Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 151: Freshers’ Bash

CLARK POV:

My legs felt like jelly as I stood in the dim corridor, staring at Reed’s disappearing figure. He’d led me to the men’s dorm entrance, gave a curt yank on my arm, and then, almost casually, said:

"Mind your business, kid,"

Then turned and vanished.

And that was it. He let go of me, left me swaying there, dumbfounded. I looked down at my arm where he’d gripped me—it was tingling, almost numb, like a burning-bruised imprint. Was I supposed to thank him? I wondered.

His words echoed in my chest. "Mind your business, kid." My mind screamed: But I can’t; I saw something. I can’t just mind it.

Questions inflated in my chest. Was he involved with them? Were they a cult? Why the girl’s screams turned to moans when blonde guy sank his jaw into her wrist? No tears. No struggle. Just... surrender.

It took all my nerve to step into the corridor again. It felt colder, darker. That feeling, the one you get when you sense predator eyes on your spine—it crawled all over me.

I stumbled toward my room, footsteps heavy as guilt.

Inside, I found Lucas sprawled on his bunk, eyes closed. His bags were tossed across the mattress; clothing lay in odd angles. Leftovers of someone wrestling with emotions—or terror.

I leaned against the doorframe. How do you even begin this?

Finally I let it out: "I thought you left?"

He lifted his head slowly. His eyes looked haunted; insane laughter trembling at the edges of his lips.

"They wouldn’t let me."

I exhaled sharply. "Who wouldn’t?" The words came out jagged. I could feel the panic spike again.

He let out a laugh that wasn’t funny.

"They know. I know. I can’t escape. No one can."

slammed into me like

should tell him what I saw: the girl, the moans, the blood. If I spoke, it would be real. It would confirm

next to his and lay as far away as the narrow space allowed. The mattress creaked

just need sleep," I told him, even though my words felt hollow. I closed my eyes,

I heard Lucas shift. The window curtain fluttered with a breeze. Shadows

that stupid fresher’s bash tonight,

a friend I would

"If you really love that friend—you both shouldn’t

her that Lucas thinks the party is dangerous? That I saw a

I clenched

now. Every second without answers felt like

at the flicker of light from the window. The

hear footsteps? My eyes darted downward, but

vivid. The girl on the desk was Sara’s face. Those same three guys massaged her limbs while the blonde bear-shouldered vampire latched onto her throat. He looked up and spotted me

sat cross-legged on the floor slurping instant noodles from a roadside cup. Noodles had never looked so mundane. My phone

me. His eyes saw

picked up, hands

Don’t tell me you bailed on me?" Her voice was

it’s a good idea going

muffled giggles. Other girls? I heard faint

you don’t want

Desperation twisted my gut.

serious. Don’t go. We shouldn’t go."

couldn’t catch it amid laughter.

a fan of parties, I get it. But

She hung up.

my chest. My heart shattered. She thought I was controlling. And I couldn’t tell her:

the wall, willing numb calm into my body. It’s

that dread echoed. I had seen it. And

going, I

Fuck.

a closet. My hands rummaged through the half-unpacked mess inside, searching for something—anything—that could pass as party attire. Not that I cared about how I looked.