Andria’s POV
She eyed suspiciously. "You look like you wrestled with a storm and then danced with a ghost."
"Close enough," I muttered, and she let out a slight chuckle.
I dropped my jacket onto the chair.
l followed toward my room, still talking. "Did you at least manage to talk things out with Becca?"
I froze mid-step. "No," I said, slowly turning to face her. "Not yet."
"Well..." l’s tone changed, lighter now, almost mischievous. "That might be about to change."
I turned to her. "What do you an?"
She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We have a new apartnt mate. Guess who."
I sighed, already too tired for gas. "l, it’s nearly three in the morning. I’m not guessing anything."
Her grin widened. "Becca."
That made pause. "What? How?"
She nodded. "The allocation officer ca by earlier. Since Larissa’s been... well, sent to the underworld, and Becca’s apartnt is under renovation, they decided to move her here. Temporarily, they said. But I have a feeling it might be permanent."
I blinked, still processing that. "You are joking."
My heart hamred against my chest, not knowing how to face Becca now that she has beco my new apartnt mate.
l raised her mug. "Do I look like I’m joking? They are even turning her old apartnt into a beautiful one. I just hope ours will be revisited soon. I’m tired of being in this apartnt while Liara and the rest of the royalties live in paradise."
I let out a breath, part sigh, part laugh. "Of course, maybe soday they would."
But even as I said that, I doubted it.
As we returned to the living room, Becca was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed, her hair pulled into a ssy bun. She had co out of her room, probably because she heard soone co in.
"Hey," I said quietly.
She didn’t answer. She just turned slightly, her back facing , her posture stiff.
l glanced between us like a referee sensing an oncoming fight, but I ignored her and stepped closer.
"Becca," I said, softer this ti. "I know you are angry. You have every right to be. But please, just hear out."
Her silence stretched long enough that I almost thought she wouldn’t respond. Then, slowly, she turned her head, her eyes cold, but hurt.
"Why should I?" she asked. "You missed my performance, Aria. You promised you would be there. You didn’t even bother texting; that’s not how friends do. I stood there waiting for you on the stage like a fool."
I swallowed, the guilt stinging sharper than any wound. "I know. And I’m sorry. I never intended to miss it. Sothing urgent ca up... and I got caught up in it."
"Caught up?" she repeated, her tone sharp. "You an with Aven?"
I had to pause a little; her tempo was rising. "No, Becca, it wasn’t like that."
"Then what was it like?" she pressed, standing now. "Because from where I was standing, you disappeared the minute Aven showed up at the entrance of the hall, and then I was left to perform in front of the whole school alone, of course, except for l and Michaela’s intervention. You weren’t even there to clap for ."
Her voice cracked on the last word. That broke .
"I didn’t choose to stay away," I said quietly. "Things got heated..plicated. I was trying to complete what I had started, and it got really ssy, Becca.
I know that doesn’t make it right, but I missed your performance, and I’m sorry. I will do anything to make it up to you."
Becca crossed her arms, her gaze sceptical. "Anything?"
"Yes," I said, eting her eyes.
She studied for a long mont, then a small, wry smile touched her lips. "Then let’s make a deal."
I frowned slightly. "A deal?"
"If our groups face each other at the finals of the Sports Festival," she said, her tone asured but hopeful, "you will let my group win."
I blinked, surprised. "Becca, that’s..."
"I really need it, Aria," she interrupted, her voice softening. "My wolf ranking has been dropping; it’s low, you know that, and everything in this academy affects rankings. Topping this one gives a chance at raising my rank. You’ve been topping the rankings all sester. One loss won’t hurt you. But it could save ."
She wasn’t wrong, but making this decision was tough.
I hesitated, my instincts screaming that it was a bad idea. But when I looked at her, my friend and now my roommate, I had already promised to make it up to her, to grant her a wish, and this was her wish. I can’t go back on my word.
I exhaled slowly.
"Fine," I said. "If we both make it to the finals, your group wins."
Her eyes widened, softening with disbelief before a bright smile broke through. "You an it?"
"I an it."
Becca let out a shaky laugh and pulled into a hug before I could react. "Thank you. I... I missed you, Aria."
"I missed you too," I said, hugging her back. The tension that had been coiling in my chest since last night finally loosened.
From the corner of the room, l smiled and set her mug down. "Finally. I was starting to think I would have to cast a friendship spell myself."
We all laughed, soft, tired, but genuine.
And in this mont, the apartnt felt warm again.
Becca reached for the remote. "Movie? I found a horror one that l refused to finish."
"I scread once," l protested.
"Six tis," Becca corrected.
I chuckled, curling up on the couch beside them as the opening credits flickered across the screen. The night outside was dark, but here, it felt very lively, especially amongst the ones I trusted.
Halfway through the movie, Becca turned to , her tone light but curious.
"I heard sothing," she said. "That the Alpha successors are fighting each other because of you, Aria."
She paused, her eyes glinting in the blue light of the TV.
"How true is that?"
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