The Luna and The Beast

Partners

Maya POV

Maya stood frozen, staring at the door Gabriel had just walked through. Her wolf, Madrid, whined in her mind, pacing restlessly. The bond pulled at her like a tether, urging her to chase after her mate. But Maya clenched her fists and planted her feet, refusing to move.

That arrogant bastard.

“Maya!” Adrian’s sharp voice snapped her out of her haze. She turned to face him, finding his brown eyes stormy with anger and hurt.

“What the hell is he talking about?” he demanded, his voice taut.

Maya swallowed hard, her throat dry. “It’s true,” she said quietly, her words barely above a whisper. “I found out this morning. At the meeting.”

Adrian’s jaw clenched, his pain clear. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was going to—I was—but then the party happened, and I didn’t want to ruin it. Adrian, I—”

He didn’t wait for her to finish. With a growl of frustration, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the kitchen.

“Adrian, wait!” Maya called, chasing after him. Her heels clicked against the floor as she hurried to catch up. Damn Gabriel. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. She was going to tell Adrian, but now… now it was a disaster.

Adrian pushed through the double doors leading to the garden, the crisp night air biting at her skin as she followed. She grabbed his arm, spinning him around to face her.

“It’s because you want him, isn’t it?” His voice cracked, a mix of anger and desperation. “You’re going to break up with me, aren’t you?”

“No!” Maya said quickly, shaking her head. “I promise, it’s not like that.”

“Then reject him.” Adrian stepped closer, his gaze piercing. “Reject him now, Maya.”

Her wolf bristled at the suggestion, growling in her mind. Maya’s lips parted, but the words wouldn’t come.

“I—I can’t,” she stammered.

“Why the hell not?”

Maya hesitated, the tension between them thick enough to choke on. “It’s… complicated,” she admitted finally. “Our parents made a deal. No rejections for six months.”

Adrian’s brows knit together. “Six months?”

Maya reached for his hand, her voice soft but firm. “You have to trust me. I love you, Adrian. Not him.”

For a moment, he seemed to search her face, his breaths uneven. “Then let me mark you,” he said suddenly, stepping closer. “Let me mate and mark you right now.”

Her back hit the wall of the house as Adrian closed the distance between them. His hands framed her face, his lips crashing into hers with desperate intensity. Maya froze for a moment before responding, her fingers threading through his hair.

But then his kisses turned frantic, his mouth trailing down her neck as his grip tightened. “Adrian,” she gasped, trying to push him back.

“Let me show you,” he murmured, his voice rough as his fangs elongated. With one sharp motion, he tore the top of her dress, exposing her shoulder and bra.

“Adrian!” Maya yelled, shoving harder against him. But he didn’t stop. His wolf was too close to the surface, his eyes glowing with primal need.

Madrid roared in her mind, her growl echoing in Maya’s chest. “Adrian, you’re hurting me!” she grated out, her voice strained.

Her words seemed to pierce through the haze. Adrian froze, blinking rapidly as his eyes returned to their natural brown. He stepped back, his face crumpling in horror.

“Maya, I—I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “I didn’t mean—”

Maya wrapped her arms around herself, her body trembling with adrenaline. She took a steadying breath, her eyes blazing with restrained fury as she looked up at him. “You almost forced yourself on me, Adrian. Do you even realize what you just did?”

Adrian flinched, his shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” he said, his voice low, shame evident in his posture. “I just—I couldn’t control myself. The thought of losing you... it drives me crazy.”

Maya’s glare didn’t soften. “That’s not an excuse. You don’t get to use your emotions as a reason to hurt me.” Her tone was cold, unyielding.

He looked at her, desperation in his eyes. “Can you forgive me?”

She held his gaze, her jaw tightening. Finally, she let out a slow breath. “This isn’t about forgiveness, Adrian. This is about trust, and you just broke it.”

His face fell, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Maya sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I should’ve told you about Gabriel sooner. That part is on me. But what happened just now? That’s on you.”

He nodded reluctantly, shame still written all over his face.

“I need to change,” she said firmly, gesturing to her torn dress. “We’ll talk later. For now, let’s just get through the rest of this night without any more drama.”

After the party, Maya thought it would be best for Adrian to return to his pack. She needed time—time to think, to breathe, to process everything that had happened. Her feelings for Adrian were complicated, especially after what had almost happened in the garden. And then there was Gabriel.

The weekend had passed in a blur of tension and silence. She spent most of it avoiding her parents’ probing questions and Adrian’s texts, though she couldn’t ignore him forever. Now, back on campus, she felt a strange mix of relief and dread as she walked into her Environmental Law and Policy class.

The lecture hall was already filling up when she arrived. Maya spotted her friend Camille and quickly slid into the seat beside her.

“Hey,” Camille greeted, flipping through her notebook. “How was your birthday weekend?”

“It was… eventful,” Maya replied vaguely, not wanting to delve into the details.

But before Camille could press her further, Maya felt the weight of a gaze. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to find Gabriel Hatchett sitting a few rows back. His piercing blue eyes locked on hers, and he gave her a nod, the corner of his mouth quirking into a smirk.

Her stomach twisted. He looked so damn confident, like he owned the room. She hated it. Hated the way her wolf stirred at the sight of him, the way Madrid’s excitement rippled through her mind.

Focus, Maya.

She quickly turned back to the front as the professor entered, her voice commanding the attention of the room.

“Welcome to Environmental Law and Policy,” the professor announced, setting her briefcase on the desk. “Let’s start with a foundational question: What is the greatest legal challenge facing environmental preservation today?”

Maya reached for her notebook, her pen poised to write.

“Mr. Hatchett,” the professor said, her sharp gaze landing on Gabriel. “Since you seem particularly attentive, would you care to share your perspective on today’s topic?”

Maya tensed, waiting for some cocky, shallow answer.

Gabriel straightened in his seat, his expression unreadable. “The conflict between corporate land development and indigenous or protected territories,” he said smoothly. “It’s where profit and survival collide.”

Her pen hovered midair. That… was a good answer. A damn good one.

Maya blinked, momentarily stunned. How does he know that? She’d dismissed him as nothing more than a reckless bad boy with good looks. But that answer was sharp, insightful—something she hadn’t expected.

Annoyance flared in her chest, mingling with an unwelcome spark of curiosity.

The professor’s gaze shifted. “Miss Lopez, your thoughts?”

Maya squared her shoulders. “What about economic growth? If a company offers a significant financial incentive to acquire unused land, it creates jobs, infrastructure, and boosts the local economy. Isn’t that beneficial for both sides?”

Gabriel leaned forward, his gaze sharp. “And when that expansion encroaches on communities that rely on that land to survive? Are profits worth displacing them?”

“Communities evolve,” Maya shot back. “Adaptation is key to survival.”

Their exchange crackled with tension, drawing the attention of the entire class.

The professor held up a hand, a small smile playing on her lips. “This is exactly the kind of debate I want to see in this course. Real-world conflicts, real-world stakes.” She paused, pacing the front of the room. “Which is why your midterm will be a Mock Legal Dispute Presentation.”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the room.

“You’ll be divided into pairs and assigned real-world environmental law cases,” the professor continued. “One of you will argue for corporate development, the other for land preservation.”

Her gaze locked on Maya and Gabriel. “Starting with Miss Lopez and Mr. Hatchett.”

Maya’s stomach dropped.

She wanted to protest, to argue, but the professor cut off any objections. “Before you even think about declining, remember: this is worth half of your grade. Professional-grade work. No exceptions.”

The room fell silent.

Six weeks. Six weeks of working with Gabriel Hatchett.

The class ended, and students began gathering their things. Maya stared at her notebook, her mind racing. How was she supposed to survive this?

“Maya.”

Her head snapped up to see Gabriel standing beside her desk, his expression infuriatingly calm.

“I guess we’re partners,” he said, his smirk returning.

Maya clenched her jaw. “Don’t think for a second that this means we’re going to get along.”

He chuckled, the sound low and smooth. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Lopez.”

As he turned and walked away, Maya gritted her teeth, her wolf’s restless energy buzzing in the back of her mind. This was going to be a long six weeks.