Chapter 41 Good Match
Chapter 41 Good Match
ARDEN
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“So, we’re going to have an assessment today,” Miss Loveson announced, her <b>gaze </b>lingering on me from time to <b>time</b>. It seemed <b>that </b>the teachers were aware of the tension in the <b>air </b>as well “Two weeks after the Ivory Solstice, we will hold apetition in our school, inviting every eligible university to participate in various contests ranging from sports to academics.”
<b>This </b>assessment will be focused on general knowledge–it’s the main event of all the quiz bees. From both the freshman and senior levels, four representatives <b>will </b>be chosen for this category.”
“Fort, Sienna, please help me distribute the papers, she instructed. The two of them stood, grabbed their stacks, and began <b>handing </b>them out to <b>the </b>members.
I opted to sit alone at the very back. However, just then, someone abruptly pulled the chair next to me. I initially ignored them, but the persistent nces forced me to acknowledge his presence. With a small sigh, I turned to him.
“Can I help you?” I muttered, my patience already wearing thin.
He smiled, revealing <b>a </b>set of straight teeth. “I don’t think I’ve properly introduced myself. The name’s Kyle. I’m the third best among all the seniors <b>and</b>, trust me, I could use <b>an </b>apprentice.” he winked, his confidence radiating from <b>him</b><b>. </b>
“No thanks,” I replied, turning my gaze back to the front once more.
“If you need any help with this assessment, I’m more <b>than </b>willing to lend a hand. It would be fantastic for us to represent our respective year levels,” he persisted.
I let out <b>a </b>heavy sigh, choosing to ignore himpletely. At <b>that </b>moment, Sienna arrived at our table and dropped the <b>papers </b>onto it with an unforgiving force. She shot me a re before walking away, prompting yet another deep sigh from
<b>me </b>
“Whoa, what’s her issue?” Kyle chuckled as he reached for one of the test sheets-
“Beats me,” I grumbled under my breath. She was <b>the </b>one <b>who </b><b>had </b>exposed my <b>virginity </b>for the entire school to see, and now she was <b>throwing </b>a fit because Jaxon suddenly broke up with her?
Shaking my head, I redirected my focus to the test in front of me instead<b>. </b>Kyle continued muttering under his breath while he worked through the questions, and I felt his <b>hand </b>brush against mine on several asions. I simply ignored him and scooted to the very end of the table, hoping for peace.
Minutester, Eliass stood from his seat and submitted his paper. I noticed the number of questions I still had left and sighed. Kyle proved to be a distraction, <b>continually </b>interrupting my train of thought and <b>rhythm</b>.
One by one, the <b>others </b><b>began </b>to submit their papers. Fortunately, I managed to hand mine in right before the time limit- being the <bst </b>one to finish. As I returned to my seat, Kyle scooted closer once more and yfully nudged my shoulder.
“It <b>was </b>pretty difficult, wasn’t it?” he smirked. “I told you–I was willing to help”
“I don’t need <b>your </b>help,” I <b>finally </b><b>snapped</b>, which prompted him to raise both hands in mock surrender.
“Let me check these papers, and I’ll announce the representatives in just a few minutes,” Miss <b>Loveson </b><b>said</b>, and the room. erupted into quiet conversations.
In the meantime, I stood from my seat and started walking to the bathroom just outside of the Silver building. Once inside. I took care of my business and stepped out to wash my hands. To my surprise, the door <b>swung </b>open, and there stood Kyle once
instinctively stepped back, narrowing my eyes at him. “<b>What </b>are you doing here!”
Kyle chuckled and leaned casually against the sink. “<b>Don’t </b>worry. I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to talk to you.”
sighed, <b>running </b>my fingers through my luir, trying to <b>mask </b>my annoyance. At that moment, Kyle froze, gazing at me with
1:13 AM <b>et </b>c
Chapter 41 Good Match
“What?” I snapped.
He shook <b>his </b>head, lightly pping <b>his </b>cheek as if trying to refocus. “You’re actually very… pretty,”
I was bing more confused by the minute. Why on earth was he suddenly acting like this?
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“You don’t have the shy look, but the more I observe you, the more I realize how beautiful you truly are. It’s appalling <b>that </b>I didn’t notice it sooner,” he said earnestly.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. “Let’s be frank. You’ve only noticed me now because of <b>my </b>virginity”
He scratched the <b>back </b>of his neck sheepishly. “Well, I won’t argue with that point, but I genuinely mean it when I say you’re beautiful”
“Are you done?” I asked, growing impatient <b>and </b>crossing my <b>arms </b>protectively in <b>front </b>of my chest. “Miss Loveson must be done by now.”
Kyle pursed his lips <b>and</b>, <b>without </b>warning, stepped closer. “Somehow, you’re even prettier when you’re angry.”
I red at him. “Step back,” I warned, but it seemed <b>he </b>hadpletely lost his mind when he suddenly wrapped his arms<b>. </b>around my waist.
“Let go.”
Before I could finish my sentence, those very words came from someone else.
Both of us turned toward the door to find Elias standing there, leaning <b>nonchntly </b>against the door frame with his arms crossed.
Kyle quickly released me <b>and </b>darted <b>nces </b>between <b>Elias </b>and me. A look of understanding <b>crossed </b>his features, and then he bowed slightly.
“Sorry, Alpha,” he mumbled. “I didn’t realize you had already imed her.”
My frown deepened. “Nobody has imed me,” <b>I </b>insisted, but it seemed Kyle was <b>already </b>convinced otherwise.
“I’m going back,” he stated<b>, </b>leaving Elias and me alone. I sighed <b>and </b>shook my head<b>, </b>intending to leave when he unexpectedly.
my arm again. He leaned in, bowing his head <b>slightly </b>so our eyes met.
seized
I didn’t back down this time, I held <b>his </b><b>gaze</b>, offering him the same heated re.
“I knew it,” he muttered. “It is <b>you</b>.”
**
He brushed <b>my </b>hair <b>away </b>from my neck and poked at the <b>mark </b>there, his finger lingering for a few seconds before finally withdrawing. “I saw it the first time we met,” he said<b>, </b>smiling.
“What?” I asked, frustration tightening my features <b>into </b>a deeper frown.
“You didn’t hide it back then, right?” he chuckled.
you wouldn’t
My head was reeling with a million thoughts. <b>Elias </b>had known all this time and <b>hadn’t </b>said a word? As if reading <b>my </b>mind, he spoke “Well, I knew the truth was bound toe <b>out </b>eventually,” he whispered<b>. </b>“I kept quiet because I knew appreciate me spreading the information <b>around</b>.”
“Besides that, if was rather entertaining to have this <b>kind </b>of information all to myself,” he added, <b>his </b>smilecking warmth. Instead, it felt like he had <b>just </b>won a gune <b>that </b>only he knew he was ying.
My heart raced within my chest. “I’m not going to give in to you,” I dered with determination.
urse not,” Hias replied, his tone casual. “You’re quite stubborn, I’ve noticed. However, even the most stubborn people have their breaking points.”
The treatment you received from Kyle just moments ago will be a recurring theme,” he continued, his <b>hand </b>returning to linger on my mark, touching it lightly. “You will be the center of attention for as long as you bear this mark.”
<b>1:13 </b>AM ed.
Chapter 41 Good Match
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“However,” he said, his voice taking <b>on </b><b>a </b><b>serious </b>tone, “not everyone will be as lenient <b>as </b>Kyle. Others will be far more relentless–persisting until you reach your breaking point.”
“That’s how it works in Elite. You either devour or be devoured,”
n assure you of
So, he trailed off, finally letting go of me. “I may not possess Rowan’s sex appeal or Jaxon’s strength, but I can one thing–your protection.”
I fell silent, internalizing his words.
“I’m the smartest of the group, you see. I wouldn’t use you the way those three Alphas would. Instead, with your intelligence, <b>you </b>could join me in the East. <b>What </b>do you say? I believe we would make a pretty good match.”
“You’d be better off with me than with the rest of those Alphas.”
Before I could get a <b>word </b><b>out</b>, another person appeared from the bathroom door.
“Miss Loveson is looking for the two of you.” Fort <b>said</b>, interrupting our conversation.
I stepped away.and nodded, following Fort back to the Silver building, with Elias trailing closely behind. Though I couldn’t see his expression, I had a strong feeling he was smirking
As we entered, we were greeted by Miss Loveson. “There you are. I’ve finished reviewing the papers. Please take your seats.”
To my <b>dismay</b>, Elias had taken Kyle’s previous spot. While I didn’t appreciate Kyle’s presence, <b>I </b>would have much preferred solitude over any of theirpany.
The seniors‘ representatives will be Cicely and Fort<b>–</b>congrattions, Miss Loveson announced. Muted apuse echoed throughout the <b>room</b>, but it seemed they were not surprised <b>anymore</b>. These two must <b>have </b>been <b>frequent </b>representatives.
“And for the freshmen…,” she paused dramatically.
<b>Part </b>of me hoped to be <b>chosen </b>as one of the representatives, but I also understood it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I wasn’L
“We have Elias <b>and</b>… Arden,” she continued, lifting her head to offer me a smile. My eyes <b>widened </b>slightly <b>as </b>a rush <b>of </b>excitement surged through me.
Once again, apuse filled the room, though it sounded more forced this time.
Elias leaned <b>in </b>with a proud smirk. “I told you we’d <b>make </b>a good match.”