14:55I don't know if you've heard, but I have a trial on the Elite team.
14:58I turned my head so I wouldn't have to look his body.
15:00Lucien chuckled.
15:02So?
15:03So?
15:04I repeated.
15:05So we need to fix this.
15:06I pointed between us.
15:08Genuine surprise crossed his face.
15:10Fix what?
15:11The mate bond.
15:12Silence.
15:13Then Lucien laughed.
15:14He had cornered me against the wall.
15:16Just like that night in the woods.
15:18You're serious.
15:20Completely serious.
15:22I lifted my chin.
15:23I don't like you.
15:25His expression flattened.
15:27That's unfortunate.
15:28You think you can just walk in here, say a few words, and make this all disappear?
15:34I swallowed hard.
15:36We have to.
15:37I can't keep doing this with you.
15:38After all this?
15:39Alright.
15:40He nodded.
15:41Then go ahead.
15:42End it for me.
15:43I felt a sharp pain in my heart, but I had no idea why.
15:47This was what I wanted.
15:48Fine.
15:49I, Area Hastings of the Blood Rose Pack, reject you.
15:54Prince Lucien, heir to the Luperian throne as my mate.
15:57I closed my eyes, waiting for Lucien's words as I anticipated the awful feeling people always
16:02described when the bond got released.
16:03But nothing happened.
16:05When I opened my eyes, Lucien's jaw twitched before a dark chuckle escaped his lips.
16:09He began.
16:10I, Prince Lucien, do not accept your rejection.
16:15What?
16:16You can't-
16:16I can, and I did.
16:18Lucien's hand touched my lip.
16:20I won't get rejected by a puppy, no four eyes.
16:23You are mine.
16:24Tell me something.
16:26Why can't I smell your wolf waking it up and moaning?
16:29Then something worse.
16:31Wait.
16:31His eyes widened.
16:33What are you?
16:34His hand reached for my glasses.
16:36His fingers brushed the frame of my glasses.
16:38Instinct took over.
16:40I slapped his hand away.
16:42Hard.
16:42The sound echoed through the room.
16:44Lucien slowly looked down at his hand.
16:47You hit me.
16:48I warned you.
16:49His mouth twitched.
16:51That's the second time.
16:52I replied.
16:53Maybe stop reaching for my face.
16:55His eyes narrowed slightly.
16:57You're hiding something.
16:58My stomach tightened.
17:00No.
17:01I'm hiding my eyesight.
17:03Funny.
17:04I'm serious.
17:05No, you're not.
17:05My gaze fell upon his bare chest.
17:08I immediately regretted looking.
17:10And somehow he noticed.
17:11A smug look appeared on his face.
17:13See something you like, four eyes?
17:15Heat rushed into my cheeks.
17:17I was trying to figure out how someone with your ego still fits inside this building.
17:22His grin widened.
17:24That's cute.
17:25I wasn't trying to be cute.
17:26No.
17:27That's what makes it cute.
17:28I hated him.
17:29I really did.
17:31I'm leaving.
17:32I turned and grabbed the door handle.
17:34Nothing happened.
17:35I frowned and pulled harder.
17:37Still nothing.
17:39What did you do?
17:40I didn't do anything.
17:42I tried again.
17:43Locked.
17:44Slowly, Lucien pointed toward the clock on the wall.
17:4711.59 PM.
17:48His expression shifted.
17:50Just slightly.
17:51Like he suddenly realized the problem.
17:53Curfew.
17:54I stared at him.
17:56His grin returned.
17:57I pulled the handle again.
17:59Nothing.
18:00The academy automatically locked all residential buildings after midnight.
18:04No exceptions.
18:05No transfers.
18:06No unlucky idiots who wandered into a prince's room to reject him.
18:10Midnight arrived.
18:11The lock clicked.
18:13And my soul left my body.
18:14You have got to be kidding me.
18:17Tell me there's another exit.
18:19There is.
18:20Hope surged through me.
18:21Then Lucien pointed at the window.
18:23Five stories above the ground.
18:25Hope died immediately.
18:27The next hour was torture.
18:29Pure torture.
18:29I sat on the couch furthest from him.
18:32Lucien stretched across his bed like this was the funniest thing he'd ever witnessed.
18:36The room was enormous.
18:38Bigger than my entire dorm.
18:39Dark wood furniture.
18:41A fireplace.
18:42Bookshelves.
18:43A sitting area.
18:45One king-sized bed.
18:46I tried not to look at it.
18:48Relax.
18:49I'm relaxed.
18:51You've been staring at the door for 20 minutes.
18:53I'm evaluating my escape options.
18:56Through solid wood?
18:58I'll find a way.
19:00He chuckled.
19:01I hated how good his laugh sounded.
19:03A few minutes later, he tossed something at me.
19:06I barely caught it.
19:07A black shirt.
19:09I looked down.
19:10Then back up.
19:11What am I supposed to do with this?
19:13Wear it.
19:14I blinked.
19:15What?
19:16You can't sleep in that dress.
19:18I'm not sleeping.
19:19Lucien didn't even look up from his book.
19:21You will.
19:23Minutes later, I was wearing his shirt.
19:25And falling asleep.
19:27The shirt smelled like him.
19:29Pine.
19:29Rain.
19:31A very annoying problem.
19:33Every time I caught the scent, my wolf stirred.
19:35And every time my wolf stirred.
19:37So did the bond.
19:39The room was dark.
19:40The fire had burned low.
19:42I thought Lucien was asleep.
19:44Until his voice broke the silence.
19:46Do you ever take those off?
19:48I froze.
19:49My hand immediately touched my glasses.
19:52What?
19:52The glasses.
19:54His voice was quieter now.
19:55Less mocking.
19:56Less Lucien.
19:58Do you ever take them off?
19:59I stared at the ceiling.
20:01No.
20:02A pause.
20:03Then.
20:03Why?
20:04I almost told him to mind his own business.
20:06But something about the darkness made lying harder.
20:10My mother asked me not to.
20:12I swallowed.
20:13My mom used to say they protected me.
20:15She never really explained from what.
20:17Then Lucien spoke.
20:19My mother used to do that.
20:21I turned my head.
20:22What?
20:23Tell me things without explaining them.
20:25I hated it.
20:27For the first time since meeting him, he didn't sound like a prince.
20:30Or an alpha.
20:31Or an arrogant jerk.
20:32He sounded lonely.
20:34The realization caught me off guard.
20:36My mom died 10 years ago.
20:38The words slipped out before I could stop them.
20:41Lucien finally looked at me.
20:43I immediately wished I hadn't said it.
20:45I hated talking about it.
20:47Hated the pity that always followed.
20:49But Lucien didn't pity me.
20:51He just looked at me.
20:52For a moment, neither of us spoke.
20:54The fire crackled softly.
20:56The bond hummed between us.
20:58Quiet.
20:59Gentle.
21:00Not demanding anything.
21:01Just there.
21:02Eventually I rolled onto my side.
21:05Facing away from him.
21:07Good night.
21:07My voice came out softer than intended.
21:10Good night, Arya.
21:12The next thing I knew, sunlight hit my face.
21:15I blinked awake.
21:17My eyes widened.
21:18I wasn't on the couch.
21:20I was in his bed.
21:21Lucien's bed.
21:23The guy I hated.
21:24Wearing his shirt.
21:25Wrapped in his blanket.
21:27My heart nearly exploded.
21:29What.
21:29The.
21:30Hell.
21:31Then I heard voices outside.
21:33Female voices.
21:34Several of them.
21:36Oh my god, is he awake?
21:37I brought him coffee.
21:39Move, you're blocking the door.
21:41My blood turned to ice.
21:42I looked toward the door.
21:44Then toward myself.
21:46Then toward the empty side of the bed.
21:47Lucien was gone.
21:49The girls outside got louder.
21:51And suddenly, the door handles started turning.
21:54Three girls stood outside.
21:56One of them dropped her coffee.
21:57The cup hit the floor.
21:59Silence.
22:00Then all three looked past me.
22:02At Lucien.
22:03He had just come out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel.
22:06My life ended right there.
22:07Oh my god.
22:08No way.
22:09She spent the night here?
22:10I wanted the ground to open and swallow me.
22:13Immediately.
22:14Lucien yawned.
22:15Move.
22:16The girls jumped aside.
22:18I ran.
22:19Unfortunately, the rumors were faster.
22:21Every conversation stopped when I entered.
22:24Heads turned.
22:25Whispers followed.
22:27That's her.
22:28The new girl from Lucien's room?
22:29I heard she stayed all night.
22:31I heard she left wearing his shirt.
22:32I grabbed a tray and tried to disappear.
22:34Bad plan.
22:35Because someone stepped directly into my path.
22:38Red hair.
22:39Red lipstick.
22:40Perfect smile.
22:42Crystal.
22:42She looked me up and down.
22:44Enjoy your sleepover?
22:46The cafeteria went silent.
22:48Every eye landed on us.
22:49I tightened my grip on the tray.
22:51I don't know what you're talking about.
22:53Crystal laughed.
22:55Really?
22:55She stepped closer.
22:57You spend the night in my boyfriend's room and suddenly you're shy?
23:00He's not your boyfriend.
23:01The words slipped out before I could stop them.
23:04Big mistake.
23:05Her smile vanished.
23:06The room got even quieter.
23:08You think you're special?
23:10She looked me straight in the eye.
23:12You think one night changes anything?
23:14I swallowed.
23:15Nothing happened.
23:17Nobody believes that.
23:19Before I could respond, she deliberately knocked my drink from my tray.
23:23Cold juice exploded toward me.
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