leaked photos

Venus had told Zhao Xin that she was the Beta, a strong one at that, but today, she didn't feel like one at all. Her concentration was off during herbal training with Elder Zhao Wei. She'd stumbled through most of the lesson, and it didn't help that Zhao Xin had shown up, leaning casually against a tree like he wasn't watching—but she felt his eyes the whole time.

The words "Kunming's bitch" still echoed in her mind even after two days. That cruel insult had been whispered too many times after the photos of her naked backside and showy dress were leaked. This morning, Elder Zhao Wei, the healer and her mentor, had called her aside and gently reminded her to stay focused. He said the pack's strength came from unity, not gossip.

Gao Tianyu hadn't shown up for his patrol shift. He hadn't replied to any of her messages either. Last year, he never missed a ritual or training. She had tried calling again before heading to the training caves, but his phone was off. Maybe he saw the photos too. But why hadn't he at least checked on her?

Liang Zhihao, their young backup enforcer, had been trying hard, but he wasn't ready. His transformation was slow and his attacks lacked control. Venus didn't want him to feel disheartened, so after training, she gave him a small smile and told him his effort mattered. His eyes lit up, even if he didn't believe her completely.

Even though early summer training wasn't mandatory, Zhao Wei clearly expected more from his lead warrior. If Tianyu stayed absent, the pack would be vulnerable. And everyone knew—without a strong beta like him, they were exposed.

After cleaning up in the women's wash hut, Venus dialed Tianyu again. Still nothing. Her fourth message of the day went unread. Her heart ached. Was he avoiding her? Had he gone back to his ex, Mei Lian? Venus was never one to get insecure, but this silence was eating her up.

In the open courtyard, Zhao Xin was leaning against her bike with Falkor beside him, tail wagging. Her dog looked far too happy.

"You done stealing my dog?" she asked. Her voice came out colder than she intended.

Falkor barked, wagging harder as she approached. She took the leash from Zhao Xin and scratched behind Falkor's ear.

"If you want a ride back to the cabin," she said, "Falkor's riding shotgun."

"No chance." Zhao Xin opened the back door. "Falkor, back."

Her dog obeyed instantly, hopping to the back seat. Venus gave Zhao Xin a look. "How do you keep doing that? He never listens to me."

"He knows who the real alpha is," Zhao Xin said with a slow smirk.

She turned on the radio to avoid replying, but he casually turned it off again. "You mad at me or just mad at the world?" he asked. "Look, I didn't ask to be dumped in Kunming. If I hadn't been exiled, I'd still be in Sichuan. Probably free-running the southern hills."

Venus blinked. "Wait. Did you just say Bai Lan is pregnant?"

"Yup. That's what 'knocked up' means."

Venus stared ahead as she drove. Her half-sister hadn't spoken to her in seven years. Now she was back, and pregnant? Venus couldn't understand why Zhao Xin knew so much about her own blood family while she didn't.

When she pulled into the house courtyard, she was startled to find Gao Tianyu's sleek black scooter already parked by the wall. He was leaning on it with sunglasses on, arms crossed.

She got out quickly. "Where were you today?" she asked, walking up to him. "You missed training."

"My parents dragged me to this family ritual thing," he said. "I couldn't get out of it."

That didn't sound like the Gao Tianyu she knew. His father, once an honored warrior, never forced him to miss patrols.

"Did you see the pictures of my backyard? And Bonk?"

He nodded slowly.

"Did you post the ones of Bonk? No one else confessed."

He gave a small nod. "Yeah. But don't let it get out."

Venus frowned. "How'd you even get them to pose?"

"I have my tricks."

She tried to steer the conversation back. "Liang's trying to step up. But the others are frustrated. We need you."

Tianyu didn't answer right away. He reached out to touch the silver bracelet she wore—a charm of a moon and a wolf paw, a gift from him last winter.

"Sorry about the other night," he murmured. "My dad's been on my back about taking leadership now that we're seniors. He wore the beta crest with pride. Now it's my turn."

Venus nodded slowly. "I didn't mean to take anything from you. I just wanted to lead."

"You earned it," he whispered. "But it still hurt."

There was silence again. The kind that throbbed with things left unsaid.

He brushed his thumb over her bracelet. "Did I ruin things between us?"

Venus shook her head. "No. But... I felt awful. The whole Mei Lian thing scared me. And then you vanished."

"Forget all that."

He leaned down and kissed her softly. In that brief moment, her walls crumbled. She wanted to trust him. She wanted something steady. But since her mother left, trusting had always been hard.

They talked a little about training. Then she asked, "Are you packed for Elite?"

Elite was the summer warrior camp held deep in the Wuling Mountains. Only the top young shifters were invited. The plan was to ride there together, staying in inns where Tianyu's father had connections. A rare honor.

Then he asked, "So what's the deal with that Zhao Xin guy?"

Venus glanced back. Zhao Xin was shirtless, cutting tall grass with a blade, music playing in his ears. She had no idea why he kept fixing things around the house. The backyard was overgrown and wild—more honest than the manicured front. But Zhao Xin treated it like a sacred place.

"We've agreed to ignore each other," she said. "I try to pretend he doesn't exist."

Tianyu looked at the empty driveway. "Your dad home?"

"No. Probably at the accounting lodge. He'd rather bury himself in records than be here."

Tianyu drew close, brushing her hair behind her ear. "How about we go to your room for a while? Just you and me."

She hesitated. "Now?"

He grinned. "Didn't you say we don't get enough time alone?"

In her room, he slipped off his shirt and lay back on her bed. She sat beside him and began massaging his shoulders, her hands moving in practiced circles.

"You're magic," he said, eyes closed. "I missed this."

"You could return the favor. My feet are killing me."

"Feet gross me out."

He rolled to face her and slid his hands under her shirt, thumbs brushing over her skin.

She caught his wrists. "I need to talk."

He kissed her neck slowly. "I'm listening."

"No, you're not."

He kissed harder, his tongue trailing like he was marking her.

"I'm serious, Tianyu."

"Can't we talk later?"

He unzipped his pants and looked at her with expectation.

Venus stared down, then met his eyes. "I'm not feeling it."

He groaned. "Come on, Venus. You know we both want it."

But she didn't. Not like this. Not now.