Chapter 39 Hayden's Absence
Phoebe
Hayden hadn’t shown up since our last argument.
Coach Cooper only said that Hayden had some business to take care of in his pack.
At Livingstone, every werewolf student was allowed to take a leave of absence whenever their pack had a special event or an important matter to attend to.
That was one of the things I liked about Livingstone.
Even without Hayden, we still had Zion as his substitute.
Coach Cooper trusted him to take Hayden’s place. For a guy with a rebellious streak, he was surprisingly good at leading.
It honestly caught me off guard.
“Bush 123, there’s Chou,” Zion short-called me.
Zion’s macro skills were sharp—of course, they had to be since he was our team’s roamer. He needed a broad vision to watch over me and our damage dealer, Finley, who was vulnerable to ganks.
“Damn it, they caught the moment,” Zion cursed when the enemy team turned the tables on us.
I cursed too, just as Adonis’ gaze fell on me.
“What?”
“Looks like our little mate is getting more fluent in cursing. You’re a bad influence, Zion.” Adonis chuckled.
“And you’re not?” Zion scoffed. “You literally got rid of Hayden. Now I have to deal with the mess.”
“What else could I do? You’re the only one in the team who can replace Hayden,” Finley chimed in.
I had to admit, even though they were talking about Zion’s skills, I didn’t entirely agree. Hayden’s analysis and sharp predictions were a massive advantage for our team.
After practice, Zion stayed behind to clean up the equipment.
It was already half-past ten at night, and I decided to keep him company in the training room.
My mind was still unsettled about Hayden’s absence, and Zion was the only one I could ask.
He always had a way of offering perspective when my thoughts were a mess.
“Let’s go to your room. This time, I want to do it the normal way—not through the window.” Zion slung an arm around my shoulders.
“Yeah, for once. Though I gotta say, I’ve grown fond of our usual way. Feels like it’s part of you.” I chuckled.
When we arrived at my room, I turned on the heater—only to find out it was broken. Great.
The cold immediately started creeping in.
As if sensing my discomfort, Zion, who had been standing by the window, walked over to me.
He wrapped his arms around me.
Nothing could compare to the warmth of Zion’s embrace.
It was as if his body was a natural heater made just for me.
“Want me to stay the night? That thing definitely needs fixing.”
“Would you mind?”
“I’d love it if you asked. Makes me want to mark you even more, Phoebe.”
“Then why don’t you?”
“Not yet. Not before Hayden. I don’t know why, but my gut tells me to wait.”
“Is Hayden really avoiding me?”
“Yes and no. Do you miss him?”
“I don’t know. He looked really angry. Should I feel guilty? He’s the one who cheated—kissing another she-wolf like it was nothing.”
“Listen, Phoebe. Men act rationally—there’s always a reason behind what they do.
Did you even let him explain himself?”
“No.”
“That’s your mistake. No matter how bad his actions seem, you should at least give him the chance to explain.”
“Yeah… I’ll think about it, Zion. Now, let’s sleep. I’m exhausted.”
\---
Livingstone was finally holding its annual study tour, and this time, our destination was Yellowstone National Park.
The topic was interesting—geothermal ecology and wildlife studies.
Finley and I, both taking biology, were excited.
It wasn’t just an opportunity to learn, but also a chance to get away from all the chaos with Hayden.
Three days later, we set off in two buses.
The trip was lively—our classmates were chatting away or listening to music through their earphones.
I sat next to Finley, and we spent the ride planning how we’d explore the national park.
When we arrived, we were assigned to our rooms.
I was placed with Tyler and Vincent—two other students from my biology class.
Finley, on the other hand, had to share a room with a few other guys.
I was a little disappointed.
I had hoped we’d be in the same room.
The moment we stepped inside, I noticed two single beds and a bunk bed in the corner.
Tyler threw his bag on one of the singles and turned to us.
“Alright, let’s set some ground rules—especially for the closet space and bathroom turns,” Tyler announced, folding his arms.
“Agreed,” Vincent added. “I don’t want any fights.”
I chuckled. “Relax, I can shower last.”
Vincent raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? I thought you’d be the rigid type.”
“Nope, you got me wrong. I’m pretty flexible.” I grinned.
Tyler nodded. “Alright, so the order is me first, then Vincent, and you last, Phoenix.”
I nodded. It didn’t bother me—I wasn’t fussy about showering, and I didn’t want them finding out my secret.
Dinner was served in the lodge’s dining hall.
Finley and I picked a table by the window, where we had a perfect view of the towering pine trees against the darkening sky.
I had just scooped up a spoonful of hot soup when the sound of approaching footsteps made me look up.
I nearly choked.
Standing at the entrance of the dining hall—two figures who had absolutely no reason to be here.
Adonis and Zion.
I blinked, thinking I was seeing things.
But no, they were really there, clad in black leather jackets and dark jeans, standing out among the other students.
“What the hell are they doing here?” I whispered to Finley.
Finley, who had also noticed them, just shrugged. “Maybe they missed you?” he teased.
I didn’t get the chance to respond before Adonis and Zion confidently strode toward me.
I could feel the eyes of my classmates following them, drawn by their dominating presence.
“Phoenix,” Zion greeted, his deep voice carrying a teasing lilt.
I rolled my eyes. “You two aren’t even part of this trip. What are you doing here?”
Adonis smirked. “We were in the area and decided to drop by.”
I snorted. “Bullshit.”
Zion chuckled. “Can’t fool you, huh?”
“Obviously not.”
Before I could interrogate them further, Zion casually grabbed my wrist. “Come with us.”
I frowned. “Where to?”
“Somewhere quieter,” Adonis said smoothly, his tone firm yet calm.
I glanced at Finley, who looked a bit concerned.
But I gave him a nod, assuring him I’d be fine.
I knew them—though they had a habit of complicating my life, they wouldn’t harm me.
We walked out of the dining hall, following a stone path to a smaller, more secluded cabin.
Once inside, Zion shut the door behind us, leaving just the three of us in the dimly lit, warm space.
I crossed my arms. “Okay, now you can tell me what the hell you’re doing here.”
Adonis said nothing, his gaze piercing.
Meanwhile, Zion stepped closer, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.
“You know, Phoebe,” he murmured, his fingers tilting my chin, “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while.”
I frowned. “Do what?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he lowered his face toward mine, his lips hovering just inches away.
I held my breath.
Zion was always playful, but this time… this felt different.
There was a seriousness in his gaze, something deeper than just teasing.
“Phoebe…” his voice was barely a whisper. “I want to mark you.”
My blood ran cold.
“What? You said you were waiting for Hayden.” My voice was barely audible.
Zion smiled, but this time, it was sincere. “I did. But holding back is getting harder. Distract me.”
I swallowed hard, my mind spinning.
I had a bond with Hayden.
But I couldn’t deny the connection I had with Zion… and even Adonis.
Adonis finally spoke, his voice low and unwavering. “We know Hayden hasn’t marked you yet, and we also know you’re still confused about your feelings.”
“I’m not confused,” I muttered, avoiding Zion’s now golden gaze.
Zion smirked. “Really? Then why can’t you stay away from us?”
I fell silent.
Because they were right.
Before I could say anything else, Zion leaned in, his lips just grazing my neck.
His breath was warm against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Wait,” I whispered, pressing a hand against his chest.
Zion studied me, his gaze filled with desire, patience… and something else.
“We won’t force you,” Adonis said softly, stepping closer. “We just want you to know we’re here. And when you’re ready…”
“…Are you guys in heat?”