially since I was beginning to get more sensitive to his pheromones.
As we grappled on the floor, our limbs tangled, the friction of our bodies generating a heat that made my head swim, my wolf's clawing intensified, his growl louder.
I struggled to flip him, my sweat mixing with his.
What if he could hear him from all that growl… he was a dominant alpha after all.
That was the danger zone. Sweat carried a provocative scent.
Kendric suddenly went still. He didn't let go; instead, he surged forward, his chest crushing into mine. He hooked his chin over my shoulder, his face pressing right against the crook of my neck—right where my scent gland was working overtime.
I felt his nose brush against my skin. A shiver that had nothing to do with fear raced down my spine.
"Zillman, get off," I hissed, pushing against his shoulders.
He didn't move. He took a deep, slow breath, and I felt his entire body stiffen. The aggressive, competitive edge in his scent shifted.
"Ansel ," he whispered, his voice vibrating against my ear.
"I said move!" I grunted, my voice cracking.
He pulled back just an inch, his hazel eyes searching mine with a terrifying intensity. He looked confused, his pupils blown wide. He leaned back in, his mouth hovering just an inch from my ear.
"Did you change your perfume?" he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. "You smell rather odd today... nearly like an Omega."
The heart stopped. My blood turned to ice even as my face flamed. But my wolf wouldn't just give it a rest.
"You’re delusional," I choked out, finding a burst of panicked strength. I shoved him off and scrambled to my feet, my chest heaving.
The coach blew the whistle, ending the round, but Kendric stayed on the mat, watching me with a look that said he was sure of what he'd smelt. My hands were trembling as I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
He knew. Or he was close to knowing.
I didn't wait for the coach to dismiss us. I turned and bolted for the locker room, my only thought being the amber vials hidden in my bathroom. I needed another dose.
But as I reached my locker, my phone began to vibrate violently in my bag. I pulled it out, seeing a dozen missed calls from my sister and an emergency notification from the family firm.
URGENT: IMMEDIATE RECALL OF BLOCKER-X BATCH #402. DISCONTINUE USE IMMEDIATELY. SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE SEVERE HEART ARRHYTHMIA.
I leaned against the cold metal lockers, the phone slipping from my numb fingers. My supply. My entire stash was Batch #402.
I was trapped in a room with a dominant Alpha who was already suspicious, and my only way to stay hidden was now a literal poison. This couldn't be happening. I picked my phone up and texted Juna. She was my direct older sister and the doctor among my sisters.
“What do you mean there's been a recall?” I texted with trembling fingers.
“Before you start panicking, take a deep breath,” she typed back.
How was supposed to take a deep breath when my wolf was doing literally everything he could to piss me off.
“I can't stay without my meds, Juna, and you know it,” I was becoming more frustrated by the second.
“Just try something over-the-counter today and come to my office tomorrow,” she replied. “Nothing could go wrong in just less than a day. Just bear with this for, if you think it will be too hard, then don't go out today.”
I sank to the floor. It wouldn't be that hard if I was in my private apartment but here in a shared dorm with Kendric, everything was on probability.
“Why is my life so messed up?”
