Chapter 54: Chapter 54

RUBY

Cassie narrowed her eyes. "And you're okay with that?"

"Yes." I said, still maintaining my smile.

Cassie’s brows furrowed. “Why? Most people can’t wait to have their mate ceremony, especially if it's with an Alpha. You don’t seem thrilled about it at all."

"I'm happy about it. I'm definitely over the moon... But I just don’t think there's any need to rush."

Cassie gave me a pointed look. "Girl, are you being serious? You two are already living like mates, and you're saying it's not necessary to officially solidify your bond?"

"Sebastian has a lot on his plate right now. The world record game is coming up, and he needs to focus. After that, we can figure out whatever this is between us," I said, trying to sound convincing.

Cassie eyed me suspiciously, her gaze drifting to my neck.

"Don't you want to wear his mark?"

"Of course, I do," I replied, forcing another smile. She had asked me why Sebastian hadn't mark and I lied to her that I didn't want his mark until after our mate ceremony.

I didn't know what Cassie would think of me if she later found out Sebastian and I weren't real mate, but I knew our friendship would never be the same.

Cassie fell silent, studying me.

Goddess, I really felt bad for lying to my friend.

"So, how did you get here so fast?" I quickly changed the topic. "Did Robert drive you?"

Cassie rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out. "Ugh. Don’t remind me. Yes, he drove me here, and I still can’t believe I let him."

I frowned. "What happened? Did he do something bad?"

Cassie groaned. "I made out with him, okay? And not even ten minutes later, he pulled over beside some girl on the road and started flirting with her! While I was still inside the car! Can you believe that?"

My jaw dropped in surprise, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you serious? What did you do?”

Cassie threw her hands up in frustration. “I wanted to strangle him, Ruby! He acted like nothing happened. Like he didn’t just kiss me and then immediately start flirting with someone else. I had to scream at him with every fiber of my being just to get him to drive me here!"

I chuckled at her dramatics, but I also understood how she felt. “Cassie, why did you let him kiss you in the first place? He’s not even your fated mate.”

She shot me a look. “Yeah, I know. But still, he didn’t have to be such a jerk about it! If he wasn’t my fated mate, then he shouldn’t have played around with me like that! Ugh! I hate him!"

"What if he turns out to be your fated mate?"

"Goddess would never mate me to someone like him,"

she shouted, shaking her head as if the very idea disgusted her.

I sighed. "If he found his fated mate, he would change."

She let out a dry laugh. "That one can never change. He’s—"

A sudden knock on the door cut her off before the door swung open and sebastian stepped inside.

"I hope I'm not interrupting your time with Ruby," he said smoothly as he walked across the room, his gaze briefly flicking to Cassie before settling on me.

Cassie smiled, tilting her head. "Oh, not at all."

Sebastian’s expression softened as he looked at me. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, stopping just a few inches away.

I pushed myself up from the bed, brushing my hair back. "I'm okay,"

He studied me for a moment before reaching out, his fingers brushing against my forehead as if checking for a fever.

"Are you sure?" His voice was lower now, quieter, like he wasn’t convinced.

"I'm fine, really," I assured him, smiling.

Sebastian sighed, then pulled back. "I just talked to Luna Scarlett and Kiara over the phone. They heard what Lizzy did to you."

I frowned. "How did they find out?"

"Word travels fast in this pack. You know that," Sebastian said.

"Luna Scarlett already spoke to the school head. Lizzy is leaving the school."

My breath caught in my throat. Lizzy… expelled?

I wanted to say something, maybe tell him to let her be because of her sick mother, but now that Luna Scarlett was involved, there was nothing I could do.