Chapter 4

TANYA'S POV

I stared at Lara, my former best friend, the girl who had just hours ago been on her knees for my boyfriend. And now she had the audacity to stand here, judging me?

"Get out of my way, Lara," I said through gritted teeth.

She laughed, that high pitched fake laugh she used when she wanted to sound superior. "Or what? You'll tell Kenneth? Oh wait, he already knows you're a slut who opens her legs for anyone."

My hand moved before my brain could stop it. The slap echoed through the night air, and Lara stumbled

backward, holding her cheek in shock.

"You bitch!" she screamed.

"Me? I'm a bitch?" I stepped closer, my wolf pushing forward, making my eyes glow crimson. "You sucked off my boyfriend in a toilet, and I'm the bitch?"

Lara's eyes widened with fear. She'd never seen my wolf before; none of them had. And now that she was here, she was angry.

"Tanya, your eyes..."

"Shut up." My voice came out deeper, my wolf speaking through me. "You wanted Kenneth so badly? You can have him. But stay the hell away from me."

I pushed past her, ignoring the pain in my ankle. Behind me, I heard her crying, but I didn't care. I was done

caring about people who didn't care about me.

When I finally reached my dorm room, I expected it to be empty. Mrs Big Belly had probably cleared everyone out after finding the party. But when I opened the door, Jess and Gina were sitting on my bed, waiting.

"Oh, thank God," Jess jumped up and hugged me. "We've been calling you for hours!"

"Mrs Big Belly shut down the party and questioned everyone," Gina explained quickly. "She let most people go with warnings, but she's looking for you specifically. Where were you?"

Jess pulled back, and her eyes narrowed as she took in my appearance. "And why do you look like you just had..."

"Don't," I cut her off, limping to my bed. "Just don't ask."

But Jess was already looking at my neck. "Tanya, are those hickeys?"

I touched my neck and winced. Damn it, Gideon.

"Oh my God," Gina gasped. "You hooked up with someone? Tonight? After what Kenneth did?"

I sat down heavily on my bed. "It's none of your business."

"None of our business?" Jess sat beside me. "Babes, Mrs Big Belly is looking for you. She found the party, found the alcohol, and she's threatening expulsion. You need to have a story ready."

My stomach dropped. Expulsion. If I got expelled, my parents would kill me. My dad had warned me that this scholarship was my only chance at a good education.

"What am I going to tell her?" I whispered.

"The truth," Gina said firmly. "That Kenneth cheated on you with Lara, and you left the party upset. You went for a walk to clear your head."

"But I smell like..." I stopped, not wanting to finish that sentence.

Jess grabbed my hand. "Take a shower. Now. Wash off whatever happened tonight. Then we'll figure out the rest in the morning."

I nodded and grabbed my towel. As I stood under the hot water, washing away Gideon's scent, his touch, his kisses, I felt tears mixing with the water.

What had I done? I'd slept with Kenneth's rival, the biggest player in school, on the same night I caught my

boyfriend cheating. Was I really that desperate? That broken?

'No,' my wolf said softly. 'We did what we needed to survive the pain. And he made us feel alive again.'

But at what cost?

When I came out of the shower, wrapped in my towel, Jess was holding my phone.

"It kept buzzing," she said carefully. "Unknown number. They called three times and left a text."

My heart jumped. I took the phone and read the message.

Unknown: It's Gideon. Got your number from the student directory. Are you okay? Did you make it back

safely?

"Gideon?" Gina's eyes went wide. "As in Gideon Blackwood? The hockey captain? Kenneth's rival?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I typed back quickly.

Me: I'm fine. How did things go with Mr. Henderson?

The reply came immediately.

Gideon: Handled. Kenneth couldn't prove anything. My room was clean by the time they searched it. But

Tanya, we need to talk. Something happened tonight.

Me: It was just tonight. Nothing more.

Gideon: My wolf won't stop howling. He's never done this before. I don't know what this is, but something felt different with you. Real.

My hands started shaking. Before I could respond, another text came through.

Gideon: I know my reputation. I know what people say about me. But tonight wasn't like the others. You felt it too, didn't you?

I had felt it. The pull, the connection, the way our wolves seemed to recognize each other. But I'd thought it was just the alcohol, the emotions, the need for revenge.

"Tanya, what's wrong?" Jess touched my shoulder. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Before I could answer, there was a sharp knock on the door. We all froze.

"Tanya Davis!" Mrs Big Belly's voice boomed through the door. "I know you're in there! Open this door right

now!"

My phone buzzed again.

Gideon: Don't let them bully you. If you need me, call. I mean it.

Jess squeezed my hand as Gina went to open the door. Mrs Big Belly stood there in her nightgown, her face red with anger.

"Miss Davis," she said coldly. "The Dean has requested your presence in his office. First thing tomorrow

morning, 8 AM sharp. Don't be late."

"What's this about?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hosting an unauthorized party, smuggling alcohol into the dorms, leaving campus without permission." She counted on her fingers. "Should I continue?"

"Mrs Big Belly, I can explain..."

"Save it for the Dean." She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Miss Davis? There will be others present at this meeting. Concerned parties who have brought certain... allegations to our attention."

My blood ran cold. "What allegations?"

She smiled, but it wasn't kind. "You'll find out tomorrow. Get some sleep. You're going to need it."

After she left, I collapsed on my bed. Jess and Gina sat on either side of me, both looking worried.

"What do we do?" Gina whispered.

I looked at my phone. Gideon's last message was still on the screen.

If you need me, call. I mean it.

"We survive," I said finally. "Whatever happens tomorrow, we survive."

That night, I barely slept. My wolf kept pacing in my head, agitated and restless. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Gideon's face, felt his touch, heard his voice saying my name.

And underneath it all, one thought kept repeating.

'Mate,' my wolf whispered. 'He's our mate.'

When morning came, I dressed carefully in my most conservative outfit. Jess and Gina walked with me to the Dean's office, both of them holding my hands.

"Whatever happens," Jess said at the door, "we're here for you."

I nodded, took a deep breath, and knocked.

"Come in," the Dean's voice called.

I opened the door and froze.

The Dean sat behind his desk, Mrs Big Belly stood to his right, and Mr. Henderson to his left. But that wasn't what made my heart stop.

Kenneth was there, looking smug as hell. Apparently, he'd run straight to the Dean to report me, probably to shift attention from his own cheating.

And sitting in the chair directly across from the Dean, his jaw clenched tight when our eyes met, was Gideon.

But it was the woman standing behind Gideon's chair that made my blood run cold. Tall, elegant, with silver

eyes and an aura of power that filled the entire room.

Alpha Victoria Blackwood. Gideon's mother. One of the most powerful wolves in the region. The Blackwood

name carried weight everywhere, and everyone knew it.

Her eyes locked onto mine, and she smiled. But it wasn't warm. It was the smile of a predator who'd just

cornered her prey.

"Miss Davis," she said softly, her voice like silk over steel. "How lovely to finally meet the girl who spent last night in my son's bed.”