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Blaire backed away further. He hadn’t calmed down at all. In fact, he loomed, sounding as upset as he had at the theater. Even without the physical cues—narrowed eyes, clenching fists, tight jaw—she could sense his tension rising. Is this what he meant when he said he could feel her? She hugged the clothes tightly, as if they could protect her.

Lukas looked exhausted. The heavy dark circles beneath his eyes made it clear he didn’t sleep last night. He didn’t stop coming toward her despite the fear sweeping over her. If he really could feel her, then he would know, right? Why would he still be like this?

Maybe he didn’t care, after all. She snapped at him, “If you hadn’t locked me out, I would’ve been right here in the dorm!”

Lukas clenched his teeth and stepped forward, backing her until her legs bumped the side of his bed as she clutched the clothes in her arms like a shield.

“I didn’t lock you out,” Lukas grated out through clenched teeth.

“B-but… the door was locked, and you didn’t answer!”

He sighed and fisted a hand through his hair, studying her before speaking in a calmer tone. “Where were you?”

Blaire turned her head away to stare at the window in a clear refusal to answer. She could tell him, but why should she roll over and tell him what he wanted when he behaved this way?

Fed up, and clearly not in control of himself, Lukas grabbed her upper arms. She gasped. Instead of hurting her, as she feared for a brief moment, he surprised her by pulling her down to sit on the edge of the bed, falling to his knees between her legs. He looked up into her eyes with clear desperation on his face. He looked tired.

Her chest tightened in a way she couldn’t explain, and she didn’t like it. The look on Lukas’s face made it hurt worse. Could this be his feelings? He wasn’t angry, but this feeling she could only describe as uncertainty and anxiety felt so much worse. She had this overwhelming urge to soothe it.

She sighed and looked down at her lap. “Because no one was around in administration to give me a key, I stayed in Aiden’s room.”

Lukas’s grip tightened on her arms as he growled under his breath, forcing his next words out. “Why did you go to him for help and not someone like Riley?”

Blaire sucked in a breath. “I ran into Riley in the courtyard, and she offered me a place to stay. She wanted to go see Aiden and Seth first, though. She ended up falling asleep, and instead of waking her, I joined her on Aiden’s spare bed after Seth left.”

Lukas stood abruptly and paced the room before stopping and turning to her quickly. “I’m really starting to think you want him.”

Blaire tensed, clutching the clothes in her arms. Where had that come from? How did he get that from what she said?

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I can feel the way you respond to him, and it needs to stop right now.” He growled out the last word.

Oh no, no way was she going to be bossed around like this. She didn’t escape her stepbrother and his control, only to find herself in another controlling situation with someone else she was supposed to be with. Not happening. This was exactly the kind of thing Professor Sinclair worked with her to get past. If she was ever going to consider anything with Lukas, she had to make her boundaries crystal clear, because he obviously didn’t see them if he thought acting this way was okay.

Blaire stood, tossed her clothes aside, and put her hands on her hips. “Where do you get the nerve to tell me who I can or can’t be with?”

Lukas glared at her. “Seriously?” He marched right up to her, getting in her face. “You are my Korrena. You’re only here because of me, and no one else!”

Blaire scoffed and rolled her eyes, which made Lukas turn and resume pacing, his agitation rising more. His alpha behavior was really pissing her off.

“You know, Riley told me relationships can be formed outside of the pairing,” she said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms. She waved a hand. “Even Aiden said it was okay for us not to be together if we didn’t want to be.”

Lukas stopped, turning abruptly to stare at her with his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

Blaire didn’t pay him any attention as she added, “And since you clearly don’t want me, and Aiden has made it clear he does, you can just stay the hell out of my life!”

Lukas raised his voice to shout at her. “Just because your precious Aiden says it’s okay, doesn’t mean it fucking is, and you are mine, so you can get the idea of being with Aiden out of your pretty little head.”

Blaire blinked at him in momentary shock. “Well, what if I’ve already been with him? What then, huh?” Lost in the heat of the moment, she winced the second the words left her mouth. She shouldn’t have said that. Instead of helping the situation, it only served to provoke Lukas.

He lunged at her, putting his hands on her shoulders, taking her down onto his bed. He straddled her waist, staring down at her, breathing heavily.

Blaire stared up at him with wide eyes. Waves of anger rolled off him.

“Tell me what you meant by that.” His cold tone matched the daggers he stared at her.

Blaire looked away from him, turning her head to the side on his pillow, and muttered, “I’m done with this…”

She was exhausted. So fed up with his hot and cold attitude. Sure, she couldn’t accept Aiden, but that didn’t mean she should accept this. This wasn’t what a relationship should be. This was abusive. Controlling. She had never seen Lukas like this, but if this was a prelude to his real self now that she grew closer to him? She didn’t want it. She closed her eyes.