FOURTEEN
FOURTEEN
I don’t even realize how deep I am in my thoughts until Selene nudges me with her elbow. “Hey, where did you just go for the last ten minutes?”
I blink, trying to shake the memory from my mind and focus on the present. The weight of what I’m about to do settles in again. “I don’t think I can go through with this,” I confess. “I wasn’t exaggerating earlier—I really don’t have any friends. No one here likes me. No one wants to be seen with me. Honestly, you’d probably have a better time without me.” I start to turn around.
“Nope. Not happening.” Selene crosses her arms, planting herself in front of me. “And for the record, you do have a friend. Me.” She places a hand over her heart like she’s making a royal declaration. “And what kind of friend would I be if I had to face Raven without my partner in crime? You deserve to see that girl get knocked off her throne—or at the very least, enjoy the show while someone else does it for you.” She winks playfully.
I raise a brow at her. How did she even know Raven was the one making my life miserable? Not even Nolan’s managed to figure that out, and he’s picked up on most of her stunts.
“Uh… I’m not sure what you’re—”
“Mean? Really?” she cuts me off, rolling her eyes. “You’re seriously going to try and lie to me? Look, I told you—I’m a great judge of character. Raven’s a poser. A social-climbing, fake-status diva who couldn’t win a fight if she had a map and a GPS. I don’t give a single damn about her imaginary influence. I’m an exchange student, only here for the year. What’s she going to do—get me suspended? I’d love to see her try. Technically, I’m the Gamma’s only kid. The Gamma. Of the Alpha King’s court. No one here outranks me except the Alpha himself. She can kiss my ass.”
My jaw drops slightly. I try to speak but come up completely empty. How are you even supposed to respond to that?
“Okay, you win,” I mutter, still stunned. “But just so you know, her dad sits on the school board. And a lot of students have been suspended or punished just for calling her out—or even standing near me. People have been hurt because of her hatred toward me. I don’t want you getting dragged into this mess just to make a point. It’s not worth it. I’m not worth that. I can handle whatever she throws at me. Letting her vent keeps her from focusing her cruelty on other people in the pack. And that’s what matters.”
I lock eyes with Selene, trying to make sure she understands just how serious I am.
But she grabs my shoulders and gives me a little shake. “You are worth it. I don’t know who convinced you otherwise, but for someone so smart, that is hands down the dumbest thing you’ve said today. Now come on! We’ve got hot guys to tease and a witch to make squirm.”
I already know I’m going to regret this entire night. I inhale deeply and exhale even slower. “Okay, fine. Let’s do it. But please, please don’t let me make a complete fool of myself. I don’t know what I’m doing. This isn’t my thing.”
Selene flashes a grin. “Relax, I’ve got you. And judging by the way your brother’s friends were checking you out earlier, I don’t think there’s any chance of you looking foolish.” She gives me another playful wink. “Now come on! The sun’s going down, and I’m not missing the chance to see a bunch of boys playing with fire like manly little cavemen.”
I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes that time. Selene was truly wild—completely boy crazy—and now that I’d agreed to come, there was no turning back.
I turned and led her along the path around the packhouse, heading straight for the backyard.
The Luna really knows how to make her garden beautiful. I wish we had flowers like this at home, but my dad says it's not practical and won’t let me plant anything or hire someone to help.
Luckily, the Luna doesn’t mind. She lets me come over and read in one of the many quiet little corners back here whenever I want.
She even keeps a few of my favorite wildflowers in her planters and set up a hammock tucked into one of the cozy nooks. It’s the perfect hideaway when home feels too cold and hollow.