Chapter 232

Lila’s POV I woke up early the next morning so I could sneak back into my dorm room and change my clothing. I also wanted to shower before my first class. But when I got back into my room, Rachel was sitting crosslegged on the couch and watching reruns of Friends.

She frowned at me as I entered, and I felt my entire face warming up. It was obvious that I had just gotten back from sleeping over someone else’s place. My clothing was crooked, and my hair was a mess. I was mainly hoping that nobody was going to be awake on my travels to my dorm and I was almost right.

She opened her mouth to say something, but then it seemed like she changed her mind because she shook her head as if answering her own question and then turned back to the TV.

“We should go to the cafeteria this morning for breakfast before class,” Rachel said, casually.

I raised my brows at her and she glanced at me sideways.

“I think we could both use some coffee,” she further explained.

I smiled, relieved, and I nodded.

“Sounds good,” I said in return. “Is Becca awake yet?”

“No, but she doesn’t usually sleep much later,” she said in return. “I’ll text Brody and have him meet us.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’m just going to take a quick shower.”

She didn’t say anything as I went into my room and grabbed a fresh pair of clothing and undergarments, then I went into the bathroom.

The shower felt incredible. After the long night, I had been locked in that barn, this shower was everything I needed. I closed my eyes and allowed the steam to calm my every sense and soothe my body into relaxation. I still felt a bit weak from the wolfsbane and there were still no signs of Val returning to me anytime soon.

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I could still feel her but at the same time, it felt like she was so far away that I couldn’t reach her. My heart tugged for her, and I couldn’t help but blame myself. I shouldn’t have been so careless and stupid.

It’s not like I trusted Xander, but I didn’t think he would do something this horrific. He was my professor after all. He’s supposed to put his own personal feelings aside and just teach me the damn lesson.

At least that’s what I thought.

Instead, he had some kind of vendetta against me because I’m a Volana wolf. He was trying to kill me and that was obvious to me now.

I shook my head at the thought as the water washed the soap out of my hair.

My father was still interrogating Xander; I wondered if he was able to get any answers from him. Xander was working for somebody; I was sure of it. But his motives were unclear; it was like he was trying to prepare me for something in the worst way possible.

Like his lessons have been a warning.

I sighed and shut off the shower. I grabbed a warm towel off the shelf and wrapped my body in it. As I went over to my foggy mirror, I wiped my hand across it so I could see my appearance. I somehow looked older.

My hair was longer, and my face had thinned out slightly. My eyes were still sapphire blue and amethyst purple, but it seemed like they held more wisdom. I looked a lot like my mother, which was an honor because she was beautiful.

I smiled to myself as I finished getting dressed. I put on my clothes, brushed my teeth, and then threw my hair up in a messy bun before leaving the bathroom.

Becca was already awake and sitting on the couch with Rachel when I emerged from the bathroom.

“Welcome home,” Becca said, peering up at me as I approached them. “Late night?”

“You could say that,” I said, trying not to meet her eyes because my eyes would eventually reveal that I wasn’t being completely truthful.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she murmured as she stood and went straight to the bathroom.

I sighed and sat on the couch beside Rachel whose eyes remained fixed on the TV.

“So, are you going to tell us what happened last night?” She finally asked, still not looking at me.

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to appear innocent, but failing miserably.

“You didn’t come home. We were kind of worried about you,” she said, and this time she glanced at me.

I stared down at my lap with a timid frown on my lips.

“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head but more eat myself than at her. “Brianna needed me last night so I spent the night with her.”

“Your friend from home?”

“She’s my best friend,” I corrected but agreed with a head nod as I looked at Rachel. “Her mate rejected her recently and she’s been really out of it. So, I spent some time with her.”

As I spoke those words, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. Not only was I lying to my friend in front of her face, but I was also saying things that I should have done but haven’t. I should have spent more time with Brianna after she told me Alex rejected her. I should have been more there for her, but instead, I was wrapped up in my own stuff.

Well, actually, it was around the same time Jazzy was kidnapped and Diana’s village was in trouble. But still, Brianna deserved to have a friend in the corner during this heart-wrenching moment in her life. I didn’t even ask her how her wolf was...

I was a terrible friend to her, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep the tears from surfacing in my eyes.

“How is she doing?” Rachel asked, and now her voice was a lot softer and filled with compassion.

“She’s okay...” I lied; I still continue to lie even after how guilty I feel.

What was wrong with me?

Not wanting to continue this conversation, I decided to change the subject.

“The election is in a couple of days, and I still don’t have a speech prepared,” I said, shaking my head in misery.

“We can meet up after classes tonight and brainstorm some speech ideas,” she suggested. “I’m sure Becca will help. She’s good at this stuff. I’m in her communications class and she prepared a speech that got her a standing ovation.”

“That’s amazing!” I gasped. “Why didn’t she tell me that?”

I was a little hurt such a big accomplishment wasn’t shared with me. Did Becca think I wouldn’t care?

Rachel shrugged.

“You’ve been busy,” she said, looking back at the TV. “One minute you’re here and the next you aren’t.”

I sighed for what felt like the millionth time.

“I’m sorry,” I said, biting and chewing my bottom lip.

“It’s fine... we just miss you is all,” she said, glancing at me briefly with a side smile. “You haven’t even asked about my boyfriend since he left the hospital.”

My heart fell into my stomach; how had I forgotten about Rache’s boyfriend? He almost died and because of that, Rachel overdosed on drugs because she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.

They had known each other for a long time, and she was so sure he was going to be her mate. She turned 18 over the summer, a month before Brody’s 18(th) birthday, and I haven’t heard much about them since then.

But I knew that the thought of losing her mate nearly killed her. But thankfully, her boyfriend managed to survive, and Rachel had to go to a detox for 6 weeks.

She was in detox while I was in Monstro with Enzo and her boyfriend was recovering in the hospital.

When we returned to school this year, it was discovered that Rachel’s boyfriend had transferred to a different school in another region. So far, Rachel has seemed okay with that.

“How is he doing?” I found myself asking. “I’m so sorry I haven’t asked, Rachel. How are you doing with the long distance?”

She shrugged.

“There is no long distance,” she muttered. “We broke up over the summer.”

“What?!” I gasped. “While you were in detox?”

“When I turned 18, I found out he’s not my mate. I didn’t want to keep him around with the chance of him finding his mate and then leaving me. So, yeah... I broke up with him.”

“Oh, Rachel... I’m so sorry...” I breathed.

She shrugged.

“I’m fine... Becca was here for me and very kind,” she said. “I think that’s how we became true friends.”

Rachel and Becca haven’t really known each other last year; maybe in passing. I was glad they were close friends currently, but I felt a ping of sadness.

“I should have been here,” I said, and this time I couldn’t keep the tears from surfacing in my eyes.

“I know you have other things going on too. Things you don’t want others to know about,” Rachel surprised me by saying. She met my eyes and gave me a small smile. “But just know, if you ever want to tell me about them... I’m here. We’ve been roomies since last year, Lila. There’s nothing you need to hide from me...”

My heart clenched; if I couldn’t trust Rachel... and then who could I trust?

It might be nice to have someone to talk to, or else I will drive myself insane.

But before I could say anything, the bathroom door swung open, and Becca appeared. Her blonde curls soaked from the shower, and she looked a lot more relaxed, just as I felt.

“Ready to go?” She asked, staring between us. “I’m starving.”

Rachel stood up.

“Same, and I need coffee. Brody is meeting us there. We have 30 minutes before our first class so we should go now.”

We all nodded in agreement, but they both sensed my hesitation. I hadn’t stood from the couch yet; I stared up at the two girls who had been my rock since last year. Becca was there during all that drama with Sarah in our combat and shifting class and she was the first to offer to be my partner.

Rachel was there from my very first day as my roommate and always listened to my problems. I always used to listen to them too because they trusted me so much.

I hated that I didn’t give them the same courtesy.

I bit my lip as I often do when I’m nervous or thinking about something. Rachel and Becca looked at one another with frowns before looking at me.

“Are you coming,” Rachel asked with her dark brows raised.

I nodded but remained still.

“Lila, what’s wrong?” Becca asked, furrowing her blonde brows together.

“I have to tell you both something,” I heard myself saying.

Rachel cocked her head to the side and Becca almost looked nervous, but neither of them said anything, waiting for me to continue.

“It’s about Alpha Enzo....”

“Alpha Enzo?” Rachel asked, glancing at Becca sideways before looking at me again. “What about him?”

“Alpha Enzo... he’s my mate.