Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 6

**The Crimson Oath — Bryan Foster**
**Chapter 6**

**Max**

As the sun began to rise on Saturday morning, Tyler and I made our way to the registration hall, arriving well before the official start time. The air was electric with anticipation, and I couldn’t help but observe the throngs of students filtering through the entrance. Each face was a mix of excitement and anxiety, but my focus was elsewhere.

“Hey, don’t you think people are going to start questioning why we’re just lurking in this corner?” Tyler mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully while his eyes roamed over a girl who passed by, her laughter ringing like music in the air.

I shrugged, trying to maintain my cool demeanor. “If anyone asks, we’ll just say we plan to register later. The process is open until 6 PM, so we’ve got plenty of time,” I replied, my gaze darting around, searching for someone specific.

Each time the doors swung open, my heart raced, but I quickly realized, even before catching a whiff of her scent, that it wasn’t her.

“I have a question,” Tyler said, crossing his arms and shaking his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips.

“What is it?” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.

“If I were to walk out that door and come back in, would you still be looking over there?” He gestured dramatically, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

“What are you even talking about?” I shot back, furrowing my brows in confusion.

“Come on, man.” He playfully smacked my shoulder, his laughter infectious. “It’s obvious you’re just waiting for her to show up.”

“Who?” I feigned ignorance, crossing my arms defiantly.

“Don’t make me say it. You know exactly who I mean,” he chuckled, raising his eyebrows in that teasing way that made it hard to stay annoyed.

I turned away, trying to maintain my poker face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know you don’t want to say her name, but I can read your mind, remember?” he teased, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Realizing he was right, I quickly shut him out, which only made him snicker.

“I see what you did there, but it doesn’t matter because I already know. Just give it time, man. She’ll be here. It’s only 9 AM,” he reassured me, his tone light.

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface as I wrestled with my impatience for Addison’s arrival. This feeling was foreign to me, and I desperately sought a distraction.

“Do you know what would really improve this registration process?” I asked Tyler through our mind link, hoping to shift my focus.

“What’s that?”

“If all the girls walking in were actually heading to that registration table,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

“True that! Almost all of them are just here to gawk at us. I mean, I know I’m good-looking, but come on!”

I couldn’t help but scoff at his overconfidence.

As if on cue, more girls began to gather, whispering excitedly among themselves about our presence. It made me curious about who had commanded their attention before we arrived, especially since we had only been at Blackbolt High for three days.

Glancing down at my wristwatch, I noted it was already 11 AM when the doors burst open with a loud creak. I turned my head, my heart racing, only to feel a wave of disappointment wash over me—it was just Murphy stepping inside.

Clenching my jaw, I sighed in frustration as Tyler’s voice echoed in my mind.

“It’s not Addison.”

“I know,” I replied, feeling the weight of my impatience.

“Why are you even bothering? You should be able to sense when she’s close. But I guess you just can’t help yourself, can you?”

“Piss off,” I shot back, half-joking, half-serious.

If only I could reach out to Addison directly, I thought bitterly. But I didn’t have her number, which only added to my frustration. Then a thought struck me: I needed to find Gina. I was sure I could track her down, even if I couldn’t recognize her scent just yet.

I scanned the room, focusing on each girl’s face as they passed, and I could feel their excitement ripple through the air.

“Max just looked at me!” one girl squealed.

“Me too!” another chimed in.

“Oh my gosh!”

To my dismay, Gina wasn’t among them, and my impatience flared once more. I was acutely aware that time was slipping away, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that my desire to see her was more profound than just a simple registration.

At 1 PM, the doors swung open again, and despite not detecting Addison’s scent, I found myself glancing over. As expected, it wasn’t her; it was Ruby, strutting in with her entourage, her short skirt clinging to her curves as she approached the registration table. She flashed a flirtatious smile at Tyler and me, swaying her hips provocatively.

Tyler and I exchanged glances, both of us bemused by her antics. We shrugged in unison, turning back to our conversation, ignoring the giggles from the girls around us.

“You know, if she wasn’t trying so hard, maybe I’d consider it,” Tyler remarked through our mind link, a teasing lilt in his voice.

“I wouldn’t,” I replied flatly.

“I know. She’s not the one you’re thinking about,” he teased further.

I looked up at her, my heart swelling with gratitude. “I’m so glad I came home. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.”

“We should get you back now,” Cole chimed in, clapping his hands to grab my attention.

As my father embraced me one last time, he said, “I’m proud of you for standing up to those bullies.”

“Dylan actually found his mate among them and rejected her on the spot,” I informed him, a hint of pride in my voice.

“Really? Why?” He raised his eyebrows, turning his gaze toward Dylan.

“She wasn’t my type, and I couldn’t stand how she treated my sister,” Dylan replied, his face resolute.

“You did the right thing. As future Alphas, I expect nothing less from both of you, my sons. Who is this girl?”

“Her name is Ruby Hawkins,” I answered, a hint of curiosity in my tone.

“What? Ruby Hawkins?”

“Do you know her or something?” I narrowed my eyes, searching his expression for answers.

“If she’s the one I’m thinking of, I know her father. He and I go way back,” he replied, casting a glance at my mother.

“How?” My curiosity piqued further.

Looking at my mother with a sigh, he said, “That’s a story for another time. I’ll tell you the next time you visit.”

I pouted, feeling a twinge of disappointment. “Well, okay. Will you come to watch me participate?”

“No, not even your mother.”

My heart sank at his words. “Why not?”

“You know why. This competition will be held in the kingdom. It would be the first time we’d be stepping foot there after so many years. I don’t want that for us.”

The mystery surrounding my parents’ reluctance to return to the kingdom had never been fully explained. Not even Dylan and Cole were privy to the reasons behind it.

By the time I made my way back to Raven Mist, I was acutely aware that I had only an hour left before registration closed. That urgency propelled me straight to Blackbolt High, skipping a visit to Aunt Nora.

As I crossed through the front gates, I immediately sensed Max’s presence. Just then, I saw him rushing down the stairs, his strides long and purposeful. He looked just as stunning as he had the day before, but there was an intensity in his expression that hinted at something deeper—something that made him appear furious.