Fake Dating My Best Friend's Brother

Elena

The Mooncrest hockey locker room smells like sweat and different scents which makes sense considering the people inside it. Half-naked guys are everywhere. Some are pulling on jerseys, some are arguing over music, and someone is yelling about protein shakes.

One guy is flexing in the mirror like he’s auditioning for a superhero movie. I’m sitting on the wooden bench near Rowan’s locker, scrolling through my phone and pretending none of this is happening because honestly, none of them are worth looking at.

Except him.

Rowan Northwood is standing a few feet away by the sinks, tugging his shirt over his head. Dark brown hair messy from practice, green eyes bright and irritated.

Again.

He looks like he belongs on a cover of “Hot Werewolves of the Year” even though he's fucking pissed right now.

“Bro, I swear Lydia is doing this on purpose,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “She read my message and left me on read for two hours. Two fucking hours, Elena.”

I look up slowly. “Wow. That is tragic. Should we call the cops?”

He ignores me. “And then she posts on her story. Like. A selfie. With that sparkly filter.”

“Yes,” I say, “very dangerous filter.”

“She knows it drives me fucking crazy.”

I nod seriously. “Exactly.”

He finally walks over and drops down beside me, bumping my shoulder without thinking, and my heart does that stupid flip thing again.

Rowan has been complaining about Lydia for months. Every practice, every break, every random Tuesday at 2 a.m., he complains and I listen. Like a damn good friend.

“She never has time for me anymore,” he says. “It’s like I’m dating a fucking ghost.”

“Maybe she’s busy,” I say quietly.

He snorts. “Busy doing what? Ignoring me professionally.”

I press my lips together because I have thoughts but I don’t share them.

“Can you grab my water bottle?” Rowan asks suddenly. “It’s in my bag.”

My wolf growls low in my chest, a warning that I ignore far too often. I don't know why she's uneasy around Rowan. He’s supposed to be our friend, a safe presence, but the second I do things for him, my wolf hates it.

Which is unreasonable.

“Which one?” I ask.

“The black one. White logo.”

I stand immediately and weave through sweaty bodies, avoiding slammed lockers and shouting teammates. I reach his locker, open it and grab the bag. When I turn back, Leo and Mason are watching me.

Leo grins. “Man, you really got her trained.”

I stop, confused. “What?”

“Personal assistant,” he says, smirking like a fucking clown.

“I am not his assistant,” I snapped. “I am his best friend.”

“Sure,” Mason says. “And I am the Moon Goddess.”

They laugh and my eyes roll so hard. I hand the water bottle to Rowan. “Here.”

“Thanks, Lenny,” he says. I hate that nickname. I also love it and now I need therapy.

“You’re welcome,” I mutter.

He drinks and then asks, “Yo, where’s Kael anyway?”

The mood shifts a little.

“Alpha Kael isn’t here yet,” Mason says.

Rowan scoffs. “Of course he’s not.”

“Captain privileges,” Leo smirks.

“More like ego privileges,” Rowan mutters.

I bite my lip because everyone at Mooncrest knows about the Northwood brothers. Kael, the perfect heir, hockey star, golden boy. And Rowan, always second to him, always comparing himself to the older brother.

Honestly, I get why he’s bitter. Kael is arrogant, tall, powerful, talented at everything, and yes, he gets to ignore schedules because apparently the world revolves around him. Still, it’s annoying.

“It’s stupid,” Rowan says. “Practice starts at four, not whenever King Kael fucking feels like showing up.”

“He’s probably busy,” I say without thinking.

Rowan glares at me. “Why are you defending him?”

“I’m not,” I say quickly. “I’m just saying.”

He shakes his head. “Whatever.”

His phone lights up and his expression melts into soft focus, happy, calm. Lydia.

He stands. “I gotta go. She’s waiting.”

My chest tightens. I glare at the floor. “Oh. Okay.”

He grabs his jacket from the bench. “Pack my stuff for me, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say automatically.

He’s already walking away. “Thanks, Lenny,” he calls over his shoulder.

Then he’s gone, just like that.

Leo clears his throat. “Your boss left you work?”

“He is not my boss,” I snapped.

“Sure,” Mason says, “errand girl.”

I grab Rowan’s bag, water bottle and shoes. “You are both fucking horrible.”

I don’t know why he keeps them as friends. I shove everything into his bag and zip it up. I walk back to his locker, spin the combination from memory, and shove the bag there. Done. I close the locker and head out.

Outside, the air hits me sharp and cool, the kind that makes your lungs actually feel clean. The sky over Silverpines Mountain is turning dark blue and purple with faint stars peeking through. Mooncrest College sits carved into the mountainside like it’s always belonged there. Stone towers, glowing windows, floating lanterns, and ancient trees wrapped in silver moss.

The whole college is surrounded by magic barriers, which means humans can’t see it. They walk past these mountains every day thinking it’s just another mountain range, completely unaware that a whole werewolf world is hidden here. Sometimes I wonder what that feels like. Must be peaceful, right?

Most students are heading to their dorms. Some are laughing, some are flirting, some are arguing about literally nothing.

Normal college stuff.

Me? I’m exhausted. My legs ache, my brain hurts. My wolf huffs in agreement. I decided to go straight to my dorm, the Omega Quarters.

At Mooncrest, housing is divided by rank. Alphas get massive, fancy buildings. Future Lunas get their own wings. Betas, Gammas, Sigmas, all have their sections. Omegas get the east wing. Smaller rooms, less glamour, more stairs. Sounds bad but honestly, I do not hate it. I worked my ass off to get here. Only the strongest, smartest omegas get accepted. I was the smartest omega in my high school class.

Take that, universe.

I turn down the main walkway and spot someone familiar before I even see her face. Long blonde hair, perfect makeup, designer boots that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.

Lydia.

She’s standing by the fountain path with some guy. Not Rowan.

Tall alpha, broad shoulders, smug face. From Stormcliff Pack. Popular, rich, arrogant. I slow down, thinking maybe they’re just discussing classwork.

Then she laughs and touches his arm. My stomach twists. She leans in and pecks his lips.

Rowan is waiting for her in her dorm and she’s here, grinning like a total idiot, flirting with another guy.

I stare.

Part of me wants to pull out my phone and record everything. But even if I did, Rowan would defend her. He’d say it’s nothing, that I’m overreacting, that I misread it all.

So I just stand there, watching like a complete fool. They keep laughing, flirting, and eventually, the guy leaves. She keeps staring after him, still smiling.

Enough.

I march over. “Wow,” I say. “That was cute.”

She barely looks at me. “What do you want, Elena?”

“Maybe explain why you’re making out with another guy while your boyfriend is waiting for you.”

She rolls her eyes. “We did not make out.”

“You literally kissed him.”

“A peck,” she snaps. “Big deal.”

“Yes. That’s usually how kissing works,” I say, glaring.

She turns fully toward me now, annoyed. “Mind your fucking business.”

“It’s my business,” I argue. “Rowan is my friend and you’re playing with him.”

She laughs like I just grew another head. “Oh my Goddess. You are still on this?”

“Yes, because he cares about you and you treat him like shit.”

She crosses her arms. “Do not act like you’re doing this for him.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Stop pretending you don’t like him,” she says, leaning closer. My wolf snaps so hard I swear I almost lost my grip on my own body.

“What?”

“You’ve been following him around like a sad puppy since high school hoping he'll fuck you.”

“That is not true.”

“He will never fuck you,” she continues, voice dripping with venom. “You’re a low omega from a weak pack. Get real.”

My throat tightens. “I do not like him like that,” I say quickly. “He’s my best friend. I care about him. That’it. And I don’t want to fuck him.”

She scoffs in my face. My wolf growls louder. I want to laugh and cry and kill her all at the same time. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

I shake my head. “I am done with this. I am telling Rowan.”

She bursts out laughing. “Go ahead. He’s in my dorm right now.”

I freeze. “What?”

“Omegas are not allowed in the Luna wing without permission,” she says sweetly. “Unless you want detention. Or suspension.”

My hands shake. My wolf is practically vibrating under my skin. “You are disgusting,” I whisper.

She shrugs. “Fuck yourself.”

That’s it. That’s the final straw. “I am going,” I snapped. “I don't care.”

She smirks like she just won some sort of game. “Try.”

I turn and walk away, my wolf growling the whole time. Tonight Rowan is going to see the truth. Whether he likes it or not.