The night sparkled with lights and music as Aria and Lili arrived at Andrew Coleman's mansion. Aria wore a deep emerald-green dress that hugged her curves perfectly, flowing down to just above her knees. The fabric shimmered under the golden chandeliers, catching the light with every movement. Her hair, a cascade of chestnut waves, framed her face, bouncing as she laughed and twirled. Lili looked stunning in a sapphire-blue gown, elegant and daring, with a thigh-high slit that made her heels click confidently against the marble floor. No one would have guessed they were college students. Tonight, they belonged to a world of wealth, glamour, and sophistication. They moved to the dance floor, letting the music carry them. Aria spun gracefully, feeling the cool fabric of her dress brush against her legs. Lili twirled beside her, her laughter ringing out like bells. "This is amazing!" Aria said, her voice almost lost under the rhythm of the live band. "I could get used to this. No lectures, no deadlines... just music and freedom." Lili laughed. "Exactly. Tonight, we're queens of the world." A few men approached, drinks in hand, smiling with a practiced charm. One offered a hand, another attempted a smooth compliment. Aria smiled politely, stepping back. "Not my type," she said quietly to Lili, shaking her head. "I don't do flattery and fake smiles. I like men who... I don't know... actually have substance. Or at least a little challenge." Lili chuckled. "Good for you. Most girls here would throw themselves at every millionaire in a three-mile radius. Not us." Aria smirked. "Exactly. I didn't come here to have trouble with boys, just to unwind." She spun again, letting the skirt of her dress flare. "Some of them are... just ridiculous." "You're right. You'd never survive their arrogance," Lili teased, linking her arm with Aria's as they laughed and danced together. "Besides, someone much better might show up tonight. Someone who actually makes your heart skip." Aria rolled her eyes playfully. "Sure, Lili... let's see who's going to impress me first." They continued dancing, spinning, laughing, and sipping drinks between songs. Aria felt free for the first time in weeks. Every worry, every frustration from her aunt's lectures or college assignments seemed to dissolve into the music and glittering lights. Meanwhile, Kael Ravyn entered the party with Riven, both dressed immaculately in tailored black suits. Kael's presence drew attention, as always. They exchanged polite greetings with a few acquaintances before Kael took a seat beside Andrew Coleman to discuss business matters. Andrew, ever curious, leaned back in his chair and smirked. "So, Kael... you have a girlfriend yet? Or are you into men?" Kael let out a sarcastic laugh. "Even if I were, Andrew... you wouldn't be my type." They chuckled and moved on to talk investments, mergers, and corporate strategy. But Kael's attention wasn't fully on Andrew. His gaze drifted to the dance floor, scanning the crowd, until he froze. There she was. Aria, spinning freely, her chestnut hair flowing like silk and her emerald dress catching the light with every turn. She danced like she owned the world, carefree, confident, radiant. Her laughter rang above the music, infectious and bright. But it wasn't just her dancing that captivated him. Something deep inside stirred, an undeniable pull, magnetic and urgent. He wanted to be near her, compelled in a way he didn't understand. "Kael! Kael!" Andrew's voice broke through his trance. Kael blinked, shaking himself, and excused himself politely. But as he moved, the pull only grew stronger, guiding him across the dance floor. Then it happened. A waitress carrying a tray passed between them, and Kael, lost in the pull, collided with her. Drinks spilled across Aria. "Ahh!" Aria screamed, startling everyone nearby. The waitress gasped and hurried away, apologizing as she went. Aria whipped around to see who had caused the mess, and froze. A pair of ocean-blue eyes met hers. For a heartbeat, time seemed to stop. Their gaze locked, and something unexplainable stirred within both of them, a mix of recognition, excitement, and raw instinct. They didn't know what it was, but they felt it. It wasn't until Lili's voice called, "Aria! Are you okay?" that Aria blinked, snapping back to reality. She glared at the man before her. "Watch where you're going!" she snapped. "Are you blind?!" Her eyes darted to her dress, now soaked with the spilled drink. Great. Borrowed dress, ruined, and I have to return it. She marched off toward the restroom, Lili following. Kael remained frozen, stunned. In Noxvaris, he had always been Alpha, respected, feared, even without his full powers. In the mortal realm, he was a billionaire, commanding influence and respect. Yet none of that mattered here. He couldn't deny it. The attraction he felt wasn't ordinary. Riven tapped his shoulder, smirking knowingly. Kael turned, eyes wide, and Riven's expression said it all: I think you may have found your mate.

"I went through a lot of trouble gathering this information, bro," Riven said, leaning back in the leather chair. "Seems your mate is... a strong one." Kael raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "How are you sure she's my mate?" Riven smirked. "And you're making me go through all this just to find information about someone who might not even be your mate? Or... is this about the way she talked to you that day?" Kael ignored the jab. "Tell me what you gathered." "Well," Riven began, leaning forward, "I found out she's a college student. Her name is Aria Vale.Final year, precisely. She lives with her aunt, her parents are deceased. Now, here's the interesting part: she was born on the exact same day our world was attacked by the enemies, the same day you were given the suppressants." Riven's eyes glimmered with a mix of excitement and awe. "Maybe this is truly fate." Kael ran a hand through his dark hair. "What about her parents? How did they die?" Riven shrugged. "Not much info on that. Only that her mother passed away giving birth to her. She grew up with her father... until he passed. As far as I could tell, her father was just a normal man who taught at a school. No connections to the underworld." Kael leaned back, disbelief flashing across his face. "So... you're saying she's a normal human? How is that possible? How can I, an Alpha, be mated to a human being and an annoying one at that?" Riven let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "I worry for you, brother. Are you sure three months will be enough? She seems... impossible. Hot-headed. Headstrong. She won't make this easy." Kael let out a long, frustrated sigh, spinning a pen between his fingers. "Of course she won't make it easy. Nothing ever does." "You can start by getting close to her first," Riven said, leaning back. "Best to let go of all the tension and focus on the task at hand." Kael's gaze sharpened. "So... what do you suggest I do, exactly? Just get close to... Miss Impossible?" Riven smirked, enjoying the frustration he was causing. "Well, she's in college. You can't exactly go back to school now, can you?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "C'mon, man. Stop teasing." Riven laughed. "Alright, alright. Think about it, why not become her college teacher?" Kael froze, the idea igniting a spark in his eyes. Of course. That's perfect. "Yes... that's it. That's the best way to do it. I'll find out her class, her schedule... pull the strings to get close." His mind raced with possibilities. Riven leaned back, nodding approvingly. "With your status and influence? That won't even be hard. The real challenge... will be dealing with her stubborn streak." Kael's lips curved into a thin smile, dark and determined. "Stubborn streak or not... I will make it work. She's mine, Riven. Whether she likes it or not." Riven tapped away at his tablet, the soft glow reflecting off his amused expression. After a few hours, he let out a low chuckle. "Well," he said casually, turning the screen toward Kael, "that was easier than I thought." Kael's eyes flicked to the screen, scanning the details. Visiting Lecturer , Department of Business and Economics. Everything had been arranged under a carefully crafted identity. "You already pulled the job?" Kael asked. Riven shrugged. "With your influence in the mortal realm, all it took was one call. The college board was more than happy to have a 'distinguished businessman' share his experience with their students." He smirked. "You start next week." Kael leaned back, exhaling slowly. "So it begins." Riven studied him for a moment, then spoke more seriously. "Listen, brother. I know what's at stake here-the throne, the pack, the pressure but you need to take this easy." Kael shot him a look. "Easy?" "Yes," Riven said firmly. "No alpha commands, no intimidating stares, no forcing things. She's not part of our world. Yet." Kael's jaw tightened. "I don't plan to scare her." "Good," Riven replied. "Because the moment she feels cornered, she'll bolt. And from everything I've learned about her... she's not the type to be controlled." Kael went silent, remembering the fire in her eyes the night of the party. The way she had scolded him without hesitation. The way she had walked away as if he were the insignificant one. "She didn't bow," he murmured. "Not even for a second." Riven smiled knowingly. "Exactly. So let her come to you. Observe her. Learn her habits. Get close but don't push." Kael's fingers curled slowly into a fist. "And if the bond reacts?" Riven's expression softened. "Then you endure it. Suppressed or not, the mate bond is powerful. But if you rush it, you could trigger something neither of you are ready for." Kael looked away, staring into the distance. "I don't even know if she can feel it." "Maybe she can't," Riven said. "Or maybe she's been taught not to believe in it. Either way, your job is simple, blend in. Be human." Kael let out a dry laugh. "An alpha pretending to teach humans. Funny how fate works." Riven stood, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder. "Just remember, you're not there as an Alpha. You're there as a man searching for answers. Let things unfold naturally." Kael nodded slowly. "Three months," he said under his breath. "That's all I have." Riven smirked. "Plenty of time to fall into trouble." Kael's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. "Trouble already found me. I just didn't know her name yet." And somewhere in the mortal realm, Aria lived her life unaware that the man destined to change everything had already stepped into her world-quietly, deliberately, and bound by a pull neither of them could escape.

"I can't wait to be f*ck*ng done with this school," Aria said loudly as she strode down the student hall, her bag slung carelessly over one shoulder. A few heads turned, but she didn't care. "Same," Lili replied with a tired groan, adjusting her glasses. "Final year is a mess. Projects, presentations, deadlines, I barely have time for myself anymore." Aria scoffed. "Time for yourself? I barely have time to breathe. Every lecturer suddenly thinks their course is the most important thing in the world." They weaved through clusters of students, the hallway buzzing with chatter and footsteps. The walls were plastered with final-year notices, internship opportunities, and graduation countdown posters, constant reminders that the end was near. Lili glanced sideways at her. "So... what happened when you returned the dress?" Aria rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ah. Madam Penelope." Lili winced. "Oh no." "You know how she is," Aria continued. "I managed to calm her down eventually, but instead of the fifty percent discount she promised, she gave me just thirty." "That's still something," Lili said. "True," Aria admitted. "Especially since the drink practically murdered the dress. But I swear, I'm not exaggerating, she almost screamed the building down when she saw the stain. I thought she was going to faint." Lili laughed. "That woman treats her clothes like they're her children." "I paid extra just to escape alive," Aria muttered. "So yeah, thirty percent was a miracle." They laughed and kept walking. Then Lili's smile turned mischievous. "So," she said slowly, "tell me about him." Aria frowned. "Him who?" Lili stopped abruptly and stepped right in front of her, blocking her path. She folded her arms and started nodding, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Don't play dumb. The guy at the party." Aria groaned. "Lili, seriously..." "Nope." Lili shook her head. "You were staring at him like you'd just seen a ghost. Or a god. One of the two." "That's not true," Aria protested. "Really?" Lili raised a brow. "Because from where I stood, you forgot how to blink." Aria scoffed and tried to step around her. "He was just some guy who bumped into me and ruined my dress. That's it." "And?" Lili pressed. "And I had to pay extra for the damage," Aria snapped. "If I ever see him again, he's refunding my money. End of story." Lili smirked. "From his appearance, he looked rich." "He better be," Aria replied flatly. "Because I didn't suffer Madam Penelope's wrath for nothing." Lili laughed and finally moved aside. "Alright, alright. I'll let it go. For now." They continued walking until they reached their lecture hall. Students were already filing in, the room buzzing with low conversations and the scraping of chairs. They took their usual seats, settling near the middle. "After this lecture, we're grabbing lunch," Lili said, pulling out her notebook. "I'm starving." Aria nodded absentmindedly, already pulling out her phone. "As long as it's not the cafeteria food again." Before Lili could reply, the low hum in the room suddenly died down. The door opened. A middle-aged man, one of the department staff walked in and cleared his throat. "Good morning," he said, his voice carrying easily across the room. "Before we begin today's lecture, I'd like to introduce someone." The room stirred with curiosity. "This semester, you'll be having a visiting lecturer taking you for this course," the man continued. "He comes highly recommended, with years of experience in both academics and the business world." Aria barely listened. Visiting lecturers were common in final year. Then the man stepped aside. "And without further ado," he said, "please welcome Mr. Kael Ravyn" The moment he walked in, the room fell into complete silence. Aria froze. Her breath caught painfully in her throat. No. No way. He was dressed differently this time, sharp, composed, every inch the image of authority. A tailored dark shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms. His presence alone seemed to shift the air in the room. But there was no mistaking those eyes. Ocean-deep. Intense. Familiar. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs. It's him. Beside her, Lili s*ck*d in a sharp breath. Slowly, she turned to Aria. Aria turned too. Their eyes met. Wide. Disbelieving. This was the man from the party. The same man who had stared at her like the world had narrowed to just the two of them. The same man who had collided with a waitress and soaked her borrowed dress. The same man she had scolded without hesitation. Now he stood at the front of the class. As her lecturer. Kael's gaze swept across the room calmly, professionally, until it stopped. On her. For just a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes. Recognition. Surprise. Something darker. Aria's stomach dropped. He recovered almost immediately, schooling his expression into one of cool indifference. But it was too late. She had seen it. Lili leaned closer and whispered urgently, "Aria... tell me I'm hallucinating." Aria swallowed hard. "If you are, then we both are." Kael turned to the staff member, exchanging a few quiet words before stepping fully forward. "Good morning," he said, his voice deep, smooth, dangerously calm. "I'll be taking you for this course for the remainder of the semester." Aria felt heat crawl up her spine. You've got to be kidding me. Kael picked up a marker and wrote his name neatly on the board. MR. KAEL RAVYN. The letters looked far too permanent. He turned back to face the class. "I expect professionalism," he continued. "Attendance, participation, and discipline will not be optional." His eyes flicked, just briefly back to Aria. "And distractions," he added calmly, "will not be tolerated." Aria's jaw clenched. Lili covered her mouth, barely holding in her laughter. "Well," she whispered, "looks like you found the guy who owes you money." Aria didn't laugh. Her instincts were screaming. Because beneath the shock, beneath the annoyance, beneath the ridiculousness of the situation... Something was stirring. Unfamiliar. Unsettling. And for reasons she couldn't explain, being in the same room as Kael Ravyn suddenly felt like standing at the edge of something dangerous, something that was only just beginning.