I stand in the center of the room, dropping my stuff. “Nope. Only a minor kidnapping.”
She glances at me for a moment, deciding if it’s a joke. “Welcome to Hell,” is all she says before gathering up some books and heading out the door.
After making my bed and throwing some clothes into my drawers, I head to the coffee shop on campus. But the entire way there and back, it feels like someone is following me. I cut through a short alley to see if I’m right.
Sure enough, loud footsteps crunch on the pavement behind me.
I flip around, ready to douse the person with hot coffee.
It’s Rowan. The guy who accosted me in the library.
I peel off the lid of the latte and hold it out like a weapon. “What do you want?”
He pauses a few feet from me and holds up his hands. “I still want to know what you did to Julien.”
“I didn’t do anything to Julien. I tried tohelphim that night. Someone must have given him alcohol.”
“You’re saying it wasn’tyou?”
I scowl. “No. It wasn’t me! I wouldn’t do that.”
“I don’t believe you. You don’t have the reputation of being the moststable Omega…Was Julien in the way when you burned down that other bitch?”
How does he know about that? I choose innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sutton told me it was you who did it. So don’t play dumb with me. She also said you were there with Julien before he was wheeled out to the main circle. Said you’d given them beer.”
“I didn’t give Julien shit. I tried to get him out.”
“I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
With a quick spin, he gives me his back. My mind is a whirlwind, trying to figure out why he’s so angry with me. And also, why does hecare?
“Hey! Who areyouto Julien?” I yell, but he ignores me and keeps moving.
It’s been two weeks since I was with Talon in person. Surprisingly or not, he hasn’t texted me after Thanksgiving. Part of me wonders if he’s finally moved on to whoever was sending him pics.
When I reach my dorm hall, tepid drink and all, he’s pacing outside my door. While not unusual for us to be apart, I try not to draw attention to it. Otherwise, he assumes I want quality time, which is the exactoppositeof what I want.
“Where thefuckhave you been?” he spits out through gritted teeth.
I roll my eyes and hurry him inside before he can causeeven more of a scene. Fortunately, Athena is still out, so it’s only he and I in the small, white room.
“I told you.Omegastuff. I’ve been busy.”
His tongue slips out to lick his bottom lip as he crosses his arms. “Doing what?” It’s an accusation,nota question.
Ignoring him, I set down my drink and fold some clothes, hanging them in the closet. “I was staying over atThetaManor. You must have known what happened on Wicked Wednesday.”
The blank expression he wears tells me everything. Hedoesknow. Maybe he was too distracted by whoever was on his phone to say anything. But the prospect of losing out on his future has propelled him over here anyway.
“No. What happened?” he asks, as if he doesn’t want the answer.
As casually as I can, I slip around him to tidy my side of the space. “I lost a bet. I stayed where I was told.”
“And you didn’t even bother to message me? Didn’t call for help? Fancy! Stop.” He grabs my arm as I pass, so I’m forced to look at him, and my pulse races. It’s heading for another full-out fight. I can feel it.
Blinking slowly, I give him a half-smile. “Thought you were hiding out and didn’t want to show after the bar incident.”