DANIEL'S POV

To say I was agitated would be an understatement. I was seething with anger, irritation, frustration and we'll all the negative emotions out there.

Turning on the shower, I set the water temperature to the coolest, to cool my mind off.

Remembering how Alexander had held Victoria in his arms was enough to make my blood boil with anger.

It wasn't like the kind of anger one feels when his girlfriend is stolen by someone else. It was more of a feeling of loathing that one feels when you know that the person is standing in front of you isn't good enough for your friend. And I know by how Alexander had behaved today, I can't entrust him with Victoria.

Victoria. Oh, Victoria.

What am I gonna do with these constantly increasing feelings for you?

When I had seen her for the first time, sitting in that cafe, sipping on her chocolate shake all alone, I knew my heart had been stolen that day. She looked like a girl from a picture. So enchanting and alluring. It felt like I was being drawn to that girl like a moth is drawn to fire.

Who would've known that she would indeed become a fire for me?

All-day I had been thinking about her that day and it didn't help when it turned out that she was joining the same university as us.

The constant feeling of keeping her beside me started to become so strong, that I broke the first rule of our species that day. I introduced her to our pack and group even without confirming if she was my mate or not.

Yes, I was already whipped, right from the very start. Her seldom sweet smile, her sarcastic remarks, the way she would try her best to keep her sadness at bay, the way she would always look at me like I was her knight in shining armour, almost everything about her was good.

Initially, I thought that these feelings will subside after some time, but I was wrong. The feeling of caring for her, protecting her and treating her as my own only kept increasing.

When Alexander came into the picture, things started to get worse as the thoughts of stealing her away and taking her somewhere else whenever she would choose Alexander over me, started to form in my head. She used to look at me with those goody eyes, but the gaze she always used to look at Alexander was soo much different. I knew she liked him and was falling in love with him. This was turning me more insane than I already was feeling.

I thought keeping my distance from her would help, and thus, I started to remain by her side only when she needed me, but the more distant I became, the needier my conscious self started to turn. What was more interesting was that my wolf never resisted any of my feelings. Though he didn't agree either, it felt like, he was supporting my care and want for her silently.

That day in the forest, when Alexander kissed her in front of me, he was right that I didn't feel any pain, but that didn't mean I didn't feel any anger.

I felt so angry at that time that I was almost convinced to punch my alpha king.

Mate or not mate, all I know is that I love her. I don't know if it's romantic love or any other kind of feeling, since things like kissing her or anything else never crossed my mind and there wasn't a single incident when I checked her out.

I don't know what it was, but it was eating me slowly inside.

I know I told her that I will always remain by her side as a friend, but I don't know if I will be able to keep that promise for too long.

Today also, when I saw Laila hurting her, it was as if I saw red, and if protecting Victoria wouldn't have been the first thing on my mind, I know I would've hurt Laila or might've killed her too.

Increasing the pressure of water, I took the support of the wall before shouting as loud as I could to ease the frustration building in my mind. The perks of having soundproof walls.

It had been 10 minutes already and it still wasn't working. I don't think standing here any longer will work either.

Drying my body quickly, I changed into my knee-length shorts and t-shirt before running out of my room.

As I walked out of my room, I suddenly smelled Victoria's scent from near my room.

'Does that mean she was here? That she wanted to come to me? Did she want to talk to me? Did she need anything? Or was it something else?' I thought before shaking my head to make these thoughts disappear.

'She was Alexander's mate. I don't have any right to think about her like that.' I consoled myself

Jogging out of the house, I took my sprint towards the forest to take a run and cool off my mind.

'I need to stop thinking about her. She is just my friend. She is not my mate. I have a mate out there. I can't love just any other girl. It's ethically wrong. Snap out of it, Daniel!' I kept chanting in my head while jogging.

Noticing that I was almost at the junction of the other town, I sighed before turning around to leave.

But as soon as I turned around, I heard the rustling of leaves from around me.

Looking in the direction from where the noise was coming, I followed the noise and it wasn't long before I spot three men staring back at me.

'Rogues!'

I was about to change into my wolf form to shred them to pieces because if cool water or running can't help me cool my mind off, I am sure killing some rogues would surely do.

However, before I could even take a step forward, they said something so tempting that was too hard to ignore and refute.

"Do you want Victoria for yourself? We can help you with that.

"