Chapter 5

SELENA

A fated mate is a dumb concept anyway. I'm still thinking about that while I'm on my knees, scrubbing the toilet in the common room bathroom in one of the towers. At least I don't have to clean all the suites, just the public toilets. Sweat pours down my face. I've changed into a pair of cutoff jeans shorts and a gray tank top. It's particularly hot in this bathroom, so I have the door propped open. I hear someone clear their throat and look up.

There's a guy standing there, one of the inner circle here. His hair is long, black, and wavy, and he has a septum piercing. His t-shirt is covered in different colors of paint. He's cute.

“Yeah?” I say. “Women's room's across the hall if you want to use that while I'm still cleaning this one. I don't know why they aren't unisex.”

He smiles to himself. “I don't need to use the restroom. I'm just wondering what you're doing.”

I look him straight in the eyes. “I'm doing my taxes, can't you tell?”

He barks out a laugh, like he's startled. “I'm sorry, forgive me, my name is Raven and I'm at your service.”

“Hello Raven, I'm Selena. What did you mean?”

He comes closer into the room and holds out his hand for me to take. I instinctively take it, still wearing my disgusting rubber gloves. He takes no notice, helping me to my feet like a princess. “I'm afraid, and I really regret to tell such a pretty girl this, that you're being hazed.”

I strip off my gloves and throw them into my bucket of supplies. “Aw, Hell. You have a housekeeper, don't you?”

“A whole fleet of them. Who put you up to this? Was one of them a blonde Alpha who could pass for a Russian supermodel?”

“Amber. And the other one was named Riley,” I snitch without an ounce of shame.

He nods. “Tell me this, sweetheart, did you mention any of this to Dominic?”

That rat bastard. “He knew.” I lean back hard against the sink, suddenly unable to fully support my own weight. “I didn't mention it. He did.”

“Okay. Thank you for being brave enough to tell me. Let me take care of this. Consider yourself a free agent until your classes tomorrow. Maybe stick close to your room for now.”

“Oh you don't have to–”

“I'm an Alpha, sweetheart, and a fellow Alpha misbehaved. It's my job and my honor to take care of this for you, little Omega.” He kisses my hand.

“Th-thank you,” I tell him, feeling heat flood my cheeks and turn them bright red.

“You are very welcome.” And with that, he's gone.

I stash the cleaning supplies back where I found them, then take off upstairs, hitting the vending machine on the way. I take the longest shower possible, washing my massively long and thick hair and scrubbing my skin pink. I think about Raven and feel funny inside.

Dominic may be my mate, but he hasn't claimed me, so the mate bond isn't solidified. And Raven made me feel prettier than I've ever felt, whereas Dominic makes me think he hates me and everything about me.

No one has ever defended my honor before.

I get out of the shower and dry off, taking Raven’s suggestion and locking my door, holing up in a pair of leggings and a giant fuzzy sweater, with a single cup pod coffeemaker and a bunch of snacks from the student union. I got a whole grocery bag filled with bananas, cereal, oat milk, microwave popcorn, snack mix, plastic cutlery, bowls, and a few frozen Thai dinners. I turn on the TV that came with the suite filled with streaming apps and start an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I've become addicted to it since Nox let me have his second TV. I put a Thai curry in the microwave and settle in with a packet of M&Ms and a soda from the vending machine, and my plushie black cat, Meowlificent. I got her with last Christmas's gift from Luna Margaret, $200 to use on clothes. It went to clothes…and Meowlificent.

DOMINIC

I'm rounding the corner, expecting to see a barely dressed Selena on her knees for me, when I find something very different.

“What in the fuck do you think you're doing, Dom? And was it Tris's idea?”

Raven. One of my best friends. And before Billie, the conscience of the Underground.

“She told you.”

“She told me. And nothing, I mean nothing, is to happen to her in retaliation. This stops now. Act like an Alpha, not a boy.” He gets in my face. Raven, one of my best friends. “That sweet little Omega is under our protection here, and that is where she will be. Not in danger of us. Who do you think you are, the Big Bad Wolf?”

“Maybe,” I say, just to provoke him. He shakes his head, disappointed in me.

“She's an innocent, Dom.”

“She's hiding something.”

“Whatever it is, it's hers to hide.”

“Bullshit. I'm finding out what it is.”

“No, you're not. Because you'll be too busy apologizing to Billie after I tell her everything I just found out. And I am telling her, Dom.”

“Fucking godamnit Raven, have some loyalty.”

“Don't ever talk to me about loyalty, Dominic.” And he's gone.

Shit.

So I do the stupid thing and go up to the attic to barge in on Selena.

Except she's somehow locked the door.

“Selena,” I call out sternly, with just a bit of dominance.

“No,” says the voice through the door.

“Selena…”

“If you care about being a good guy at all, don't make me a slave, Dominic.”

And that's when I realize how close I came to using my Alpha voice against her. Something I abhorred. Something I'd never done.

I back away from the door and go back to my new room just beneath hers, locking myself in.

I won't be her monster tonight.