Chapter 005
1856 Words
LAYLA’S POV
My eyes widen, my body jolting like someone just struck a live wire inside me. “What?”
Edward slips his hands into his pockets. “I need you to tutor me so I can pass my courses. You know the Alpha Board? That’s the only way I’m getting to the top of that list.”
“And how exactly does me being your roommate factor into that?” I narrow my eyes at him. “What makes you think I’d agree to any of this?”
He drags a finger over his brow, like he’s already exhausted by this conversation. “We had a deal.” Stepping closer, he pins me with a cold stare. “Or do you suddenly think you can back out now?”
“You said you wouldn’t ask me for anything difficult,” I force out, my heart pounding.
“This isn’t difficult,” he says, almost rolling his eyes. “Plenty of girls would jump at the chance to trade places with you and they wouldn’t think twice about it.”
My lips part, but no words come out at first. I just stare at him, caught between confusion and a rush of emotions I can’t even sort through. Anger at him for clearly playing me, or the irritation at myself for falling for it because I was so set on getting back at Colt.
I let out a breath, dragging a hand through my hair before finally speaking.
“I’m not those girls,” I say firmly. “Just because they’re throwing themselves at you doesn’t mean I’m next in line.” I swallow, steadying my voice. “You were my date today so I can agree to something like that again. Anything, really… except uprooting my life and becoming your roommate.”
His expression darkens instantly, and it’s like the version of him from the garden never existed. He steps closer, and I instinctively take a step back, suddenly aware of the few people watching us.
“I don’t think you understand how this works,” he says, jabbing a finger in my direction. “I decide what I want in return. That’s the deal.”
“But is it fair?” I shoot back. “All you did was walk me around for a few hours today. You don’t get to just…” I gesture between us, frustration bubbling up, “rewrite the—”
“You’ll be compensated,” he cuts in. “Your expenses are covered if you stay with me. All I need is your time and that’s literally it.” He glances at his watch. “And before you get the wrong idea, I’m not interested in getting into your pants. I have a very tight schedule, and I need someone consistently available when I need them.”
That someone being me?
Was his help just a trap? Did he already have this planned out from the start? Is that why he asked about my GPA? Anger surges through me, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin.
“And what if I flat-out refuse?” I challenge, my eyes locking. “You gonna make me?”
He scoffs, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You really don’t want it to come to that, glasses. Trust me, you’ll like this version of me a lot better.”
His jaw hardens, every line of his face screaming finality. Is he seriously doing this to me?
I’m still reeling when he holds out his hand, palms up. “Your phone.”
I blink at him. “Excuse me?”
“Give me your phone,” he repeats.
I hesitate, my fingers curling before I finally pull my phone from my purse and shove it into his hand. He taps a few buttons, and a moment later his own phone buzzes in his pocket. Then he hands mine back, eyes locked on me. “That’s my number. Save it. I’ll call later.”
My grip tightens around the phone, but I don’t say a word. He turns to leave, then pauses, pivoting back to face me.
“If you’re thinking about avoiding this or running away, you better start planning how to drop out or better yet, move out of California. That’s the only way you’ll ever be free from me.” he says, but his lips curve into an infuriating smile, like he didn’t just threaten me. “See you in a week, glasses.”
He turns and walks away, his broad frame slowly fading from view.
You know that moment when your brain just freezes and all you can do is stare at nothing? Yeah…that’s me. I pinch myself just to check I’m not dreaming but nope. This is real. This is my reality. Edward Strout just strong-armed me into a deal…and now he’s threatening me.
Shaking my head, I make a beeline for the garden door, desperate to escape to my room. No. Just no. There’s no way I’m doing this. There’s no way I’m his roommate.
I keep repeating those words to myself as my feet carry me faster, my mind racing.
But the second I swing the door open, I almost crash into someone. I stumble back, my heart hammering and freeze. Ginny’s gaze locks onto mine.
Before I can even think to apologize, her hand strikes my face. My glasses cut into the bridge of my nose as I slam against the wall, pain exploding through my head.
Stars burst across my vision, and a small cry escapes me as I clutch my throbbing head, my cheek stinging from the slap. Ginny closes in, her hand raised again to strike but this time, I catch it midair, shoving her back.
She stumbles, nearly toppling over, and when she regains her balance, her eyes are wide with shock.
“Did you just push me?” she snaps.
The anger surging through me is enough to burn her. “ You’re not my mom, what gives you the right to raise your hands on me?”
Her head tilts, the hate in her eyes obvious even as she tries to mask it. “You planned it, didn’t you?” she hisses. “You wanted to ruin Amber’s day, and you did everything in your power to make it happen, even by clinging to Alpha Strout’s son.”
I scoff. “You really think I can cling to someone like him? Or is it too difficult to believe that someone like him actually likes me? That maybe Amber’s the one who settled with Colt?”
Her lips twitch and the vein in her neck says the rest.
“You’re so bitter,” she says, then smiles. “Just like your mother. She killed herself because of it. All that bitterness. Maybe you’ll join her soon.”
Something snaps inside me.
“Don’t you ever talk about my mother.” I’m already walking toward her before I realize it. “I swear on the goddess, if you ever speak about her again, I will kill you.”
She laughs hysterically.
“Kill me?” She wipes the corner of her eye. “You want to kill the mother of the future Luna of this pack?” She rolls her eyes. “It’s a shame you still don’t know your place in this house. Amber is above you…leagues above you and no amount of throwing yourself at men is going to change that.” Her gaze drags over me with disgust. “You’re a foot rag in this house. Something people wipe their boots on. And you should be on your knees thanking me that I didn’t throw you out the day your father mated me.”
My throat burns as I jab a finger toward her.
“This is my home, Ginny. You can’t kick me out.” My voice drops. “And I know it was you. You’re the one who pushed Amber to sleep with Colt.”
She goes still.
“She can have him.” I add, shaking my head. “They suit each other, honestly. Two people with no morals and too much desperation. I just hope whatever you sold her for was worth it.”
Instantly, her eyes blaze and she lifts her hand to hit me. I swat it away before it lands.
“Don’t.” The word barely leaves my mouth before —
“What is going on here!”
I spin around to find my dad standing at the doorway, his chest heaving, and eyes fixed on us. I open my mouth to explain, but Ginny beats me to it.
“She slapped me.” Her voice breaks perfectly on cue. She’s already crossing the room toward him, hand pressed to her cheek, and tears spilling like she’d been saving them. “I only came to talk to her about the scene she caused today, about how she dragged this family’s name through the mud in front of everyone and she slapped me.”
My eyes widen.
“Dad, I didn’t do that.” I protest. “She’s lying.”
“Why would I lie about her?” Ginny weeps, gripping his arm. “She said since you threatened her tuition, she’d make everyone in this family pay. I tried to talk sense into her and she hit me.”
“She’s lying!” The words tear out of me. I’m shaking: my hands, voice, everything. “She’s the one who swung at me first. She accused me of —”
“You stirred up trouble today.” Dad cuts me off, his face tight with anger and disappointment. “I asked one thing from you. One. And you went ahead and embarrassed your sister in front of everyone, dragged this family into gossip…” he pauses. “And now you’re hitting Ginny.”
“Dad, that’s not true.” My voice cracks. “She’s lying. She’s standing right there lying to your face and you’re just —”
“Since you can’t follow simple orders,” he continues like I didn’t say anything at all, “you’ll stay home this year.”
The room tilts.
“I will not pay your tuition. You will not go back. You’ll stay in this house for the full year and think about what you’ve done.”
“Dad.” I whisper.
His jaw ticks. “And if next year comes and nothing’s changed, forget graduating. Forget any future you thought you had.”
Tears stream down my face.
“You can’t do this to me,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I haven’t done anything…”
He starts to turn, and I lunge, grabbing his hand. He spins around, yanks it free, and shoves me hard. I hit the floor, my glasses sliding off my face.
As he stares down at me, his eyes are icy with nothing but fury, “You’re a disgrace to this family. A complete failure of a child.”
Ginny clings to him as they walk away together.
“Dad, wait!” I cry. “Please… don’t do this.”
- Writer
