Trapped in a shed with a total stranger asking for a kiss.

Not even trying to hide his interest as he attempted to get her to develop feelings or possibly stockholm syndrome was a classic romcom cliche moment. 

Azalea had watched enough dramas to know that if this scenario was to drag on for much longer her reputation at Mercy Academy would be over before it even began. 

From the thin sliver of light that came through the broken window of the old shed.

She could make out some of his features that weren't hidden in darkness and see that this guy was indeed quite handsome. 

Knowing her luck he was probably very popular and had a huge fan club with envious yandere girls that admired him. 

Just thinking about the two of them being found kissing, the shed door opening right at the point where their lips made contact was enough to make Azalea tremble with disgust. 

An entire fan club chasing her to end her for daring to take their dream guy away from them.

That was if the strong smell of calamine lotion didn’t make her empty the contents of her stomach first.

Just like that she wondered why her sprout had been obsessed with the stinky smell of the gray wolf. 

Even now as he lay there loudly panting, every now and again she heard him scratching himself.

Where his bare skin had come in contact with dreaded trumpet vine and looked to have a severe reaction.

It was strange that when he transformed it fixed his broken bones but not the skin condition. Maybe the werewolf healing prioritized the graver injury and figured the irritated skin could heal itself over time. 

A werewolf with skin complications, no wonder he didn’t want anyone finding out that he wasn't a normal sentry like the others. 

Normal sentries and conduits call out their mental beasts as separate entities they don’t usually transform into their beast, this was next level S ranked stuff.

“You haven’t kissed me yet.”

The sound of his voice broke her concentration and Azalea felt a bit panicked.

Even though this was not their first time seeing each other they were still practically strangers.

She tried to recall the little that she knew about werewolves and remembered that the males experienced something called a “rut.” 

Intentional or not this gray wolf had consciously isolated himself from his classmates and despite, his heavy panting still had a grip on his sanity.

It occurred to Azalea that he might be focusing on the “kiss” as a way to distract himself from the intensity of the pain he felt and didn't really want to swap spit with her.

“How can we kiss when we aren’t even friends?”

He chuckled and said, “as of today I hereby declare you my friend, so how about it?”

She wasn’t surprised he didn’t let the matter drop, alphas in their rut have a single minded determination to find a mate and breed.

Normally, this alpha wouldn’t let strangers in his territory but he made an exception for Azalea.

Allowing her to be around him when he was in his most vulnerable state.

She didn’t want to hurt his feelings or make the situation more embarrassing than it already was so she chose her next words carefully.

“I’m happy to become your friend. So… friend… I know your bleeding. I can smell the blood. Why don't you come with me to the infirmary so the nurse can take care of your injury?” 

“You do it. Don’t ask others for help.”

He may have softened his tone but the aggression and the command in his voice was still felt. 

“I need light to see.”

The alpha got up on his feet and walked to the center of his shed where he used his uninjured hand to yank down on a chain dangling from the ceiling.

Revealing a dim light bulb that illuminated the dusty shed.

In a gruff voice he advised.

“Over there on the table behind you is the coach's old medical kit. Check and see if there is anything you can use.”

She found some wipes, some iodine and some old bandages and got to work. 

The skin around his knuckles were scraped and blood seeped out.

Dripping along the length of his hand where it left a trail of blood on the ground whenever he moved.

The young man didn’t even flinch when she probed the wound checking to see if there were leftover bits of glass inside. 

Azalea was the one who was more tense and self-conscious as she carefully checked not wanting to add initial pain.

“If you were normal like me this wound would need some stitches. At least I won't have to worry about you getting an infection. Is it painful?”

The alpha on the receiving end of her tender ministrations remained quiet.

His only response was an exasperated look as if to say, you think?

Already he was thinking that in the future he would return the favor.

It wasn't like him to be obligated to outsiders and he felt she deserved to be pampered for her kindness to a stranger.

“Well, now that I know you're fine,” said Azalea while turning to leave, “It’s time for me to go, I’ve been away from class for too long and the others must be wondering about my disappearance.”

Azalea smiled and turned her back to him ready to head through the door. 

When unexpectedly, a bandaged hand grabbed Azalea by the waist, encircled her petite frame into a bear hug and pulled her so close she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. 

“Please… don’t leave me.” 

“Oh my…” 

The young alpha sounded almost pitiful as he turned their bodies away from the door.

Already made up her mind to leave Azalea tried to leave the warmth of his embrace but his hold tightened.

There was no denying that the sentry was physically stronger than the conduit.

They both knew he had the upper hand so it was no use to struggle physically against him if Azalea wanted to leave she had to use words. 

“Friend…your hands will start to bleed again so you must let me go.”

“Stop struggling and then you won’t have to worry.”

Azalea froze, not knowing what to do next to ease the escalating tension in the room.