Chapter 27
Ellie's POV
I choked on my water, feeling heat rush to my face. "What? No! I mean—that was Lily. She grabbed my phone when I wasn't looking and voted for you. I had no idea until afterward."
Jackson's shoulders relaxed, and he laughed—a genuine, warm sound I'd rarely heard from him. "Well, that's a relief. I was starting to worry I'd need to go buy suspenders and a fire hose."
The mental image was so ridiculous that I burst out laughing, nearly spitting out my water. Jackson joined in, and soon we were both laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
As our laughter subsided, Jackson's expression grew thoughtful. "The performance date is getting close. I noticed it's scheduled near the full moon... Will you be okay to perform?"
My heart warmed at his concern. "I'll be fine," I assured him with a genuine smile. "I've learned to manage it pretty well. It's really not a big deal anymore."
"You're sure?" He studied my face carefully. "I can adjust the schedule if you need—"
"Jackson." I placed a hand on his arm, stopping his worried rambling. "I promise, I've got it under control. But thank you for caring."
He nodded, seeming satisfied, though something in his eyes suggested he understood more than he was letting on.
We gathered our things in comfortable silence, the earlier awkwardness completely dissolved. As we left the practice room, Jackson insisted on walking me back to my dorm.
"The campus is pretty safe," I protested halfheartedly.
"Humor me," he said with a small smile. "I'd feel better knowing you got back safely."
We walked side by side through the quiet campus, streetlights casting long shadows across the paths. The night was cool but not cold, stars visible between scattered clouds.
We rounded the corner to my residence hall, and I froze. Standing near the entrance were Lucas and Samantha, apparently waiting for someone—for me, I realized with a sinking feeling.
Lucas's eyes locked with mine, then flicked to Jackson beside me. His jaw tightened visibly, even from this distance. Samantha clutched his arm possessively, her expression a mixture of triumph and challenge.
Jackson sensed my tension immediately. "We don't have to approach them if you don't want to," he said quietly. "We could go around to the side entrance."
Jackson and I had barely turned to take the side entrance when Lucas's voice cut through the evening air, his tone sharp with obvious displeasure.
"Ellie! Wait!"
I took a deep breath, feeling my wolf stir restlessly inside me. Lucas's voice sent a familiar yet unwelcome jolt through my system. Slowly, I turned to face him, Jackson remaining steadfast beside me.
Lucas strode toward us with purposeful steps, Samantha trailing close behind, a subtle smile playing on her lips. The tension in the air was so thick I could practically taste it.
"What is it?" I asked, keeping my voice level despite my racing heart.
Lucas's gaze darted between Jackson and me, his brows furrowed in obvious displeasure. "What are you two doing together?" The question came out more like an accusation, completely ignoring the fact that Samantha was clinging to his arm.
I raised an eyebrow. "I don't see how that's any of your business."
"I just—" Lucas paused, visibly trying to rein in his emotions. "I saw you coming from Wilton Hall."
"We were rehearsing," Jackson replied calmly, his voice carrying a hint of warning.
Samantha tightened her grip on Lucas's arm, feigning surprise. "Rehearsing? I thought Ellie had to drop out of the performance because of her injury." Her tone dripped with false sweetness.
"I was just giving feedback. I'm not performing," I replied curtly, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a more detailed explanation.
Lucas's expression darkened further. "The dance society has plenty of members. Why would they need a freshman to give feedback?"
"Ellie happens to be the most talented choreographer in our group," Jackson explained coolly. "And if not for certain... unfortunate events, she would also be our most talented performer." His implication was clear, and Samantha's smile faltered slightly.
Completely ignoring Jackson's explanation, Lucas stepped toward me. "I need to talk to you alone."
I stood my ground. "Anything you have to say can be said right here."
"It's about Samantha," Lucas lowered his voice. "You need to go see Vice President Hargrove and tell her you forgive Samantha. Get her to drop the disciplinary action."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Excuse me?"
"The Student Conduct Committee is putting a formal reprimand on Samantha's record. It could affect her scholarship," Lucas explained, his voice urgent. "You know how important that is to her."
"So this is my fault?" I crossed my arms defensively. "She dropped a silver candlestick on me, and now I'm supposed to take responsibility for her actions?"
Lucas stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that was almost a growl. "You know damn well you'd heal quickly with some ointment and your self-healing abilities. Why are you being so vindictive?"
The air seemed to freeze between us. A chill ran down my spine as Jackson's attention suddenly sharpened beside me.
"What did you just say?" My voice had turned razor-sharp, my eyes piercing into his.
Lucas's face went pale as he realized his slip. "I meant... your injury isn't that serious, you'd recover quickly anyway..." he stammered, trying to backpedal.
I stepped forward, my voice barely audible. "You should be very careful about what you say, Lucas."
Samantha looked between us, confusion evident on her face. "What's going on?"