Chapter 48 After Party

ARDEN

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I sat on my bed, knees tucked to my chest, mulling over the conversation Cade and I had in the bgarden/b. He had offered to sleep with me againb, /bbut this time, it bdidn’t /bsound offensive. Instead, it felt as though he had thrown ban /banchor into the stormy waters of my mind.

bWith /ba groan, I bsank /bbackward, pressing a pillow to my face with a muffled whine. “Why am I even thinking about this?”

bTessa/b, just emerging from the shower–the scent of her honey body wash wafting through the room–leaned against the door

frame.

“You alright?” she asked, her tired smile doing litle to mask her curiosity.

I slid the pillow away from my face and turned to her. I simply sighed and sat up. “I’m just thinking”

Tessa gently closed the door behind her. “About Cade? bI /bsaw bhim /bwalk you to our third bss /bthis morning. You also smelled like him during ss.b” /b

My face flushed at the memory of how he had silently guided me to ss after our conversation. “What? No! I mean-“I caught her yful smirk. “Okay, bmaybe/b. Just a little.”

She settled cross–legged on the bed, tilting her head. “Why does it bother you?”

I shrugged. “He offered protection again.”

“And”

“And this time, it didn’t feel so bad. He exined himself. I know, in a way, he would still be using me. But, I feel like bit’s /bfor a good reason! Am I making sense?” I picked at the edge of my nket, blost /bin thought.

Tessa nodded, giving me more time to think.

“I mean.” I added quickly, “I’m not saying I’m agreeingb. /bI just… ugh, I don’t know.”

“Sounds like you’re considering it.”

1 groaned again, throwing my head back. “Why am I like this!”

Tessa chuckled softly to herself. “Because you have feelings?”

We sat in silence for a moment, my thoughts racing until I finally turned my head toward her. “Why did you choose the

North

Her expression faltered slightly. Then, she exhaled, long and slow. “The South isn’t really my ce. At least, not anymore.”

ited, sensing she was choosing her words carefully.

“I’m not well–liked there,” she finally admitted. “bBecause /bof something I’m not ready to bdiscuss/b.”

gave her a small nod, respecting her desire to keep that part to herself. We all had our secrets.

“I didn’t want torloose the West because of Jason,” she continued after a bpause/b. “I’m aware of his past with youb. /bAnd bfrankly/b.

Torted with agreement. “Yeah That he is”

vooried

And Cade she hesitated, looking thoughtful “He’s exactly what I said the first time. He’s the safest option.”

I froword, Busedulous. “Cadet Sayer

Tess shrugged her expression earnest Rtively, yes. He muls his own business. He bkeeps /bhis faction disciplined. He doesn’t get inobed in drama And Owen trusts him”

b1/3 /b

1:13 AM C

Chapter 48 After Party

“And Owen’s from the East, but he still chose bhim/b,” I added, intrigued.

+5 Free bCoins /b

She nodded in agreement. “If someone like Owen–who rarely trusts anyone–felt secure enough to switch factions band /bfollow Cade, then bCade /bmust be doing something right.”

1 leaned back on my palms, letting that realization permeate my thoughts.

“He also has the bhighest /bpoints” I muttered, my brow furrowing. “Probably because he’s slept with a bunch of people already.”

Tessa raised an eyebrow, her expression turning serious. “I don’t think so.”

“bHah/b?” I turned to her, surprised.

She met my gaze with ba /bknowing look. “I don’t think Cade sleeps around. At least… not in the Aftersound.”

That made me sit up straighter. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve frequently gone on the Aftersound, and bthe /bvideos get deleted right after the livestream since it’s only for proof. I often see the other Alphas there, with Jaxon being the most active. However, I never see Cade.”

“Not even on a weekend night or during a party?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

I wanted to ask why Tessa was monitoring the Aftersound in the first ce, but my mind was stuck on her binitial /binsinuation

-that Cade might not be sleeping around.

“But he has so many points. Is it really possible to umte all of those just from the school?”

er think so. Tessa muttered, now drying her bhair /bwith a towel. “But I can’t be a hundred percent sure.

“Just take my word with a bgrain /bof salt,” she added lightly, and we both fell into a thoughtful silence.

Thank goodness the After Party for the Ivory Solstice wasn’t mandatory.

I didn’t have to go.

Wrong.

It was mandatory for me.

And here I was, wielding a trash bag, attempting to dodge red cups, clouds cigarette smoke, and the asional drunken confession

The grand Elite mansion–how redundant.

It wasn’t even officially named that, but students referred to it as bsuch /bbbecause /bit resembled a mall. Apparently, it was owned by none other than Mr. Winters bhunself/b, who “graciously” lent it out to the student body every year after the monumental Ivory Solstice.

Gracious, my

“Ugh” I smuttered as someone dry–hraved beside the potted fig tree.

Wathena serood thught, I quickly offered him a barf bag. He grabbed it with desperation before staggering baway/b.

1 pck mask over my nose and mouth–not only for sanitary reasons, but also because I wanted to remain unrecognized. The fewer interactions, the better. The faster I got this done, the sooner I could bleave/b.

Tema had promised to return after grabbing drinks with Owen. She insisted that I shouldn’t be alone for btoo /blong. But with the bdates /bon this party was heading. I doubted she’d bmake /bit back any time soon

I nced around and, of course, seated Rowan He was surrounded by his usual entourage of girls, clustering around him L?r petals on a rose, all of themughing at something he had said. One girl leaned in too close, whispering in his car while her tingers traced down his chest.

1:14 AM c

Chapter 48 After Party

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A few feet away, Elias lounged on a plush leather couch, drink in hand, enveloped by students eager to impress him. His signature bhalf/b–bsmirk /bnever left bhis /bface, band /bhe observed the bentire /bspectacle bwith /bthe bored amusement of someone watching a mundane television showb. /b

I slipped through the tall bss /bdoors onto the balcony. The night air was cold against my skin, and I shivered slightly. Leaning against the railing. I finally took ba /bdeep breath for what felt like the first time tonight.

bBut /bbefore I could fully savor the tranquility, voices emerged from the shadows.

Njerked back and ducked bbehind /ba bdecorative /bnt. Great Why couldn’t I have just five minutes of peace?

To make matters worse, it was Sienna and Jaxon who had appeared, closing the balcony doors behind them.

“You’re really doing this?” Sienna’s voice echoed through the night.

“You’re not going to take me bback/b?”

Jaxon sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “You chose the North.”

That’s because you broke up with me!” she snapped, her voice rising with agitation.

“We were never together, Sienna. You know that”

Silence hung in the air for a brief moment

“Oh, I see. It’s because of Arden again, isn’t it?” she spat, her tone dripping with venom

I internally groaned. Was it too much to ask for one day without Sienna dragging my name binto /bsomething I wanted no part

“Do you still love her, is that it?” Sienna pushed, relentless in her probing.

Jaxon remained silent.

I shrugged, fully expecting bhim /bto remain tight–lipped. In factb, /ball my expectations of him had long since gone down the drain, so this wasn’t a surprise.

“Whatever,” Sienna huffed, frustration radiating off herb. /b

“Just go with Cade,” Jaxon continued, his tone surprisingly bcalm/b. “That’s bwhat /byou want, rightb?/b”

With that. Jaxon turned and walked away, dismissing her whines and proteskas if they were nothing more than background noue. I waited a few extra seconds to ensure they were both truly gone. Finally, when I felt safe enough, I stood up, brushing the dust from my bpants /band stepping out of the shadows.

“Good grief.” I muttered under my breath. “Why do I bhave /bto be everyone’s scapegoatb?/bb” /b

With that. I pushed open the bbalcony /bdoors and was about to leave to tend to my other duties. However, before I could btake /b

nother step forward, a sharp pain shot through my bscalp/b.

Somor yanked bmy /bhair from behind.