Page 9 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“No,” she says. “I’m saying that they’re a little like houseflies. They’re annoying and disgusting, but without them, we’d have to deal with much worse things in the world, in Clarion, and walking around Moonhelm. So maybe you should figure out a way to ignore her instead of obsessing like this. It’s really unbecoming, big brother.”

That stings. I scowl at her. “I’m not obsessing.”

“You know how many times I’ve thought about that particular Scarlet this week? Twice. And that’s only because I happen to share two classes with her. Trust me when I say that Saffron Kamaria is not worth thinking about. She’s not even worth this long of a conversation.”

I glare at her. The very suggestion that I’m obsessing. I’m not obsessing.How could I be obsessing?

“On a better topic,” she said with a soft smile, “the Midterm Bash is this evening. You said you would come.”

“I said I would make an appearance.”

“Good enough for me. Sounds like you need to let loose for a little while. You’re all wound up like a top.”

That really pisses me off. I’m not wound up. I’m just . . .

Nadia’s looking at me over her goggles, a smart-ass smirk on her face. “All right,” I concede. “Maybe I do need to unwind a little.”

“That’s the spirit.” She pushes the goggles back up and goes back to arranging her beakers. “Party starts at eight. Shatterstone Hall.”

With that, I take my leave. After this last round of midterms, I’m going to go to the party, have a drink as requested by my sister, then I’m going back to my dorm room and staying there for the rest of the night.

Chapter Five—Saffron

All day, all anyone’s been talking about in the halls is that damned party Howler House is throwing. Most of the student body is going to be there, apparently. Except Scarlets. Of course.

I don’t know why it’s pissing me off, though. After my last class, I went straight to my room and took a shower. Now, I’m lying on my bed, looking up at the ceiling, fuming. Maybe it’s just the way that Nadia went out of her way to tell me that I wasn’t invited. Like I wouldwantto go in the first place. Fuck Nadia Vaultmore and her stupid jock friends.

There’s a knock on my door, and I look up just as Yarra peeks her head in. “Hey,” she said. “I’m so glad I caught you. A few of us were thinking of getting a few drinks at Moonlight tonight and . . .” She pauses, and I can already see her face before I look over at her. “Oh, no. Don’t tell me you’re pissed about the Midterm Bash.”

“No!” I sit up and shake my head for emphasis. “Of course not! Why would I be upset about the first big party of the yearthat I was specifically not invited to? It’s not like I wanted to go, anyway.”

Yarra sighs and sits down at my desk, facing me. “You know, it’s okay to admit you’re mad about being left out. What Nadia said was shitty. Who could blame you for being pissed?”

“Tell me about it.” I cross my arms . . . Honestly I’m pouting like a toddler! I uncross my arms and stand up, pacing the floor. “It’s just the fact that she’s excluding me over something I have no control over. I never asked to be a Scarlet Wolf in the first place. As a matter of fact, I never asked for any part of the deck I was dealt.”

That stung a little more than I wanted it to. It makes me stop in my tracks. All at once, I remember my life growing up in a tiny unimportant pack near Royal City. I always thought it was hilarious given the fact that I am and always will be the farthest thing from royalty, and yet I lived with my grandparents in a little cabin with a view of the Royal House in my backyard.

Being the only Scarlet in my pack, I struggled so much as a kid. I still managed to make it all the way to Moonhelm . . . and I was never even recognized for it. Meanwhile, stuck-up wolves like Nadia skip through life with her super influential pack, and everyonelovesher for just existing.

“Saffron . . . ? Are you really okay?”

I look over at Yarra, who’s studying me with big worried eyes. I guess my thoughts are all over my face right now.

“No, I guess not,” I say. “Shit.”

“Hey, why don’t you come with me tonight? I’m going with Lorelai from my English class, and she’s got the first round. She invited that one Scarlet in Biology that’s always checking you out. I forget his name. Maybe instead of moping you can try having a good time with somebody instead.”

The guy she’s talking about is handsome, dark blood-red hair and hazel eyes. He’s also one of the most boring people I’ve ever met. “Pass,” I say.

“You’ll feel better if you get out and have some fun. And besides, this is what assholes like Nadia really want. For her enemies to sit around in their rooms and mope while they’re having the time of their lives. I’ll tell you what. We can even stand out in front of Shatterstone and flip them off together.”

She nudges me with her foot, and I crack a smile. “I’d rather gather Mandrakes and throw their screaming husks through the front door.” Yarra tilts her head, and I’m immediately reminded that she’s not from Clarion. I explain, “It’s a root that’s shaped like little ugly babies. They scream when you pull them out of the ground. Really, really loud. The sound has been known to drive people insane or even kill them if they’ve got weak constitutions.”

“Okay,dark,” she says with a nervous smile. “I’m all for revenge, Saffron, but maybe not anything that involves killing or maiming?”

I sigh as I analyze Yarra’s logic. Thisiswhat Nadia wants. If she were here right now, she’d be all smiles seeing me down in the dumps because I didn’t get invited to her stupid party.

And now that I’ve thought of it that way, I realize that we just can’t have that.

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