Chapter 90 Academy festival announcement

Chapter 90 Academy festival announcement
Chapter 090

DARIUS

All through these past weeks, my mind had not been settled about destroying her motorcycle in that accident on the school grounds. The guilt had been eating at me constantly, especially after I learned how much that bike meant to her.

It was not just transportation. It was her freedom, her independence, a piece of who she was before coming to this academy.

So, I had taken matters into my own hands. I bought every single part that needed replacing, spending hours researching exactly what her bike required to not just be functional but to be better than it was before. Then I paid a professional mechanic thousands of pounds to work with me personally on the repairs, making sure every detail was perfect.

Now, watching her eyes widen as she took in the sight of her restored motorcycle, I knew every penny and every hour had been worth it.

She clasped both hands over her mouth, her voice muffled when she spoke. "Is this real? This is actually my bike?"

"It is," I confirmed, unable to keep the satisfaction out of my voice. "Your bike."

Ravenna walked towards it slowly, almost reverently. Her fingers traced along the frame, checking every detail whilst her eyes filled with tears she was clearly trying to hold back. She kept glancing at me like she could not quite believe what she was seeing.

Then suddenly she raced forward and jumped on me, throwing her arms around my neck in a tight hug. I caught her instinctively, staggering a few steps backward from the unexpected impact but managing not to fall. She held on tightly, her face buried against my shoulder.

When she finally pulled back and dropped to her feet, her smile was so bright it made my chest ache. "Can I have the key? Please?"

I handed it over without hesitation. She immediately climbed onto the bike, inserted the key, and started the engine. The familiar roar filled the air, and she revved it experimentally a few times. Each sound made her grin wider.

"This is amazing," she breathed. "It sounds even better than before."

Then she hopped off and hugged me again, this time even tighter than the first. I laughed at her enthusiasm, wrapping my arms around her waist whilst she practically vibrated with excitement.

"Are you really that happy about getting it back?" I asked, though the answer was obvious.

"Yes," she replied emphatically. "I have missed riding so much. You have no idea."

"Do you want to take it for a proper ride right now?" I offered. "Test it out and make sure everything works the way it should?"

Her face lit up even more. "Can I? Really?"

"Of course. Just follow the eastern road out past the academy grounds. The roads are good out there for testing speed."

"Hop on then," she commanded, already climbing back onto the bike.

I swung my leg over and settled in behind her, my arms coming around her waist to hold on whilst she took off. She kept howling with pure joy as she drove, the sound carrying back to me over the wind. The bike handled beautifully, responding to her every command like it had missed her just as much as she had missed it.

When we finally returned to the academy, she was still beaming. "How much did this cost to repair? I need to pay you back eventually."

"You do not need to worry about the price," I deflected, not wanting to tell her the actual amount I had spent.

She parked the motorcycle carefully and we worked together to hide it back under the cover and secure it properly. Then I walked with her back towards her dormitory, neither of us saying much but the silence feeling comfortable rather than awkward.

At her door, she turned to face me. "Thank you for fixing it. But also, no thanks, since you were the one who destroyed it in the first place."

I chuckled at her stubborn refusal to just accept the gesture gracefully. "You are welcome anyway."

"Seriously though, do not tell me the price because I do not want to feel guilty about how much money you spent," she added.

"I will not. Just consider it my apology for being an asshole when you first arrived."

She smiled at that. "You are still an asshole most of the time."

"I am working on it," I replied with a grin.

"Go to bed and get some proper rest tonight," I told her, suddenly serious. "You will need your strength for the festival tomorrow."

"Yes, Captain," she mocked with a salute before disappearing inside.

I walked back to my own room feeling lighter than I had in weeks. But once I was alone in the darkness, sleep refused to come. My mind kept replaying the moment when Ravenna had jumped into my arms. The feel of her body pressed against mine. The genuine happiness in her smile when she saw the bike. The sound of her laughter whilst we rode together.

I knew without question that I had done the right thing by repairing her motorcycle. Seeing her that happy made everything worth it.

The following day arrived with nervous energy crackling through the entire academy. The annual festival was always a major event, but this year felt particularly important for reasons I could not quite explain.

I dressed carefully in the suit I had chosen specifically for tonight. Black jacket and trousers with a crisp white shirt underneath. Dorian emerged from the bathroom looking equally formal in his own dark suit.

"Ready to collect our dates?" he asked with a knowing grin.

"They are not dates," I protested automatically, though the words felt like a lie even as I said them.

"Right. Keep telling yourself that, mate."

We made our way to the girls' dormitory together and knocked on Samantha and Ravenna's door. When it opened, my breath caught in my throat.

Ravenna stood there wearing the black dress I had sent, and she looked absolutely stunning. The dress fit her perfectly, hugging her curves in all the right places whilst still being elegant and appropriate. Her red hair was styled differently than usual, falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She had done her makeup subtly, just enough to enhance her natural beauty without covering it up.

"You look beautiful," I managed to say, the words coming out rougher than I intended.

She blushed slightly. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."

Samantha appeared beside her in the red dress, and Dorian immediately started gushing about how gorgeous she looked. The four of us made our way to the main hall together, where the festival was already in full swing.

The decorations were incredible this year. Lights hung from every surface, creating a warm glow throughout the massive space. Tables were laden with food and drinks. Music played whilst students danced and laughed together.

Ravenna and I found a quiet corner where we could watch everything without being in the middle of the chaos. We talked easily about nothing important, just enjoying each other's company.

The festival proceeded beautifully for hours. I actually found myself relaxing and having genuine fun, something that had become increasingly rare at these academy events.

Then my father took the stage.

Richard Pike commanded attention the moment he stepped up to the microphone. The music cut off. Conversations died down. Everyone turned to listen to whatever announcement he was about to make.

"Thank you all for attending tonight," he began with his practiced public speaking voice. "I have some exciting news to share regarding the Pike family."

Dread settled in my stomach like a stone.

"I am pleased to announce my son Darius's upcoming marriage to Selene Blackwood, his betrothed. The union of our two families will strengthen both packs and secure the future of our business interests."

The words hit like physical blows. I stood frozen, unable to move or speak or breathe properly. This could not be happening. Not now. Not like this.

I turned to look at Ravenna and watched the color drain from her face. She staggered backward like she had been struck, shock and hurt written clearly across her features.

Then she turned and ran.

She pushed through the crowd, ignoring people calling her name, and disappeared through the doors. I immediately gave chase, my heart pounding with panic and fury in equal measure.

By the time I made it outside, she was already on her motorcycle. The engine roared to life, and she tore away from the academy into the night before I could reach her.

"Ravenna, wait," I shouted uselessly after her disappearing form.

Rage exploded through me, hot and violent. I stormed back into the building and made my way straight to my father's temporary office at the school. I did not bother knocking, just shoved the door open hard enough that it banged against the wall.

Richard looked up from the papers on his desk, completely unsurprised by my entrance. "Darius. I was expecting you."

"What the hell was that?" I demanded, fury radiating from every pore. "You had no right to make that announcement. No right to decide my future without even talking to me first."

"I have every right as your father and as Alpha," Richard replied calmly, setting down his pen. "This marriage has been arranged for years. You knew it was coming eventually."

"I will not marry Selene," I stated firmly. "I do not care what arrangements you made. Find someone else."

Richard stood up slowly, his expression hardening. "You will marry Selene Blackwood as planned. Or you will be disowned as both my son and my heir. Those are your only two options."

The ultimatum shattered something inside me. The careful control I had maintained for years cracked wide open. "You cannot be serious."

"I am completely serious," my father confirmed coldly.

I stared at him, seeing clearly for the first time how little he actually cared about my happiness or my choices. I was just a piece on his chess board, to be moved wherever he decided was most advantageous.

Without another word, I turned and stormed out of his office. I needed to find Ravenna. Needed to explain. Needed to fix this somehow.

But the moment I stepped into the corridor, a stunning blonde woman appeared directly in my path. She was beautiful in a cold, calculated way. Her smile was perfect but did not reach her eyes.

"Hello, Darius," she purred. "I am Selene Blackwood. Your future wife. I thought we should finally meet properly."

Students were everywhere, watching this interaction with avid curiosity. I could not cause a scene here without making everything worse. Could not reject her publicly without creating a massive scandal that would hurt everyone involved.

So, I forced myself to remain calm and polite. "Nice to meet you, Selene."

She linked her arm through mine possessively. "Walk with me. We have so much to discuss about our future together."

Unable to refuse without causing the exact scene I was trying to avoid, I had no choice but to let her lead me away whilst my mind screamed at me to run after Ravenna instead.