This was a bad idea. The thought kept circling in Yuki’s mind, but it was already too late to turn back. She glanced over her shoulder as the main gates of the pack house grew smaller in the distance. The wind rushed through the open windows, whipping her blonde hair across her face as the jeep’s engine rumbled beneath them.

She sat in the passenger seat beside Olivine, the same girl she had barely met properly only hours ago. Staying trapped inside the palace had been slowly suffocating her, so when she spotted Olivine sneaking out, Yuki followed on pure impulse.

Crazy, wasn’t it? But staying cooped up within those walls was driving her nuts.

Olivine looked completely different tonight. She wore a tight black leather skirt that rode high on her thighs, a fitted tank top, and a cropped leather jacket. Gone was the gentle, soft-spoken maid from the forest. In her place was someone bold and rebellious.

Olivine caught Yuki staring and flashed a playful smirk. "Don’t tell me you’re already regretting this. We are not that far yet. I can still drop you off if you want to go back." she teased with an amused smile

Yuki let out a nervous breath. "I am just a bit nervous," she admitted.

"No need to be nervous," Olivine said, eyes fixed on the dark road ahead. "Practically half the campus will be there. You do not do this often, do you?"

Yuki chuckled softly. "Half the campus? Dravenhall is enormous." There was doubt in her voice.

Olivine laughed, the sound bright over the roar of the wind. "Not literally half, but you will definitely see some familiar faces. It is a good chance to make new friends too."Olivine seemed like a free spirit.

Yuki leaned back in her seat, watching the trees blur past. "Sure. Although I have to admit this is my first time sneaking out," she said her gaze drifting to the road watching the fast fleeting images of the trees pass them

Olivine’s eyes widened with genuine surprise. "Really? You are in your second year and eighteen years old. You have never snuck out before?" she gasped in surprise.

"I lived alone on campus before. Parties were never really my thing," Yuki explained. "You seem like one of the few medical students who actually has a party side."

"No one said you cannot be smart and fun at the same time," Olivine replied with a wink. "It is all good as long as my dad does not return early from his shift and notice his jeep is gone."

A small smile tugged at Yuki’s lips. Olivine was definitely more complicated than she first appeared. She took her dad’s jeep without permission. A small smile curled up my lips.

The line of trees eventually gave way to towering city buildings. The jeep turned into an upscale off-campus residential area and came to a stop in front of a large, luxurious suburban home. Even from the outside, the house screamed wealth with its modern glass windows, sleek architecture, and perfectly manicured lawn.

Loud music could be heard from across the street thumping wildly.. Yuki wondered if the neighbours weren’t bothered by the noise. Still, after giving a sweep of the street noticing a bunch of drunk ass and students littering around it was obvious this was a student primary residential area.

Olivine stepped out first. Her hands were tucked in her pockets. She glanced over her shoulder with a smile. "Aren’t you coming out Snow?" She said with a grin that stunned Yuki. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Snow.." she repeated.

"Yeah, Yuki means Snow doesn’t it. We are practically gees now. You shut up about me sneaking out with dad’s geep and you can call me Liv and I’ll take you out whenever you want." Olivine presented a truce before Yuki. She was stunned for a moment. It was rare to have something like this.

Ever since she came to Ravencourt almost everyone saw her as the seductress sister, no one saw her as a medical student with no real healing talent trying to make something of her life. Yuki chuckled softly. "Yuki can work. My name is actually Miyuki. Yuki for short." She explained

Olivine thought about it for a while before she shrugged. "Snow is better. You are elegant like the snow. " she turned and headed inside. That was Yuki’s clue to follow her.

The moment they stepped inside, the party assaulted every sense.

Heavy bass music thumped through the air, vibrating deep inside Yuki’s chest. The living room was in complete chaos. Red Solo cups covered the expensive marble floors, sticky puddles of spilt drinks reflected the flashing coloured lights, and empty alcohol bottles lay scattered across leather sofas. The sharp smell of beer, mixed with perfume, sweat, and faint smoke, hung thick in the air. A broken vase lay shattered in one corner while several expensive paintings hung crooked on the walls.

Through the wide glass doors at the back, Yuki could see the backyard where the real madness was happening by the poolside. String lights crisscrossed overhead like a glowing net. People danced wildly on tables, and others splashed and laughed in the glowing swimming pool. The party outside looked even louder and wilder than inside.

Yuki felt slightly out of place in her simple outfit, which she didn’t have the chance to change when she followed Olivine, but she lifted her chin and kept moving.

They had barely stepped fully inside when a tall, handsome guy with sharp features and a strong alpha aura walked over. He was clearly drunk but still carried himself with confidence. He slung a casual arm around Olivine’s shoulders.

"You are late, Liv," he complained with a lazy grin. His hazel eyes then slid over to Yuki, narrowing with interest. "Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend? Why does she look so familiar? Maybe I have seen her in my dreams."

Olivine rolled her eyes. "Not only in your dreams. She is not your type, so do not even think about it."

He smiled wider, completely unbothered. "That does not stop me from introducing myself." He ran a hand through his messy dark hair and extended the other to Yuki. "Ajax Ashbourne, second son of the Ashbourne Pack Alpha."

Yuki shook his hand reluctantly. "Miyuki Donovan. Second-year medical student."

"Miyuki," he repeated, tasting the name. "That is a beautiful name." He lifted her hand toward his lips, but Olivine shoved him back before he could kiss it.

"That is enough, Ajax," she snapped. She turned to Yuki with a serious look. "Try to have fun tonight, but stay away from guys like Ajax."

"Hey! What does that mean?" Ajax whined as Olivine dragged him toward the stairs. "You were clearly hitting on her."

Their voices faded into the loud music as they disappeared upstairs.

Left on her own, Yuki wandered deeper into the house. She had barely taken a few steps when she came across a couple pressed against the wall near the kitchen. The girl was moaning softly as the guy kissed her neck, his hands roaming boldly under her shirt. The wet sounds of their kisses and heavy breathing made Yuki’s cheeks burn.

The scene instantly dragged her mind back to that morning at the river. Kaden’s hot body pinning her to the grass. His fingers are teasing between her thighs. The way she had shamelessly moaned for him. Heat flooded her core. She pressed her legs together tightly and gulped, trying to push the memory away.

To distract herself, she hurried into the kitchen and grabbed a cold can of fruity alcoholic drink from the fridge. The sharp hiss of the can opening cut through the noise. She tilted her head back and drank deeply. The sweet, cold liquid slid down her throat, but it did nothing to calm the strange warmth still lingering in her body.

She could not stay indoors. Everywhere she looked, people were either making out, grinding against each other, or laughing too loudly while clearly drunk. It felt like the entire house was filled with horny dogs in heat.

Yuki had no choice but to head outside.

The backyard was wilder, but at least the couples here were mostly dancing instead of devouring each other. Coloured lights swayed above the crowd. Music blasted from large speakers near the pool. The air smelled of chlorine, alcohol, and sweat.

Her attention was drawn to a small crowd gathered near the pool. Curious, she walked closer. The water surface rippled violently before a tall, powerfully built figure slowly rose from the pool.

Water cascaded down his broad shoulders and defined chest. His abs flexed with every movement, glistening under the colourful lights. Droplets traced the sharp V-line disappearing into his low-hanging swim trunks. His wet hair was pushed back from his face, revealing sharp, handsome features. The moment he stepped out completely, the crowd erupted into loud cheers and whistles.

He glanced around casually until his eyes suddenly locked onto hers. Yuki’s breath caught in her throat. The corner of his lips curved into a slow, dangerous grin.