Chapter 9

Nina Hayes POV.

By the time I walked back to the dormitory, my clothes were soaked with rain.

Fabric was glued to my body like a second skin, I was freezing underneath.

The rain hadn't stopped even for a second as I walked back, and that squishy sound my boot made while it struggled with water added to my anger.

Ugh! Like the day hadn't already been worse.

I dragged my feet through the quiet hallway, wishing I could fly so I could shorten my trip.

I was miserable. Utterly disgusted with everything.

And when I reached my room, I peeled the drenched sweatshirts off, tossed them in the dryer, and collapsed on my bed.

My sheets had never felt so welcoming against the coldness of my skin. I wrapped myself tightly to stop the cold, and while I did feel less cold, the blanket couldn't stop the storm in my head.

“What did I just agree to?”

My eyes flickered open in realization. Now that I thought of it, I wondered why I was confident in the first place.

What was I thinking agreeing to give Jace 30 days of my life and not thinking that being that close to him would ruin me?

How stupid could I have been?

I stared at the ceiling as I thought deeply about the deal. Thirty days with Jace Brooks was no joke.

Thirty days of pretending I didn't have enough baggage of my own.

Thirty days of being freaking close to him. The same moment, I was struggling with the contract from Aiden.

“You're funny in the head.” I whispered to myself as I wrinkled my eyes with my palms, “Really funny. You must think you're superwoman.”

A groan escaped my lips as I thought of it even more. What kind of person even proposed something like that?

And more importantly, what kind of an idiot said yes?

Oh..for the second one, it was me. I was an idiot.

I was so lost in thought that I hadn't realized when someone walked into my room. All I heard was a noise afterwards, and when I turned, my heart jerked.

“Why are you lying down like a corpse?”

I yanked the pillow out of my chest and threw it in the direction. My aim was already missed, a tiny duck, and the pillow flew towards the wall. It rolled off to the corner of the room.

“Hey!” Kate had a mean gaze and a lollipop stuck in her mouth. “What the hell was that for?”

“You scared me, Kate. Why didn't you knock?” My heart practically leapt out of my mouth.

“I did.” My best friend, Kate, stood there in her bunny slippers and her oversized pajamas. She took the lollipop out of her mouth, her brows furrowed. “I called your name three times.”

“Sorry,” I muttered, my hands rubbing my face again. “I didn't hear you.”

“Clearly.”

She pushed me over and sat close to the edge. “What's happening to you? You look lost.”

“I'm fine.” I lied.

“I can tell when you're not fine, and trust me, you're not fine. You look paler than when Maggie Blondhausen tried on makeup a shade lighter than her.”

I almost laughed.

“You even have that look on your face.” She pointed.

“What look?” My lips curled.

“The one where you're clearly overthinking yourself and it's not for school.” She grabbed a half-open bag of chips by the side. “Spill the tea. What's happening?”

I hesitated, I wanted to keep things between myself and Aiden alone, but Kate wasn't stupid. She knew me long enough to know when I was lying.

And besides, I kind of needed someone to talk to before I went crazy.

I took a deep breath. “Jace is back. He wants me to be his mate.”

Kate froze mid-bite. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped.

“Wait! What?”

I swallowed hard, waiting for a better reaction. Kate said nothing, not for the first few seconds, and then, “Are you kidding me, Nina?! That's amazing!”

Amazing?

“Yes!” She screamed, “One brother refused you, the other is dying for you. Oh my goodness, that's amazing!”

Her words were supposed to feel comforting, but they didn't. They only made my chest feel tighter. I forced a thin smile, I prayed it looked convincing.

It convinced Kate enough. She leaned forward, taking up space beside me, “Jace is hot, Nina. He's older, he's strong, he's about to be the alpha. You're lucky!”

“It's complicated.”

She cleared her throat. “What’s complicated there?”

I was quiet. How could I possibly explain to her that I had sold myself to his younger brother in a desperate deal that I couldn't take back?

That I was going to be letting Aiden fu’ck the living shit out of me for the next one year.

Of course, I couldn't tell Kate that 

“It's just complicated.” I said finally, “I just don't want to talk about it.”

Kate frowned, but she didn't insist. She reached out, patting me on the knee.

“If anyone deserves happiness, it's you. If Jace can give you that happiness, then I'll say you should go for it. You can't keep letting it get to that.”

If only she knew.

“Yeah.” I forced a short laugh. “I'll try to.”

We were still talking, before I could drown too deeply in my thoughts, my phone buzzed violently against the nightstand.

I didn't even have to check who was calling; my stomach already dropped.

Kate turned in my phone's direction, “Who is that?”

I flipped it over, hiding the caller ID from the view, but my hands trembled. The name glared in huge letters.

‘Aiden Brooks.’

Son of a bitch.

Katie raised an eyebrow, “Well? Aren't you going to answer?”

“I have to take this,” I said quickly, and I slid off the bed. I didn't meet her eyes as I pressed the phone to my ear and stepped out the door.

“Hello.”

“It's time.” His voice came through the speaker, bursting my eardrums open. No preamble, no greeting. Nothing.

I knew what he was talking about. There was no need to act dumb.

“Now?” I asked even though I knew the answer.

“Yes. Now. My cock is on fire, don't make me wait, Nina.”

Before I could speak, the line went dead.

I stood there, phone clutched tightly to my side. I was lost again, I didn't realize when Kate walked behind me.

“Everything alright?”

I nodded, “Yes. I just need to step out for a little bit.”

Kate's forehead wrinkled. “Can I come?”

“No, you can't. I'm sorry.”

“Alright.” Kate waved at me and hurried to her room.

Thirty days with Jace, and yet I was shackled to Aiden.  I didn't know if this storm I’d agreed to had a way out anymore.