Page 3 of Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Chapter 3

Atlas

W ith a grunt, I lifted my opponent skyward, fell back, and slammed him onto the mat. I heard all the breath leave his body and he gasped and clawed, searching for it once more. But I had his sweaty legs in my grasp, and I was too big for him to lift off as I pressed his shoulders to the mat. The wolf inside me pulsed with power, my Alpha blood on fire as I heard the referee begin to count.

“One! Two! Three!” the ref called in quick succession. “Fall!”

I released my grip and stood, chest heaving as I looked down at my defeated opponent. His eyes were wide, a mix of shock and awe as he stared up at me. The crowd in the academy gymnasium erupted in cheers, my packmates howling their approval.

“And the winner is... Atlas Faolan!” the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers.

I offered a hand to help my opponent up, feeling the tremor in his fingers as he grasped mine. The touch sent a jolt through me, awakening something primal. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of submission. It wasn’t out of the ordinary, though. All werewolves submitted to an Alpha eventually.

“Good match,” I growled, my voice husky with exertion and dominance.

He nodded, his head kept low. “You’re really powerful…” he murmured, loud enough for only my enhanced hearing to catch.

As we left the mat, Coach Harding clapped me on the back. “Well done, Faolan. You’re shaping up to be one of the strongest Alphas we’ve seen at Widdershins Academy in years.”

I grinned, letting a hint of fang show. “Thanks, Coach. Just doing what comes naturally.”

As I made my way to the locker room, the scent of sweat and adrenaline thick in the air, I couldn’t shake the lingering buzz of victory. My wolf was still close to the surface, demanding more–more domination, more submission, more... everything.

I stripped off my singlet, muscles flexing as I tossed it into my gym bag. The cool air hit my overheated skin, and I inhaled deeply, trying to center myself. That’s when I caught it–a scent that didn’t belong. Something earthy and electric, like ozone after a lightning strike.

My head snapped up, nostrils flaring as I scanned the locker room. Most of my teammates were still out celebrating, but there, in the far corner, stood a lean figure I’d never seen before. He was staring at me, green eyes wide and unblinking.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” I growled, stalking towards him. “This area is for athletes only.”

He didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. Instead, he lifted his chin defiantly, a spark of challenge in those emerald eyes. “I have every right to be here,” he said, his voice low and melodic. “I’m a student too.”

I inhaled sharply, catching more of his scent. It was intoxicating, unlike anything I’d ever encountered before. My wolf stirred, curious and hungry.

“You’re not on any of the teams,” I said, closing the distance between us. I towered over him, using my size to intimidate. “What are you really doing here?”

A smirk played at the corner of his lips. “Observing. Studying. You werewolves are fascinating creatures.”

My eyes narrowed. “You’re a witch,” I growled, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. No wonder his scent was so strange, so alluring.

He nodded, unafraid. “Guilty as charged. The name’s Rowan, by the way.”

I should have been repulsed. Witches and werewolves didn’t mix - it was one of our most ancient laws. But something about him drew me in, made me want to lean closer, to breathe in more of that intoxicating scent. My wolf was restless, urging me to claim, to mark, to possess.

“Atlas,” I grunted, my voice rougher than I intended. “And you still haven’t answered my question. What are you really doing here?”

Rowan’s eyes flicked down my bare chest, then back up to meet my gaze. The spark of challenge was still there, but now it was mixed with something else. Desire.

“I told you,” he said, taking a step closer. “Studying. There’s so much about werewolves that isn’t in the books. Like how you smell after a fight.” He inhaled deeply, his pupils dilating. “It’s... intoxicating.”

My hand shot out, gripping his arm. I meant to push him away, to assert my dominance, but instead I found myself pulling him closer. Our chests were almost touching now, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, witch,” I growled, my face inches from his. “Don’t you know what happens to your kind when they mess with wolves?”

Rowan’s lips curled into a smile. “Why don’t you show me, pup?”

I was torn between the urge to tear him to pieces and to claim him as my own. My head was swimming, his scent driving me to the edge of insanity. I couldn’t think straight and everything was hazy. Leaning close, I tried to decide what I was going to do with him.

“Stop!” a voice cried, shaking me from my stupor momentarily.

I glanced over to see another person I’d never seen before standing at the opposite side of the locker room. He was blond, lithe, and had piercing blue eyes that almost seemed to catch me off guard. He ran up, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Rowan.

“He’s bewitching you,” he said, looking up at me. “Can’t you smell it?”

“Why don’t you mind your own fucking business, Cromwell,” Rowan growled, scowling at this new stranger. “We’re busy.”

“Yeah,” I grunted. “Who the fuck are you?”

But the new stranger didn’t stop. Instead, there was a small burst of green magic in his eyes as he scanned Rowan. He zeroed in on the chest of Rowan’s jacket. His hand shot out, pulling something green and purple from inside the fabric.

“Wolfsbane?!” the stranger cried. “Are you stupid, Rowan? This could kill him!”

“Seems like he was enjoying it to me,” Rowan smiled slyly. “Looked like he was going to give me whatever I wanted.”

“You are drugging him! That could get you expelled! I should report you for this!”

“Like I give a fuck. He’s just a stupid dog, anyway.”

Rowan lifted his hand and curled his fingers with a sudden movement. In a flash the strange plant went up in flames in the stranger’s hand. It was reduced to ash in an instant.

“There,” Rowan said with a cruel grin. “Good luck getting anyone to believe you with no evidence.” He looked up at me, giving me a wink. “See you around, pup.”

As Rowan sauntered away, the fog in my mind began to clear. Rage bubbled up inside me, my wolf clawing to be released. How dare that witch try to manipulate me? I took a step to follow, ready to tear him apart, but a gentle hand on my arm stopped me.

“Don’t,” the blond stranger said softly. “He’s not worth it.”

I turned to face him, my anger still simmering. “And who the hell are you?”

He flinched at my tone but didn’t back down. “Caden Cromwell. I’m... the new janitor.”

I inhaled deeply, trying to catch his scent. There was something different about him too, but not like Rowan. It was subtle, earthy - like fresh soil after rain.

“You’re a witch too,” I growled, my eyes narrowing.

Caden nodded, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “A pathetic one. But I’m nothing like Rowan, I swear. I just... I couldn’t stand by and watch him manipulate you like that.”

I studied him for a moment, torn between suspicion and curiosity. His blue eyes were earnest, lacking the cunning glint I’d seen in Rowan’s. There was something oddly... vulnerable about him.

“Why would you help me?” I asked, my voice gruff. “Witches and wolves don’t exactly get along.”

Caden’s blush deepened. “I... I don’t really fit in with other witches. And it was just wrong, what he was doing. No one should be manipulated like that, werewolf or not.”

I felt my anger begin to ebb, replaced by an unfamiliar warmth. This Caden was nothing like any witch I’d encountered before. My wolf, still agitated from Rowan’s trickery, seemed to settle in Caden’s presence.

“Well... thanks, I guess,” I muttered, suddenly aware of my state of undress. I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my waist. “You said you’re the new janitor?”

Caden nodded, his eyes darting away from my bare chest. “Yeah, I just started this week. It’s uh… gross so far.”

“Then why do you do it?”

He muttered under his breath so quietly I almost missed it. “Money…”

I raised an eyebrow. “Money? Aren’t all witches loaded?”

Caden’s face fell, and he looked away. “Not all of us,” he said quietly. “My father... he’s not exactly supportive.”

Something in his tone made my chest tighten. I recognized that pain, that longing for approval. It was all too familiar. My own father was never satisfied no matter how hard I worked to fill the shoes he’d created for me. Living up to the title of pack Alpha wasn’t exactly an easy task, and he didn’t make it any easier.

“Look,” I said, softening my voice. “I appreciate what you did. Not many would stick their neck out for a werewolf.”

Caden’s eyes met mine, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Like I said, it was the right thing to do.”

We stood there for a moment, an awkward silence stretching between us. I found myself studying his features - the smattering of freckles across his nose, the way his blue eyes seemed to shimmer with an inner light. He was... pretty, in a way I’d never noticed in a guy before.

Shaking off the thought, I cleared my throat. “I should hit the showers. You probably have work to do.”

Caden nodded, taking a step back. “Right, of course. I’ll just... get back to it I guess.”

I stopped him, holding out my hand. “My name is Atlas Faolan,” I said.

“Caden Cromwell,” he said automatically, taking my hand. “You… You already knew that.”

“Yes, I did,” I grinned. “And now I know what wolfsbane smells like, so I can avoid that thanks to you.”

As our hands connected, I felt a jolt of electricity shoot up my arm. Caden’s eyes widened, and I knew he felt it too. For a moment, we just stood there, hands clasped, staring at each other.

“I... I should go,” Caden stammered, pulling his hand away. His cheeks were flushed, and he couldn’t seem to meet my eyes.

“Wait,” I said, surprising myself. “Maybe we could grab coffee sometime? You know, so I can properly thank you for saving my ass.”

Caden looked up at me, shock evident on his face. “You... you want to have coffee with me? A witch?”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool even as my heart raced. “Why not? You’re not like other witches I’ve met. Plus, I owe you one.”

A small smile played at the corners of Caden’s mouth. “Okay,” he said softly. “Coffee sounds nice.”

We set a time for the following day, and as Caden left the locker room, I couldn’t help but watch him go. There was something about him that intrigued me, drew me in. It was dangerous territory, I knew. A werewolf and a witch - it was unheard of, forbidden even. But as I watched Caden’s retreating form, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt towards him.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to focus. The full moon was approaching, and with it, the annual pack gathering where I was expected to prove myself worthy of becoming the next Alpha. There was no room for distractions, especially not in the form of a shy, blue-eyed witch, and a man at that. We’d be lucky if we even became friends.

As I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my muscles, I tried to push thoughts of Caden from my mind. But his scent lingered, earthy and electric, impossible to ignore. My wolf stirred restlessly, confused by the conflicting emotions.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let the water wash away the sweat and grime of the match. Tomorrow, I told myself. Tomorrow I’d have coffee with Caden, thank him properly, and then put this strange attraction behind me. It was the only sensible thing to do. The only choice I had.

But as I dried off and dressed, a small part of me couldn’t help but look forward to seeing those piercing blue eyes again.