Chapter 3

After Brittany's party, Lucian’s pursuit became even more intense.

Every morning, he would wait outside my dorm with a gourmet breakfast.

He even skipped his Alpha heir training just to sit with me in my boring combat theory classes.

When other students mocked me for my weak physical strength, he immediately stood up and shielded me.

On my "birthday"—a fake date I made up—he delivered a limited-edition designer watch to my dorm in front of Nora.

Nora’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

She dragged me to the balcony, her face pale with worry.

"Elena, tell me the truth. Have you really fallen for him?"

I ran my finger over the luxury watch and smiled gently.

"Of course not."

"Then why are you accepting these insanely expensive gifts?!" Nora’s voice cracked. "A guy like him doesn't give things away for free. You'll have to pay it back with interest. How are you going to do that?"

I patted her shoulder. "Don't worry."

"He's the one who's going to pay."

The next day, Nora and I were eating in the cafeteria.

Brittany and her squad walked past our table. As she passed me, she tilted her tray, spilling a bowl of boiling hot, spicy ramen straight toward me.

Even though I dodged quickly, the hot broth splashed all over my arm.

"Oh my god!" Nora screamed, grabbing napkins to wipe me down.

Brittany looked down at me, a fake gasp escaping her lips.

"Oops! My hand slipped."

She sneered at my T-shirt.

"Well, that shirt looks like a $15 thrift store piece anyway. Here’s three hundred-dollar bills. Go buy yourself ten more."

My eye twitched.

This blind bitch. The T-shirt I was wearing was a custom-made silk blend. It cost more than her entire outfit. I had spent twenty minutes searching my walk-in closet just to find the most "ordinary-looking" shirt, and she ruined it.

She tossed three bills onto the table like she was throwing bones at a dog.

My inner wolf bared her fangs. *Let me rip her throat out!* she snarled in my mind.

I calmed my wolf down. *Not yet, girl. The test isn't over.*

Suddenly, a figure rushed over.

Lucian shoved Brittany aside so hard she stumbled back several steps.

He grabbed my arm, checking me with panic in his eyes.

"Are you okay? Did you get burned? Is it bad?"

He spun around and glared at Brittany. "Are you crazy, Brittany? Apologize to Elena right now!"

Brittany’s eyes welled with tears. "Lucian, it was an accident!"

"I said, apologize!"

Frightened by his rage, Brittany mumbled a quick, "I'm sorry."

Before she could finish, Lucian swept me up in his arms and carried me toward the clinic under the gaze of the entire cafeteria.

"I'm so sorry, Elena," he whispered, his voice cracking with guilt. "I failed to protect you."

I buried my face in his chest, my shoulders shaking as if I were crying.

"It's not your fault... I'm just too weak. If only I had my wolf..." I sobbed, while secretly rolling my eyes.

Lucian squeezed me tighter. "Elena, believe me. No one will ever bully you again."

Leaning against him, the mixture of his heavy cologne and the smell of spicy ramen on my arm was making me nauseous.

If my dad found out I let myself get splashed for this drama, he would lose his mind.

But thankfully, the testing phase was finally over.