Andria’s POV
Just then, I silently wished for sothing, anything to happen that could rescue from this ss. And then a loud knock ca at the door. Whoever was behind the door didn’t wait before badging into the office in haste. I sensed him, even before he spoke.
A quiet, controlled, deceptively calm voice that sliced straight through the tension.
"Step away from her."
Every head in the room snapped toward the door.
Zade stood against the door, looking weirdly calm, but I knew better; a raging storm was hiding beneath his quiet deanor. His eyes were darkened, and his shoulders appeared stiff and tensed.
His expression was unreadable. His presence instantly shifted the entire atmosphere. Relief slamd into so hard my knees almost buckled.
"Zade..." I breathed, the word escaping before I could stop it.
His eyes moved to , sweeping over my slightly dishevelled shirt, my flushed skin, my swollen lips... and sothing sharp and cold flickered through his gaze.
The kind of cold that appeared on his face the day he thought I had cheated on him. But now that cold face wasn’t against , it was for .
Tristan stiffened. Aven exhaled sharply. Damon straightened his spine.
Kaelric’s smirk only deepened, twisting his lips in a very crooked, arrogant expression that made my stomach shun.
Zade stepped fully into the office, closing the door behind him with quiet finality. His gaze didn’t leave even for a second.
And the mont he crossed the threshold, everyone in the room readjusted.
Aven’s fists clenched, Tristan’s jaw tightened, and Damon’s smirk faltered.
Of course, they didn’t need a fifth party, but he ca.
But none of them backed away.
"What do you want from my office?" Sir Kaelric asked in a cold tone.
" I should have asked first, what party are you throwing in your office with my mate and her other mates that I’m not invited to," he retorted.
My pulse stuttered.
The tension in the room thickened, turning almost physical, as the Alpha successors charged towards Zade. I took that opportunity to slip off the table, finding my way towards the door.
Zade walked closer to , noticing my movent, and the Alpha successors turned towards my direction.
When he reached , he didn’t touch ; he simply stood at my side, body heat radiating like a shield.
His voice was lower now. I had totally forgotten I hated Zade; for now, I wanted to be out of here, and if he could help , that was all I needed. "Aria... you okay?"
I swallowed, my throat dry. "I... I’m fine."
Zade’s eyes flicked over my wrists, still red where Kaelric’s tie had held them. He didn’t say anything, but sothing in his aura shifted like a silent earthquake.
"I knew sohow you needed help," he bent down to my ear and whispered. "I’m here."
Of course, the mate bond could have called out to him in that mont. I felt distressed. I hated having to take help from Zade, but I had no other choice.
"I..." I sucked in a breath. "Zade, please get them off ."
Aven bristled. "She doesn’t need rescuing."
"She looks like she does," Zade replied without blinking. "She just said it."
Tristan stepped forward, his tone cold and brittle. "This isn’t your scene, Zade."
"It is," Zade said, still terrifyingly calm. "She is my mate."
The air grew tense between us.
Damon lifted a brow. "She is ours too."
Zade’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. "And yet she asked for help from you," he looked around, "from you all."
My breath hitched.
Aven looked like he wanted to lunge. Tristan looked like he wanted to tear sothing. Damon looked entertained again, but in a darker, more calculating way.
Kaelric leaned against his desk, folding his arms with a lazy grin.
"Well," he murmured, "now this is interesting."
I stepped back while they were all distracted—just a tiny step.
No one noticed.
Zade stayed between and them, his stance protective, but not possessive like the others. His calmness was different, controlled and strategically quiet. The type that made people underestimate him.
Very different from the Zade that I used to know. Maybe he was different, or perhaps because he isn’t the popular wolf like he used to be.
His eyes flickered to . Sothing softened.
"Leave now," he murmured. "And don’t turn back, unless you want to be wrapped back into this."
He angled his body subtly, creating a passage for to pass through. The others noticed too late.
By the ti Aven lunged forward, growling, "Aria...you can’t..."
I was already slipping past Zade.
Opening the door and closing it behind with such speed I never knew I could muster at that mont.
I could hear them cursing out loud after I had left. They would settle their scores within themselves; they always had a way around these things.
But they didn’t chase , and I was happy for the first ti for having Zade around. I didn’t try to look back, I didn’t dare.
I walked very fast until I got to my apartnt, breathing heavily. I stopped in front of the door to catch my breath. I didn’t want l and Becca to be suspicious or even worried.
Before I could gather my breath together, the door opened.
I had forgotten to close the door when I left, and these two didn’t even bother to either. So the light tap on my head sent the door flying wide open.
l sat on the couch, controller in hand, with Becca beside her, both of them yelling at the TV.
I wondered what made them so excited about whatever they were watching on television.
The mont they saw , they froze, staring at as if they saw a ghost.
l blinked. "Uh... Aria? Why do you look like a ghost has chased you?"
Becca squinted. "Or like you wrestled one."
I ignored them. Walked straight to my room and closed the door quietly behind . My hands were still trembling.
I splashed water on my face, changed into fresh clothes, brushed out my hair, and breathed, ntally preparing myself to et them.
I returned to the living room.
l and Becca were staring at with identical expressions of suspicion.
"Why..." l asked slowly, "Did you look slightly dishevelled when you got back?"
Becca leaned closer, eyes widening. "Wait. Hold on. Aria. Why did your lips look..."
"No." I cut her off. "Absolutely not. We are not doing this."
l snorted. "So you were with your mates, the Alpha successors or Sir Kaelric, which of them?."
"Hey, I just went to see Sir Kaelric concerning council and school matters, that’s all, nothing happened."
"You are blushing," Becca pointed out.
"I’m warm, and you two are asking weird questions about my mates. Why wouldn’t I be flustered?"
"And you are lying," l added.
I crossed my arms. "I will happily join your ga if you both stop talking," I said, desperately trying to change the topic.
l grinned. "Deal."
Becca grinned wider. "Suspicious deal. Ari just had a way of changing the topic whenever it ca to her mates."
I dropped onto the couch. "Just... play. My mates aren’t a topic to be discussed."
We played for about thirty minutes.
l was demolishing us, again and again.
"And that makes two wins for ," l said smugly. "One win for Aria. Zero for Becca."
Becca threw her controller dramatically. "Why does the universe hate ?"
"Because I am the universe, or probably you are not just good at the ga," l replied, flipping her hair.
I sighed. "You are insufferable."
"And talented. Don’t forget that," Becca pointed
"At losing," I muttered.
Becca groaned, throwing her head back. "I haven’t won anything today. Not even a single round! But at least I can sing."
"Then be better," l said sweetly.
"It’s a ga, l!" Becca cried.
"A skill-based ga," l corrected.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. l was beginning to sound corky.
l turned to us suddenly, eyes lighting up. "We should throw a ga night."
Becca perked up. "What kind of ga night?"
l leaned forward, waggling her brows. "An 18-plus ga night."
Becca gasped dramatically. "I’m listening."
I frowned. Imdiately suspicious. "Why?"
l grinned. "Because no one has anything to do. We are just waiting for prom night and the holidays. It will be fun."
Becca clapped. "I’m in!"
They both seed very excited about the idea, but nothing about it thrilled .
I narrowed my eyes. "It sounds suspicious."
l waved a hand. "Relax. It’s not a school event. It’s just an indoor apartnt thing."
"That makes even more worried," I muttered.
"Aria." l leaned closer. "It will be fun. Stop being such an old-school."
I looked between them, their bright eyes, excited expressions, and clueless enthusiasm.
"Who exactly would you invite?" I asked.
l’s grin sharpened. "Don’t worry about that. I’ll invite... that’s for to scout"
My eyebrow shot up. "For you to scout? I don’t know why I don’t trust this idea, and I don’t trust you."
l’s smile flickered. "I know my way around these things; students will show up. You have to start trusting."
"That’s concerning."
Becca squealed. "This is going to be fun!"
l turned to her. "Exactly! Trust ."
I exhaled slowly. "Fine. Do whatever you want."
l bead. "Finally!"
I rubbed my forehead. "Let’s just hope it isn’t a disaster. We already know how things like this end at Ashwood."
Becca and l exchanged looks and chuckled.
I stood. "I’ll be in my room."
I walked sluggishly to my room, already exhausted from whatever had happened today.
I slumped on my bed, willing sleep to co.
*******************************
"Truth or dare," l announced, spinning the bottle dramatically.
The room was packed with other students, faces I never knew would show up. Loud, chaotic and energetic. The air slled like alcohol, testosterone, and bad decisions.
The bottle slowed and stopped. My heart skipped when I saw where the neck pointed.
"It’s you, Tristan," l chuckled. "Make your way forward.
The room erupted with cheers.
"Truth or dare?" Becca asked mischievously.
"Dare," Tristan replied imdiately.
l grinned. "I dare you to pick two she-wolves here and kiss them. Or drink that beer over there."
The wolves oohed.
"Let point out that beer is strong," l continued. "Even a strong wolf will get drunk if they keep drinking."
Tristan sighed, standing.
He looked around the room and then walked straight to .
My breath hitched.
He stopped in front of , his hand lifting slowly, and he chose first.
The room exploded into whistles and screams.
So whisper, " I knew he would pick her; she is his mate after all."
I looked back, and Damon and Aven looked at intently.
Tristan pulled close, his hands sliding to my waist.
"I’m sorry," he whispered.
"For what?" I breathed.
"This."
His lips crashed onto mine.
The kiss was deep, taking my breath from at once. His hands roam my sides, his body pressing into mine. His tongue tangled with mine, slow and dominating, and the room blurred in that mont.
When he finally pulled back, we were both breathless.
The room erupted in louder cheering.
l grinned. "Next one!"
"Pick another! Pick another!" the crowd hollered.
I went back to my seat, while he looked around for the next she-wolf to pick. He looked towards l as if he were silently pleading with her to scrap the dare.
Damon and Aven chuckled mischievously.
He walked towards Alexa and picked her up. A little feeling of jealousy stung .
He paused again and looked at l.
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