Filed to story: Mated and Hated by My Brother’s Best Friend Book PDF Free by Anna Campbell
My breath caught
My body locked
Maximus Freaking Laker.
The rogue didn’t even have time to react.
Max ripped into him with an ease that should have been terrifying, his massive wolf form towering over the limp body as it crumpled beneath him
The fight was over
Jiselle turned
Her eyes widened as she took in the scene
For a split second, her gaze met mine.
And then, just like that, Maximus was at her side, pulling her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her temple as if he hadn’t just ripped a rogue apart.
As if I wasn’t even there.
Because she wasn’t mine to protect anymore.
Or at least, that’s what she wanted everyone-including herself to think.
The academy felt different after the attack. The air was heavier, charged with unspoken fears, silent questions no one dared to ask
The assembly that the school head had called shortly after had been nothing more than a formality-words meant to reassure, to keep the illusion of control. But the truth? The truth was in the quiet tension that thickened the halls, in the wary glances exchanged between students, in the hushed conversations that ended the moment an instructor walked by Because how the hell was a set of twenty rogues, able to infiltrate this place? it was clear that leadership had no idea how either, and they were spiralling wondering how.
But they wouldn’t let us know that. Not at ATA.
I walked beside Max, my fingers loosely entwined with his, my other hand gripping the dagger tucked safely in my pocket. It burned against my palm, not physically, but with something deeper-something ancient.
The dagger Instructor Bastian had given me felt…. wrong.
As we passed through the corridors, my gaze flicked to the side. The door to Nate’s room creaked open, and he stepped inside, his back stiff, his movements slower than usual.
His clothes were torn in places, his knuckles bruised, and his jaw was tight with exhaustion. He looked like hell.
My feet twitched toward him before I could stop myself, as if I wanted to go to him.
But I forced myself to keep walking.
Ethan was standing outside Nate’s door, leaning against the frame, his arms crossed. His green eyes softened when they met mine, and he smiled, stepping forward to press a quick kiss to my cheek.
“See you at dinner?” he asked, his voice gentle.
I nodded, but my eyes flickered past him. Nate never looked at me.
I wanted to say something. To acknowledge that his friend had died and I understood his grief, to acknowledge that something between us had changed. But I didn’t. Because what was the point?
Max’s grip on my hand tightened slightly as we reached his room. The door clicked shut behind us, and I released a slow breath, finally allowing myself to focus.
I pulled the dagger from my pocket and set it on the desk between us.
“Bastian gave me this,” I said as soon as I turned to Max.
Max’s silver eyes flickered to the blade, his entire body going rigid. He reached for it slowly, his fingers tracing the runes etched into the blackened metal His brows pulled together, his jaw ticking as he turned it over in his palm.
“Do you know what this is? | asked.
He exhaled sharply “I do”
I waited, but he didn’t immediately elaborate His thumb ghosted over the ancient markings, his expression unreadable. “These runes “he murmured. “They’re old. Pre dating modern werewolf history. Back then, runes like these were used to Suppress or control our kind “
My stomach dropped Suppress?
He met my gaze, his eyes dark with something close to fear “Not who you are or your wolf. Just your abilities
I shuddered. “I don’t want to suppress my woll, Max”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair “I know And you won’t” He looked like he was deep in thought for a moment before his eyes widened slightly “Wait, he mumbled “You said Bastain gave you this? That means he saw
“Yes, I interrupted before he could finish. “I thought he was going to kill me but he pulled me into a classroom and gave
Max heaved out a sigh looking like he wasn’t sure if he needed to be grateful or confused.
“Bastian give this to you for
“He said the other instructors wor sispered
His Angers tightened around the hat
Then that means this is really for what I think it is. He wants you to use it t
“Do you know how to do that?” suppress your gift until ik
His jaw ticked. “I do”
He didn’t elaborate, so I asked. “But if they find out, they’ll kill me. Why?”
“I won’t let them touch you,” he said, his voice firm
He promised
I swallowed hard, believing him, needing to believe him.
I hesitantly reached for the dagger again, my fingers brushing against the cool metal. The moment I touched it, something shifted A strange sensation hummed through me, pulling, pressing, weighing down. It was just like when Bastain handed it to me
I flinched. “Why does it feel different when I hold it?”
Max’s eyes darkened. “Because this isn’t just metal, Jiselle. It’s magic.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“Ancient magic,” he continued, his voice quieter now. “Drawn from the Moon herself. Back then, runes like these were carved into weapons to either control or suppress powerful wolves. To strip them of their gifts. At first, it was a gift from the moon to destroy the rulers who used their power and influence to draw innocent blood and rule cruelly. But then it became a weapon or a tool, reserved to only a few.”
“How do you know all this?” I asked. Was this a course?
“The academy-” he started, but then hissed as he gripped his palm.
His blood oath wound
“You’re telling me too much, I realized, my voice barely above a whisper.
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t deny it.
Then, something clicked in my mind. My breath caught, and I turned to him, eyes wide.
“The wounds that you all have in your palm… the blood oath wounds. They were sealed with a dagger like this, weren’t they?” Max flinched, a rare moment of hesitation flashing across his face. “One like it- A sudden grunt left his lips, his palm clenching tightly.
“Stop I gasped. “Don’t tell me anymore.”
I didn’t care if I was left in the dark. I didn’t care if it drove me insane not knowing. I wouldn’t let him die for me
My heart pounded as I looked down at the dagger, realization sinking in. This was how they held so much power. This was how their secrets were kept
The wounds in their palms-they weren’t just scars. They were magic-sealed oaths. They ensured their silence. They ensured their obedience
And this dagger-it was humming with the same power
“Can you tell me how to use it without harming yourself? If not please don’t say anything. I will figure it out”
He smiled softly and let out a slow breath
“As long as this stays on your person, your abilities will stay dormant, he said. “But when you’re shifting for challenges in the next two weeks, you can make a small prick on your finger directly before you shift. Not deep enough to leave a permanent scar, because that will very well suppress your gifts forever, just like the blood oaths. These runes are activated by blood to pricking your finger night before you shift will be enough to keep you safe in wolf form for now.”
I didn’t even bother asking what the bell would happen if I shifted now without using the dagger Something told me that everyone would know about these gifts allowed hard. And when the
A shadow passed over his features. Then you’ll have to decide if you want to use them” tulade My finger against hum, and presses forhead
“You’re safe Jisele he murmured I promise”
But even a
He was terrified. Because
Because if Max was scared en whatever It might very well
*Jiselle*
I finally took Max up on his offer to train me,
Now that I was no longer training with Nate, I needed the extra sessions, even though I still trained with Eva. The outside was completely blanketed in snow, thick layers covering the grounds and making it nearly impossible to train outdoors. Winter was fully here. Time was flying, and before I knew it, my first wolf-to-wolf combat challenge was tomorrow. My chest tightened just thinking about it.
I had never shifted in front of the school before, and I didn’t know if I wanted to. Not with what I knew now. Not with the fear that Bastian’s dagger might fail, that whatever was supposed to remain hidden might be revealed-and that I’d be killed because of it
So, although most training was done in wolf form now, I told Max I was ready to start hand-to-hand combat with him. He agreed enthusiastically-since he was asking for months- but since the snow made outdoor sessions nearly impossible. we had to use the academy’s indoor training hall.
The gymnasium was massive, built for both shifted and unshifted training, and tonight, it was completely empty. Thankfully
I took a deep breath, rolling my shoulders as Max circled me, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Ready, babe?” he teased, silver eyes gleaming under the dim lighting.
I scoffed. “More than you are.”
He chuckled, but there was a sharpness in his gaze as he lunged, forcing me into immediate defense.
The fight started fluidly-Max was stronger, but I’ve gotten fast. I dodged, deflected, and countered, my movements sharper than ever.
He noticed.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face when I ducked under his arm, twisted my body, and kicked his legs out from under him. He barely caught himself before flipping back onto his feet.
“Not bad,” he admitted, swiping at his lip. “You’ve been training more than I thought.”
I shrugged, feigning innocence. “Eva’s a good teacher,”
Max scoffed, stepping toward me again. This time, he didn’t hold back.
We fought harder, faster. It wasn’t just training anymore.
The air between us crackled with something else-something dangerous, intoxicating.
Max’s grip tightened around my wrist as he twisted me, pulling me flush against his chest. Before I could react, he dipped his head, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my neck.
My breath hitched.
“You know,” he murmured against my skin, “I’ve been patient. But I still haven’t gotten my answer.”
I swallowed, already knowing what he meant. Yet I asked.
“About what? I mumbled.
His chuckle was dark and low, sending a familiar thrill between my legs.
“You know what I mean.” He kissed the place where my shoulder met my neck as he held me put, and I hated that it was so easy for him to lock me in. “Making you mine.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?