Chapter 3

Lana

After parting ways with Olivia on bad terms, I lugged my suitcase back to the hotel room—but the cost was already blowing through my budget.

I was desperate to find a new place, fast. So I grabbed my phone and called student housing first to see about a transfer but was given excuse after excuse as to why it couldn’t be done.

But I sensed something off from the receptionist's flustered, rambling excuses. When I pressed her, she finally—vaguely—implied it was because I'd made an enemy of someone on the board of trustees.

My heart sank. The only person I knew with any connection to the trustees was Olivia. She came from a wealthy pack and loved to casually drop names and flaunt her connections—something she'd never been shy about reminding me.

So much for switching dorms. It wasn't happening.

With a class next day, I quickly scanned rental listings on my phone. The places near campus either looked like a drug den or cost more than I could ever afford.

Time was running out. As a last resort, I posted a quick "room wanted" ad on the campus forum before rushing off to class.

The following day was the start of a new course for the new quarter but I had already done a significant amount of studying beforehand. It was considered the hardest course at school but if I could pass with top marks, I’d be one step closer to my goal of finishing a four-year degree in just three.

I needed to land an internship early, to prove myself and to keep my student loans from piling up.

Standing outside the door, I waited for the previous classes students to leave, earning a few disdainful stares from those who passed by. Ignoring them, I took a seat and noticed I was the first to do so. There was no time to worry about those I didn’t know because at any moment Caleb would walk through the door.

Everyone knew what classes Caleb had. He, along with Kade, were big shits at the school so many students kept track of their courses to try and get close to them. Since I was with Caleb I only cared what courses he had, and if there were any I could take with him. Now I was regretting that decision.

He had no idea I was going to be there. The plan was to tell him the night I gave myself to him. Though he had always been sweet to me when we were together, I knew those days were over and the reality of dealing with him in such a difficult course for a whole quarter seemed daunting.

Curious as to why the room was filling so fast—there shouldn’t be that many students who signed up—I saw Kade enter. There were a bunch of women who couldn’t contain their excitement when he walked in, and even some guys who looked pretty stoked. Shit. They were both in the class!

When Caleb entered the room, what was a small drone of conversation erupted and it was clear the dynamic of the class was going to be very different than what I had expected. The tension between the two, and those who were vying for a chance to be part of either man’s inner circle, was thick in the air.

Our professor finally came and made his way to the front, seeming to become more irritated as he did. Once he was by the podium he spoke, “Find a seat and quiet down.”

Though he spoke loudly, it was as though he didn’t even say a word; I seemed to be the only one listening.

He rapped the podium hard. “Alright!” That quieted everyone down but most didn’t bother to sit. “Since you all want to be such a talkative group how about we do things differently this quarter?”

There were some concerned glances around the room as he continued, “How about we make this a cooperative project? You all need to partner up and earn an accumulative credit for the work you do. Less grading for me and you will have a reason to be so chatty.”

There were a few groans from I’m guessing the higher performing students and a general murmuring from pretty much everyone else. A guy near Caleb whispered in his ear and made a gesture my way, which made me groan as well.

Why did Caleb still noticed me? Right now, all I wanted was to stay as far away from him as possible.

The professor ignored any discontent and said, “You all have ten minutes, no more than three to a team, and one of you has to be an alpha.”

That last part was met with more groaning but the professor just sat back and took his phone out as everyone scrambled to find a partner.

Every person I approached wouldn’t even look at me and walked away before I had a chance to say a word.

My heart sank a little, but as the only Omega on campus, this kind of snub wouldn’t be the first or the last I’d face.

I glanced up and saw another girl running into similar trouble because of her GPA. Just as I thought about approaching her to brainstorm a solution together, she walked right past me toward another alpha.

What shocked me was how she tried to use her virginity as a bargaining chip, offering it in exchange for a spot on a team—and it actually sparked a bidding war among a few alphas. They weren’t top-tier like Kade or Caleb, with pack inheritances on the line, but they’d still satisfy the professor’s requirement.

Her virginity wasn’t my problem though, but it did make it tempting to offer it myself. I mean, my mate didn’t want me, nor I him, so it could be useful.

That idea was quickly pushed out of my head, my virginity was worth more than a fix for a temporary issue. Looking at Kade, I was surprised he hadn’t been one of the alphas interested in her but he seemed to take his time and really consider his options. As the top Alpha in the class, he did have first choice.

Glancing at Caleb he seemed to have just as many takers as Kade, but as second Alpha in the class, that wasn’t surprising. He caught me looking at him and narrowed his eyes before turning back to the blond in front of him, who was trying hard to get him to accept her as a teammate.

Clenching my teeth I decided to ask Kade, if everyone was going to shoot me down, why not try.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Hi, Kade?” He didn’t even look at me, his gaze seemed locked on his phone.

Sighing, I tried again a bit louder. “Excuse me, Alpha Kade? I was wondering if you’d like to team up with me.”

He finally turned to me. His eyes met mine and that same wicked smile he had in the hotel returned. “Well if it isn’t my little bird. You taking me up on that offer from the other night?”

My pulse quickened and it felt as though Alruna was going to tear me from the inside out. Trying to calm her I said, “Not that. I’m asking if you want to partner for the class.”

His smile broadened. “I didn’t hear a, no...” he said, and raised an arched brow.

Remembering how he looked the other night, I took a deep breath and stepped back. Damn, this was a bad idea.

“You know that isn’t what I want. I’m asking if you want to team up for the course.”

The corner of his full lips pulled into a half smile. “And why should I team up with you? How are you going to sweeten the deal for me to accept?”

The way his eyes traveled across my body, lingering on my breasts, I knew exactly what he meant.

Trying not to glare at him, I said, “Considering the amount of time I spent studying to prepare for this class I could guarantee you an A. No, an A+ since I plan to do all the bonus work too.”

That promise should get him to consider my offer, there wasn’t a single person in the history of the class who ever earned an A+.

His eyes met mine again but before he could say a word, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me away from him. Turning back in shock to see who it was, I was met with Caleb’s ice blue stare. He did not look happy. With his tight grasp on my elbow, neither was I.

“What do you want?” I said through gritted teeth.

“Why the hell are you here? Taking this course is such a bullshit move to get my attention. And, approaching Kade of all people! I know you’re just trying to make me jealous. Well, congrats it worked.” He nearly spat the words at me.

His arrogance disgusted me, but I kept my voice low. “Like hell! I signed up for this course well before your cheating ass was caught. I figured you might want help since I knew you were not looking forward to it.” His face turned red and I took a step back.

A wave of anger seemed to flow off him as he said, “Where do you think you’re going? You’re still my mate!”

Caleb tried to reach for me again but a stronger arm shot out from behind me, blocking his grip.

It was Kade.

He seemed genuinely interested now, his coffee-colored eyes shifting between Caleb and me. "So little bird is your mate?" he mused.

Caleb’s jaw tightened. "That's none of your business."

Kade’s lips curled. "It is when she just promised to help me score an A+."

"We're partners now. Try not to be too jealous."