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 a

how—if—I should tell him what I saw: the girl, the moans, the blood. If I spoke, it

empty bunk next to his and lay as far away as the narrow space allowed. The mattress creaked under me like an echo

felt hollow. I closed my eyes, though my brain

window curtain fluttered with a breeze. Shadows hissed across the

spoke again, his voice low, brittle: "You not planning to go to that stupid fresher’s bash tonight,

a friend I would

me. "If you really love that friend—you

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 her neck bled?

room groaned in dormant tension. I clenched my

now. Every second without answers felt like unchanged complicit

of light from the window.

eyes darted downward, but the room remained

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

a roadside cup. Noodles had

stared at me. His eyes saw

picked up, hands

tell me you bailed on me?" Her voice

it’s a good idea going to the bash," I

muffled giggles. Other girls? I

you don’t want to come?" she

Desperation twisted my gut.

Don’t go. We shouldn’t go." My

something. I couldn’t catch it

parties, I get it. But don’t decide for

She hung up.

my chest. My heart shattered. She thought I was controlling. And

twined together. I stared at the wall, willing numb calm into my body. It’s just a party. It’s my imagination. It’s not

I had seen it.

was going, I couldn’t let

Fuck.

pushed off the bed and marched straight to the tiny, sad excuse of a closet. My