Chapter 46 Mate Drama and Bathroom Revelations

Chapter 46 Mate Drama and Bathroom Revelations
Chapter 46: Mate Drama and Bathroom Revelations

ARIA SILVERMOON

“Professor Rivera,” I said calmly, “what if I told you I’m not pretending to be better than everyone… what if I actually am?”

She scoffed. “You’re delusional.”

“What exactly are you here for?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Why are you cornering me in the bathroom like this?”

“Stay. Away. From. Darius,” she warned, stepping even closer. “I’m your professor. There are over a hundred ways I can make your life at this academy a living hell. I can ruin your records, punish you, put you in constant trouble. Don’t test me.”

I met her gaze without flinching. “There’s nothing going on between Darius and me.”

Rivera groaned in frustration. “Then why do you keep calling him by his first name? Dropping all the honorifics like you two are equals?”

“Because I can,” I replied with a shrug. “And honestly? Cornering a student in the restroom over your delusional crush is way more unprofessional than me using his name.”

Her face twisted. “There’s nothing delusional about it. As his mate—”

I froze.

“What?”

She smirked, clearly enjoying the shock on my face. “Did I stutter? I said I’m his mate.”

A stunned laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “You’re Darius’s mate?”

“Yes, I am,” she affirmed, lifting her chin with smug satisfaction.

I let out a sharp, disbelieving chuckle. “You’re Darius’s mate? That’s… new.”

“Yes, I am,” Rivera affirmed, her smirk growing wider and smugger by the second.

I scoffed. “Funny. He never mentioned having a mate. Not once.”

“Lucian,” she purred, dragging a finger slowly down my cheek with that sky-high smirk. “Do you even know who Darius really is?”

I swatted her hand away like it was an annoying fly. “If you paid half as much attention to your own ‘close relationship’ as you claim, you’d know he’s the Split Soul. Right?”

Her eyes gleamed. “Guess who I am, then.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. I already knew what she was about to say, and it made my stomach twist.

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re the White Wolf.”

She smiled like I’d just handed her a trophy. “Yes. I am.”

I stared at her for a beat… then burst out laughing. “You are insane. Certifiably, moon-goddess-level insane. You? The White Wolf? Please.”

She didn’t laugh with me. Her expression stayed dead serious.

“He didn’t tell you?” she asked quietly.

The laughter died in my throat. She wasn’t joking. She actually believed this.

“You’re serious?” I whispered.

“Dead serious. He is the Split Soul. I am the White Wolf. We are destined. So stay away from him. I don’t like how close you two have gotten. I can smell an unlawful connection from a mile away.”

“If you’re that worried about us, it says more about your so-called bond than it does about me,” I shot back.

“No, it doesn’t!” she snapped, reaching for my arm.

I slapped her hand away hard and stepped back. “Don’t touch me. And don’t threaten me. If you’re really his mate, go talk to him. Not me.”

She glared daggers at me for a long second, then spun on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

I stood there, chest heaving. She was the White Wolf? Darius’s mate? And he hadn’t said a single word?

How dare he?

I turned back to the mirror, gripping the sink until my knuckles turned white, then splashed cold water on my face over and over, trying to cool the anger boiling inside me.

From everything I’d read, the White Wolf and Split Soul were supposed to have this perfect, fated connection, deep love, harmony, all that romantic prophecy nonsense. So why did Darius look irritated every time Rivera breathed near him? Why did they act like they couldn’t stand each other?

Had they been together before I arrived? Were they faking the hatred?

I sighed and ran wet fingers through my hair, messing it up even more.

My phone pinged.

Darius: When you’re done, come to my office instead of heading back to the dorm alone. Let’s go back together.

I stared at the message, then shoved the phone back into my pocket.

“Dammit,” I muttered.

You can’t fake a mate bond. Not really. If they were the real deal, things should be smooth, right? Not this… whatever mess this was.

I stormed out of the restroom, anger still bubbling like hot lava. I hoped Ryder and Cade had already left. If I saw Ryder’s face right now, I might actually punch that slightly-handsome smirk right off it.

Thankfully, our table was empty when I got back. I quickly packed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and marched straight to Darius’s office.

If Rivera thinks I’m going to stay away just because she barked an order, she’s in for a very rude awakening. We’re roommates. Avoiding each other isn’t an option.

I barged in without knocking.

And froze.

Darius was seated behind his desk, looking startled. Rivera stood right in front of him, the table the only thing separating them. They both turned to stare at me.

Moon Goddess, give me strength.

Darius recovered first, but Rivera’s face twisted with fresh anger.

“You—” I started, stepping forward, fists clenched. My wolf was practically howling suggestions in my head: Insult her. Claim him. Throw her out.

I forced myself to stop, taking a shaky breath. Get it together, Aria.

“Lucian?” Darius called, voice laced with worry.

“Don’t,” I warned, holding up a hand.

Rivera’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here? And why did you barge in without knocking?” she demanded, voice rising. She clearly couldn’t stand how casually I’d dismissed Darius, or how comfortable I was in his space.

The insane urge to stake my claim hit me like a truck. He wasn’t mine… but right now, I didn’t care.

I ignored her completely, walked over to the couch, and dropped my bag with a loud thud.

“What do you think you’re doing, Lucian?” Rivera snapped, voice shrill.

“Stop, Rivera,” Darius cut in sharply. “He can do whatever he wants. It’s my office, not yours. You’re the one who’s not welcome here. Get out.”

“What?!” she exclaimed, pointing at me. “Because of him?!”

I wasn’t in the mood for their dramatic couple spat. I walked straight around the desk until I stood in front of Darius. His eyes tracked my every move, and he swallowed hard.

“You look angry,” he said carefully.

No kidding.

Rivera had pushed every single one of my buttons, and the realization that Darius had hidden something this huge only made it worse.

Without thinking, I grabbed the arm of his chair and spun it so he faced me directly. Then I stepped boldly between his parted legs and cupped his face with both hands, cradling it like he was the only thing in the room.

Darius froze, completely caught off guard. I wasn’t even sure what I was doing, it felt like my body had taken over while my brain took a vacation.

I didn’t dare look at Rivera’s face. I could only imagine the rage.

“Tell me the truth,” I said, voice low and intense, staring straight into his eyes. “Is Rivera really your mate? Is she the White Wolf?”