Chapter 61 Lucky
Chapter 61 Lucky
ARDEN
“Do you want to study at the Silver Lounge?” Elias asked as we met outside the building for my last class. We had agreed to start preparing for the upcoming competition, and despite my insistence that we simply meet at the gates, Elias had come all the way here.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I shook my head. “No.”
His brows knitted together in confusion. “Why not?”
I pressed my lips together. The truth was, I wasn’t in the mood to run into Sienna. Though I couldn’t deny that the lingering sting from the slap I had given her still sent a satisfying tingle through my palm.
With a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, Elias raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to come to my place instead?”
I turned to him, my expression deadpan. “No way.”
He raised his hands in mock surrender, clearly amused. “Just asking
A small smile crept onto my lips as I responded, “I know a place.”
He looked at me with a hint of suspicion. “Where are we going?
“You’ll see,” I said, clicking my tongue playfully as I tugged at his sleeve, dragging him along with me.
We wove through the campus, and after a bit of wandering, we finally reached the destination. As I pushed the door open, the bell chimed gently, announcing our arrival.
“Welcome!” a familiar voice called out
Elara, buried beneath a pile of old tomes and scrolls, peeked out from behind the reception desk. Her hair was piled up in a messy bun, and she wore comically large magnifying glasses perched on her nose, making her eyes appear five times their
usual size.
A smile spread across her face as soon as she recognized me. “Arden!”
“Elara,” I greeted warmly, making my way over to her.
“What brings you here today?” she asked with genuine curiosity.
“Do you have seats available?” I replied, tucking a strand of hair behind
my ear.
Elara nodded eagerly. “Of course! At the back. Just follow the left corridor. Are you planning to study?”
Her eyes briefly flicked over to Elias, who had wandered off to a tall shelf, running his fingers along the leather bindings of
the books.
“Yeah, thanks,” I said.
“No problem.” She flashed me a bright smile and waved her hand in farewell, already turning back to her pile of books. “Sorry I can’t keep you company. We just received a shipment of antique books, and they’re a dusty mess.”
“No worries,” I assured her again, leading Elias toward the cozy study area tucked away at the back of the library.
bice we settled in, the atmosphere was blissfully quiet. I gathered the textbooks I had brought along; the Prelims were just around the comer, and the competition would follow closely behind. This was the calm before the storm, and I needed to muke the most out of it
fora few moments, all was peaceful Elias remained silent, opening his notebook and beginning to scribble furiously. I found myself diving into my reading, flipping through my notes and outlining key points. My mind began to settle, gradually taking
the necessary focus.
1/3
1:16 AM c c
Chapter 61 Lucky
However, just as I was achieving that focused state of concentration, my phone buzzed.
Once
Twice.
Thrice.
I sighed and finally checked my messages. But just then, my phone buzzed again. It was Cade.
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“What is his problem?” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. His texts didn’t seem important; he was still teasing me about being jealous from a while ago. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to smile. It was ridiculous, yet he was being weirdly sweet?
Then another message popped up. This time, it was from Jaxon. I clicked my tongue, annoyance bubbling up inside me.How did he even get this number? I stared at the screen for a moment before blocking him without a second thought. I definitely didn’t want that headache.
Elias, sitting across from me, suddenly let out a deep breath, loud enough to make me look up. “If you weren’t going to study,” he muttered, “then you shouldn’t have agreed to come with me.”
What?”
He turned his head slightly, avoiding my gaze. “You’re just distracted. The entire time.”
“I am studying.” I said defensively, though I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.
He glanced pointedly at the untouched book in front of me. “Really?”
I pressed my lips into a tight line. Okay, maybe he had a point.
“I thought we were supposed to actually prepare for the competition. Instead, you’ve been texting, sighing, and smiling every five seconds.”
Elias had his arms crossed, his pen tapping lightly against the edge of the table. His lips were pulled down into a quiet frown, and although he tried to mask it with indifference, there was something undeniably childish about the way his brows furrowed. He looked sulky.
I couldn’t help it; a small chuckle escaped me as I tilted my head toward him. “Are you sulking?”
“No,” he muttered. “I’m just saying. We came here to study, but you’re not even paying attention to me.”
1 raised an eyebrow. “To you?”
“Yeah,” he replied, his voice a little defensive. “I’m your partner, aren’t I?”
Another laugh slipped from my lips before I could stop it. “You look like a kid deprived of his wants.”
It was meant to be a lighthearted comment. However, the moment the words left my mouth, I regretted it. Elus fell silent. His jaw clenched, and his gaze dropped back to his notes Oh no, did I say something wrong?
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly. “I mean-
Ehas still hadn’t spoken.
ean, my parents don’t love me, either,” I blurted, hoping it might lighten the mood.
He turned toward me slowly, one brow raised. A small chuckle escaped his lips. “You’re really admitting that out loud?” he
asked, will amused.
1 scratched the back of my neck, suddenly feeling self–conscious. “Well, you seemed offended.”
“I’m not,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m far too old to be offended.”
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Chapter 61 Lucky
“We’re not too old to long for a parent’s love,” I responded, my tone turning more serious, “But sometimes… it cages us. It’s not easy, but sometimes it’s better without it. That doesn’t mean we can’t still want it, though
His
gaze wavered for just a second, a flicker of understanding crossing his face.
Although the atmosphere had brightened a little, it gained an awkward edge after my admission Determined to break the tension. I reached forward and grabbed one of the review materials he’d brought, hoping it might shift the focus back to studying.
As I opened it and began scanning the pages, my eyes widened in disbelief. There were diagrams, annotations, summaries. and timelines of past pack wars I hadn’t even remembered. Every section was meticulously color–coded, complete with strategic commentary in the margins.
“Woah.” I breathed, flipping to another page. “When did you even have the time to write this?”
Elias simply shrugged. “It’s nothing.
“It’s not, though,” I said, still flipping through the pages. “Your war strategies–no wonder people say what they say. Even the other factions adapted some of these, didn’t they?”
He remained silent, a thoughtful look crossing his face,
“You’re a really good strategist,” I continued, my eyes still glued to the detailed notes.
Still, he didn’t respond.
“The pack is lucky to have you.” I added, glancing up at him.
Elias smirked faintly, finally turning his head away, trying to hide his expression. He crossed his arms tighter against his
chest.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I countered, my tone earnest. “These are impressive.”
He finally turned to me, his expression challenging. “You think I need someone by my side to praise me or something
I smiled sofily. “I think most people say they don’t. But truly, no man is an island”
I leaned back, keeping my gaze locked on him, curious to see his reaction.
“We all crave connection, Elias. Even the most brilliant minds need someone who sees them for who they are. Someone to say. “You did well. Someone who chooses you when you don’t ask to be chosen
His eyes stayed fixed on mine, absorbing my words.
After a long pause, a stillness enveloped us until the corner of Elias’s mouth twitched, just barely, but it was there.
And then he spoke. I think I already found that person,”
Silence settled between us for a moment before I smiled up at him, a warm feeling blooming in my chest.
“That’s good, then,” I said, my voice gentle. “Hold on to that person.”
“You are lucky to have them”
