Chapter 141 The wrong kind of close
Chapter 141
DARIUS
After my bath, I sat down at my desk and turned on my laptop. The assignment pairings should have been posted by now.
I navigated to the general class group and found the list.
I scrolled through the names until I found mine.
Darius Pike and Ravenna Casmir
I stared at the screen, completely frozen. My heart started pounding in my chest. I was paired with Ravenna? Holy fucking shit! She was going to roast me.
My phone buzzed. A text message came in. I checked and it was from Ravenna.
Did you pay the lecturer to pair us together?
What the hell? Why would she say this? Of course, she was going to accuse me of this as my doing.
Why would she even think that i would go a mile to pay a lecturer to pair us together? For what reason?
I was still processing that accusation when another message came through immediately after.
Nice try. But I still won't talk to you if I don't want to. Leave me alone and stop bothering me.
A smile spread across my face despite myself. Ohh, this was the reason? Even when she was angry and pushing me away, she was still perfectly Ravenna. Still feisty and fighting.
I typed back carefully: We should start preparing for the assignment. When are you free to work on it?
Her response came within seconds. A middle finger emoji.
I laughed out loud.
"What is so funny?" Dorian called from the kitchen.
"Nothing. Just the assignment pairings." I closed my laptop and walked to the kitchen. "Who did you get paired with?"
Dorian's groan was audible before I even reached him. "Samantha got paired with Marcus. And I got stuck with Jane."
"Jane the genius?"
"Jane the nerd who never speaks to anyone, wears a fucking weird glass and probably hates me."
I burst out laughing.
Dorian turned around and flipped me the middle finger with both hands.
"I deserved that," I admitted, still grinning.
The following morning, we had early hockey practice. I was doing my absolute best to mind my own business and avoid Caleb completely.
But of course, Caleb had other plans.
During a passing drill, he skated too close to me, deliberately invading my space when there was plenty of room on the ice.
"So, I heard you got paired with Ravenna for that assignment," Caleb commented casually.
I ignored him and focused on controlling the puck.
"Must be nice," he continued, matching my pace. "Getting to spend time with her again. I miss that, you know. Miss being close to her. And wish so badly I hadn't fucked up."
My grip on my hockey stick tightened until my knuckles turned white.
"She has the best laugh," Caleb went on, his voice deliberately loud enough for others to hear. "Did you know that? When she is really happy, she throws her head back and laughs with her whole body. It is beautiful."
I ignored him and rounded a corner skating towards the goalpost.
"Of course, you wouldn't know because according to the information I gathered, all you have been to her is an absolute jerk to her. So yeah." He snatched the puck from me but didn't play.
"What the hell Caleb, play or get the fuck out of my sight!" I sneered.
"Hmmm. You know Selene was actually sweet. I had her first but she soon became lose, like something worn out. And you know when I set my eyes on Ravenna, I knew she was the right one to replace selene.
I looked up and grinned widely. "What makes you think you're going to have her? Last time I checked she publicly broke up with you."
Caleb face darkened. "I am going to have her for sure. I don't care how long it takes me but I am going to have her back by all means." He smirked.
Atlas snarled inside me and before I could control him, he moved, I grabbed Caleb and shoved him to my shoulders. I slammed into the boards with every ounce of strength I had.
His head cracked against the plexiglass and blood immediately started pouring from his nose.
"Darius!" Coach Bonn's whistle shrieked across the rink. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
I did not answer. I just stared at Caleb, breathing hard, daring him to say one more word about having Ravenna.
Coach Bonn skated over, fury radiating from every inch of his body. "That is the second time you have acted violently during practice this week. One more incident—just one—and you are going on detention. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Coach," I replied flatly.
"I mean it, Darius. One more time and you are out."
"I understand."
"Good. Now get back in position both of you and for goodness’ sake, don't talk to each other."
I skated away, but I did not care about the threat of detention. I did not care about the consequences.
All I cared about was that Caleb did not think towards having Ravenna for the rest of the session. He kept his eyes firmly on the ice, never once glancing in my direction.
Good. That was exactly what I wanted.
When practice ended, I waited by the exit. Caleb was one of the last to leave the rink. I stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"We need to talk."
Caleb pressed a bloody towel to his nose. "About what?"
"About boundaries."
"I do not know what you mean."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only he could hear. Every word came out cold and deliberate. "Do not toy with me, Caleb. Your days at this academy are numbered. The investigation is happening. Your pack started this war. So, mind your business and leave Ravenna alone."
"Or what?" Caleb challenged, though his voice wavered slightly.
"Or I will make sure you regret every single word you have ever spoken about her." I leaned in even closer until we were almost nose to nose. "Because she is mine! She was mine before you came! She will be mine if you stay in the academy or leave! And she will be mine alone! Do you understand?"
Caleb's jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists at his sides. But he did not argue.
Smart choice.
I stepped aside and let him pass.
As I watched him walk away, blood still dripping from his nose, I felt no regret. No guilt.
Only satisfaction that I finally brought myself to admit to it in open.