Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 19

**The Crimson Oath — Bryan Foster**
**Chapter 19**

**Addison**

As Gina and I ambled along the familiar streets on our way home, we had the option of catching the bus, but we both silently agreed to forgo it. The allure of spending more time together was far too tempting to resist.

I could sense her eagerness; she was practically bubbling over with excitement, her words tumbling out in a joyous stream. And it wasn’t just her—my own heart echoed her enthusiasm. It felt incredible to have someone to share moments with, to savor delicious meals, and to dive deep into conversations about our likes and dislikes. For the first time in a long while, I felt the warmth of friendship in Raven Mist, especially with someone from Blackbolt High.

“I’ve never actually asked you this,” she said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What color is your wolf? Mine is a lovely light brown.”

I hesitated, my gaze drifting as I searched for the right words. The last time I had shifted was a painful memory—two years ago, when I had unintentionally hurt Jess. “Oh… my wolf is white.”

“Really? Isn’t that rare?” she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and admiration.

“It is,” I replied, a hint of uncertainty creeping into my tone. Not many knew about my wolf’s color, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just revealed something significant.

“I can’t wait to see you shift one day!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together with infectious enthusiasm. “I bet you look so cool.”

I managed to muster a smile, but inside, I felt a knot of anxiety. How long would it be before that moment arrived?

My silence must have lingered too long, for she suddenly nudged me with her elbow, a playful glint in her eyes.

“Hmm?” I flinched slightly, redirecting my focus back to her.

“Is something bothering you?” she asked, her voice softening with concern.

“Nope.” I picked up my pace, trying to shake off the weight of my thoughts.

“You know, I never would have guessed that we’d end up hanging out like this!” she said, her steps light as she walked backward to face me.

“Me neither. I always noticed you around school, and your outfits always looked so pretty.”

She let out a soft chuckle, her cheeks flushing slightly. “You think so? I’ve never really thought about it that way.”

“You really need to stop putting yourself down. You do that a lot,” I said, a hint of seriousness creeping into my voice.

She scratched the back of her head, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. “I just can’t help it, okay? So, where are we going next time?”

“I was thinking we could check out that place by the intersection. They have some seriously tasty meat.”

“Oh, yeah! But now that I think about it, I guess I won’t be the one to go with you since you already have someone else,” she said, her voice teasing.

“Huh?” I tilted my head, genuinely confused.

“I’m talking about your date with Max, silly!”

“Oh, that… yeah.” I chuckled awkwardly, trying to mask my nervousness.

“When exactly is it?”

I could feel my cheeks heat up at the thought of Max. The truth was, he had asked me out right in front of Gina, and she had seen the notification pop up on my phone. We hadn’t figured out the awkwardness that came with his proximity yet, so I was uncertain about when that date would actually happen, but the anticipation was already building inside me.

“Uh… I don’t know,” I said, trying to sound casual.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I just have a lot to study.”

“That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard! Your studies can’t be the reason you miss out on that date. Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind.”

“Definitely not,” I assured her, my voice firm.

“Then when?”

“Maybe next week?”

“You better get on it, or else someone else is going to snatch him away from you!”

“He’s not even mine to begin with,” I replied, a hint of frustration creeping into my tone.

“But he will be.” She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. “You’re so lucky! Do you know how many girls would die for the chance to be as close to Max as you are?”

“Does that include you?”

“Hello? Of course it does! And you’re so fortunate that even Tyler, who’s just as gorgeous, seems to be friendly with you. It’s a whole different story when they’re around Ruby.”

I clenched my fist at the mention of Ruby’s name, the anger bubbling up inside me. “Hearing her name after what happened earlier just infuriates me.”

“Oh, shit!” She covered her mouth, her eyes widening in realization. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bring her up.”

“It’s okay,” I replied, trying to brush off the irritation.

“I still can’t believe she went that far. I’m just glad it worked out in your favor. Hey, just between us, Alpha Jeffery is so handsome!”

“Seriously?” I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden shift in topic.

“Hey! Don’t judge me! There’s just something about his aura, you know? I saw him leaving earlier, and I like him even more after what he did. He could’ve easily taken his daughter’s side, but he chose to do what was right.”

I nodded, recalling how Ruby’s plans had crumbled before her eyes. “You should’ve seen Ruby’s face when things didn’t go as she had hoped. I’m just glad she didn’t succeed.”

“I know this happened to you and not me, but honestly, I’ve lost all respect for Principal Murphy now. I wouldn’t mind if we got a new principal right now.”

“Me too,” I agreed, feeling the weight of the situation.

That was the reaction I had hoped for, and I raised my eyebrows, intrigued. “Do you know him?”

“I only know of one Jeffrey Hawkins who went on to be an Alpha. I can’t believe he has a daughter like Ruby.”

“He actually intended to hurt me when he believed the lies told by Ruby and Principal Murphy. But after I explained my side and told him who I was and the pack I belong to, his entire demeanor shifted. He knows my parents very well.”

“Of course he does,” she scoffed, her expression turning serious.

“How do they know each other? He didn’t want to talk about it.”

“Neither do I.”

“Why not?”

She squeezed the plastic bottle tightly in her hand, frustration evident in her posture. “It just infuriates me that things ended the way they did.”

“Please, just tell me.” I grasped her other hand, desperate for answers.

She sighed, relenting. “Fine. Over 20 years ago, Jeffery was part of the Moon Frost Pack.”

“What?”

“Yes, he really was one of us. He was your father’s best friend and his Beta.”

“Then why did he leave?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. The only ones who can are your parents.”

I sighed heavily, frustration boiling over. “Why does this always happen? No one ever wants to say anything!”

“This time, they’ll tell you what you need to know since you spoke to Jeffery,” she assured me, her tone softening.

“Can I go to Red Valley now?”

“The sun is setting soon. It’ll take you quite some time to get there and back.”

“Then I’ll be back here tomorrow morning, right before school.”

“Are you sure? Don’t make me start calling you.”

“I promise I’ll be back. If I don’t go now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight. I could always just call my dad and ask, but I don’t think he’ll tell me over the phone, not even my mom.”

“Then hurry up, my dear.” She wrapped her arms around me, her warmth enveloping me. “Promise me that things won’t change after you find out their history.”

I broke the embrace, the concern in her eyes sending a chill down my spine. What could be so terrible that it might alter everything?