4.

Elena

We leave the dorm and walk through campus, heels clicking against stone paths. The night air is cool and fresh. Stars scatter across Silverpines Mountain.

After fifteen minutes, my feet are already planning revenge.

Fashion is a fucking scam.

We finally reach the clearing.

And wow.

Lanterns float between trees, glowing gold and silver. Flowers line the edges. A crystal fountain sparkles in the center. Music plays softly. And students are already laughing and dancing.

Typical Mooncrest behavior.

We step inside.

Lila immediately scans the area. “Okay. Where is Rowan?”

She suddenly stiffens. “Holy Moon Goddess.”

“What?”

She grabs my arm. “Look.”

I follow her gaze.

Alpha Kael Northwood is walking in.

Fucking tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Steel-gray eyes. Chiseled face. Sharp jawline. Permanent broody expression.

He’s wearing an open white shirt and white pants, like he thinks he’s single-handedly responsible for global temperature rises.

Of course he does.

Lila gasps. “He is so fucking sexy.”

“He’s okay,” I roll my eyes.

She turns slowly. “You are blind.”

“I am realistic.”

“You are delusional. All that’s in your head is Rowan.”

She suddenly grips my arm harder. “Oh my Goddess. He is coming here. He is looking at us.”

I glance up and accidentally meet his gaze.

My stomach flips.

My wolf goes completely alert.

I look away fast. “No, he’s not. He’s looking somewhere else.”

Yeah, right. My heart is already doing gymnastics. Because of course it is.

He walks closer, then passes us and heads straight to the champagne table.

I exhale. “Sure. Totally not looking at us.”

“I thought he was looking at you, though,” Lila says.

“Me?” I scoff. “Please. He doesn’t even know I exist. I’m probably invisible.”

“Just look at him… look at those muscles flexing,” Lila says, practically drooling as she watches him take a glass. “Imagine those huge biceps grabbing your thighs, raising them as he plunges his cock…”

“Lila! Seriously!” I mutter, cheeks heating up. “Do you have to talk about sex right now?”

“Who wouldn’t?” she shrugs. “Look at him!”

I glance back. Alpha Kael is drinking his wine like the world is a backdrop to his fabulousness, completely ignoring the sea of she-wolves practically throwing themselves at his feet.

Oh, great. Here we go. A dozen she-wolves losing their dignity for Captain Arrogance over there. Really? All of you? He hasn’t even acknowledged your existence. He’s just sipping wine like a tiny monarch judging peasants. And yet you all act like he’s offering you the crown jewels.

“He’s so fucking hot,” Lila continues. “I heard some she-wolves are literally begging him to fuck them.”

“Lila, shut it!” I groan. “Look at him. He’s an arrogant bastard. That’s it. Open white shirt, hair perfect, pretending he doesn’t see anyone else… absolute drama king energy.”

“Well, lucky you. Here comes your annoying boyfriend,” Lila says, rolling her eyes.

I turn.

Rowan is walking toward us this time.

And wow.

He looks really fucking good.

Maroon suit. Black shirt. Hair styled. Confident smile. The same smile that always makes me forget how to think.

My wolf immediately stiffens.

‘Still do not like him,’ she reminds me.

I ignore her ass.

He stops in front of me. “Elena, where have you been?”

That is it?

No compliment. No reaction. No you look beautiful.

Just where have you been?

My excitement deflates slightly.

“Oh. Sorry,” I say.

Lila jumps in immediately. “Oh please. We had to walk because you could not pick her up.”

Rowan glares at her. “Mind your fucking business.”

“Make me.”

He ignores her and turns back to me. “Come on.”

Then he pauses and looks past me.

What now?

I turn.

Lydia is standing there.

Perfect hair. Perfect dress. Perfect fake smile.

“Rowan,” she says softly. “I thought you were not coming.”

He looks at her coolly. “Who said so? I came.” He reaches for my hand and holds it.

My brain short circuits.

My wolf growls quietly.

My fingers freeze.

“With Elena,” he adds.

Lydia’s eyes darken. “What is the meaning of this?”

“What do you think?” Rowan replies. “I am with Elena now.”

I almost choke.

With me?

Excuse me.

Lydia stares at me like she wants to erase me from existence.

Goodness.

Rowan tugs my hand. “Come on, Elena.”

He starts pulling me away.

I follow, still in shock.

Behind us, Lydia looks seconds away from jumping me while Lila is standing there grinning like she just won the lottery.

My heart is racing. My brain is confused. My wolf is annoying.

But my stomach.

My stomach is doing fireworks right now.

Because tonight, I am finally going to tell Rowan the truth.

No more pretending and hiding.

No more being his backup plan.

Whether he likes it or not.

….

So after the whole dramatic hand-holding and Lydia almost combusting on the spot, Rowan pulls me deeper into the party.

And by pull, I mean he positions me beside him like some decorative plant meant to make him look taken or something.

We stop near one of the tall tables, each holding a glass of wine. Mine is still basically full. His is disappearing crazily.

From far away, we probably look like a cute couple. Up close, we look like two strangers stuck together at a bus stop.

Because Rowan is not looking at me.

At all!

His eyes keep drifting across the clearing to Lydia, who is currently laughing way too loudly with a group of alphas. She’s touching arms, flipping her hair, leaning in close…putting on a whole performance.

And judging by Rowan’s clenched jaw, it’s working.

Fantastic.

I've got to do something.

I clear my throat. “Do you want to… do anything to, like, make her jealous?” I find myself asking.

He looks at me, raising a brow. “Make her jealous?”

I nod.

He tilts his head, thinking. “Like how? maybe hugging… holding hands…”

“Or even… kissing…” I cut in, watching his reaction. He looks surprised, then awkward.

“Uhm, no…” he shakes his head. “I mean, I don’t want to go that far. Seems… uncomfortable.”

“Oh, yeah. You’re right.” I laugh awkwardly, feeling like a damn fool.

Why did I suggest that?

But at the back of my mind… my chest feels tight. Why does it feel like he isn’t attracted to me? Maybe Lydia was right… he doesn’t want to… fuck me.

No, no… why am I even thinking about that?

Concentrate, Elena.

I take a small sip of wine and immediately regret it. Why does this taste like sadness mixed with grapes?

My wolf growls softly in my head.

‘Leave him,’ she mutters.

I ignore her.

We stand there in awkward silence. Rowan keeps drinking. I keep existing.

After about five minutes, I am officially bored out of my damn mind, so I start looking around.

That is when I see Lila across the clearing near the snack table, staring at me like she is monitoring a crime scene.

The moment our eyes meet, she starts mouthing something aggressively.

I squint at her.

“What?”

She exaggerates her lips.

“TOLD YOU HIM?”

I blink and then mouth back, “WHAT?”

She rolls her eyes and tries again.

“DID YOU TELL HIM?”

Oh.

She is asking if I told Rowan how I feel.

My stomach flips.

I slowly shake my head. “No.”

Her face immediately twists in disappointment. She points at me sharply like an angry coach. “DO IT NOW!”

I sigh.

Why is she like this? Why did I get assigned a personal life manager?

I turn back to Rowan. He is already halfway through his second glass and still staring at Lydia…

Amazing.

I clear my throat. “Rowan.”

“Yeah,” he mutters.

“There is something I want to tell you.”

“Not now, Lenny,” he says without even looking at me.

Still fucking watching Lydia.

I swallow. “No. I have to.”

He finally glances at me. “Is it important?”

“Yes.”

He sighs. “Okay.”

Then he turns fully toward me. “What’s up?”

My heart starts racing. This is it. This is my moment.

I open my mouth…and then completely freeze.

Because right behind him, Lydia is hugging another alpha.

Not a friendly hug.

A full body, arms wrapped around, head-on-shoulder, laughing-like-she-is-in-love hug.

Rowan sees it too.

His whole body goes stiff beside me. He draws in a sharp breath.

“Fuck,” he mutters. “I cannot take this.”

He drops his glass on the nearest table and starts walking away.

Just like that.

My confession dies on the spot.

I run a hand through my hair and let out a long sigh.

Great timing, universe. Truly.

I glance back and see Lydia watching Rowan walk away and smiling.

Smiling?

That witch did that on purpose.

I feel like ripping her apart.

Lydia starts walking after him.

Oh no.

Absolutely not.

I drop my glass on the table. “Not today,” I mutter and take off after her.

Because I am not letting her manipulate him again. Not tonight. Not when I finally worked up the courage to be honest.

I catch up to her near the fountain and step right in front of her, blocking her path.

“Where do you think you are going?”