Page 6 of Vengeful Queen

My lips press together in a scowl, and I toss the dress down on the bed. Isabel or Elina should have a talk with all of them. How am I supposed to conceal pimples and inches if they’re not even trying?

***

My three-day stay at Gamma house is brief and ends after I storm out. Not in a rage, but definitely in a hissy fit over something stupid, I guess. I told them no carbs after sundown, but they’d rather look like sacks of flour bursting at the seams in their formal gowns than give up a potato chip. I doubt anyone notices I’m gone, and if they have, they probably don’t care.

I wasn’t gone long enough for anyone at the dorms to notice. There are a few stray looks of interest as I lug my LV suitcase out of the elevator and roll it toward my room.

“Hey, cute bags.” Helen stands in front of my door, a blinding smile plastered on her fake face. She’s not wearing a coat, so she was probably hanging out with Wren and watched from the window as I entered the building. “Need help?” she asks sweetly.

“Sure.” I nod, handing her the handle of my bag to hold while I rummage for my key in my matching purse.

“Cute room.” She steps inside after me and looks around. I got rid of everything when I returned from Rockingham. I walked the discount bedding out to the dumpster and tossed it in with everything else, including that cursed ring light. I replaced everything with Anthropologie and paid extra for one-day delivery.

“You describe a lot of things that way,” I mutter as I dump my bags on the bed.

She smiles harder while her finger toys with the trim on a violet velvet throw pillow on my suede egg chair. We both watch the tassel with more interest than it deserves. I’m lifted back to a level where I can look her in the eyes without feeling shame.

Helen stops stalling and touches my arm softly. “Our condolences. When Wren told us, all the girls were shocked. I am very sorry, Charlotte.”

She stares into my eyes intensely, but there’s no connection. Helen should’ve picked me, and now she must realize it. She takes in a breath, breaking our gaze. “And I’m also sorry for what happened at the formal. That’s not how Theta acts.”

“In public?” I ask.

The corners of her mouth dip as her stony gaze sets. “It’s not our code of conduct to shame other women, especially our sisters.”

I open my suitcase and start hanging my clothes in the closet. “I’m not your sister.”

“You could be if you’re willing to change your mind.” Her tone is smooth, and all she needs is an apple and a snake.

I scoff. But I don’t remind Helen of the last time she was in my room and refused to speak to me. “I thought pledging was over.” I open my suitcase and begin to unpack.

“For this year, but not next,” she replies. Helen picks up a Jacquemus Neve cardigan off the top of the pile and holds it up. “This is so cute.” She laughs. “I mean, you have great taste. You’re so chic.” She holds it up to her chest before tossing it down. “We should spend more time together.”

“And how is that going to work out? A Theta officer mixing with a Gamma pledge.”

“You belong with Theta.” She giggles while peeking in my bag. “You don’t fit in with the house of losers.”

“I might not be one for much longer,” I mumble and then jump when I notice Asher framed in my doorway.

“I thought you got back a few days ago,” he says, stepping into my room.

“Yum. An Alpha pledge.” Helen steps toward the door and snakes her hand over his solid chest. A chest covered in a cashmere V-neck I bought for him. “I’m eager for you to get in.”

Her eyes linger, devouring him. She can finger my clothes but not my man. As soon as I toss the hanger in my hand onto the floor, Helen smoothly exits the room with a quick wave and disappears. Asher steps inside and shuts the door behind him. His gaze falls on the open suitcase stuffed with designer clothes with the tags still attached.

I don’t know why I should feel guilty for having expensive things again. “I did get back a few days ago,” I reply, picking up the hanger. “I stayed at Gamma for a few nights. I thought it would be safer.”

He stares at the suitcase instead of me. “You’re probably safer over there. Why did you come back to the dorm?”

My face flushes before I can phrase an answer. “I didn’t want to bring my drama over there.”

“But Theta is willing to take it on?” he asks in a judgy tone.

I don’t answer and return to unpacking my suitcase. Maybe I should’ve said I missed him. I did. I want to launch myself on top of Asher and feel his strong arms squeeze me tight. I want him to stop scowling at me as if I’m stupidly fucking everything up.

“You’re not considering them, are you?” He sits down at the desk and pushes his dark hair out of his eyes.

My mouth is set in a hard line, which matches his unrelenting gaze. “I gave you a second chance after everything that happened.”

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