Chapter 38 – The Game
Sam's POV
It started with boredom.
At least, that’s what Mason claimed when he stood in the middle of the common room waving a half-empty bottle of whiskey he’d swiped from God-knows-where.
“Gentlemen,” he announced, slurring just slightly. “And Sam.” His grin turned wicked when his eyes landed on me. “We’re playing a game.”
Groans filled the room, but the kind that meant everyone was secretly into it. I’d been in the dorm long enough to recognize the way boys here thrived on chaos.
“What game?” Elias asked flatly from his seat on the couch. He didn’t look impressed. His arms were crossed, his legs stretched out, like he wasn’t planning on moving an inch.
“The game,” Mason said. “Truth or dare.”
That got a round of whistles, a couple of cheers. I sank deeper into my chair.
No. Absolutely not.
I couldn’t risk it. One wrong question, one wrong dare, and my cover would be shredded in front of all of them.
“I’m out,” I said quickly.
Mason’s eyes gleamed like he’d been waiting for me to say that. “Oh no, Hale. Everyone plays.”
“Not interested.”
“Scared?” His grin widened, goading. “What’s the matter? Afraid your truths are too juicy? Or maybe you can’t handle the dares.”
A few of the others laughed. Someone called, “Let him play!”
Elias’s gaze flicked to me, sharp, assessing. I caught the silent warning in his eyes: Don’t take the bait.
But Mason wasn’t going to let me slip away that easily.
He pointed the bottle at me like it was a weapon. “Rules are rules. Everyone in this room is in. Or maybe you’re admitting you’re hiding something?”
That silenced the laughter. All eyes turned to me.
I swallowed hard. My pulse pounded in my throat.
Declan was leaning back against the wall, watching me with a smirk. Like he already knew what I’d pick.
I forced a smirk of my own, even though my stomach twisted. “Fine. I’ll play.”
“Atta boy,” Mason crowed. He plopped down in the circle forming on the floor. “Let’s start.”
The bottle spun.
The first few rounds were harmless.
“Truth: who was your first kiss?”
“Dare: chug the rest of this beer.”
“Truth: have you ever cheated on a test?”
Stupid, safe stuff. I even managed to laugh with the others when someone had to run down the hall in nothing but their boxers.
But I knew it wouldn’t stay harmless. Not with Declan here. Not with Mason itching for blood.
Sure enough, when the bottle pointed to me, Mason rubbed his hands together. “Truth or dare, Hale?”
My heart raced. Truth could be dangerous. Dare could be worse.
“Truth,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
Mason’s grin turned vicious. “All right. Who in this dorm do you trust the most?”
The circle went quiet.
I froze. I couldn’t say Elias—it would be too obvious, too revealing. I couldn’t lie and pick someone else, not when Elias was right there staring at me.
So I did the only thing I could. I shrugged. “No one. I trust myself.”
There was a beat of silence. Then laughter.
“Damn,” one of the guys muttered. “Cold.”
Mason looked a little disappointed, but he let it slide. The bottle spun again.
It came back to me too soon.
Declan’s turn.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on mine. “Truth or dare, Hale?”
Every instinct screamed not to give him control. But saying truth felt like handing him a loaded gun.
“Dare,” I said.
His smirk spread slow and cruel. “I dare you… to take your shirt off.”
The room erupted in laughter, whistles, cheers.
My stomach dropped. Panic shot through me like lightning.
This couldn’t happen. I couldn’t let them see.
Elias’s voice cut through the noise. “That’s stupid.”
Declan turned his head lazily. “What, Cross? You scared your buddy’s hiding something under there?”
I stiffened.
Elias’s jaw clenched, but his voice stayed calm. “You’re just fishing. Pick another dare.”
Declan raised a brow. “Since when do you get to make the rules?”
“Since your dare crossed a line.”
The tension was thick, dangerous. Everyone was staring now, caught between excitement and discomfort.
Declan leaned back, smirking. “Fine. Keep your shirt on, Hale. I’ll let you off easy this time.” His eyes gleamed. “But you’ll take a shot. Straight from the bottle.”
Relief flooded me, but only for a second. I knew he was still testing me. Watching me closely.
I grabbed the whiskey, tipped it back, and forced myself to swallow without flinching. It burned down my throat, but I kept my face blank.
The circle whooped and clapped. Declan’s smirk lingered.
The bottle spun.
Hours blurred together. The dares got wilder, the truths sharper.
Someone had to kiss another guy. Someone else had to run out to the courtyard and yell a confession at the top of their lungs.
But it was only when the bottle landed on Elias that things shifted again.
“Truth or dare?” Mason grinned.
Elias didn’t hesitate. “Truth.”
Mason’s grin widened. “Who here do you think is lying to you?”
The air stilled.
My stomach dropped.
Elias’s eyes slid across the circle… and landed on me.
My breath caught.
His gaze lingered, heavy, searching.
Then he said, “Pass.”
Groans filled the room. Mason shouted, “You can’t pass!”
“Then spin again,” Elias said coolly, leaning back. “I’m not answering that.”
His eyes never left mine.
I couldn’t breathe.
By the time the game finally fizzled out, most of the guys stumbled off to bed, drunk and laughing.
But I stayed frozen in my chair, my body tense, my mind racing.
Declan brushed past me on his way out, leaning down just enough to murmur in my ear. “You can dodge questions all you want, Hale. But sooner or later, we’ll strip the truth out of you.”
A shiver tore down my spine.
Elias caught it. He was beside me in an instant, his voice low. “Don’t listen to him.”
I shook my head, standing too quickly. “I’m fine.”
“Sam.” Elias grabbed my wrist before I could move. His grip wasn’t harsh, but it was firm. “You’re not fine. And the way he’s watching you—it’s not random. He suspects something.”
My chest tightened.
Elias leaned closer, his voice fierce but quiet. “If you don’t tell me the truth soon, he’s going to get it out of you first.”
I stared at him, my throat closing. I wanted to deny it. I wanted to deflect, like always.
But for the first time, I couldn’t.
The cracks were spreading too wide.
And I wasn’t sure I could hold them together anymore.