Chapter 2

Joy’s POV

“You saw him?” Dante asked, sliding into the cafeteria booth across from me, his tray clattering down. He leaned in and brushed a quick, familiar kiss against my lips.

Sigh.

Perfect Beta. Occasional boyfriend. Perpetual heartthrob.

Yeah, boyfriend. Technically.

Our arrangement was... convenient. Open. Mostly for show. We were fake-dating—an open, staged relationship with no strings attached. Dante played the campus Casanova till the Moon Goddess handed him a mate, and I ? I used the charade to rebel against my pack and shut down their relentless “nerd” branding once and for all.

Nothing screams rebellion louder than the 'nerdy Alpha princess' locking lips with the school's bad ass flirt.

Call it petty. Call it performance art. Either way, it kept the “Where’s your mate?” vultures at bay.

“No, I haven’t seen him,” I muttered, stabbing at my limp salad. “But if I hear another girl squeal ‘Lex’ like he’s some goddamn star, I might actually vomit.”

Dante smirked. “Hot stuff,” he said, voice all breathy and sinful.

A fry smacked his forehead before he could finish that thought. “Ew. Fuck you, Joy !”

“You wish,” I rolled my eyes. He did the same.

“I ran a quick background check,” he said, smirking as he leaned in.

“You mean you flirted with someone in the admin building ?”

“Semantics,” he shrugged, dodging another fry. “Anyway, guess what ?”

I arched a brow. “Let me guess. He’s a six-foot golden god with a tragic backstory and an eight-pack you could cry on?”

Dante’s grin stretched devilishly. “He’s the Alpha of the Water Moon Pack.”

I paused mid-bite. “So ?”

Dante gasped like I’d slapped him. “Joy. The Water Moon Pack. The pack of celestial beauty and unbearable abs ! The Instagram-filtered werewolves ! You have to know the stories.”

I blinked slowly. “You mean the fairytale barbies with bite? Not impressed.”

“Not impressed?” he choked. “Have you seen their Beta ? The guy looks like he was sculpted by Michelangelo, then dipped in testosterone. They are all Greek Gods and Goddesses gracing us with their beauty – er – I mean presence !”

“So, you’re saying the Alpha’s just a pretty boy with a fan club ?” I teased, knowing full well it would rile him.

He fell for it. “The Water Moon Pack is not weak, Joy. They’re second only to us. Their Alpha being here ? That’s not coincidence—it’s a statement. And it’s dangerous.”

His voice dropped, all amusement wiped clean.

I sighed, leaning back. “Alright, alright. Get word to Mom. Tell her to deploy a few of our shadow warriors to campus. I’ll ask Dad Lucan to activate the standby command unit.”

Dante’s eyes widened slightly. “You sure?”

I nodded. “If the Water Moon Alpha wants to dance, I’ll set the music.”

He grinned. “Just don’t blow our human cover while you’re out there trying to flex.”

“Oh please,” I smirked. “I’m not flexing. I’m just letting ‘Hot Stuff’ know this university already has a Queen.”

And it’s not the one panting after his abs.