Chapter 122 Now it's easier

Chapter 122 Now it's easier
Chapter 122

RAVENNA

I watched Selene drop her phone on the bedside table and turn to settle more comfortably on her bed. The mattress creaked slightly under her weight.

"Is anyone still awake?" Selene's voice cut through the darkness.

I coughed softly. "I am. Just doing a little studying, but I am about to go to sleep now."

"Alright. Goodnight then."

"Goodnight."

I lay still in my bed, listening to Selene's breathing gradually slow and deepen. My own phone felt heavy in my hand under the blankets.

Guilt twisted in my heart. What I was doing felt wrong on so many levels. Invading someone's privacy, reading their private messages and planning to follow them.

But I had to do this.

I had to find out where Selene was meeting her boyfriend on Friday.

I tried to convince myself this was for Darius. He deserved to know who Selene truly was. He deserved to know who his father had engaged him to.

Darius should not have to settle with someone like Selene who was cheating on him behind everyone's backs.

If I could disrupt this engagement, maybe Darius would come back to me. Maybe Richard would finally let Darius choose whoever he wanted.

But even as I thought these things, another part of me knew the truth.

I was not doing this for Darius.

I was doing this because I wanted Richard to know that his plan to kick me out of Darius's life had failed. It had backfired spectacularly on him.

The following morning, I grabbed Samantha's arm the moment I saw her in the corridor on our way to English class.

"Come with me," I whispered urgently, pulling her towards our usual seats at the back of the classroom.

We sat down quickly before other students started filing in.

"What is going on?" Samantha asked, setting her bag down.

I leaned in close. "Selene is meeting her boyfriend on Friday."

Samantha's eyes widened. "How do you know that?"

I pulled out my phone and showed her that I had logged into Selene's messaging account. "I set up her messages to forward to my phone. Look."

I scrolled through the recent conversation between Selene and her mystery boyfriend.

"That is clever," Samantha admitted. "But Friday is only two days away. Do you know where they are meeting?"

"Not yet. But Selene probably already knows where they usually meet up. I need to find a way to get the specific location from her."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I have thought about a few ideas," I replied. "I will execute one of them tomorrow evening."

Before Samantha could respond, the classroom door opened and Caleb walked in. He spotted me immediately and his face broke into a wide smile.

I waved at him.

He sauntered over to our table, ignoring the other students who were still settling into their seats. "Hey, beautiful. How are you this morning?"

"I am fine. You?"

"Better now that I am seeing you." He leaned against the edge of my desk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement outside the classroom window. Darius was walking past.

An idea formed instantly.

I reached up, grabbed Caleb's face with both hands, and pulled him down into a kiss.

Caleb made a surprised sound but quickly responded, his hands coming up to cup my face.

I counted to five in my head, then pulled away and looked towards the door.

Just as I had predicted, Darius stood frozen in the centre of the classroom. His whole body was rigid. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. His eyes were locked on me and Caleb with an expression of absolute devastation.

I forced myself to look away from him and smiled up at Caleb. "So, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"Actually," Caleb straightened up, still looking pleased about the kiss. "There is no need for a private dinner. Marcus is hosting a birthday party at the club tonight. I would love for you to come with me as my date."

He turned to Samantha. "You can come too if you want. The more the merrier."

Before Samantha could respond, Dorian slammed his hand down on his desk with a loud bang that made several students jump.

"You have no right to invite Samantha anywhere," Dorian's voice was cold and furious.

Everyone in the classroom went silent, turning to stare at him.

Dorian stood up and walked over to our table. He looked directly at Samantha, his expression softening slightly. "Would you like to accompany me to the party instead?"

Samantha crossed her arms. "No, thank you. I am going with Ravenna."

"Samantha—"

"I said no, Dorian."

Dorian stared at her for a long moment. Pain flashed across his face before he masked it with indifference.

He turned and walked back to his seat beside Darius, who was still glaring at nothing in particular.

The professor walked in, and class began.

I could not concentrate on anything being taught. My mind was too busy planning for Friday.

The class passed in a blur of half-heard lectures and notes I did not actually process.

When it finally ended, Samantha, Selene, and I headed towards the ice rink for hockey practice.

We were halfway there when my phone buzzed with a message from Coach Angela.

Practice cancelled today. I've fallen ill. Thankfully nothing serious, so I won't need to send you all to Coach Bonn.

"Practice is cancelled," I announced, showing them the message.

"Really?" Selene looked relieved. "Good. I could use the extra time to rest."

"Or to prepare for the party tonight," Samantha added with a knowing look at me.

"Right. The party." I had almost forgotten about it.

We headed back to our room to get ready.

"You can borrow anything from my wardrobe," Selene offered generously, opening her closet doors wide.

Samantha and I moved closer to look. My jaw dropped.

Selene had spectacular dresses. Designer labels, expensive fabrics, colours ranging from deep jewel tones to soft pastels. Everything looked like it belonged in a fashion magazine.

"Did Darius buy all of these for you?" I asked, running my hand over a particularly beautiful emerald green dress.

Selene laughed. "No. The majority of them came from Richard as gifts on our engagement day. He wanted to make sure I looked the part of a future Pike."

"You are so lucky," I grabbed the emerald dress and held it up against myself.

"Lucky?" Selene tilted her head.

"Well, you know," I kept my voice light and sarcastic. "I just pray to the Moon Goddess that I never get engaged to a man who does not love me. And I especially pray that his father does not have to do all the romantic gestures instead of him."

Samantha coughed to cover a laugh.

If Selene noticed the sarcasm dripping from my words, she did not show it.

She just smiled and pulled out a red dress for herself. "I am sure the Moon Goddess will grant your prayers, Ravenna."

The party was already in full swing when we arrived at the club. Music pounded through the speakers. Coloured lights flashed across the crowded dance floor. Bodies moved together in the semi-darkness.

I spotted Caleb immediately. He stood against a wall near the bar, holding a drink and looking absolutely miserable. Like he had just lost a million-pound check.

The moment he saw me, his face transformed. A huge smile spread across his features, lighting up his entire expression.

He pushed himself away from the wall and walked towards us.

"You came," he breathed, pulling me into a kiss right there in front of everyone.

When we broke apart, I noticed Selene had already disappeared into the crowd probably looking for Darius.

Samantha stood beside me, looking uncomfortable in the loud, crowded space.

"Are you going to go find Dorian?" I asked her.

She shook her head firmly. "No. I am staying with you."

I smiled and grabbed her hand. "Then let us have some fun."

Caleb took my other hand, and we moved deeper into the party.

"Come on, Raven! Show us what you have got!" Caleb shouted over the music as we danced.

I laughed and spun around, letting the music move through me. Samantha danced beside us, gradually loosening up and actually starting to enjoy herself.

"You are a terrible dancer!" I yelled at Caleb, watching him attempt some sort of complicated move that looked more like he was having a seizure.

"I am an amazing dancer!" he protested. "You just do not appreciate my unique style!"

"Your unique style looks like you are being electrocuted!"

Samantha nearly doubled over laughing.

After a while, we moved away from the dance floor to get drinks. Someone had set up drinking games in one of the side rooms.

"Are you any good at this?" Caleb asked as we sat down at the table.

"I am excellent at drinking games," I replied confidently.

"Prove it."

The game was simple. Roll the dice, follow the instructions, drink if you lose. I won the first three rounds easily.

"How are you so good at this?" one of the other players complained.

"Natural talent," I grinned, taking another sip of my drink even though I had not lost.

"She is cheating somehow," another player accused.

"I am not cheating. You are all just terrible at this game."

Samantha laughed. "She is right. You are all awful."

We played several more rounds. I won every single one.

Later, we found a snooker table in another room. Only a few people were playing, so we did not have to wait long for a turn.

"Do you know how to play?" Caleb picked up a cue and tested its weight.

"A little," I lied.

I was actually quite good at snooker. My mother had taught me when I was younger, before she died.

"I will go easy on you then," Caleb winked.

"How generous of you."

We set up the balls and started playing. I deliberately missed my first few shots, making it look like I was genuinely trying but just not very skilled.

Caleb started getting confident. "You are not bad for a beginner."

"Thank you," I replied sweetly.

Then on my next turn, I ran the table, sank ball after ball with perfect precision until there was nothing left.

Caleb's mouth fell open. "What the—"

"I thought you were going to go easy on me?" I asked innocently, setting down my cue.

Samantha was crying with laughter. "She hustled you!"

"You hustled me!" Caleb repeated, but he was grinning. "That was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."

"Want to play again?" I challenged.

"Absolutely not. I know when I am beaten."

I was about to suggest we get more drinks when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out and checked the screen. A new message had come through from Selene's account.

We can't meet at the usual hotel anymore. Something came up with the booking. But don't worry, I'll send you the new place and room number tomorrow. I promise it'll be even better than usual.

My heart started racing. This was it. Tomorrow I would know exactly where Selene was going.

I looked up and scanned the crowd. I spotted Selene across the room, standing with Darius and some of his pack members. Her phone was in her hand.

As I watched, her fingers moved across the screen. A moment later, another message came through to my phone.

Okay, my love. I can't wait to see you. I've been thinking about you all day.

I stared at the screen.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I would get the location.

And then everything would change.