Chapter 1 1

Viola.

I was crashing early that night in my dorm room, dead to the world.

Then I felt this strong hand sliding under my shirt, touching my skin. "How the hell?" I muttered, my heart pounding.

I bolted out of bed and there he was-my ex-boyfriend, half-naked and shirtless, grinning like a creep.

He'd already yanked off my bra! I yelled, scrambling to cover my body and my boobs with my arms. "Are you crazy?" I shouted, totally confused and shocked.

He looked wasted, like he'd downed a whole bottle. He stepped closer and grabbed my waist roughly, his eyes all hungry for me.

His touch burned right through my skin. He cupped my face, leaning in to kiss me, and growled, "I want your body now."

I slapped him hard across the face. "Fuck you! Get out or I'll kill you!" I threatened, my voice shaking with rage.

But he just shoved me down to the floor and climbed on top, his heavy body pinning me. His big hands slipped into my pants while he kissed my neck roughly, whispering nasty stuff.

"I'm gonna take you tonight and then toss you like trash. I'll make you see who I really am. You think you can just break up with me?!"

He had no clue I wasn't fully human. He had no idea he'd just woken the beast inside me.

I grabbed his neck and kicked him off hard. The wolf in me was clawing to get out, but I held it back. I was on school grounds-I couldn't let it happen here.

He wiped the blood from his lip, smirking, but then his buddies burst through the door. Four of them, all piling in to help him strip me down.

I wasn't gonna stand there and let him rape me. Screaming for help? Yeah, right-that wouldn't save me in time.

So I snapped. I smashed their bones, one by one, showing them exactly who was boss. Cracks echoed as I broke arms and legs, my strength surging like fire.

They crawled out of my room on their hands and knees, crying and whimpering like babies.

My ex turned back at the door, his face twisted in fear. "You're a beast!" he spat before they all limped away.

I locked the door behind them, my heart racing, the wolf still howling inside. But I was safe-for now.

Prince Mathew.

My private jet touched down in England. Finally. A weekend of peace-no meetings, no deals, just quiet. I needed it badly.

But before I hit the limo, my phone buzzed like crazy. Alex, my business partner. Couldn't he survive two days without me?

"You've got to be kidding," I muttered into the cold air. I was wiped out, brain-fried. This is close to ignoring it.

I answered anyway, sarcasm thick. "Miss me already? Can't handle the boss seat solo?"

"Sorry, Mathew. I know you just landed, but this is urgent," Alex said, sounding as pissed and beat as me.

Business mode kicked in. "What? Singapore deal tank?"

"No. Listen-don't interrupt. You're in England. I need a huge favor. My daughter Viola's at a private school there. The principal called-she smashed some guy's bones in a fight. I'd fly over, but it's ten hours, and I can't ditch the office. Go talk to him for me. Please."

Viola. Alex's kid. He was like family. "Yeah, okay. Text the details. I'll handle it and call back." Inside, I groaned. I hated kids.

"Thanks, man. You're the best. Owe you big." His relief hit hard.

I hung up, glaring at the limo. "Un-fucking-believable. Not one weekend?" I waved my guard over, slamming the door as I slid in.

I'm an Alpha werewolf, damn it. Wanted to blurt it to Alex: *Hey, surprise-I'm a wolf, and in ten days, on my 25th birthday, I become king of the whole pack.* Yeah, right. He'd freak.

Text came: school address. Then it hit-smashed bones? How does a little girl do that?

"Change of plans," I told the driver. "This place first." Quick fix, then hotel bliss.

Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to the school. Middle of nowhere, looked like a creepy old prison disguised as a castle-dark stone, massive walls.

Why send a kid here? Alex was 32, so Viola had to be young, like 12. Troublemaker, maybe.

Gates creaked open. Eerie silence, no one around. Ghost town vibes. My guards and assistant trailed me to the principal's office.

Then-bam. A fiery girl tore into some cowering boys, yelling like a storm. Wild energy. She spotted me staring and snapped, "What the hell are you looking at? I ain't a zoo monkey-stop gawking!"

My heart slammed. Her scent-vanilla and wild-hit like a drug. Mine. It screamed *mine*.

"Yes, idiot! She's your mate!" my wolf roared in my head.

"No way! Impossible! She's human!" I shot back, mind reeling.

Before I could snap at her, a door flew open. "Viola Alex! Office-now!" the principal barked.

My jaw dropped. *Viola? Alex's daughter?* She wasn't 12. She was a young woman. "That's her?" I asked, stunned.

The principal, twitchy guy, nodded. "Yes, Mr. York. Alex said you'd... handle her this weekend."

"Whoa, hold up. Just here to sort today's mess, not babysit two days."

She stormed in. He waved me inside, slumping at his desk. "You don't get it, Mr. York. Let me explain."

I sighed. "Fine. Talk."

"Viola's a rebel. Troubled. Fights daily-like one of the boys. Today? Nearly broke our star quarterback's arm." He rubbed his temples. "Been here since she was two-started as a kindergarten. Never fit in. Dad visits once a year. She's a genius, but full of rage. So much anger."

Sympathy hit me. Alex's teen slip-up-short fling, surprise kid. Lonely as hell.

"How old?" I cut in.

"Eighteen."

"Shit." Way off. I rubbed my chin. "So she kicked his ass for a reason? Doesn't seem random."

He squirmed. "Yeah. Boyfriend Jake. Caught him kissing another girl."

"Solid reason. Why treat her like a monster?"

"This is just the latest! She's a fireball-yells, curses, smashes stuff. Fights every day. Needs her dad, structure. Not detention-removal. Punish her, tame that beast."

I nodded. Made sense. "So, take her out for a few days? Cool off?"

He chuckled weakly. "Exactly. Exams in two weeks. Won't hurt her. Please-I'm out of ideas. Can't control her."

Shrug. The only way. "Okay. But first, I talk to the ex. His side."

Not a ploy-just curious. See the guy up close.

He called his assistant. Kid showed, got sent for Jake.

Awkward wait. Door opens. In lumbers this giant-built like a tank, pale, blue-eyed. Hand in a cast, face bruised and cut up.

I blurted, "She did *that* to you?!"

Jake flinched at her name. "Yeah! Don't say it. She's a wild animal-a tiger. Hate her. Regret dating her."

I stood, eyeing him head to toe. Calm but hard. "Alright, Jake. Spill. From the start. What happened-why'd she snap like that?"

He gulped, glancing at the principal, eyes wide with fear.