Then, I unleash.
Lan takes a few to the body, then I switch to uppercuts to the face until he’s stumbling back, Jake grabbing him and stepping between us.
“What are you doing?” Lan hurls his mouthguard into his glove and snarls at me.
I dance around him, ready to strike again. “Fists up, bitch. Let’s go.”
“No. You’re on something today.”
Jake holds up his hand. “Aiden. Take a step back. Whatever’s going on, relax, bro.”
I nod and wander over to my corner. Lan gets himself straightened out, then we meet again in the center ring. Jake retreats, and I don’t hesitate.
With a warm-up step, I lead in with a swift roundhouse kick to Lan’s inner thigh, and he goes down to the mat, weeping like the time he dropped his once-a-year ice cream on the boardwalk after we’d waited an eternity in line for it.
Jake’s yelling that it’s not a legal move. I know, but I’m already tearing off my gloves and heading to the locker rooms.
Lan screams, “This will ruin my hockey game for a week, asshole!”
“Asshole-In-Charge,” I yell back, swiping a hand across my pec where the ink reflects the title.
After a cold shower (no ice) and a quick change, I shake my hair dry and grab my phone. One email notification hangs on the lock screen… An important meeting with President Harvey in the afternoon.
As head of the oldest fraternity on campus, I’m not a stranger to the man or his office, but I have concerns about whatthis could entail. Maybe it’ll be a warning not to cheat on Wicked Wednesday coming up in a week and a half. If so, I’ll placate him with the usualyes, sirs, andwink-winks. But I’m not letting thoseDeltasfuck us over like they do every year.
The crisp first of November air is what I need after dealing with Lan. My moist skin erupts into goosebumps despite my heavy coat. NU’s campus glows in the orange autumn light outside the gym, with banners for every Greek House snapping in the cold wind against their posts. Six of them. Six gods. One for each fraternity and sorority.
“Ready?” Tade asks as I exit, his jet-black hair still wet. He’s on the Northview Nighthawks’ swim team.
“Yeah—” But before I can take a step, we’re accosted by a group ofOmegasand a couple ofSigmas.
“Hiya, cutie!” Elowyn sings with a seductive smile, tossing her long, brunette hair back, revealing her plump tits arrested in a tight blue sweater.
“Didn’t think you’d be on campus on a weekend, Mr. President.” Blaire, dark and dangerous, flutters her lashes at me.
In the sea of girls that surround us, I recognize a few from past Red Nights or hookups. Others? I have no recollection. Doesn’t matter. I scoop Blaire and Elowyn under my arms and make my way toward the student center for lunch. “Hello, ladies. What’s good?”
“Mr. President!” SomeThetainitiates surround us before we can make it inside the building. “We’re going to win Wicked Wednesday!In ultimo!” they call out, and I answer them with our House motto.
“Tenebrisunitas! Get the fuck to where you’re supposed to be,” I instruct them with a grin.
Tade smirks at me. We can’t go anywhere without drawing a crowd. Maybe I should’ve gone back to the manor and had the chef prepare me something. But it’s the weekend…which means it’s a cheat day and there’s good pizza on campus.
Tade glances over his shoulder once. “No Lan?”
“Lan needs extrahumilitypractice today.” I clench my jaw. “Bonakanoswould approve.”
He snorts. “Theta’sholygodof chaos.”
I shrug. “Belief’s optional. Fear of the consequences for disobedience isn’t.”
Elowyn slaps my chest. “You shouldn’t joke about that!” Ever the faithfulONEsister.
Blaire’s long, black-painted nails crawl up my chest. “IsThetaready for Wednesday’s game? WeSigmashave an infallible strategy.”
“Of course you do.” I grin. “But we took Massacre Monday. And we’ll take Wicked Wednesday too.”
Elowyn shakes her head. “You actuallylikethese competitions? A glowing cup at the end doesn’t seem to be enough of a prize. Besides, I get too anxious that we’ll lose and have to pay.”