"Cressida?"
She snapped back to reality, the pendant becoming ice-cold in her grasp. "I hate that you have no free will to do whatever you wish."
Zephyrine forced a smile. "That's part of being the child of an alpha. We do what is best for the pack, not for ourselves."
Cressida reached a hand over the separation of the shower stalls and clasped her hand over her friend's shoulder. She wished she could help her, but this was beyond her reach. If she tried to intervene, she would only succeed in infuriating her alpha and breaking an alliance that could lead to more bloodshed.
"So, for tonight I'd like everyone to retain some control." 
"Tonight?"
"Yes--Remember the blood moon?"
Oh, Cressida had completely forgotten that it would come tonight. During the blood moon, every race was affected differently. For werewolves, their wolfish desires enhanced to extreme levels, leaving some blind with the primal instinct to mate. She had heard the fae too became overwhelmed with their magic, but Seraphina didn't go into details. For a moment, she wondered what was the strongest desire for vampires.
"The fae has given us the brew to help us with the heat, but of course, those who want to have a bit of wild fun are allowed to--but not too wild. I don't want to walk into a--"
"Oh, I remember." Cressida laughed, recalling walking to the dorms last year to find about five pack mates in a very intimate situation. 'Your face was hilarious--I thought you were going to pass out."
Zephyrine glanced away, her cheeks turning rosy. "I was simply a bit taken back."
Cressida couldn't control her laughter until the doors to the showers entered and in walked Ashton with a couple of his packmates. She focused on showering and for a moment, she scrubbed at the mark, stopping only when her skin turned red. She could only wish it would be that easy to rid herself of this mark.
"Hey, Ashton," Zephyrine greeted him with the same bubbly energy as she did everyone. 
When he responded, Cressida could have sworn his voice seemed too close. She turned away from the wall, confirming he stood feet away from her shower stall. Her face heated up as their eyes locked, his smile creating a flutter in her stomach as it had months ago. She hated the fact she reacted positively to his presence, which everyone present could sense. 
"Hey," he said, his smile revealing his dimples.
Cressida didn't want to seem rude to his pack, so she said, "Hey." Then, she proceeded to finish taking a shower. When a faint warmth spread through her veins, she grabbed the towel and almost ran out of the showers, sensing her wolf rising within. As she powerwalked down the enormous corridor, her breathing became labored. 
Because of the blood moon, for today, no classes would be held. She wished she could focus on creating blends of herbs, take her mind off the blood moon, of its effects that betrayed her head. If she focused on what her heart desired, she would return to Ashton. She couldn't do that. Not after he shattered her heart into pieces. She had to be strong and ignore what her heart demanded. Before she caved and had sex with Ashton, she would rather spend the night with a random wolf to ease her primal desire.
Cressida prepared herself to get to bed, thinking that it would be easier to sleep through the blood moon. As she sat on her bed, she traced the crescent moon on her forearm, wishing that at times she didn't jump into action. She should have known the guardian of the academy wouldn't be pleased with her. 
She threw herself back and stared at the tear-drop chandelier above, I'm sorry.
For what? The wolf's deep voice echoed in her mind.