Chapter 20 Unexpected Revelation
ARDEN
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Tessa and I were getting ready for the day, but I could already feel a wave of dread washing over me. For the past few days, Rowan had been pestering me about having sex with him.
“Are you going to agree to it?” Tessa asked, raising an eyebrow. I turned to her at an almost astronomical speed before shaking
my head emphatically.
“It’s absolutely preposterous to even consider. I’m not going to have sex with Rowan, much less let him knot me. I don’t think we need to go that far to elevate our presentation,” I replied firmly.
“Yeah, I understand what you’re saying,” she chuckled lightly, her laughter a small comfort. “But honestly, I don’t think he’ll stop anytime soon, so let’s brainstorm so
some alternative ways to enhance our presentation.”
“Oh, and speaking of distractions, do you want to go to that party tonight?” Tessa asked, her tone bright and hopeful.
I turned to her, furrowing my brows in confusion. “Party?”
“Hmmm, I heard it’s a welcoming party for all the freshmen, and it’ll be held in one of the Elite Mansions,” she explained, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
I pursed my lips, my mind racing with reluctance. That was the last place I wanted to be.
“Umm, is it required?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
Tessa paused for a moment, studying my expression before her eyes lit up with an idea, coaxing me into considering it.
“Tessa,” I groaned. “I’m really not a party person.
“Neither am I,” Tessa admitted, her tone softening. “But can we please just go this once? I’ve heard there will be opportunities to earn points.”
I blew air into my cheeks and sank onto the bed, contemplating. “Is it sleeping with the Alphas and other high–ranking men?”
Tessa scratched the back of her neck nervously. “That’s certainly a possibility, but I think some teachers will be there too. They might give out points on a whim.”
“I don’t know.” I mutiered,
still unsure.
Tessa pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Is there any way for me to convince you to go!”
My silence served as an answer, and I could see her shoulders slump in defeat. With a resigned sigh, she settled down on her bed and began scrolling through her phone. We still had some time before our first class, so there was no rush just yet.
Suddenly. Tessa stood with a loud gasp, diverting my attention back to her. Concern crept into my voice as I asked, “Oh my goodness. What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t tell me you tried
Silver Quill!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Oh,” 1 muttered, remembering back “Yeah, I was pulled in by some guy–Fort, I think.”
“It’s one of the most dificuli clubs to get into!” she exclaimed. “That’s why the line isn’t too long–most people know that no matter how sinart they are, those who get into Silver Quill are practically untouchable.
“They only accept twenty students per year,” she added, nodding with a serious expression.
I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that’s what we were told during orientation. How did you even find out I tried out, by the
way
She walked over to me with a bright smile, showing me her phone, which displayed the announcement page of Echo.
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Chapter 20 Unexpected Revelation.
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As I read through the announcement, my brows furrowed slightly until disbelief washed over me. I turned to her with utter shock..
“That’s my name,” I gasped.
“Yes!” Tessa exclaimed, jumping up and pulling me into a hug. “You got into Silver Quill! I can’t believe my roommate is actually a genius!”
I still struggled to process it. My eyes remained glued to the screen, half–expecting it to change, fearing that my eyes were deceiving me. Yet there it was–my name, right after Alpha Elias.
Another familiar name caught my eye–Sienna Graves. Though I would have ordinarily felt a tug of resentment at the sight of her name, I was far too happy to allow it to affect me today.
For most of my life, my family had made me feel incapable of accomplishing anything. Yet here I stood, accepted into one of the most prestigious clubs in Elite.
“I’m so proud of you,” Tessa said, her voice filled with genuine admiration as she patted my shoulder. “Don’t you think this calls for a celebration?”
I glanced at her, a smile now firmly playing on my lips. It felt like I could smile the entire day without tiring.
“A party, perhaps?” she suggested with a playful nudge to my shoulder.
With a small sigh that betrayed my growing enthusiasm, I finally nodded. Tessa erupted in excitement, leaping to her feet, clapping her hands in delight.
“Yay!” she exclaimed, her joy infectious. “You won’t regret it. It’s going to be so much fun!”
I nodded once more. In my happiness, however, I momentarily forgot that the announcement was visible to the entire student body
To my dismay, it was seen by one of the people I most wanted to avoid.
I stared at my drawer and sighed. Inside were nothing but old jeans, oversized hoodies, and a handful of plain shirts that had long since seen better days.
I had packed in a rush when I left home–or rather, when I was unceremoniously kicked out. Even then, it’s not like I owned anything particularly fancy
Tessa noticed my predicament pretty quickly.
“Don’t worry,” she chimed, walking over to my side and draping an arm around my shoulder. “I have the perfect dress for you. It’s going to be just right!”
“Is it really okay?” I asked.
She nodded enthusiastically. “Of course it is!” she replied. “I packed way too many clothes for myself.”
“What would I do without you?” I sighed.
She smiled warmly and gently pushed me toward the bathroom, passing me my towel. “Just take a quick shower so we can get going
Inodded and entered the bathroom, turning on the heater.
However, the water was cold…. again. What did I expect? That was just how things operated in Hades‘ dorm after dark. The heater only worked reliably in the morning, and after that, the water felt like it had come straight from the Arctic
Idried off quickly, hating how the cold clung to my spine even after I wrapped the towel securely around myself. By the time I stepped back into our shared room. Tessa was already waiting, holding the dress with an eager sunile.
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Chapter 20 Unexpected Revelation
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It was stunning–a white dress, silky and completely unlike anything I’d ever worn before. She handed it over with a proud. grin. “You would look like an angel in this!”
I held it up and blinked. “Uh, there’s like…. a hundred strings on this thing.”
Tessa laughed. “Don’t worry! I’ll help you once you get it on.”
Getting it on was a struggle in itself. The fabric slipped over my skin like water, and the side opened up with a dramatic slit I wasn’t prepared for at all. I stood in front of the mirror, half–dressed and ensnared in a web of strings.
“Tessa,” I called out, feeling helpless. “This thing is attacking me!”
She hurried over, still giggling at my struggle. “Hold still. You’re going to look so pretty!”
Her fingers moved swiftly, pulling the strings across my back and looping them into place. I felt the fabric tighten gently. fitting snugly around my ribs and waist. She paused behind me for a moment.
“You really are beautiful, you know,” she said.
“Thanks.” I murmured, not accustomed to receiving compliments. “You look beautiful too.”
Suddenly, I felt her hands stutter in their movements. Her fingers lightly grazed just below my right shoulder blade.
It was in that moment that the realization hit me like a train.
When I turned to face her, I saw her staring intently at the mark I had been desperately trying to keep hidden for the past week
“Arden. you’re the virgin?”
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