"Back away from her."

The cold voice boomed through the alley and everything seemed to stop. Yuki’s heart slammed against her ribs as her gaze drifted over the attacker’s shoulder toward the club entrance. A tall figure stood in the shadows, but his blue eyes gleamed in the dim light.

"Mind your bloody business," the tall man hissed, annoyed by the interruption. The words had barely left his mouth when an overwhelming pressure slammed down on him. The newcomer had released a strong pressure that suppressed their wolves.

Yuki could tell the man pinning her was a strong warrior, yet he could not withstand the pressure the newcomer was releasing.

The figure stepped into the light and the alley lamps fell across his face catching that perfect jawline and a face that could make someone weak to their knees. It was Kieran. Yuki’s breath hitched.

"I said back away," Kieran repeated, his gaze was ice cold. "I don’t like repeating my words." The pure force coming from him was so heavy that the warrior dropped to his knees and Yuki’s own legs turned to jelly beneath her.

Kieran’s face looked dark. She had never seen him this angry or felt such an aura before. It was heavier than any average alpha, and the realisation struck her hard. Her heart raced with a sharp pain as she understood once again how far apart their worlds really were.

Kieran approached with his hands tucked in his pockets. Yuki was surprised he had come after her at all. He remained calm on the surface, but his gaze moved over them with an unreadable expression.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked, his gaze locked on her in a way that made her nervous.

Yuki was too scared to answer or even meet his eyes. Before she could force any words out, the warrior spoke up. "I didn’t touch her," he said, looking completely pathetic on his knees.

Kieran barely spared the warrior a glance, like he wasn’t worth his time. A breathless scoff left his lips, "I wasn’t talking to you." He reached down and helped Yuki up gently. "Are you alright?" he asked again. His gaze softened for a moment.

Yuki was taken aback by the sudden change in demeanour, She managed to give him a nod. Kieran’s gaze darted around her from head to toes. Yuki shrank under his gaze. She had never had this much attention from him and seeing his face so close, it made her heart race.

She was nervous that he could hear her heartbeat. Even in the face of danger he still made her flustered then she remembered he had someone on his heart. Her heart ached at the thought that she was completely hopeless.

Kieran heard Yuki’s heartbeat. His brows furrowed but he didn’t think much about it. Once he confirmed she was fine aside from her racing he attributed to fright, his attention snapped back to the man still cowering on the ground. His gaze instantly turned icy. "Get out," he barked in that cold tone.

The warrior did not wait to be told twice. He had never felt such a presence and knew instantly this man was not from around here. "Thank you," he blurted out, tripping over himself as he scrambled away. He did not stop running until he disappeared from sight.

Yuki stared at his retreating figure until he was gone. Then she felt a light touch on her cheek as Kieran brushed under her eyes. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"You were crying," he said gently. His aura had changed completely. The terrifying pressure vanished and the gentle senior she knew returned.

Yuki backed away quickly and pressed her back against the wall, startled by the sudden closeness. "I wasn’t crying," she lied through her teeth.

Kieran arched a brow at her in a questioning manner. "You were." He sighed, looking tired. "Is it because of Maverick? You should not cry for a man who is not your mate. It is not worth it." He spoke with genuine concern.

Yuki could not bring herself to tell him the truth. Her tears had nothing to do with Maverick and were all because of him. The more she thought about it the more the bitter feeling in her chest grew.

Her cheeks burned again with fresh embarrassment as memories of the party flooded back. The way she had shoved that gift bag at Maverick in front of everyone. The way Kieran had looked at her when he realised what was happening. And worse, the small smile on his face when they mentioned his childhood sweetheart.

Her stomach twisted with nervousness all over again. Here he was standing so close after saving her, and all she could think about was how pathetic she must seem to him right now.

"Thank you, Senior Kieran," she whispered instead, keeping her eyes on the ground. "I should go."

She turned to leave but his voice stopped her. "Yuki, wait." His voice stopped her and her traitorous heart skipped a beat.

She paused without looking back. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it. The alcohol still made her head spin and the mix of shame and leftover fear made it hard to breathe steadily. He had someone waiting for him back at his pack. A mate. She had no right to stand here feeling this way.

"You should not walk alone at night," he said. "Let me drive you back to campus. It is pretty far." he offered. Yuki pressed her eyes together.

’ Why was he doing this to her?’ She couldn’t help but wonder. She didn’t want to mistake his kindness for something else

Yuki swallowed hard and finally glanced at him. Those striking blue eyes watched her with quiet worry, and for one foolish second her chest tightened with the same old pull she could never escape.

She should have said no. It was the best option but the thought of spending more time with him was so tempting that she couldn’t say no. She nodded. "That would be nice but I don’t want you to get out of your way."

His lips curved upwards and the light reached his eyes. He smiled at her and that was enough to leave her smitten. "It’s no big deal. I love a drive around campus for one last time before I leave," he explained.

She didn’t ask any other questions and followed him out of the alley. The enter a busy street, this area was popular among students making it a bit rowdy even late at night. "This way." He urged her to walk towards a sleek Aston Martin parked on the road.

He unlocked the car. Yuki reached for the door but she had never driven in something this luxurious before and didn’t understand the mechanism

Kieran was about to step in when he noticed her dilemma without a word he walked over and pulled it open. "Sorry about that." He muttered. Yuki bit her lips feeling embarrassed, she bowed her head and got in.

Kieran got in and stepped on the accelerator as the car pulled out of the curb. Yuki shrank back in her seat overwhelmed by being in his car, every inch reeked of him in a good way. The cool woody scent with an addictive cedar undertone.

Kieran was concentrating on driving, having no idea that Yuki was lost in her mind just being this close. The ride continued in awkward silence, Yuki’s head was spinning from the alcohol. She tried to distract herself from the dizzy spells by stealing glances at Kieran

Watching the way the street light cut across his face and how his eyes caught the light. She started daydreaming about what his wolf looked like...

But all good things must come to an end. She was completely lost. She didn’t realise when his car stopped in front of her hostel or the fact that she was leaning towards him.

The alcohol had also started to mess with her head.

Kieran stopped the car. "We are here.." he said then turned towards Yuki. She didn’t have her seat belt strapped on. When he turned their lips practically brushed against each other’s. Kieran gasped as a spark jolted through him with his heart faltering for a moment

"What are you doing?" He gasped trying to pull away, Yuki’s hand shot out and grabbed his collar stopping him from moving away. Confusion flooded his gaze, he couldn’t understand what was going through her head.

"Yuki.." he called out softly. Yuki was completely intoxicated by him and the alcohol and was out of it.

She leaned forward calling his name in a sultry tone. "Kieran.." he called. "If I had confessed to you instead of Maverick would you have accepted?" She asked.

He frowned of course he would have refused. He already had a mate. "Sorry I have..." Yuki already understood the look in his eyes and didn’t want to hear it.

"Fuck it Kieran can’t you just lie for once?" she cut him off which stunned him completely. A shift of his calibre was never addressed in such a tone, still puzzled by the girl before him Kieran didn’t see it coming or expect it in the least way.

Something flashed in Yuki’s eyes and she yanked him forward, crashing her lips against his.

Her very first kiss