Stolen Fate: Bound to Seven Alphas

WILLA

He wore a black face mask.

That was the first thing I noticed when I finally looked up.

Then came the warmth in his striking blue eyes. They crinkled at the corners as he stared down at me, like he was smiling beneath the mask. I couldn’t tell for sure.

And for some stupid reason, I wanted to know.

"Whenever you’re ready, you know I’m always here, Elyse," he said softly, taking a step closer.

I jerked away from the guardrail, heart pounding. "Are you insane?"

"Insane?" He tilted his head, shrugging one broad shoulder. "Maybe. But hey, I’m only trying to help."

I scowled, shoving my cold hands deep into my sweatshirt pocket and turning my back on him. I didn’t need this. I didn’t need anyone right now — especially not some masked weirdo who knew my name and apparently my entire life story.

"Strange," he murmured. His voice was suddenly much closer. His breath brushed the back of my neck, warm through the thin fabric of my hood.

I spun around. Our faces were inches apart. I staggered backward, nearly tripping over my own feet. My pulse spiked.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I hissed through clenched teeth. "Do you always sneak up on girls like this?!"

He didn’t move back. Those blue eyes kept studying me with unnerving focus, as if he could see straight through my skin to something hidden underneath. I imagined his lips pursing under the mask, his nose wrinkling in amusement.

"Only if the girl is you," he replied eventually. He tucked his helmet under one arm and ran long fingers through his golden-brown hair. "Shouldn’t you be happy I’m here to comfort you?"

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Comfort? You think encouraging me to jump into the river is comfort?"

He chuckled lowly — the sound rich and far too relaxed for this conversation.

"Why are you mad at me?" he asked, still watching me too closely. "Is it about what happened earlier?"

"I. Don’t. Want. To. Talk. About. It," I forced out through gritted teeth.

That stupid, arrogant jerk.

Just thinking Eric’s name made fresh anger and hurt twisted in my chest. I hate him.

For the first time, all the things written in Elyse’s diary about the boys made a lot of sense.

"I can apologize. I didn’t know you were already angry," he said.

As if it wasn’t obvious.

"Just stay away from me," I replied coldly.

He locked his hand around my wrist as I turned to walk away. I yanked hard until he released me. I resisted the urge to slap him. My hands curled at my side.

"I told you I want to be alone. Leave me the fuck alone!" I screamed in his face.

"Whoa!" He raised both hands slightly. "Very angry looking kitten."

"Not funny," I snapped, glowering at him.

Luckily, he didn’t try to stop me again. But as I started walking, someone else blocked my path.

Eric. Elliott was right behind him. Even Kol.

Great. Just fucking great.

Can’t I freaking catch a break?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the academy had followed them here to watch the next episode of this drama.

Did I offend someone in my past life before getting shoved into this confusing world? I must be paying for my sins.

Because four boys chasing after me like I was the greatest thing to ever happen to them was something that would never have happened to the real Willa.

"Elyse," Eric murmured, taking a cautious step forward.

"You’ve said enough," I muttered, refusing to look at him.

A common whore. That’s what he thought of me. Of Elyse. I should be grateful that Alphas were fighting over her.

"I..." Eric’s jaw clenched tightly.

I walked past him, but stopped when he spoke again.

"I shouldn’t have said that."

"No," I nodded, eyes fixed on Elliott, the only reasonable one among them. "You shouldn’t have."

Even though Elliott kept pushing for a relationship that had already ended, at least it wasn’t this suffocating bond nonsense. At least he didn’t make me feel dirty.

"You have to understand, this is a new feeling for me and—"

"You are my partner," I said, cutting Eric off as I looked at Elliott.

"Yes," Elliott nodded eagerly, a hint of relief in his eyes.

"Elyse?" Eric called again, voice rough.

"Can we leave here, please?" I murmured to Elliott. "Anywhere else but around here."

Somewhere far from Eric. And Kol.

Elliott seemed to understand without needing more words.

"Of course," Elliott said.

"Damn it, Elyse!" Eric snarled behind us. "You are doing it again!"

I tuned out his voice completely.

"Although Professor Marcus would flip if we leave training..." Elliott added.

"We are still training, just not with the other students," I muttered. "It’s not like we’re going to do something illegal..."

I trailed off as Elliott raised one brow in question. My cheeks heated up.

"We are not doing anything illegal. Strictly training," I said firmly, more to convince myself than him.

Stop it, Willa.

I scolded myself as my eyes wandered to his lips. A rush of warmth spread through my body. How would it feel to be kissed by him?

Electrifying like Eric?

No. Absolutely not.

I shook my head, pushing the traitorous thoughts away.

"Sure. Nothing illegal," Elliott breathed, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Good," I grinned. Professor Marcus could find a new demonstrator for the rest of the session.

"Let’s go." I locked my arm through Elliott’s and walked away from the bridge, ignoring Eric’s repeated calls behind me.

I was glad Kol hadn’t said anything. He just watched silently. Maybe he was more reasonable than Eric after all.

—

Professor Marcus punished us anyway.

Fifty drills before sunrise tomorrow, around the training field, plus a personal report to him afterwards.

Still, I was glad I went with Elliott. It was worth it. Aside from the messy history between him and Elyse, he wasn’t all that bad. He was far less condescending than Eric.

More importantly, I learned three solid moves from him. He even offered to be my personal trainer if I let him.

I had no reason to refuse. I needed to learn how to defend myself in this academy. Especially with all the mind games and weird things happening around me.

I stepped into our room, exhausted. Verah stopped pacing the moment she saw me. Her eyes slid slowly down my body, nose wrinkling in clear disapproval.

"You were with him all day?" she asked.

I walked straight to my bed and collapsed onto it.

"Elyse!" Verah snapped.

"Nothing happened." A groan slipped past my lips as I stretched my arms out. The sharp sound of my muscles popping filled the room.

The built-up tension slowly drained from my body, leaving behind a strange, heavy feeling I couldn’t quite describe.

"Nothing happened?" Verah gritted her teeth and stood directly in front of me. "I’m not even mad that you two were paired for training today. You have to put personal shit aside for that..."

I stared at her silently as she continued ranting.

"But leaving the whole day with him?!" Verah let out a frustrated huff. "What are you doing, Elyse?"

"Definitely not fucking each other," I answered dryly.

For a brief second, Verah’s lips twitched like she wanted to laugh. She quickly held it back.

She shot me an irritated look. "I know you’re not stupid enough to open your legs for that idiot again!"

I sighed and pushed myself up, resting on my elbows. "I understand boundaries, broken relationships, the need to let go, and family feuds..." I paused, holding her gaze. "He’s not that bad, Vee." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Verah snorted in disbelief, her eyes widening. "He’s not that bad?"

"Just one unsupervised day with him and you’re already defending him? Whoa!"

I sat up straight, frowning. "Why would I need supervision? I’m old enough to know what’s right and wrong."

"That is exactly the problem!" she exclaimed. "You can’t think straight when it comes to him. That’s why you need supervision. And don’t even get me started on the stupid things you two do together!"

I sighed. There was no winning this argument.

"He was just helping me train. I didn’t even try to eyefuck him or anything."

Verah still didn’t look convinced.

"It’s just a one-time thing," I said, rising to my feet. "I promise it’s the last time."

She didn’t yield.

I stepped closer and pulled her into a hug. "I’m sorry I didn’t say anything."

Verah groaned but wrapped her arms around me. She pulled back with a pout.

"Don’t ever do that again. I was worried!"

"I’m sorry," I said softly.

"Whatever," she muttered, pulling me back into the hug.

"Don’t tell my parents."

Verah snickered. "Why would I? I’d get punished too for letting you go."

"Settled." I grinned.

Then my traitorous thoughts wandered back to my training with Elliott, which was in fact, more than a training.