Claimed by the Alpha and the Vampire Prince: Masquerading as a Man-Chapter 179: Pissed Reed

Clark POV:

So, let’s just say Reed wasn’t exactly thrilled about me sitting next to Blaze during class. More like, Blaze decided to come sit next to me, like it was a done deal. I didn’t have any say in it. And of course, the moment Blaze swished into the seat next to me, Reed walked off in a huff. I thought maybe, just maybe, that was the end of it. That I could go back to my room and have a quiet moment without the drama. But nope.

I didn’t realize that Reed, the walking meniac, had somehow figured out that as soon as class ended, I’d be heading straight to my room. How did he know? I don’t know, but there he was, leaning against the wall in the hallway, looking like he owned the place, looking all sorts of annoyed. Great. This was just perfect. I thought I might slip past him, but of course, that didn’t happen.

I spotted him right as I tried to make my escape. I thought maybe if I turned around quick enough, I could avoid whatever trouble was coming my way. But of course, that’s when his voice hit me, like a slap across the face. It was that deep, commanding tone that I’ve come to recognize means trouble.

"Where are you going, kid?" he said, and I swear, my heart stopped. I was so dead. My stomach dropped. That voice. The one that felt like it could make a person piss themselves in a second. I didn’t even know what to say. I couldn’t say anything, actually. What was I supposed to say? "Oh, Reed, I didn’t do anything, I swear! Blaze just came and sat next to me!" Yeah, that wasn’t gonna fly.

I slowly turned around, dreading what was coming next. There was no running, no escaping. Reed was staring at me, his eyes glowing pale yellow. It was the kind of look that froze you in place, like he could see straight through me, read me like an open book. I don’t know why, but that yellow glare freaked me out. I latter came to know what it meant now. His wolf was on the surface, and I was about to face whatever anger he had bubbling under it. His wolf side wasn’t something you could just ignore. I had a feeling that if he wanted to, he could tear me apart in an instant. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

It was like the air got heavier, thicker. I didn’t even breathe.

"Come here, kid," Reed said, his voice still calm, but there was an edge to it that made my blood run cold. What the hell was I supposed to do? He had every right to be pissed off, but at me? I didn’t even want to be near Blaze! But I couldn’t say that, not when Reed’s wolf was just waiting to tear me apart.

And really, why the hell was he mad at me? I didn’t do anything. I didn’t tell Blaze to sit next to me. I didn’t tell him to sit at that seat. Blaze just decided to occupy it and act like it was no big deal. It was ridiculous, but Reed was looking at me like I had committed the worst crime in the universe. Like somehow, this was my fault. I wasn’t the one who invaded his space!

But you know what? None of that mattered. I had to face Reed, and there was no getting around it. I was in this mess, and now I had to deal with the consequences.

So, here I was, standing there, trying to act calm when I was on the verge of losing my shit.

Reed’s eyes never left me. "I don’t have all day," he said, his voice low and almost too calm for my liking. That was when I froze completely. The words seemed to come out of nowhere, and it felt like everything inside me came to a screeching halt.

I jumped, like an idiot, and in that instant, all the progress I’d made in inching toward him was gone. One misstep and I was backing up again. My hands were shaking. I couldn’t do this.

Why were these monsters so bent on making me feel like I was about to die any second?

I’d barely survived sitting through that entire class with Blaze breathing down my neck, praying he wouldn’t get thirsty and decide I’d make a good snack. I couldn’t even cough without worrying it would piss him off. And on top of that, Blaze had the audacity to tell me I’d be writing his notes for him—as if he even needed them—when I knew damn well he wouldn’t read a word of it. It was all just another mind game to mess with me.

And now this.

I wasn’t going to make it out of here alive, was I?

But still, despite the panic running through me, I knew I couldn’t just stand here. I couldn’t make things worse by running away or being defiant. So, with my heart pounding and my legs shaking like jelly, I started to move. But God, each step felt like a mile. Every inch closer to Reed made me feel like I was walking into the lion’s den.

"I don’t think you want me coming for you," he said, his voice so smooth, but laced with something dangerous. Something that sent a chill straight through me.

No, no, no.

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I could feel it. He wasn’t joking. I wasn’t going to risk finding out what happened if he did come for me.

So, I gathered every ounce of strength I had and walked forward. Slowly, like I was about to face my doom, but I didn’t have a choice. Reed wasn’t going to let me go until I did exactly what he said.

Every step felt like a battle, like I was walking into the lion’s den.

I didn’t dare look up at him. I couldn’t. I was too scared. I stared at the floor, trying to keep my focus on anything other than the wolf that was practically vibrating with impatience right in front of me. My legs were shaky, and I swore I could feel my heart beating in my throat.

Finally, I was only two steps away. Two more steps. The distance between us was closing, but it felt like the longest walk of my life. I didn’t know what to do, what to say. I just wanted to survive.

I stopped right in front of him, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. But I didn’t look up at him. I couldn’t. I was too scared to meet his eyes. I just stared down at the ground, trying to keep my breathing under control, trying to make myself seem smaller, like I wasn’t worth the trouble.

Please, please just let me go, I thought, silently begging for a way out. But there was no escape. Not with Reed so close.

Reed didn’t move a muscle. He stayed right there, his yellow eyes watching me like a predator waiting for its prey to make a mistake. I didn’t even breathe, waiting for whatever was going to happen next.

But he didn’t touch me. He didn’t push me or yell at me. Instead, he just kept looking at me with that calm intensity that made everything feel heavy.

I wanted to scream that I hadn’t done anything, but the words died in my throat. What could I say? Reed wasn’t mad at me for anything I’d done. He was mad because Blaze had messed with his pride, and I happened to be the unlucky one caught in the middle.

I was screwed either way. And now, the question wasn’t if Reed was going to snap. The real question was: how much longer could I keep pretending I had any control over this situation?