Claimed by the Wrong Alphas

Charis

I was kissing Kael by the poolside in a dream when I felt someone gently tapping my shoulder.

I blinked, squeezing my eyes shut at the sunlight already filtering through the window. My body still ached from the tension of the night before. My eyes were sore as if I hadn’t just woken up, and the blanket had twisted around me like a cocoon.

The tapping came again, more insistent this time.

I turned my head.

Slater was standing beside the bed, dressed in his pyjama bottoms and a black shirt from the previous day. He didn’t look like he’d gotten any sleep, though. Our eyes met for a moment—his face gave away nothing of what he was thinking or feeling after our fight.

"Get ready," he said. "You’ll be late for breakfast and classes today."

I rubbed my eyes and stretched, still gathering my thoughts. Then it hit me —it was morning and the academy wouldn’t slow down just because I’d had a long night of emotional whiplash. I jumped to my feet, suddenly aware of how much time had passed.

I hurried to the bathroom, and there, waiting on the counter, were a few familiar items: my favourite brand of shower gel, cleanser, toner, and moisturiser, a small tube of lip balm, and a clean comb.

There was deodorant specifically formulated for teenage boys, a masculine-scented body wash and even hair products designed to help maintain a shorter, more masculine hairstyle.

On the corner of the counter, I found fresh clothes waiting for me: a pair of baggy jeans, a casual navy blue button-down shirt, and a baseball cap. It wasn’t so much, but it was enough to warm my heart. Slater had thought about me. Despite everything that had happened between us last night, he was still looking after me.