Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 1

**The Crimson Oath — Bryan Foster**

**Chapter 1**

Addison

As I drew closer to the imposing gates of Blackbolt High, a school specifically designed for werewolves, I could already hear the lively buzz of chatter enveloping me like a warm blanket. It wasn’t the first time I had eavesdropped on such conversations, but that particular morning felt different—charged with an unusual excitement that piqued my curiosity. I glanced around, taking in the atmosphere, and it was clear: everyone was abuzz with anticipation.

My heightened sense of hearing made it a challenge to hone in on any single conversation amidst the cacophony. Each voice seemed to blend into a symphony of youthful exuberance.

The moment I stepped through the front doors, the volume of chatter and the clattering of lockers intensified, assaulting my senses. With my head bowed low, I navigated through the throngs of students in the bustling hallway, eager to reach my locker. I had no desire to lift my gaze; I knew that all I would encounter would be the scornful expressions of my peers, simply because I was wolfless. An Omega, or at least, that was the label everyone had slapped on me. They were utterly mistaken in their assumptions.

Two long years had passed since I had transferred to Blackbolt High after relocating to the quaint town of Raven Mist, and I was still burdened with the stigma of being a wolfless Omega.

Just like outside, the buzz within the school felt electric, and my curiosity grew. I had no choice but to tune in. My attention was drawn to a nearby conversation as two girls dashed toward each other behind me, their voices bubbling with excitement.

“This is so cool! A Warrior Selection Competition?” one of them exclaimed, her enthusiasm contagious.

Intrigued, I subtly shifted my gaze and recognized the two girls: Phoebe and Sally. We weren’t friends, though I often wished we could be; wolfless Omegas like me were treated like pariahs at this school, while they were Betas, basking in the social hierarchy.

Pushing aside my thoughts of envy, I leaned in, pretending to organize my books in my locker, but my ears were wide open, absorbing every word they exchanged as they leaned against a nearby locker, not far from my own.

The flyers they clutched caught my eye, vibrant and filled with promises of glory.

Phoebe animatedly gestured with her hands as she spoke. “I’ve been training so hard my entire life! This competition is my chance to finally prove myself!”

Sally nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Me too! Can you even imagine the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that comes with the grand prize? Nobody just gets to attend the Academy of Warriors. Winning this competition would grant someone here a full scholarship!”

Surprised by this revelation, I raised my eyebrows, momentarily distracted from my task of organizing my locker. I didn’t want to make it too obvious that I was eavesdropping, but their conversation had me hooked.

As I pretended to sort through my books, my ears remained attuned to their dialogue.

“Are you ready for the brutal competition?” Phoebe asked, lowering her voice conspiratorially, as if I wouldn’t hear her.

“They’re going to test our strength, agility, and combat skills. Only the best of the best will make it through,” she continued, her voice tinged with determination.

“That’s no big deal because, hey, we’ve definitely got what it takes,” Sally declared with confidence. “We’ve been training together for years now. I know we can do this.”

“You’re absolutely right! This is our chance to show everyone what we’ve got,” Phoebe agreed, a fire igniting in her eyes.

The two girls exchanged a high-five, their flyers fluttering to the floor in their excitement.

I watched them walk away, my mind swirling with thoughts. I had no idea such an important competition was on the horizon. Even without Phoebe and Sally’s enthusiastic chatter, it was clear this was something significant.

As I picked up one of the fallen flyers, my interest deepened. The more I read, the more intrigued I became.

Despite the warnings of brutality that Phoebe and Sally had shared, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a challenge I could face.

Throughout my life, I had pushed myself through rigorous training, constantly striving to strengthen my abilities. Each session had been a step toward becoming someone formidable, and entering the Warrior Selection Competition seemed like the perfect opportunity to elevate my skills even further.

Imagining myself in the competition, victorious and celebrated, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly to myself.

“Calm down. You haven’t won yet,” Saga, my wolf, reminded me, her voice echoing in my mind.

“I know that, but we can do this,” I replied internally, my resolve firm.

Saga had a penchant for teasing me, but her intentions were always rooted in care.

One of the most challenging aspects of having Saga within me was the constant struggle to keep her restrained, especially after the incident two years ago when I was just fifteen. She was a force of nature, far too powerful to be unleashed recklessly.

As two boys sauntered past my locker, showcasing some combat moves for the competition, my thoughts drifted back to my own determination to participate.

However, my excitement waned as I caught familiar voices and scents wafting toward me. I didn’t need to turn around to confirm it was Ruby—daughter of the wealthiest Alpha in Raven Mist and the reigning queen bee of Blackbolt High.

What made matters worse was that she was discussing her own participation in the Warrior Selection Competition. The thought of her and her crew entering sent a wave of frustration coursing through me, and I clenched my fist, tucking the flyer into the front pocket of my denim jeans.

Despite the urge to look over at them, I resisted, knowing that everyone else was captivated by Ruby’s presence, their eyes glued to her as if she were the sun.

Her voice, dripping with self-importance, cut through the noise, and I shook my head in disbelief. She always had to dominate every conversation, never allowing anyone else a moment in the spotlight.

Even as I sighed at the thought of competing against my bullies, I felt a flicker of defiance. I wasn’t intimidated by them; I had endured their taunts for too long. This was my chance to prove my worth, and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers.

Just as I finished arranging my books in my locker, I heard Ruby mention my name, her crew giggling like hyenas. They whispered amongst themselves, plotting to approach me, and I braced myself for the inevitable encounter.

When I finally glanced in her direction, her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, accompanied by a sinister smile that sent a chill down my spine.

Not wanting to engage that morning, I turned away and made my way down the hallway.

Yet, I could hear their laughter trailing behind me as they quickened their pace to catch up. Their voices overlapped as they mockingly called out my name, and I felt the weight of the stares from the other students around us. Everyone was aware of Ruby’s intentions, yet not a single soul dared to intervene. I was always alone in these moments.

The only reason I had refrained from retaliating was that I had to keep Saga under control. If I let her out, Ruby and her crew would have faced dire consequences long ago.

Determined to avoid a confrontation, I kept my gaze forward. But just as I neared the corner, I was yanked back, forcefully pinned against a locker.

Ruby’s crew formed a circle around me, and she positioned herself in the center, pressing her hand against my shoulder with a mocking grin.

“Oh, look, everyone! We’ve caught the wolfless Addison,” she taunted, her tone dripping with condescension. She plucked the flyer from my pocket and scoffed. “Are you seriously planning on entering the Warrior Selection Competition? Are you out of your mind? What makes you think you have what it takes to compete with the real girls?”

Her crew erupted in laughter, and soon the surrounding students joined in, their amusement only fueling my anger.

Once I was close enough, I launched myself into the air, executing a graceful leap that arced over Ruby and her crew in a fluid motion.

I landed firmly between them and Gina, my eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that they had never witnessed before.

Ruby and her crew were taken aback by my sudden appearance and commanding presence. They had never seen me take such decisive action.

Standing tall, I squared my shoulders and extended my arms to shield Gina.

“Leave her alone,” I demanded, my glare piercing through each of them.

Ruby’s face contorted into a nasty sneer as she clenched her fists, her eyes glowing with malice.

“This is none of your business, so get out of the way,” she warned, her voice low and threatening.

“No, I won’t let you hurt her,” I replied, my voice steady. “She’s done nothing wrong.”

“Wow, since when did you grow a backbone, huh? Just because you did a little backflip or whatever that was?” She stepped closer, her aggression palpable. “Stop acting so noble and move aside.”

“No, Gina, run!” I glanced back at her, seeing the mix of fear and gratitude in her eyes. Her feet were frozen, but I offered her a reassuring look—a silent plea for her to escape.

These girls had bullied me for as long as I could remember since my first days at Blackbolt High, but I would not allow them to torment anyone else.

In that moment, I hoped they wouldn’t turn their wrath on her. I wasn’t sure I could hold myself back.

To my surprise, as Gina leaped over them and made her escape, Ruby and her crew remained rooted in place, and it dawned on me that I had become their target.

“Trying to be the hero, huh?” Ruby hissed, baring her fangs. “Now you’re going to pay for that.”

In a sudden twist, one of them seemed intent on pursuing Gina, turning her back to me. I focused on her for just a moment, and before I knew it, a hard punch from Ruby landed squarely on my face, sending me flying through the air.

When I hit the ground, I barely had time to process my surroundings. Ruby pounced on me, her crew joining in as they unleashed a torrent of blows, all while a crowd of students looked on.

I crossed my arms to shield my face, but the impact left me bleeding from the brutal assault.

At that moment, a rage simmered within me, a fury that had been building for far too long, and Saga’s voice surged through my mind.

“Let me out!” she urged, her anger threatening to take control. I struggled to hold her back, but it felt like trying to contain a storm.

Suddenly, the punches stopped, and a deep, authoritative voice broke through the chaos.

“Touch Addison again, and I’ll make you all regret it!”

It took me a moment to gather my thoughts, still reeling from the adrenaline, but that voice— I recognized it. When I lowered my crossed arms and regained my focus, I couldn’t believe who stood before me.