Werewolf Leadership Academy

Suffocation pressed in on me, thick and sudden. I pushed out onto the balcony outside the reception hall, needing air. The second the door shut behind me, I almost lost it—but I forced myself to breathe, to get it together.

Then I saw them.

A stunning redhead with piercing blue eyes leaned back against the railing, her silver dress hugging every curve, a long slit exposing her leg—and between them was Jacob, on his knees, face buried deep, absolutely devouring her.

She arched back, soft moans slipping from her lips.

I didn’t react. Didn’t acknowledge it.

I walked past like it didn’t bother me, heading straight for the far corner. I pulled a joint from my pocket, lit it, and stared out at the traffic below. Vegas was alive, buzzing like it always does on the weekend. I inhaled deeply, letting the smoke fill my lungs, my thoughts drifting.

“Hey, I’m Rose!” she called suddenly, blowing me a kiss.

“Hey yourself,” I replied, glancing back.

There it was again—that strange pull. A subtle tug somewhere deep inside me. I frowned slightly but brushed it off. I’d been feeling off for the last month anyway. Probably just that.

I stubbed out the joint and took one more look at her before heading back inside.

Finding my friends wasn’t hard. Alice always claimed a spot near the dance floor. Justin, Lucas, and Matt were already there, deep in conversation. Alice sat with them—Jacob’s twin, and practically one of the guys.

I dropped into my seat sideways, arm draped over the backrest, listening as they talked about the upcoming year. We’d stayed in touch all summer, texting constantly despite being from different packs. This was our second year at the Werewolf Leadership Academy.

We are all Alpha offspring.

The Academy was for future pack leadership—Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Gammas. Politics, alliances, power...and finding your mate. Four years of it, starting at twenty-one.

"Where’s Jacob?" Justin asked, snapping me back into the moment.

"He was talking to some new girl," Alice said.

"He’s got his face buried in her pussy on the balcony," I added with a grin.

The guys burst out laughing.

Alice didn’t.

Jacob’s behavior always got under her skin. She was the serious one—the one who kept us in line.

"Hi, Damian. So good to see you!" Marie called as she passed by on her way to her table. Her black hair shimmered under the chandelier lights.

One of last year’s flings.

Now all eyes were on me. No surprise there. I didn’t exactly have a reputation for settling down.

Jacob finally showed up, lips swollen, face flushed, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Nice, Jacob. We haven’t even started school yet. We’ve got two more days of these formals," Alice snapped. "You’re so embarrassing."

"Okay, who is she?" Justin asked.

"Her name is Rose," I answered quickly.

They all looked at me.

"What?" I shrugged. "She introduced herself while he was going down on her. I stepped out for a smoke."

"She’s something else," Jacob said, grinning. "I’m telling you, I’m spending this year chasing that. She’s bold, knows exactly what she wants. And get this—she’s here with her sister. Twins."

He looked way too excited about that.

I chuckled, shaking my head as he finally took his seat.

The room was filling up fast now. More people pouring in, the energy building. I got up to grab a drink—I’d need it to survive the next few days of this chaos.

Whiskey in hand, I turned back toward the table.

And that’s when it hit me.

That pull again.

Stronger this time.

I scanned the room—and found her.

White and silver curls framed her face. Her eyes—

Black.

Not dark.

Not brown.

Black. Like a void that swallowed everything around it.

She wore gold, glowing under the lights, and for a split second, she reminded me of Rose—but she wasn’t Rose.

Was she the twin?

I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until Lucas smacked my back.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

"You good, man?" he muttered, following my line of sight. "Ah… I see. Damn. You already look whipped."

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t.

I needed to know who she was.

Her name.

Why my body felt like it was being dragged toward her.

The urge to get up and go to her was almost overwhelming.

I forced myself to sit back down.

But I couldn’t stop watching her.

Not until Headmaster Williams took the stage and started talking.

Her table sat across the room, near the center. She was with Rose and Marie—and the ABC girls. Ashley, Britney, Cara. Blonde, brown-eyed, always moving like a unit. Gossip queens. Trouble.

We all knew better than to get involved with them.

I dragged my gaze back to the stage and pulled out my phone, texting Ethan—my future Beta. He wasn’t here tonight. This event was for Alpha offspring only.

I think I found my mate.

—Damian

No kidding. That’s good news, right? Damn, you’re about to settle. Ha-ha.

—Ethan

Shut up.

—Damian

The night dragged on. Food came. Drinks kept flowing. My friends got louder, rowdier, earning more than a few looks from the Headmaster.

I barely noticed.

I was on my fourth drink, staring into the amber liquid, when that pull tightened again—sharp, insistent.

I looked up.

She was walking toward me.

My throat went dry. I swallowed hard like an idiot.

She was stumbling slightly, her steps unsteady, her eyes glassy with alcohol. She hesitated, like she might turn back, but laughter from her table pushed her forward.

Then she stepped on the train of her dress.

Lost her balance.

And fell straight into my lap.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

One hand went to her lower back, the other to her stomach—tight, toned. Abs.

Damn.

She looked at me, leaning in close. Vodka clung to her breath. Around us, my friends were elbowing each other, whispering like this was the best show of the night.

I looked at her—really looked.

Her lips.

Her eyes.

Then, fuck, my gaze dropped to her chest, rising and falling with quick breaths. My body reacted instantly, heat rushing through me.

I got hard. Fast.

I forced myself to meet her eyes again.

She felt it too.

I could see it—the shift, the awareness, the widening of her gaze.

I leaned into the crook of her neck and inhaled.

Coconut.

Vanilla.

Warm. Addictive.

It hit me like a drug, and I fell—hard.

Her skin had this soft, almost luminous glow. Her lips were full, pink, perfect. All I wanted to do was kiss her.

“Let’s go, Lilith!” Rose’s voice cut through everything as she grabbed her arm and yanked her away. “You can be such an idiot.”

Lilith.

The name hit me like a punch.

She-demon.

Fitting.

"What the hell was that?" Jacob blurted.

Everyone else looked just as stunned.

But I wasn’t listening.

I was still stuck on her name.

Lilith.