Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 7

**The Crimson Oath — Bryan Foster**
**Chapter 7**

**Addison**

“Where have you been?” Max’s voice cut through the air, laced with an edge of frustration that caught me off guard.

For a moment, I stood there, momentarily stunned, trying to decipher the tone behind his words. My mouth opened slightly, but no sound emerged; I was at a loss for how to respond.

As if he sensed my confusion, he let out a heavy sigh, his expression softening just a touch.

“I mean… I’m really glad you finally made it.” His voice shifted, becoming more tender, almost apologetic. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up. I’ve been waiting since morning, and I couldn’t spot you anywhere.”

“You were waiting for me?” My eyebrows shot up in surprise, a warm flutter igniting in my chest.

“Yeah.”

Despite the rush of emotions, I quickly masked my excitement, trying to maintain my composure.

“Why did you wait for so long?” I inquired, my gaze wandering over the contours of his physique, accentuated by the snug gray shirt he wore.

“I just wanted to make sure you got registered. It’s the only way I…”

His voice trailed off, leaving an intriguing silence that urged me to lean in closer. “What were you going to say?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged, a hint of nonchalance in his demeanor.

“I don’t believe you,” I challenged playfully, crossing my arms.

“You better believe me,” he shot back, a teasing glint in his eye.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He was undeniably gorgeous, and I still found it hard to wrap my head around it.

As our eyes locked for a brief moment, my heart began to race, and I could almost hear the rhythm of his heartbeat echoing my own. There was something undeniably magnetic about him—something that drew me in beyond his striking appearance.

“You know what? If we keep standing here, you’re going to run out of time. Why don’t you register first, and then we can chat?”

His presence was commanding, yet it radiated an undeniable charm, particularly in that moment.

“Y-yeah… I should probably do that first,” I stammered, feeling a rush of urgency.

Without another word, I dashed inside, my heart pounding as I burst into the hall, the sudden silence enveloping me like a blanket. I cleared my throat, realizing just how many eyes were now on me.

Among the crowd, I spotted Ruby, her glare piercing through the room like a dagger, while the rest of her crew seemed to wear expressions of mild curiosity rather than hostility.

**Ovaliches**

I hurried to the registration table, presenting my ID card with a sense of determination. As I waited for the form, I could feel Max’s presence nearby, glancing over at me as he navigated through the crowd.

The thought of him having waited all day for me sent another thrill through my heart.

Even as I filled out the details on the form, leaning it against the wall, a smile stretched across my face that I just couldn’t suppress.

“Be careful or you’ll end up writing his name on that form,” Saga teased, her voice a playful whisper in my ear.

“You’re not making this any easier, you know,” I shot back, rolling my eyes but unable to hide my grin.

“Alright, alright, I’ll keep quiet.”

Just as I signed my name at the bottom of the form, a familiar scent wafted through the air, and I sensed a sudden rush of movement heading my way. Reflexively, I ducked and sidestepped, my hair becoming a bit disheveled from the abrupt maneuver. I quickly pushed it back, casting a glance at Ruby, who had just missed me by a hair. The frustration on her face was evident, but so was her surprise at my quick reflexes.

With a smirk, I taunted her, “When are you going to stop showing everyone why we’re not on the same level?”

“Ooh!” The crowd gasped in unison, their excitement palpable.

“Shut the fuck up!” Ruby snapped, her voice dripping with venom as she directed her anger toward the onlookers.

“Ruby Hawkins!” Mr. Murphy’s authoritative voice rang out from the table, cutting through the tension. “This may be a Saturday, but you’re still on school grounds. Watch your language!”

“But—”

“I don’t want to hear it!” he interrupted, his patience clearly wearing thin.

With a furious kick, Ruby pointed directly at me. “This isn’t over. Meet me outside!”

“Wait right there, and let’s go together,” I shot back, my tone bold and unwavering.

“Why would I do that?” Ruby scoffed, crossing her arms defiantly.

“It’s because you’re scared,” Addison shot back, her confidence unwavering.

“Ooooh!” The crowd chimed in, their excitement palpable.

Ruby’s fists clenched at her sides, her frustration bubbling over. “Just shut up and fight me!”

“Fine, but only in human form,” Addison replied, her voice steady.

“I’ll still fuck you up!” Ruby snarled, the tension electrifying the air around us.

Normally, I wouldn’t condone such behavior, but I was too intrigued to intervene just yet. If things escalated, Tyler and I could step in easily.

Suddenly, Mr. Murphy burst through the doors, his voice booming. “There’ll be no fighting here! Go home and—”

His words faltered as he caught sight of Tyler and me, his authority faltering under our presence. He lowered his head and retreated back inside, leaving everyone to wonder what had just transpired. Tyler and I exchanged knowing glances, a shared smirk spreading across our faces.

“Die!” Ruby growled, launching herself at Addison with a fierce determination.

Addison, however, moved with an elegance that was almost mesmerizing, effortlessly dodging Ruby’s wild attacks as if she were dancing.

The crowd murmured among themselves, their disbelief growing.

“Are you sure Ruby’s been training hard?”

“Yeah, her dad has a whole training section for her at home.”

“Then why does she look like she stands no chance against Addison? This is so embarrassing.”

No matter how hard Ruby tried to land a hit, Addison evaded them all with an air of disinterest, her expression blank, as if she were simply humoring Ruby’s attempts.

It was evident that Addison was toying with her, but I wasn’t ready for it to end just yet. Watching her move like that ignited something thrilling within me.

Finally, putting an end to the charade, Addison seized Ruby by the throat and slammed her forcefully to the ground, pressing her knee into Ruby’s chest.

“I’m bored,” Addison declared, her voice dripping with nonchalance. “Let’s try again when you’re better at this.”