The morning light filtered through the dusty blinds, casting stripes of golden warmth across the Lavish Professor's room inside the Men's hostel. William stirred, blinking against the brightness, his body heavy with exhaustion and lingering pleasure. Memories of the night before flooded back—Est, the intensity of their connection, the raw pleasure that coursed through him like wildfire. But now, a creeping sense of dread settled in his gut as he recalled Est’s final words.

“It was not a one night stand, William. Now you are my Mate.”

He sat up abruptly, the sheets slipping down to his waist, revealing the slight marks on his skin—a reminder of Est’s claim. Panic washed over him as he looked around the room, half-expecting Est to be there, watching him, waiting to assert his dominance once more. But the room was empty, save for the remnants of their night—a tangle of clothes and the faint scent of their mingled pheromones still hung in the air.

William’s heart raced as he contemplated his next move. He quickly made a call and the other end connected to his friend. He rushed him to come towards the Professor's quaters. He had to get out, to escape this new reality that felt more like a cage than a bond. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. The world spun slightly, but he steadied himself, determination igniting within him.

As he dressed, he heard a knock on the door. “William? You in there?” It was Tui, his best friend and one the few close friends who knew about his bet on making Est fall for him. William hesitated, torn between the need for comfort and the fear of revealing too much.

“Yeah, I’m here,” he called, trying to keep his voice steady.

Tui pushed the door open, his expression shifting from concern to disbelief as he took in the scene. “Dude, what happened? You look like you’ve been through a war zone.”

William opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. How could he explain? “I… I need to talk to you.”

“Okay, spill it.” Tui leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his brows furrowed in concern.

As William recounted the events of the previous night, Tui’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “Wait, so you’re saying professor marked you? Like, he claimed you as his Mate?”

“Yes!” William exclaimed, his voice rising with urgency. “And it wasn’t just physical; it was like he unleashed something inside me. I don’t know what to do!”

Tui paced the room, his mind racing. “Okay, first things first. You need to be careful. Enigmas are known for being possessive. If he gets wind that you’re trying to escape, I can’t even imagine what he’d do.”

William felt the weight of those words settle heavily upon him. “I can’t stay with him, Tui. I can’t be trapped in some twisted bond.”

“Then we need a plan.” Tui stopped, his expression serious. “We need to find a way to break this bond before it gets any deeper. There are rumors of a way, something about a ritual or a remedy…”

Before he could finish, the door creaked open, and Est stood there, his presence commanding and overwhelming. “William,” he said, voice low and smooth, “we need to talk.”

William’s heart raced, and he instinctively stepped closer to Tui, feeling a protective need to shield himself. Est’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, and a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You’re not thinking of leaving, are you?”

“Est, I—” William stammered, but Est cut him off.

“Come with me. I want you to meet someone important.” He stepped back, gesturing for William to follow, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Tui shot William a look, a mix of concern and inability to do anything against the Cold professor. “Just be careful, okay?”

As William moved to follow Est, his pulse quickened with a mix of fear and intrigue. What awaited him? And who was this important person? With each step, he felt the pull of their bond, a tug that was as intoxicating as it was terrifying.

They exited the room and walked through the dimly lit hallways of the old building, the air thick with tension. Est led him to a door that William had never noticed before, its surface adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of union and bond.

Est turned to him, his expression serious. “This is where you will find answers, William. But be warned: not all answers are what they seem.”

With that, Est pushed the door open, revealing a room bathed in soft, ethereal light. Shadows danced on the walls, and a figure stood at the center, cloaked in mystery.

“Welcome, William,” the figure said, their voice echoing softly in the room. “I’ve been expecting you.”

William’s heart raced, his mind swirling with uncertainty. He was about to step deeper into a world he didn't understand, a world that had already begun to change him irrevocably. The questions loomed large—could he truly escape this bond? Or was he destined to embrace it, no matter the cost?

As the figure took a step forward, William felt the gravity of his choices bearing down on him. This was only the beginning.

To be continued...