Chapter 2

Azura’s eyes were pure black as she moved through the meeting room, her senses heightened and her mind razor-sharp. The books and files she had summoned floated around her, suspended in the air like silent sentinels. Every piece of material in the room was under her inspection, and even the seals on the documents weren’t immune to her probing gaze. She needed to know. What had been discussed at the meeting with the authority and King Kaelan the night before?

Her concentration was absolute—until it wasn’t.

Suddenly, an arm seized her from behind, yanking her with force. Azura spun around, her vision blurring as her body collided painfully with a nearby shelf. In an instant, all the books, files, and objects that had been suspended in midair came crashing down, their contents scattering across the floor like shattered glass. Her back ached from the impact, and her eyes—once filled with dark power—returned to their natural green, her concentration broken.

The room was eerily silent, save for the faint clatter of papers settling on the ground. The moonlight from the windows was the only illumination, casting silver shadows over the wreckage.

With a sharp inhale, Azura’s instinct took over.  She raised her right hand, her fingers crackling with dark energy, ready to incapacitate the man who had dared to interrupt her. Her eyes turned black once more as the power within her surged, and she focused on knocking him unconscious long enough to finish her mission.

But he was faster.

Before she could unleash her attack, the man grasped her wrist firmly, halting her movement. The second his skin made contact with hers, she felt something shift. Her eyes flickered, flashing between the deep black of her demon power and the brilliant green of her natural state. Her powers, which had been on the verge of release, suddenly began to fade.

Azura’s heart raced as she tried to channel her strength, but it was slipping away. The tattoo on her wrist, which had been glowing with the energy of her dark magic just moments ago, dimmed to nothing. His touch was like a wall between her and her power, a strange and unnerving barrier that nullified her abilities.

Azura narrowed her eyes, her irritation flaring at the sight of him. Not him again.

"You again, following me, Rylan?" she asked, her voice dripping with annoyance.

He leaned in close, his lips dangerously near her ear. "My demon girl…" he whispered, his words laced with a possessiveness that made her skin crawl. He was too close—inappropriately close.

The heat of his breath against her neck sent shivers down her spine, but not the kind she welcomed. He was drunk she knew.

"Don't. You. Have. Any. Other. Work?" she asked, her voice sharp, punctuating each word with deliberate pauses. She didn’t just want to know why he was always behind her—she needed to know. His presence was suffocating, always lingering in her shadow, watching her like a predator stalking its prey.

"Perhaps not," Rylan replied smoothly, his tone casual, as if her anger meant nothing to him. His gaze was intense, never wavering as he brazenly sniffed her, his actions crossing boundaries, invading her space. He was like a wolf, wild and untamed, and the worst part was that he didn’t care. At least, not with her.

"Hey! Stand away from me!" Azura hissed, shoving against his chest, but Rylan was faster. In an instant, he grabbed her wrists, pinning both of her hands above her head. Their bodies collided, pressing against each other, and she could feel the solid weight of him, the heat radiating off his chest. His breath was hot against her face, and the hardness of his body pierced against her lower stomach, making her feel trapped in the worst possible way.

This wasn’t the first time. It never was. Every time they crossed paths, it was the same. He would invade her space, closing the distance between them as if it were nothing, speaking to her as if he had every right to. He wasn’t just following her—he was obsessed. Whenever he talked, it felt like he was more interested in her reaction than her words. But for Azura, conversation with him—or anyone—was never the goal.

She had no interest in exchanging pleasantries, especially not with the likes of Rylan Blackwood. He was nothing more than an obstacle, a distraction she neither wanted nor needed. She was better off alone, driven by her one true purpose: revenge.

Just then, they both heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the corridor, making their way toward them. Rylan's body tensed, his grip on Azura loosening as he quickly stepped away from her. His heart pounded, not from desire this time, but from a rising sense of panic. Someone was coming.

The consequences of being caught here, in this forbidden place, were far from ideal. The presence of a group approaching could be felt by both of them—the familiar weight of authority in the air.

Rylan cursed under his breath, his eyes scanning the mess she had made. Papers and books were strewn across the floor, and the once orderly room looked as though it had been ransacked. "Fuck," he muttered, frustration lacing his voice. What were they supposed to do now? He glanced back at Azura, but she didn't seem the least bit concerned.

Of course, she didn’t. She never did. Trouble followed her like a shadow, and it wasn’t the first time she'd brought chaos to his life. She often did—each time more reckless than the last. But this time, his reputation was at stake. If anyone saw him here, breaking the rules and fraternizing with a demon, his father, the almighty Alpha King, wouldn’t spare him. He could already imagine the disappointment, the lectures about discipline and duty.

"How the hell are we supposed to clean this up?" he hissed, his eyes darting toward her as she casually inspected her nails, as if none of this even mattered.

She dared to smirk, clearly enjoying his distress. Without a word, she lifted her hand, flicking her fingers effortlessly. In an instant, the entire room restored itself—the papers, books, and files that had been scattered were neatly back in their places. It was as though the chaos had never occurred, and the room stood in pristine condition.

Rylan exhaled sharply, relief flooding him, but before he could say anything, the doors swung open.

"Oh, Mr. Storm, we’ve heard many stories about your valor…" Principal Dyana’s voice rang out as she entered the room, accompanied by one of the senior Alphas.  Her eyes darted towards the scene...

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