<h4>Chapter 49: Stupid Human Shield</h4>


    <strong>Reed POV</strong>


    After my father’s nagging lecture, I should’ve stayed at the pack. Slept like a normal alpha heir ande back in the morning like a decent son. But no—I didn’t.


    My wolf is to me. Stupid animal couldn’t stop thinking about the human.


    This wolf of mine is going tond us in serious trouble one day.


    So I shifted. Ran all the way from my father’s domain back to the neutral zone, where the academy stood—this sick excuse of a ce where vampires and wolves "learn" to coexist. Where humans are nothing more than entertainment. Pets. Toys.


    And I came back just because I wanted to see him.


    Well... my wolf mostly.


    But the second I neared his room, I caught another scent inside. Not his. Not mine. <i>Another.</i>


    My wolf was already on edge from my father’s nagging—telling me to choose someone else, to settle, to pick a Luna like I could just p a mark on anyone and pretend it meant something.


    But we’re still waiting for our mate.


    And she must be something worth our while if the Goddess made us wait this long.


    Sure, we’ve gotten down with other she-wolves. And now, apparently, a human. But none of them <i>were ours</i>. Not the one our wolf craved.


    So now that this human boy had caught our attention, <i>ours</i>, the idea of someone else touching him—especially another filthy person—made my vision go red.


    Furious, I shattered the door.


    And there he was.


    In apromising position. With <i>her</i>.


    I never pegged him as gay, but now seeing him wrapped around some girl made me livid. Not because of her. Not because she was a girl. But because he was <i>mine</i>. And I don’t share.


    His intoxicating scent was tainted—spoiled—by hers. Filthy and bitter.


    And I recognized her instantly.


    She was known. Passed around like a cheap drink at a party. The wolves had taken turns. Even the vampires. They kept her as more than a blood bag—more like a favorite toy. She was "fair game," and to keep the peace, we shared her. Everyone did.


    She was famously known as a good fuck and most wolves took their turns with her, they shared her around during parties sometimes. Heard also she had spark the vampires interest too and was more than a blood bag to them. They also had a piece off her. After all she was fair game so the wolves had to share her with the vampires to avoid confrontation because of a lousy human just because of nice fuck.


    Because in this ce, that’s what humans were for.


    But not him. <i>Not mine</i>.


    He was still untouched—except by that bloodsucking leech.


    Still unbroken by this ce.


    Still burning with fire the rest of us had long since lost.


    And now <i>she</i> was trying to pull him down with her.


    I wanted to rip something apart.


    Because that human boy wasn’t just some pet.


    He was mine.


    And she didn’t deserve to <i>breathe the same air as him</i>.


    She was too filthy for my boy.


    He was still untouched by this ce—still untainted by everyone except that bloodsucking leech.


    Still unbroken. Still burning with the kind of fire that this twisted academy hadn’t managed to smother yet.


    And now <i>her</i>—that filthy rag—was trying to drag him into the same filth she wallowed in.


    I was going to fucking destroy her.


    My wolf and I were in perfect sync—her end hade. That was it.


    But then <i>he</i> stepped in front of her.


    That stupid, reckless boy.


    Trying to shield her from <i>me</i>.


    Trying to hide her with his own body like he could protect her from what I am.


    And that made my blood boil.


    Was he—was he <i>defying me</i>?


    For <i>her</i>?


    That filthy, broken thing?


    Had she bewitched him? Had she sunk her ws into what’s <i>mine</i>?


    She had enticed him.


    Just like she did with the wolves. Just like she did with the vampires.


    But they weren’t stupid enough to <i>im</i> her, fight for her, wage war for her.


    They knew what she was—used her, passed her around, and moved on.


    No one fought for her. No one <i>dared</i>.


    But now?


    Now she had this perfect pathetic little human <i>standing up for her</i>?


    Like she was something to protect?


    Like she was <i>worthy</i>?


    She had him <i>man up</i> for her. And that...


    That made my rage snap into something darker.


    Not just <i>anyone</i>.


    He stood against <strong>me</strong>.


    Me.


    The one he should submit to.


    The one his instincts should <i>recognize</i>—


    His Alpha.


    His better.


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    His master.


    And he dared to shield her from my wrath?


    To bare his teeth—however small—<i>at me</i>?


    All for some used-up, blood-soaked ything?


    She had to go.


    Not tomorrow.


    Now.


    "Please... don’t hurt her."


    He <i>pleaded</i>.


    For <strong>her</strong>.


    Not for himself—never for himself.


    He always stood tall, stubborn and proud, even when he should’ve crumbled.


    Defiant to the core.


    But now—now he was on the edge, voice cracking, eyes desperate... <strong>for her</strong>?


    Not for <i>me</i>.


    Not for what I’d do to him.


    Not for me to let him go whenever I’m pissed at him.


    But her.


    And that <i>broke</i> something in me.


    Shattered whatever was left of my patience.


    Made my wolf howl with betrayal and rage.


    She didn’t deserve his pleas.


    She didn’t earn that look in his eyes.


    That should’ve been mine.


    "Get the fuck out of my way before I destroy you too," I growled, voice low and vibrating with fury.


    He flinched.


    But didn’t move.


    Still standing between me and her like a goddamn shield.


    A human shield. For <i>her</i>.


    I took a step forward, my hands already shifting—ws tearing through skin, bones cracking, fur pushing through. Half-shifted. Half-lost to the rage.


    Yeah, I can half-shift. Especially when I’m furious. And right now? I was a storm about to break.


    But the stupid boy still didn’t budge.


    <i>Still.</i>


    Defying me. For <i>her</i>.


    He had no idea the fire he was ying with.


    I would deal with himter—for his stubbornness. For daring to stand between me and my rage. For siding with <i>her</i>.


    I moved in, about to shove him aside like the reckless child he was, rip the filthy thing he was protecting to pieces—


    When his voice broke through again.


    "Please... please don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything. Just... don’t hurt her."


    <i>Anything.</i>


    That caught me.


    Hit a nerve.


    Stilled the chaos for just a beat.


    My rage blinked, refocused.


    I tilted my head.


    Anything?


    Now <i>that</i>...


    That piqued my interest.