Chapter 24 Need A Ride?
Chapter 24 Need A Ride?
ARDEN
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Everyone turned to me in an instant. I could see how Jaxon attempted to walk over, but Sienna held him back. I nced down at my dress and noticed it was stained <b>with </b><b>the </b>wine sloshing in Sienna’s hand.
“I’m so sorry.” she eximed amidst the noise of the party. “I didn’t see you there.”
I pursed my lips, choosing to remain silent as I grabbed Tessa’s hand and started to walk away from the scene. Theirughter lingered behind me like a bitter echo, but I tried my very hardest to tune them out.
I wasn’t a stranger to such antics. When <b>I </b>was in high school, I had experienced even worse bullying. However, it stung even more when it was your past best friend orchestrating this kind of chaos.
We made our way out of the sprawling mansion and onto the empty streets. There weren’t many signs of life; it seemed all the excitement was contained within the confines of that party,
“What a bitch” Tessa muttered under her breath, reaching into her bag for a handkerchief and beginning to wipe the stain off
<b>my </b>skin
“Is Jaxon really your mate?” she asked.
A <b>small </b>smile appeared on my lips <b>as </b>I <b>nodded</b>. “It’s <b>hard </b>to believe, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” she murmured, her expression growing more serious. “He’s supposed to protect you. A mate onlyes once in a lifetime.”
“That’s what I thought too. But then <b>again</b>,” I added, an attempt at humor creeping <b>back </b>into my voice, “I dodged a bullet, don’t you think?”
Even my joke couldn’tpletely mask the trauma I <b>was </b>feeling. Tessa’s eyes softened with empathy, and she pulled me into a warm hug.
<b>“</b>You don’t <b>have </b>to pretend <b>that </b>you’re <b>okay </b>when you’re not. You’ve endured so much, haven’t you?”
Her words triggered something deep within me–<b>emotions </b>I had hidden for far too <b>long</b>. A tear escaped my eyes, and before I knew it, I was crying into her shoulder.
“There, there,” she soothingly murmured,forting me like a mother would a child. “Those losers are nothing but losers.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her <b>bluntness</b>, and after a while, we <b>finally </b>separated.
“Well, it seems my <b>concealer </b><b>isn’t </b>waterproof after all,” she <b>said </b>with a wry smile, ncing at the smudges on her makeup. “Or at least, it isn’t tearproof”
1 chuckled once more, dabbing the corners of my eyes with the <b>back </b><b>of </b>my hand.
Tm sorry about the dress,” I said.
She stepped back. “You still pull it off really <b>well</b><b>. </b><b>Anyway</b>, it’s not something that bleach couldn’t fix. We need to <b>soak </b><b>it </b><b>ASAP</b><b>, </b>though.”
“Let’s go back to the dorms,” I suggested, eager to escape the remnants of that painful encounter.
She nodded in agreement, wrapping <b>her </b><b>arm </b>around mine. We began <b>our </b><b>walk </b>to the <b>bus </b><b>stop</b>, <b>but again</b>, the streets felt <b>remarkably </b>deserted, like <b>an </b>unsettling ghost town. <b>Tessa </b>nced <b>down </b><b>at </b>her <b>watch </b>“Why aren’t the busesing at regr
“Could it be because of the party?” I ventured, looking at her with <b>curiosity</b>.
She sighed. “It must be. The <b>intervals </b>are probably longer because they assume nearly all the students are at the Elite
10:43 AM
Chapter 24 Need A Ride?
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Mansions
“I don’t mind waiting,” I said with a <b>small </b>smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Just then, a luxurious car–a striking all–ck model with tinted windows–pulled up right in front of us. I turned to Tessa. confusion etched on my face, but she mirrored my bewilderment.
I instinctively stepped back, feeling a sense of wariness. The window rolled down, revealing Alpha Rowan, leaning casually against the frame.
“Need a ride?” he asked, a yful wink apanying his words.
I pursed my lips, ncing at Tessa, who appeared to be frozen in ce, I hadn’t fully noticed it before, but there was a certain tension about her, especially every time Rowan was near. But then again, she was from the South, too. It only made sense <b>that </b>she might feel some awkwardness around the True Alpha of her faction.
“The buses aren’t going toe until midnight, he stated matter–of–factly. “They do this during parties. Unless you want to stand around for another hour, I suggest youe with me,”
Right?” he added, <b>now </b>turning to Tessa for confirmation.
She cleared her throat and nodded, “Yeah, it’s getting cold out here.”
1 let out a resigned sigh and nodded in agreement. “Alright. But you better not do anything weird.”
<b>Rowan </b>raised both <b>hands </b>in mock surrender. “You don’t have much faith in me, teammate?<b>” </b>he <b>teased</b>, referring to our group project for Miss Loveson’s ss.
I didn’t respond, simply <b>following </b>Tessa to the backseat. “<b>Only </b>one person can ride in the back,” Rowan remarked casually. “It’s filled with my stuff.”
<b>Tessa </b>nced at me before biting her lip thoughtfully, “You can take the front seat,” she suggested, a hint of hesitation in her
voice.
I sighed, finally entering the front seat, where <b>Rowan </b>greeted me <b>with </b><b>a </b>disarming smile <b>that </b>showcased <b>his </b>perfectly <b>white </b>teeth. The <b>moment </b>I settled in, <b>his </b>scent enveloped me–it was <b>intoxicating</b>. But <b>alongside </b>it lingered something more <b>provocative</b>, an overwhelming aroma of desire <b>and</b>… Just, which prompted me to instinctively <b>cover </b>my nose.
He chuckled softly <b>as </b>he began to <b>drive</b>. “Sorry about <b>that</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>he <b>said</b>, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Someone <b>wanted </b>a quickie before I left. I <b>can’t </b>really turn down someone when they’re in the <b>mood</b>, you know?”
iughed hollowly at hisment, a dry sound that <b>only </b>seemed to amuse him further.
Where to?” he asked.
“Hades dorm,” I muttered.
Rowan let out a low whistle of <b>surprise</b>. “You live in that ce?”
“Yes,” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. “Not everyone can afford to live in the Elite Mansions like you, <b>Alpha</b><b>” </b>
The glint of amusement never left <b>his </b>gaze. “You’ve really got a <b>sharp </b>tongue, hummm? It <b>makes </b><b>you </b>rather intriguing”
“Tim d <b>you’re </b>interested in something <b>other </b><b>than </b>sex, I retorted, injecting a hint of <b>sarcasm </b>into my voice<b>. </b>
Woah,” he chuckled, feigning shock. Have I really built <b>that </b><b>kind </b>of <b>reputation </b>already?”
I answered bluntly. “A yboy Who else would suggest a knot for <b>a </b>presentation!”
was merely a suggestion,” he replied, the <b>smile </b>sull lingering on his lips. “<b>Besides</b>, it’s not my fault <b>that </b>others <b>want </b>me so <b>much</b>. I just can’t deny them their quest for real pleasure”
“It’s not like I <b>have </b><b>a </b>mate l’im tied to, either,” he <b>murmured</b>, his tone surprisingly softer now. I nced at him, noting the,
10:43 AM c
Chapter 24 Need A Ride?
tension in his jaw. I tilted my head, <b>sensing </b>a vulnerability there that I couldn’t quite ce.
s
However, just as quickly, that vulnerable expression vanished as he turned to me, his cheeky demeanor resurfacing. “What? Do you find my side profile handsome?”
I pursed my lips, suddenly feeling flustered. “We’re <b>here</b>,” I said, exhaling <b>a </b>sigh of relief.
Tessa wasted no time in opening the door, offering a small “thanks” before hopping out.
Iattempted to leave the car as well, but Rowan grasped my arm, his touch surprisingly warm against my skin, causing me to gasp in surprise.
“No goodbye kiss?” he teased, a smirk dancing on his lips.
Tessa stood outside, <b>shifting </b>awkwardly.
I nudged him away with a re. “What’s with the attempts when I’m clearly not interested?”
“Nothing,” he replied, tilting his head like an inquisitive puppy. “It’s simply intriguing how you seempletely uninterested <b>in </b>me.”
I scoffed, shaking my <b>head</b><b>. </b>“Of course,” I snapped back.
“Not everyone will like you, Alpha Rowan.
“I know,” he replied, the smile never faltering. “But that just makes it more fun to change those people’s minds.”