Page 205 of A University of Betrayal

Mica didn’t seem to notice, because he just raised his glass and gestured for me to do the same.

“Here’s to being worthy of your family and winning your heart in the games.”

We clinked glasses with a smile, and my heart shifted noticeably. Because I couldn’t help but think of someone who was actually about to open my heart a crack.Julian. He had actually asked me out on a date. Now that I thought about it, it was pretty bad timing. The Rolanows were here, and if Julian cared even the slightest bit about me, he’d join the games. But he had to join the pack for that to happen.

I took a deep breath. Then I tasted the wine and suppressed my urge to gag.

Mica looked at me.

“You don’t like the wine?”

My cheeks heated up too quickly for me to answer “No, I do like the wine”and so I just nodded sheepishly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know that. It’s unusual here for a woman not to drink wine.”

I had to smile genuinely for the first time. “I’m not like every woman here.”

“I have to agree with her on that one.”

Mica and I wheeled around to where someone stood in a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, looking at Mica like the latter had committed a crime.

“Nash?” He finally looked at me. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting you out of this awkward situation.”

“What?” I gasped, spotting the white coat he was holding.

“If you’ll excuse my sister. She’s not ready for a first date with you.Alonewith you.” It sounded so aggressive, like I only knew Nash from campus.

“I think she can decide that herself...” Mica tried to get me out of the situation, but Nash didn’t give a shit.

“She can’t,”he snapped at Mica, who didn’t let on how uncomfortable the situation was right now, except that his jaw was moving noticeably. “Or have you already won the games?”

My jaw dropped.

Was he fucking serious?

“Nash!” I hissed, but he had already pulled me up a little roughly, so that we attracted the eyes around us... then my brother pulled me away from the table.

In Hindsight

Silver Maple

“What are you doing?” I snapped at him as we stepped out into the cool evening air. “Have you completely lost your mind now?”

Nash seemed to be raging. The fire of rage blazed in his blue eyes. The one that came just before the transformation.

“I forbid you to meet this stranger!”

Oh, forbid.That sounded great. Who did he think he was?

“You’re not my father!”

I wanted my brother to understand that he couldn’t just decide anything over my head.

“I’m your future Alpha.”

The alpha card wasn’t new to me either, and I put my arms on my hips. “Not if I go to Russia!”

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