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."

into me like

I saw: the girl, the moans, the blood.

lay as far away as the narrow space allowed. The mattress creaked under

though my words felt hollow. I closed

Lucas shift. The window curtain fluttered with

"You not planning to go to that stupid

I would go,"

you really love that friend—you

hard. What was I supposed to say to Sara? She was thrilled. She’d picked out outfits, was bubbling with anticipation. Should I warn her that Lucas thinks the party is dangerous? That I saw a girl—maybe her—being fed on, moaning as

tension. I clenched my thighs, refused to turn my

but sleep felt like betrayal now. Every second without

my back, staring at the flicker of light from the window. The

brushed—did I hear footsteps? My eyes

her throat. He looked up and spotted

cup. Noodles had never looked so mundane. My phone buzzed—it was

His eyes saw something—fear,

up, hands

Where are you? Don’t tell me you bailed on me?"

good idea going to the bash," I

giggles. Other

some excuse because you

Desperation twisted my gut.

shouldn’t go." My words tumbled

yelled something. I couldn’t catch it amid

of parties, I get it. But don’t decide for me. Sorry, I’m going—with

She hung up.

heart shattered. She thought I was controlling. And I couldn’t tell her: I dreamed it.

burning in my chest was guilt and fear twined together. I stared at the wall, willing numb calm into

had seen it. And I couldn’t unsee

going, I couldn’t let

Fuck.

sad excuse of a closet. My hands