Chapter 38 (Not) Your Second Choice
Phoebe
I woke up to a warmth that wasn’t entirely my own. My body felt different—lighter, yet more aware. There was an unfamiliar energy flowing through me, making every breath feel like a revelation. And then, I remembered.
Adonis had marked me.
Instinctively, my fingers brushed over the fresh mark on my neck, the faint warmth still pulsing where his fangs had pierced my skin. It didn’t hurt. Instead, there was something oddly soothing about it—an intoxicating sensation, like I had finally found my place.
Beside me, Adonis stirred, his arm still wrapped protectively around my waist. When our eyes met, an understanding flickered across his face.
“How do you feel?”
His voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He looked at me with those clear green eyes—like polished emeralds. Without his glasses, his gaze was even more mesmerizing, and it hit me then: I liked that color.
He moved closer, making me hold my breath without realizing it. There was something so magnetic about the way he looked at me, something indescribable, yet enough to make this morning feel a little more magical.
Moon Goddess, why do they all have to be so damn irresistible?
But then my thoughts drifted to Hayden.
Last night, I heard his voice outside this room. He was shouting my name, cursing Adonis in a fit of rage.
It was Finley who eventually calmed him down, and after that, I didn’t hear anything else. At that moment, my anger toward Hayden had peaked—I truly wished he would disappear from my life.
So why was I thinking about him now?
Had I really been so desperate that I used Adonis just to make Hayden jealous?
I shouldn’t be wasting my time wondering whether he thought about me or not. He was probably busy dealing with that she-wolf anyway. In the end, they were betrothed to each other.
“I can feel your frustration, Phoebe.”
I flinched. “Is it that obvious? Did I just growl?”
Adonis smirked. “No, but I can feel it. Mate, remember?”
His fingers brushed against the fresh mark on my neck. I had almost forgotten about that part. I slowly touched it, feeling the lingering warmth that had now faded.
Adonis’ mark felt entirely different from Finley’s. When Finley had first marked me, the pain was excruciating—like I was burning from the inside. My neck muscles had tensed, my body resisting his power, yet at the same time, his Alpha seed had soothed me. Even so, the pain was still five times worse than menstrual cramps.
“My mark is on the right side of your neck, Finley’s is on the left,” Adonis noted casually. “That means we just have Zion left... and the troublesome one, Hayden.”
I let out a scoff. The way he said Hayden’s name so nonchalantly irked me a little. But what could I do?
Hayden was my mate, too.
“I think I need to distract you, Phoebe.”
I looked at him, then sighed. “Yeah, it’s hard because… I still have feelings for Hayden. I’m sorry, Adonis. I didn’t mean to bring him up.”
“Hey, we’re not dating. I’d rather be banned from training for a week than be in a relationship with any she-wolf.” He looked at me pointedly. “Sorry, no offense.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why? Are you traumatized by an ex-girlfriend?”
“I’ve never dated anyone, and I never will. I don’t get emotionally involved in relationships.”
“Whatever you say, Adonis. We clearly have different views on that.”
Adonis just smirked. Whatever. He could think whatever he wanted. At least he wasn’t hurting me the way Hayden had.
I suddenly remembered that I had a gym class today, so I quickly got out of his bed. Adonis didn’t move, just watched me with that unreadable smirk, like a real-life Mona Lisa painting, as I waved at him before leaving.
On my way back to my room, I slowed down as I passed Hayden’s door. I didn’t want to see him this morning.
But someone suddenly tapped my shoulder. Reflexively, I turned around and found Zion standing there with his usual grin. Without thinking, I punched his arm.
“You scared me, Zion!”
“You guys are fighting, huh?” he asked, studying me closely.
I sighed. “Yeah. His lips are way too easy for another she-wolf to reach.”
Zion chuckled. “Typical girls. You get kissed by all of us, but we don’t get jealous.”
“Oh, come on! That’s different!” I groaned. “Try being a little more sensitive, you idiot. Anyway, I need to go. I have gym class.”
“Bye, mate.”
I thought I’d have a peaceful day.
At least until he ruined it.
Hayden came to my class. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and dragged me out. Everyone watched us in shock as we walked toward the dorms.
“We need to talk,” he said firmly.
“There’s nothing to talk about. Everything is crystal clear,” I replied coldly. “You didn’t push Lily away when she kissed you… you even enjoyed it. Damn it!”
“Phoebe, it wasn’t like that.”
“Oh? So what was it? Did you get amnesia? Have DID like Adonis? Or were you just acting?”
“Let me explain! I love you,” Hayden said, his voice almost pleading. “I should have—”
“You should have what?” I cut him off, fury boiling inside me. “You should have chosen me? You should have fought for me?” I laughed bitterly. “You never did, Hayden. You didn’t even try.”
His hands clenched at his sides, trembling. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is simple.” My throat tightened, but I refused to break in front of him. “You had a choice—to fight for me, to claim me. But you let your father decide your fate. You let Lily take my place.”
“She never—” His face paled. “Phoebe, that’s not—”
“I don’t care anymore.” The words felt foreign on my tongue, but I knew they were true. “I’m done being your second choice. I have to go to class. Don’t look for me again.”
He didn’t stop me. But I heard him curse under his breath as I walked away.
Back in class, I tried to shake off the turmoil inside me. Finley arrived a few minutes later with the Biology class rep and handed me a carton of milk.
“For some extra energy, Phoebe.”
I gave him a small, reluctant smile and took the milk. At least I had Finley, who always knew how to diffuse the tension and shift the focus away from me. Thanks to him, I managed to get through the day in peace.
That peace didn’t last long.
As soon as training started, I felt the tension in the air.
And the moment Hayden walked in, the tension skyrocketed.
This time, his expression was different. Cold. Unreadable.
But he didn’t come to me.
He walked straight to Adonis.
My stomach dropped.
Finley immediately stepped in, blocking Hayden’s path. “Control yourself,” he warned.
“Move,” Hayden said sharply. “I just want to talk to him.”
Adonis, still lounging in his seat, simply shrugged. “If this is about the mark on Phoebe’s neck, I don’t regret it. She’s my mate.”
I bit my lip and stood up. “Hayden—”
“I don’t want to hear anything from you right now,” he cut me off, his eyes burning into mine.
I could feel his anger.
But more than that—I could feel his disappointment.
And that hurt.
“No matter how much you deny it,” Hayden said, still staring at Adonis, “you know she’s not just your mate.”
“I don’t care.” Adonis smirked. “All that matters is that she’s mine now.”
The tension crackled like lightning in the air. Before things escalated further, I stepped between them.
“I made this choice,” I said, meeting Hayden’s gaze one last time. “And I don’t regret it.”
His eyes searched mine, but whatever he was hoping to find, it wasn’t there. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before stepping back.
“Fine,” he murmured, his voice rough. “She’s yours now.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Adonis took my hand, his grip strong and steady. “Are you okay?”
I exhaled slowly and looked at him.
“I will be.”