Chapter 64: ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

ASHER

Monday morning arrived like a punishment.

I was up before my alarm, sitting at my desk in the dark with my Advanced Molecular Biology textbook open in front of me. The words blurred. I read the same paragraph four times and retained nothing because Reed’s voice was still looping somewhere behind my eyes.

’You’re starting to crave me.’

I pressed my palms against my eyes until I saw stars. Stop, study and be useful for something.

By the time the sun came up, I had memorized three full Chapters. I threw myself into my studies with an intensity that scared me a little.

If I couldn’t control my body, if I couldn’t control the bond pulling low in my chest every time Reed was within range, if I couldn’t control the way the entire campus had quietly rearranged itself around the fact of Reed Jackson and me, then I could control this. My grades. The one territory left that was entirely mine, that Reed hadn’t touched, that no amount of dark corridors or equipment rooms or cafeteria ownership could reach.

So I studied, I studied until my eyes burned and my handwriting deteriorated into something only I could read. Until exhaustion finally dragged me under at two, three in the morning, despite the bond humming restlessly in my chest and It barely worked but it worked.

My midterm results came back on Monday.

Perfect scores across the board, top marks in every class. Professor Anthony called me to his desk after Advanced Combat Theory. He looked at my exam paper for a long moment, the way people look at things that surprised them.

“Graham,” he said, looking at my exam. “This is exceptional work. Best in the class by a significant margin.”

Something moved in my chest. Small and warm and so unfamiliar after weeks of nothing but shame that I almost didn’t recognize it.

Pride, real, and clean pride. The kind that belonged to me and no one else, not the bond and not Reed but Mine.

“Thank you, Professor,” I told him with my head bowed in appreciation.

“You’ve always been a strong student, but this semester you’ve truly excelled.” Professor Anthony looked at me over his glasses.

“Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.” He said and I nodded and walked back to my seat and held that small warmth carefully, the way you carry something you’re afraid to drop.

Julian caught me in the hallway after class.

“Top scores again?” he asked, falling into step beside me.

“Yeah,” I said, pride beaming all over my face despite everything.

“Asher, that’s amazing. You’re killing it academically.” Julian’s smile faded. “But are you okay? You look exhausted.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You’re barely sleeping. You’re studying constantly and Reed—” Julian lowered his voice. “He’s still controlling you, isn’t he?”

I didn’t answer.

“Asher—”

“My grades are the only thing I have left, Julian.” The words came out harsher than I intended. “The only thing that’s still mine. So yeah, I’m studying constantly because if I don’t, I have nothing.”

Julian’s expression crumpled. “You have me. You have your friends—”

“Do I?” I looked around the hallway. Students were watching us, some whispering, some laughing. “Because from where I’m standing, I’m completely alone. I’m Reed Jackson’s property. Everyone knows it. No one wants to be associated with me.”

“That’s not true—”

“It is true.” I grabbed my bag. “I have to go. I have a study session.”

“Asher, wait—”

But I was already walking.

Lunch was the worst hour of every day. I sat at Reed’s table like always. His hand found my thigh the moment I was seated, automatic, possessive, the kind of claim that had stopped feeling shocking and started feeling like weather. Something to endure and something to wait out.

I stared at my food and ate mechanically and tried to take up as little space as possible and it almost worked.

“Look at Graham,” one of them said. Loud enough for everyone to hear. “Reed’s little bitch.”

Laughter erupted.

“I heard Reed makes him skip class just to suck his dic—”

“Hey.” Reed’s voice cut through the cafeteria. Cold and dangerous. “You want to finish that sentence?”

The Alpha went pale. “No. Sorry, Jackson.”

“That’s what I thought.” Reed’s hand tightened on my thigh. “Anyone else want to talk about what’s mine?”

Complete silence fell over the cafeteria. Not one student was bold enough to say a word. I sat there, my face burning, staring at my untouched food. Reed’s property. That’s all I was to them and that’s all I’d ever be.

“Eat,” Reed said quietly, just to me and I picked up my fork with shaking hands and ate.

That afternoon I had Biology Lab. I’d been partnered with Casey, a Beta who used to catch my eye in the corridor and give me a wave or a thumbs up whenever I walked past, the kind of quiet low-cost solidarity that means everything when you’re having a bad week. She’d done it since first year. A little gesture that said I see you without asking anything in return. She could barely look at me now.

We worked through the dissection in careful, polite silence with the kind of weight in it that silence gets when both people are avoiding the same subject.

“So,” Casey said as we worked. Her voice was stiff and uncomfortable. “How are you?”

“I am fine.”

“Your midterm scores were impressive.”

“Thanks.”

Silence stretched between us. Awkward and heavy.

“Casey,” I said finally. “You can talk to me normally. I’m still the same person.”

“Are you?” Casey’s eyes flicked to the marks on my throat. Visible despite my hoodie. “Because the Asher I knew wouldn’t let someone treat him like Reed treats you, and that was the reason I had always cheered you from afar and supported you.”

The words stung more than they should have.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” Casey set down her scalpel. “Everyone sees how he controls you. How he summons you and you just go. How he puts his hands on you in public like you’re his possession.”

“It’s complicated—”

“It’s not complicated. It’s humiliating.” Casey’s voice softened. “And I feel bad for you. I really do but I can’t be seen talking to you too much. Reed made it clear that anyone who gets close to you becomes his enemy.”

“Yeah, I know that but he wouldn’t go through with it and that was a long time ago.”

“To you it’s a long time ago but to us it’s still fresh and the way he is around you, it seems the threat is still hovering around the air and everyone knows.” Casey went back to the dissection. “I’m sorry, Asher but that’s just how it is.”

We finished the lab in silence. When the bell rang, she was gone before I’d finished packing my bag.

After classes I went straight to the library.

Third floor, empty study room at the back. I closed the door, spread my books across the full width of the table, and tried to lose myself in organic chemistry. Absorption rates. Molecular bonds that followed their rules every single time without deviation or negotiation.

It almost worked but then my phone buzzed.

Reed: Where are you?

Me: Library. Studying.

Reed: Which floor?

I closed my eyes for just one second.

Me: Third. Study room 304.

Reed: Stay there. I’m coming to you.

My stomach dropped.

Me: Reed, I need to study. Please.

Reed: You can study with me there. Don’t argue.

I set my phone down and stared at my textbook. The words were swimming. I couldn’t focus anymore.

Five minutes later the door opened. Reed walked in and locked it behind him. He was carrying a small bottle.

“You’re studying organic chemistry,” Reed observed. He sat down across from me.

“Yes.” My eyes went to the bottle in his hand.

“What’s that?” I asked

Reed set the bottle on the table between us. “Suppressants. Pills, not injections.”

My heart stopped.

“Where did you get those?” I asked

“I have connections. People who owe me favors.” Reed’s eyes were serious. “I know your heat is coming soon. I can smell the changes in your scent. You’re in pre-heat.”

I hadn’t told him. I had been very deliberately not telling him.

“How long have you known?” I asked quietly.

“A few days. Your scent has been getting sweeter and stronger.” Reed pushed the bottle toward me. “These will help. They’re not as strong as injections, but they’ll keep your heat from hitting for another few weeks at least.”

I stared at the bottle. “Why are you giving me these?”

“Because I don’t want you going into heat in the middle of campus where every Alpha can smell you.” Reed’s jaw clenched. “You’re mine, Asher, and I take care of what’s mine.”

I picked up the bottle with shaking hands. “How many do I take?”

“Two a day. Morning and night. They should keep you stable.” Reed leaned back in his chair. “But Asher, these are a temporary solution. Eventually, you’re going to have to deal with your heats properly.”

“I know.”

“And when that happens, I’ll be there. I’ll take care of you through it.” Reed’s eyes were intense. “Do you understand?”

I understood. When my heat came, Reed would be the one to help me through it. Would be the one to knot me and breed me yet again.

The thought made my stomach clench with fear and something else I didn’t want to name.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For the pills.”

“You’re welcome.” Reed stood up. “Now study. I’ll leave you alone.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

Reed paused at the door. “You said you needed to study. So study. I’ll see you later.”

Then he was gone and I sat there in the silence of the study room with a bottle of suppressants in my palm and his scent still slowly settled around me like something that knew it was welcome whether I wanted it to be or not.

I took two pills. I went back to studying.

That night I lay in bed and felt the pre-heat symptoms gradually, mercifully quiet. The pills were working.

Reed had noticed before I said a word. He had sourced what I needed and brought it to me and left without asking anything in return, and I didn’t know what to do with that. I had built such a careful architecture around everything he did, labeling it control, leverage, ownership, another wall closing in, that something resembling simple care from him landed wrong. Landed sideways. Like something I didn’t have the right shape inside me to hold.

My phone buzzed.

Reed: Did you take the pills?

Me: Yes. Thank you.

Reed: Good. Take them every day. Don’t skip.

Me: I won’t.

A pause. Then:

Reed: And Asher? When your heat does come, when these pills stop working… I meant what I said. I’ll take care of you.

I stared at the message for a long time.

Me: Why?

Reed: Because you’re mine and I protect what’s mine.

I set my phone down and closed my eyes.

The pills would keep working. They had to, because I wasn’t ready. Not for the heat. Not for Reed. Not for the quiet, terrible truth that was becoming harder to outrun with every passing day, that some part of me, some deep and wordless part that had nothing to do with logic or self-preservation, wasn’t entirely afraid of what was coming, wasn’t entirely afraid of him.

The heat was building whether I was ready or not and Reed already knew.

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