Chapter 9

Kavrian POV

When Glinda ran away after I had proposed to her, I didn't go after her because I knew she would need space and time to think about it.

And since I had been suspended from school, I decided to return to the packhouse.

Father wouldn't like this by the way, but good thing he was on a trip and may not hear about this anytime soon.

Anyways, the moment I entered my room, I grabbed my phone and texted Glinda. Normally, I would prefer to do other things first, like have my bath, but there I was, chatting with a girl who wasn't replying by the way…maybe it was because I was texting too fast.

“Damn!” I whispered to myself, raking my fingers through my hair in frustration. I had just caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I was…

Smiling.

I couldn't even remember the last time I smiled.

This is genuinely so frustrating because it felt like what I was scared of was happening faster than I planned. It felt like I was easily getting carried away.

“No… no, no,” I muttered under my breath, pacing the room restlessly.

If there was one thing I had always been good at, it was control. Control over situations. Over my reactions. Over my feelings. I was supposed to think logically, not emotionally, especially now. One wrong move and I could ruin this deal before it even truly began.

I had already crossed the line the moment I proposed to her in front of everyone and said all those things. But what else was I supposed to do? I couldn’t just stand there and let people walk around calling her a slut.

Because I knew Glinda.

I knew her better than she probably realized.

Long before I left, I had watched her from a distance, studying the little things about her without even meaning to. I noticed how deeply words affected her, how she carried insecurities she tried so hard to hide, how all she truly wanted was a quiet, peaceful life without attention constantly tearing at her.

Getting accused of being a slut would legit destroy her. I could already picture her lying awake at night, wondering what she had done to deserve it, asking the goddess why she seemed to hate her so much.

The old me would have ignored it. He would have convinced himself it wasn’t his problem because getting involved meant getting closer, and getting closer meant noticing even more than I already did.

Heck, he would have bullied her just to make himself feel better.

But the new me?

The new me couldn’t just stand by and watch her suffer.

And I couldn't explain why.

Damn it!

How did a simple kiss change me so much?

That's why, instead of sending the third text saying, But I’m not taking back anything I said.

I replied: I hope you are aware that everything I did and said was for show. Don't think too much about it, okay?

Ps. Still waiting for a reply.

It was better like this. Safer.

Glinda POV

When the last text came, the smile I had on my face faded. Of course, it was for show. Why would I even think otherwise?

I sighed then shoved my phone into my pocket.

Even though, for some reason, his last text still stung, I couldn’t deny how grateful I was for what he had done. Fame was the last thing I had ever wanted, but it was still better than walking around with people calling me a slut.

Being dragged into a crazy love triangle was far more bearable than hearing degrading names whispered behind my back.

Thank you for today…

I typed, then sent the message after minutes of contemplating if I should add something else. Then I turned off my phone and decided to head back to class.

I sniffed myself first, just to be sure I wasn't still smelling, and fortunately, I wasn't. I had made sure to have a full bath earlier, before going to the principal's office, and a school as big as mine had several emergency uniforms tucked in different places in case of emergency and I had changed into one.

It was shorter than what I would usually wear, but it was better than nothing.

Knowing that my life would change a little because of the sudden fame, I took a deep breath and told myself that I was prepared for anything.

However, when I got to my classroom, my jaw dropped. All eyes were on me and they were…smiling. Usually, I would enter the classroom and no one would care, then I would go sit at the back of the class, very far from other students because they didn't want my ‘wolflessness' to rub off on them.

But to my shock, my chair had been brought all the way to the middle and there were gift boxes on me. Suddenly the guys looked at me differently, as I was the most beautiful girl they had ever seen.

Guess Kavrian was right after all.

Men want what other men want!

In class, I could barely concentrate as I could feel eyes on me, watching my every move. Whenever I took out my phone, people beside and behind me would stretch their heads to check if I was chatting with Kavrian.

And in the cafeteria, people suddenly wanted me to sit with them. They even urged me to cut lines so I would get the best dishes instead of the usual scraps.

All of these treatments were new and slightly uncomfortable to me, but they made me experience what it felt like to be treated with respect for the first time and I found it…exciting.

Still heard bad whispers though, but they were overshadowed by praises.

Soon, classes were over and I decided to go home. Goodness, you needed to see how many cars lined up to take me home, but I rejected all of them.

Arriving at the packhouse, I tiptoed all the way to my room, as I didn't want to face the brothers or the Luna.

The moment I entered my room, I rushed to close the door, but a hand blocked it. My heart skipped a beat when Kaivrian's face came into view. “Hey princess…”

I blushed.

However, the blush slowly faded when I looked behind and saw Ethan. I couldn't explain it, but he looked like he was about to explode.

Kavrian leaned in, then whispered so low, but I caught his voice. “Up for another show?” He teased. “One my brother will enjoy so well.”

He knew Ethan was behind him?

My breath hitched the moment he pulled me closer, then he began undoing my button.

“K-kaivern…”