Chapter 3

AVELORA

"What do you mean?"

The words barely left my mouth before my entire existence collapsed under their weight.

"You're not my mate," he repeated, like that explained everything.

I shut my eyes in frustration as I ran a hand through my already disheveled hair.

"You know what...?" I exhaled sharply. "I'm not even going to ask."

I moved to walk past him but was pulled back.

His hand closed around my wrist.

"I'm sorry," he said, firm. "But you are the best option."

A broken laugh fell from my lips.

"Oh, because I'm convenient?" I made air quotes, tears burning behind my eyes. "Wow, I'm flattered."

"No," he said. "Because you are the best option."

That stopped me.

"What?"

I stared at him, waiting for him to explain, waiting for the reason he thought justified ruining my life in one night.

I swear, if this was some elaborate prank, I was absolutely poisoning his tea and spitting in his favorite food.

"Because even though you go here, this is the first time I've seen you."

Wow.

"I've been serving you for two years," I said quietly, looking down at my feet. "Personally."

He hesitated, barely apologetic for his words.

"So why me?" I asked, and his jaw tightened.

"Right now, I need you to pretend to be my mate."

He phrased it like a request, but it wasn't. There was finality in his tone.

"And if I go out there," I said slowly, "and tell everyone you're lying?"

He chuckled.

Condescendingly annoying.

"Who would believe you?"

My mouth opened on its own. Disbelief, rage, and humiliation clouded my whole existence.

"I'll keep saying it," I snapped. "I'll say it until they believe."

He tilted his head slightly, studying me.

"See?" he said slowly. "That's exactly why you're the best option."

I stared at him like he had finally lost his mind.

"Fuck you."

The words felt small compared to what I wanted to say, but it was all I had.

For a moment, I wondered if he'd kill me for it.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself, but the attack never happened. When I looked at him again, he was just staring at me, not with anger. He looked almost impressed.

"Do you even know my name?" I asked.

He looked away.

Just for a second.

And that gave me the answer I needed.

"What is your name?" he asked quietly.

"Avelora," I murmured. It wasn't like he was suddenly going to start remembering I existed. Why was he asking now?

"Avelora," he repeated.

The way he said it made my breath catch, soft and careful, like the world wasn't tumbling on its axis right now.

"You have a pretty name."

My heart betrayed me, stumbling in my chest.

"Thank... thank you," I whispered, hating myself just a little for how it sounded.

Silence settled between us, and then he spoke again, steadier this time.

"I won't force you," he said. "But if you walk out there and deny it, they won't punish me."

He met my eyes.

"They'll destroy you," he said, totally unapologetic.

I stared at him, really stared this time, at the Alpha who had just redirected the course of my life while calling it convenient.

Silence stretched before I started laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

"So, you're blackmailing me?"

"No," he said. "Just explaining a reality we can't go back to change."

I folded my arms, grounding myself. If I broke now, I'd never stop breaking.

"You want me to lie," I said. "Publicly. Repeatedly. In front of every pack."

"Yes."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"And when this lie comes back to bite me in the ass?" I tilted my head. "Because it will."

He didn't hesitate.

"I'll take the blame."

I snorted.

"You won't. You're the Alpha, and I'm the scholarship student."

His jaw tightened.

"Then name your terms."

That surprised me.

I blinked.

"What?"

"If you're going to do this," he said, his voice controlled, "you're not doing it empty-handed."

I studied him, his face barely giving anything away.

"You're serious?" I asked with a chuckle.

"I don't have time not to be."

The way he made everything sound like it wasn't a problem icked me out. Everybody would be this nonchalant if they had the whole world revolving around them.

I took a deep breath, knowing I didn't need to think about what I wanted.

"You train me."

His brow furrowed slightly.

"What?"

"You're the strongest person in this place. I want proper training."

I paused.

"I don't want kitchen shifts. I don't want to observe from afar. I want every training opportunity students like you get."

"That's not..." he started.

"And," I cut in, my heart pounding now, "my scholarship status changes. I stop working. I attend class like everyone else."

He was quiet for a beat, and I decided to push while I still could.

"You stand beside me publicly. You correct anyone who disrespects me."

"You're asking for protection," he reasoned.

"No," I said. "I'm asking for legitimacy."

He exhaled slowly, pacing once before stopping in front of me again.

"And when all this ends?"

"I'll be strong enough to walk away without getting hurt."

His eyes searched my face, like he was reassessing every assumption he'd made about me.

"You're not scared," he said quietly.

"I am," I replied. "I'm just not stupid."

He paused again.

Then he nodded.

"Okay."

Just like that?

My stomach flipped.

"That was too easy."

He chuckled, taking slow steps toward me while I slowly backed away.

"Don't misunderstand," he started. "You'll be watched, judged, and tested by them."

I met his gaze.

"I already am."

My palm pressed flat against his chest to keep him from coming closer.

He glanced down briefly. I quickly removed my hand, and something unreadable crossed his face.

"One more thing," I added.

He raised a brow. "You're pushing it."

"I don't answer to Natalia," I said flatly. "Ever again."

That one made him still.

"Done." He said it with finality.

I released a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "So," I said quietly, "what happens now?"

He stepped closer, not invading this time, then took my hand in his.

My heart skipped again.

"Now," he said, "we walk back out there together."

"As a lie," I confirmed, looking at the space that was barely between us.

He opened the door, and the noise flooded back in.

Before we stepped into the chaos, he paused and looked at me again.

"Avelora?" he called.

"Yes?"

"For what it's worth," he said, his voice low, "you negotiated better than half my council."

I smiled despite myself.

I looked down at our intertwined hands, my pulse hammering as the crowd turned to look.