LOGIN"Dinner is ready," Ara said, popping her head in my room. I looked up from my textbook. "Dinner?" I questioned. "Yeah I cooked."She looked all bright eyed and hopefull and I didn't want to disappoint and not attend because of my earlier argument with Grey. Because she had proven to be a true friend to me. I followed her into the dining room. Grey, Lucien and Kieren was already there. "Are you okay?" Lucien whispered to me and I glared at him. He physically recoiled back into his seat.Ara was too busy arranging the food to notice. "All right," she announced, placing the last dish on the table. "Everyone has a plate. Everyone help yourselves to the food. Nobody is allowed to complain until they've tasted it."Kieren leaned over to inspect the potatoes. "What happens if it's terrible?"Ara slowly turned toward him. "Then you'll be eating it anyway."He sat back down. "Looks delicious.""Good boy."I snorted.Ara took her seat, looking around the table with a satisfied smile. "See?
“So,” Logan said, turning his head toward me, “how are you really doing?”My smile faded slightly. “Is this a trick question?”“No. Although, judging by that expression, I should probably prepare myself.”I nudged his shoulder with mine. “I'm fine.”“That's convincing.”“I'm managing.”“Better. Still not entirely convincing, but better.”I looked across the courtyard, watching students pass between the buildings. “Sometimes I feel like my entire life has been decided for me.”Logan didn't interrupt."I never thought about what it would be like to meet my mate before but I atleast expected it to be simpler than this." "I know," he sighed. "I'm trying to do right by everyone in this situation but I know in the end I have to choose one of you and I don't want to hurt any of you."Silence passed between us for a second. Logan smiled a little. "Whoever you choose. I will respect that choice." I was surprised. I never expected to hear those words from him. “Thank you,” I said quietly.“
The next morning, I was running late. It was all entirely Ara’s fault. She had made me discuss every detail of my date with Lucien over breakfast, which meant I had spent twenty minutes of interrogation about the restaurant, the food, the conversation, and whether he’d kissed me. Ara had been deeply disappointed by the answer but I appreciated that Lucien was being a gentleman. Unfortunately, breakfast had been replaced by a hurried piece of toast that I was now attempting to finish while walking through the academy corridor.I was halfway to my next class when I spotted Elena. She stood near the lockers with a group of girls, holding a takeaway coffee cup.The moment she saw me, her lips curved into a smile. It wasn’t a friendly one.I considered turning around. Unfortunately, she’d already noticed me. “Dahlia!”I stopped reluctantly. “Elena.”She looked me up and down. I tightened my grip on my books. “Yes.”“You look extremely nice in that top. I haven't seen you wear it before.
“Stop moving!” “I’m not moving!” “Dahlia, you’re moving your head, your shoulders, and I swear you’re even moving your eyelashes.” I glared at Ara through the mirror. She stood behind me, a makeup brush in one hand and an expression of profound disappointment on her face. “How am I supposed to make you look beautiful when you’re behaving like a toddler?” “I was fine before you started attacking my face with that thing.” She gasped. “Attacking your face? This is a luxury service. You should be thanking me.” I rolled my eyes. Tonight was supposed to be simple. Just dinner with Lucien but Ara had taken over my room almost two hours ago, insisting that I couldn’t possibly go on a proper date without her intervention. She had called my hair a personal insult to romance, and somehow forced me to sit still while she works her 'so called magic'. I was beginning to regret every decision that had led me here. “Close your eyes,” she ordered. I obeyed, nonetheless. I knew better tha
Everything around me seemed to go quiet. I stared at him. He stared at me. "Dahlia," Ara nudged me gently with her elbow. "Say something."Slowly, I pulled my arms free from his hold.I bent to retrieve my shopping bags, desperately hoping that when I straightened, he would have disappeared. But instead, he bent down to help me, cementing just how real all of this was. "I'm Logan," he said, holding out one of my bags to me.I accepted it. "Dahlia."His expression changed. For a moment, he seemed to be searching for the right words.Then he smiled. It was an easy, charming smile, but something about it made me uneasy."That's a beautiful name.""Thanks." I dusted off my hands, unsure of what else to say."Well, I was just leaving," Ara announced suddenly.My eyes widened."No, you weren't. You were going to have lunch with me."She threw her hands up dramatically. "Oh, you know what? I forgot to feed Cheeto.""Cheeto?" I questioned."My pet turtle.""You have a pet turtle?"I had never
I couldn't sleep.I'd been lying in bed for nearly an hour, tossing and turning beneath my duvet, staring at the ceiling. I was certain that I was slowly going insane. Perhaps none of this was really happening. Maybe a coconut fell on my head while I was picking wild flowers in the forest. Because I couldn't understand what possessed me to steal an artefact or the fact that I agreed to date both Lucien and Keir. Or maybe it was all of that on top of the way Grey looked at me earlier. It was enough to send my wolf recoiling. I couldn't understand what made him so angry. No one said anything after he left, we all went out separate way to our rooms. With a groan, I threw the duvet aside and climbed out of bed. Food. I needed food. Preferably something that didn't involve thinking. I pulled on a pair of comfortable trousers and a loose sweater before tying my hair into a messy bun. Then I shuffled out of my bedroom and headed downstairs. I expected to find the kitchen empty. Inst







