Page 5

Note: you are about to glimpse the mind of a sociopath, psychopath, you name it.

........

The new students joined the end of the breakfast line, chatting and laughing, blissfully unaware of the predator watching them.

It wasn't until one girl felt the scorching intensity of a stare that she turned around, a smile still playing on her lips, only for it to falter when her eyes locked with Asher Nightshade.

Or rather, with his shade. Had it been his actual eyes, who knew what might have happened to her by now?

She was one of the new scholarship students; like the others, she had heard whispers of his sinister reputation.

Her friend beside her, still unaware of the abrupt change in her demeanor, remained engrossed in conversation until the girl tapped her.

The instant her friend looked up and met Asher's eyes, the light in her own died as well.

Immediately, their conversation died, turning to face forward. A few nearby students noticed the sudden hush and turned to look, only to quickly avert their eyes once they realized it was Asher Nightshade.

None of them knew why he was staring at them as though he could burn a hole through their skulls, but they didn't want to find out. No one in their right mind wanted to be caught under his attention.

No one.

Asher sighed, running a hand through his jet-black hair, so dark it seemed to repel the light.

The sides were faded, while the top was longer, often spilling over his eyes.

It used to be even longer, a curtain he'd relied on to hide his cursed eyes.

But when he started at this school, he had to rely on the shade instead, forcing him to cut it shorter.

But right now, none of that mattered, not when he had bigger issues. The new girl was still absent. And by "new girl," he meant Violet Purple. Asher knew this because he had been keeping a close watch on her situation.

From the moment Jameson sent out the acceptance letter, Asher had been on high alert, expecting her to show up the next day, ready to fall into his arms—arms that were more than ready to receive her. Except that was not happening.

It had been a week, and still, there was no response from her.

He even sent a follow-up letter, just in case she hadn't received the first one, but there was still nothing.

To take it a step further, he had Jameson call her school to find out why she hadn't accepted the offer, but they couldn't provide any answers.

And it was beginning to drive him insane.

Asher knew that, according to the rules, Violet should now be ineligible for the scholarship by now, but that wasn't going to happen. He was the rule. He would decide which humans came into the school, and Violet was definitely one of them.

He couldn't help but wonder if Violet knew. If she understood that a predator was waiting to devour her whole. Asher wanted to believe that Violet was doing this on purpose, playing games with him. He imagined that once she was done teasing him, she would finally make her appearance.

He sincerely hoped so, because Violet had become his latest obsession, a drug he was already addicted to just from catching a whiff of her. And he intended to get a taste of her soon. The thought of it made a certain area of his body tighten, and he tapped his feet anxiously against the floor.

One thing was for sure: if Violet didn't show up this week, he would drag her from wherever corner of the earth she was hiding in. There was a limit to his patience. No one challenged him and got away with it. They must play the game.

"Hello, brother," a voice greeted as an arm wrapped around Asher's neck, jolting him from his thoughts.

Even without looking or catching his scent, Asher knew exactly who it was. Only one person dared to invade his space like that.

He finally turned, confirming his suspicion.

Roman Draven.

One of his so-called "cardinal brothers," as everyone else referred to them. Though, in reality, they weren't related in the slightest.

The word "brother" made Asher scrunch his nose. He didn't have brothers. They were competitors, all of them, vying for the title of the future Alpha King. But if there was one among them he could "tolerate," it was Roman, and for good reason.

Roman was the most social of the cardinal alphas, charming, mischievous, and known for being a notorious flirt. It wasn't hard to see why women flocked to him.

They adored the dimples that appeared when he laughed, his tousled green hair that he ran his hands through as if trying to seduce everyone with his effortless charm, and those same mesmerizing green eyes that could make anyone fall.

His easygoing nature and sharp wit made him popular among his peers. But beneath that carefree facade was a more cunning side. Roman was a skilled manipulator in his own right.

Though he seemed the most harmless of the four, there was a darkness to him, proving appearances could be deceiving.

Yet, despite his roguish behavior, he was fiercely loyal to those he cared about and wasn't as shallow as he seemed.

Perhaps that's why Asher let him stick around.

Because even he needed a little light to balance his darkness.

Roman, without asking for permission, plopped down beside him, leaning in with a smirk that screamed mischief. "I see you're checking out the fresh meat," he teased.

As if. Asher hadn't even entertained the thought.

He wasn't like the man-whore sitting next to him.

Yes, he was attractive—handsome as hell, in fact—but no one ever mistook him for a prince charming.

And the girls seemed to understand that too, because they kept their distance, sensing the danger in his presence.

Only a few had dared to step into his darkness. And even those who had graced his bed always made the same mistake. They thought they could tame him. They never understood it was impossible to tame a beast until it was too late.

Now, Asher found himself wondering if Violet would be different. Could she handle him, or would she run like the others like a coward? He hoped not. He had so much planned for her, and the thought of finally getting started sent a wicked thrill through him.

Now that Asher had mentioned the girls, he couldn't help but scrutinize them, his gaze sharp but devoid of lust. If anything, he was measuring them against his vision of Violet.

There had only been a passport-sized photo of Violet attached to her application, offering little more than her face. Asher could've easily dug deeper and found more about her, but he hadn't. He liked the anticipation, the mystery.

He wanted to see if the real Violet would live up to the version he'd created in his mind. And the thought of her being everything he dreamed of made him hard again. Damn the gods. He hadn't even laid eyes on her in person, and yet she was already haunting him.

"I think I'll go for that one," Roman said casually, nodding toward a girl with large breasts, obliviously chatting with her friends.

Asher fought the urge to roll his eyes. Typical Roman. His brother had always had a thing for boobs, the bigger, the better.

"Not interested," Asher grumbled.

"Your loss," Roman shrugged, his gaze drifting back to ogle the girl.

Pervert. Asher thought. But was he any better? He was already fixated on a girl he hadn't even met. Then again, none of them were normal. Not after what they'd been through.

"So, when are we welcoming the newcomers?" Roman asked, drawing Asher's attention back. He licked his lips like a predator eyeing prey. "I can't wait to make my pick."

They had an initiation for the new students, a tradition the cardinal Alphas all agreed on, presenting a rare united front instead of competing against each other.

Some might call it hazing, but to Asher, it was a way to enlighten the fresh blood about who ruled the academy and who they answered to. Lunaris Academy belonged to them, and the hierarchy was something to be understood and respected.

Violet would learn her place soon enough. And it was at his side. He would mold her into his queen, forged from the ashes, unblemished and unbreakable. But like gold, she would have to pass through fire first. Asher could only hope his queen was strong enough to survive the flames.

"Soon," Asher replied, a profound look flickering in his eyes. "Very soon."

Roman raised an eyebrow, scanning his face. "When you say things like that, I can only imagine what's going through your head. What are you planning, puppet master?" He teased, using Asher's nickname.

A slow, wicked smile tugged at Asher's lips. "Don't worry, it's nothing you wouldn't enjoy, Fox," he shot back, teasing Roman with his own nickname.

The two exchanged a knowing look, dark smiles curling on their faces as if sharing an inside joke.

"If you put it like that, I can't wait to enjoy it." Roman leaned back in his seat, visibly more relaxed.

"Oh, you will," Asher added with a glint in his eyes. "It'll be chaos. Speaking of which, I've thought of a little prank you could pull on Griffin this time."

At the mention of the other cardinal Alpha, Roman's eyes lit up. Everyone knew Roman was the trickster, delighting in pranks, especially at Griffin's expense, and often using humor to ease tension between them.

"Go on," Roman leaned forward eagerly. "What should I do to ruffle his feathers this time?"

Asher's eyes gleamed. "I've found out where he hid his mother's necklace..."