ACADEMYWOLF: TRUE MATE CURSED

Adeline POV

“Where’s your necklace, Adeline?”

My heart literally stopped when my dad noticed I wasn’t wearing Mom’s necklace.

“ I just took it off for a bit, Dad,” I lied smoothly.

I glanced at him, waiting for his reaction. He just scoffed, lips pressed into a thin line.

“How many times do I have to tell you, Adeline? You never take that thing off.” His voice was laced with disappointment.

“Dad, relax. I’m just keeping it safe. I’ll put it back on. Besides, there’s no one else here. Nobody’s gonna know.”

Suddenly, loud banging echoed from the front door. My dad shot up from his seat immediately, and I started to follow him.

“Stay right there,” he ordered sharply.

I didn’t argue and sat back down. As he went outside to check who it was, I could faintly hear the voices of multiple men talking.

“Who is that?” I mumbled, picking at my food.

I waited for what felt like forever, but he didn’t come back. So, I did what any curious person would do, I peeked outside. Two men were talking seriously with my dad, but what caught my attention was the look of pure fear on his face.

Worried sick, I walked out towards them.

“Dad, what’s going on?” I asked.

“Adeline, stay back!” His shout froze me in my tracks.

The two men turned their eyes on me.

“Who are you guys?” I questioned.

“We work for Alpha Caleb. He requests the presence of you and your father at the packhouse since you’re new residents here.”

“Not her. Just me. I’ll go meet Alpha Caleb,” my dad cut in immediately.

Why? Why did Alpha Caleb want to see us? Was it because he saw me with Oliver earlier at school? Was he going to warn my dad to keep me away from his son?

“Dad, I’m coming with you,” I said firmly.

“No. You stay here, Adeline. I’ll be back soon.”

The men opened the car doors parked right in front of our house. Without hesitation, my dad got inside. Wait. What? Was it that easy? Why wasn’t he fighting this?

Without another word, they drove off, leaving me completely alone in the house.

“Why did they take my dad?”

***

I was running around like crazy looking for someone. He wasn’t in class, not in the courtyard, and finally, I spotted him on the basketball court. Oliver and a bunch of guys were in the middle of a game. I marched straight onto the court, right in front of him just as he was about to take a shot.

“Are you insane, Hybrid? Get out of my way,” Oliver spat coldly.

“I need to see your dad,” I blurted out.

“My dad?” He looked me up and down like I was crazy, then burst out laughing. “Why? You trying to flirt with him now?”

My chest was heaving up and down, my breathing heavy with anxiety.

“Just tell me how to find him.”

“You think I’m your personal servant? Why the hell would I listen to you, Hybrid?”

My dad hasn’t come home since those men picked him up last night. I knew this had to be connected to Oliver’s father.

Oliver stepped closer, forcing me to walk backward until I had nowhere else to go.

“Oliver, don’t you dare come any closer!”

“Why? Aren’t you the one begging for my help?”

“I just need to talk to your dad!”

“He’s not here,” he replied bluntly.

The way he looked at me made me freeze. I know we aren’t mates or anything, but damn. How is a girl supposed to ignore that? The top buttons of his shirt were undone, giving me a perfect view of his toned chest.

“What are you staring at, Hybrid?”

“Stop calling me a hybrid! I need to see your dad, Oliver.”

“Hybrid, hybrid, hybrid.” He repeated it over and over, laughing at my frustration.

He was doing this on purpose, pushing every single button I had. I was so furious that without thinking, I slapped him right across the face in front of everyone.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he yelled, touching his cheek.

“I’m not playing games here, Oliver. Your dad sent two goons to pick up my father last night and he hasn’t come back. I need to see him now.”

“What?” His reaction was totally unexpected. He looked genuinely confused.

“My dad sent people to get your dad? Come on, mutt, don’t lie to me.”

“Do you think I’d make this up? I need to see Alpha Caleb, Oliver. Now!”

We’ve moved around so many times before, and we never had issues, just weird stares, but this pack is different. Something is very wrong here.

“I’m busy,” Oliver said dismissively.

He caught a basketball coming his way and started dribbling, acting like my panic was nothing but a nuisance.

“Hey, Hybrid,” Oliver called out again.

“Beat me,” he challenged.

“Really?” I wasn’t in the mood for his stupid games.

“One-on-one. You just need to score one basket. If you do, I’ll take you to my dad.”

Are you kidding me? Play basketball? This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I hate sports. I literally make up excuses every time Dad asks me to go to the gym. But I had no choice. I had to find my dad.

“Fine,” I agreed, even though I already regretted it. How stupid me?

He smirked. The students surrounding us started snickering.

“That girl is crazy. How’s she gonna beat Oliver? He’s the best player in the pack.”

“Figures, that hybrid girl always causes trouble with him.”

Damn it. Why did I agree to this?

“But,” Oliver added, his voice dropping an octave. “If you lose, you do whatever I say.”

I wasn’t going to let him win that easily.

“Okay. Deal.”

***

We stood face-to-face at center court. The ref held the ball, ready to tip-off. This is insane. I don’t even know the rules properly.

“Ready?” the ref called out.

Oliver’s eyes locked onto mine. That arrogant smile told me exactly what he thought, he thought I was nothing.

“Go!”

The ball went up. I jumped, but Oliver snatched it in a split second. He didn’t rush straight to the hoop. Instead, he circled me, taunting me. He didn’t even bother getting close; he just launched it from half-court.

“Three points for Oliver!”

The game just started and he was already dominating. I was pissed, but I refused to quit. I tried stealing the ball, but he was too fast, too strong. He toyed with me, embarrassing me in front of the whole school. The score was 10-0, and I still hadn't touched the ball properly.

“Giving up yet, Hybrid?” He dribbled slowly, grinning like a devil.

Sweat was soaking through my uniform. If I failed here, I’d never know where my dad was.

“Never!” I shouted.

I ripped off my blazer and threw it aside, tying my hair up tightly into a ponytail. For just a second, Oliver stopped moving. He just stared at me, eyes wide like he’d seen a ghost.

“I’m not stopping until I win.”

He was stunned into silence. That was my opening. I used that split second to swipe the ball right out of his hands. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me toward the hoop.

I jumped as high as I possibly could and released the ball. This was it. My only chance.

“Point for Adaline!”

My eyes went wide as I watched the ball go through the net. I did it. I actually scored.