Chapter Four

I swallow hard, fear gripping my heart as he looks up at me with a disappointed and angry expression.

“Father,” I say breathlessly, trying to play it off with a laugh. It only comes out as a nervous chuckle. “I uh… I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“Who’s drawer is that?” My father asks, standing up and pointing to the one next to my bed.

“Mine,” I say, a semblance of relief flooding through me. Maybe he’ll realize the magazine belongs to Cassian and then use his power to force a roommate change.

“So what is this doing in there?” He asks, throwing it towards me and raising his brows. Cassian looks amused.

“Yo bro, that’s not cool,” Cassian says, shaking his head. He pushes off the wall and walks toward his own side of the room, playing the part of the shocked, straight roommate perfectly. “I mean, we’re sharing a space, man. At least keep your… interests… private.”

I know instantly that he planted it. I hadn’t touched that drawer since I moved in. But what I don’t understand—what makes my stomach churn with a different kind of dread—is how he made my father come here. My father never checks in on me. He’s the type to ask me—more like command me—to come to hus office. To have him ransacking my personal space only to find that magazine means he was tipped off.

“That’s… that’s not mine,” I stammer, my eyes flickering to Cassian. How did he even manage to get my father to come in here and tell him to look in my drawer.

Fucking asshole.

My father of course ignores me and turns to Cassian. “Has he ever been inappropriate with you?”

Cassian shrugs. “No? I don’t know, we barely talk to each other.”

“Really. Because I can swear Rhett tells me you have been distracting him.”

Cassian snorts. “That is absurd. If he’s distracted, that’s on him.”

My father turns back to me and stands up. He walks towards me, his hands pressing hard on my shoulders. “You better not be having funny ideas,” he spits with so much rage and bitterness. The anger in his eyes reminds me of how violent he can be just to prove a point. I remember my mother in that instance but quickly push the thought to the back of my mind. Thinking of her would bring tears to my eyes, and I can’t afford that right now.

“I do not need to tell you what happens if you do.”

“This is a misunderstanding father… I’m not… I don’t…” the words should be easy to say. I am not gay, and I have no feelings for men and never have, never will.

But it is a lie.

And lying to my father is supposed to be second nature by now; I mean, I’ve done it a thousand and one times to survive. But looking at Cassian, who is now sprawled out on his bed with an open organic chemistry textbook as if he isn’t currently ruining my life, the words won’t come out.

I have never felt for men, except him.

I remember the way we used to be. I remember the way my heart used to beat when we were kids, before my father hinted to me it was a sin he said wouldn’t tolerate when he saw the tendencies years ago. Even now, with my father’s hands crushing my shoulders, my emotions are a chaotic mess just breathing in the same air as this ass.

“Dad, come on… you know me…” I say desperately.

He shakes his head. “I am starting to think I don’t. See me in my office tomorrow.”

I heave a sigh of relief as he lets go and walks out the door. I stand there for a long moment, staring at the closed door. My heart is still poubding though even when I want it to stop because I am thinking about tomorrow.

I will myself to calm down even though it’s hard. I know tomorrow is still hours away and I can stall. I can use practice, classes, or student council meetings as an excuse before I have to face the true depth of his fury, but still my heart rate refuses to calm down.

Fuck.

I hear a soft chuckle just then and I look toward the bed by the window. Cassian has tossed the textbook aside. He’s propped up on his elbows, a knowing smirk on his face.

“Can’t believe you’re still terrified of your dad, Rhett,” he says with a grin.

Goddess knows how much I want to slap the smile off his handsome face.

“The big, bad hockey captain… and you still look like a kicked puppy the second he raises his voice. Isn’t that cute?” He cooes.

Anger blazes through me instantly. It’s a relief if I am being honest because the anger is better than the fear.

I rush toward his bed and reach down, grabbing the front of his shirt and dragging him off the mattress with enough force to send his textbook flying.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I yell loudly, pulling my fist back and aiming straight for that stupidly perfect nose of his. Right now though, I want to see him bleed and of course see the stupid smirk wiped off his even more stupidly beautiful face.

But unfortunately, Cassian isn’t the same boy who used to take my hits and cry when I turned on him towards the end of highschool.

He’s unnaturally quick, so before my fist can connect with his nose, his hand shoots up, catching my wrist in a very tight grip that’s hard to get out of. His eyes flash with a spark of anger.

“My problem?” He scoffs. He doesn’t look scared like I wish he was. Instead, he looks excited. “What did I do? I just moved in, Rhett.” He spits my name out with so much disgust. “You’re the one who can’t keep his drawers shut. How’s it my fault your father has access to our fucking dorm when it was locked?”

“You planted that magazine!” I snarl, trying to wrench my arm free, but he still doesn’t budge.

Fuck me.

He’s stronger than he looks.

“You tipped him off! You wanted him to see it! You’re trying to ruin me!”

“Do you hear how stupid you sound? Tipped your father off?” Cassian begins to laugh hysterically. “Dude, I planted the magazine but it was only see your face when you found it, you idiot,” he hissed, his face inches from mine. “I didn’t call your father. I didn't even know he was coming. But watching you squirm? Yeah, that was a fucking good bonus.”

“You’re a liar!” I shove him hard, my palms hitting his chest.

Cassian stumbles backward, hitting the edge of the desk, but he doesn’t fall. He is able to find his footing instantly, lunging at me. He tackles me around the waist, the force of his body sending us both crashing toward my bed.

We both hit the mattress hard, but I’m on top for a split second, pinning his shoulders down. My knees are digging into the bedding on either side of his hips. I’m breathing hard, sweat starting to bead at my temples.

Cassias lips suddenly stretches into a smile. “Is this how you punish people, Rhett?” He teases in a mocking tone, even as he’s pinned. “By getting on top of them?”

“Shut up! Just—shut the hell up!”

I try to grab his wrists, but Cassian just twists his body, using his strength to roll away, and now, I’m the one pinned.

Cassian is straddled over me ajd his knees are pinning my arms to the mattress painfully. He’s leaning down, his dark hair falling forward as he stares at me.

Suddenly, the room goes dead still.

The only sound is the one of my heart beating so fast.

I can feel the heat radiating off him. He smells so intoxicating that I can feel the hairs on my body stand up. I’m looking up at him in fear, but the fear is not because he can likely beat my ass.

Goddess, the curve of his jaw, his lips… fuck even his eyes.

My heart skips a beat.

My wolf who has been silent for hours suddenly roars the one word I never expected to hear.

Mate.