Chapter Four: The Deal
1056 Words
A hundred whispers immediately rose around me like buzzing bees. Why her? What did she do this time? Trouble always follows the hybrid. I didn’t need wolf-hearing to know what they were saying. Heat rose to my cheeks, and I hugged my books tighter, quickening my steps.
The principal’s office was on the top floor, tucked away like some throne room no student wanted to be summoned to. The walk there felt like a punishment in itself. I tried to rehearse explanations in my head, though I had no idea what I was being called for. The masked ball flashed in my memory, but I shoved it down. I wasn’t invited. It was supposed to be a werewolves only thing but I sneaked in.
I opened the office door and stepped inside.
Principal Harrington sat behind his massive desk, and his presence filled the room more than his size did, he was tall, broad-shouldered, his salt and pepper hair always perfectly combed back. His eyes, however, were cold, assessing, and when they landed on me, I felt like prey.
“Miss Aria,” he said calmly, gesturing for me to sit. “Take a seat.”
I obeyed, perching on the stiff leather chair my palms were sweaty against my books.
“You must be wondering why I’ve called you here,” he began.
“Yes, sir,” I managed to say. My throat felt dry.
He studied me for a long moment. “Your grades are excellent. You’re the top of your year in nearly every subject. Despite… your circumstances, you’ve proven yourself academically.”
I blinked, unsure where this was going. Compliments weren’t Harrington’s style. “Thank you.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Which is why I’ve selected you for a special assignment. One of our star athletes requires additional tutoring. And I want you to provide it.”
My pulse spiked with dread. Please, anyone but him. Please don’t say…
“Lucien Blackton.”
The world shook and my grip on my books slipped, and they nearly fell from my lap. “What?”
His expression didn’t change all though and he continued. “Lucien is a gifted athlete, but his academics are… a bit lacking. It is in the school’s best interest that he maintains eligibility. So you will tutor him privately until his grades improve.”
“No.” The word came out before I could stop it. “No, I… I can’t. I can tutor anyone else, but not him.”
Principal Harrington’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. “Sir, he, he’s made my life hell since I got here. He hates me and everyone knows it. Putting me near him will only make things worse. I’m sure you’ll be able to find other smart students that’ll be more than willing to tutor him.”
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. “This isn’t about your personal feelings, Miss Aria. This is about responsibility. You’re on scholarship here, are you not?”
The air left my lungs as I responded. “Yes, but…”
“Then you’ll understand how precarious that scholarship is. Many donors already question why a hybrid was granted such a privilege. If I were to inform them that you refused to perform a simple duty…” He let the threat hang heavy in the air.
My stomach twisted into knots. Without the scholarship, I had nothing. No school, no future. My father wouldn’t lift a finger to help me. Harrington knew that. He knew exactly where to cut deepest.
“You wouldn’t,” I whispered, but the look in his eyes told me he absolutely would.
He leaned back, satisfied. “Think of it as… service. You help the school. In return, the school continues to help you.”
I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. “How long?”
“Until his grades are acceptable.” His tone was final. “You’ll meet five times a week. Starting today.”
It felt like the walls were closing in on me. My heart raced so fast, I was desperate to escape, but there was nowhere to run. Harrington’s gaze pinned me like a butterfly to a board.
“I understand,” I forced each word out.
“Good girl.” He smiled, and the sight chilled me more than any glare could. “You’re dismissed.”
When I stepped out of Principal Harrington’s office, my legs felt like they were made of glass, ready to shatter with every step. The door closed behind me with a loud thud, but the weight of his words clung to me.
Tutor him?
The one boy who had turned my life into a private hell. My tormentor. And the mate that rejected me.
I was walking back to my class, when an ice-cold liquid splashed down the front of my blouse, soaking straight through my school uniform. I gasped, stumbling back as the chill bit into my skin, my hands flying up too late to stop it.
Laughter erupted around me.
“Oops,” one of Lucien’s basketball cronies jeered, holding an empty soda cup. “Guess my hand slipped.”
My shirt hugged my skin tightly and it was so sticky with sugar. Anger flared in my cheeks. I clenched my fists so tight my nails bit into my palms, fighting the instinct to lash out.
Lucien leaned against the lockers, his arms folded, watching the spectacle with a predator’s smile tugging at his lips. His hair fell carelessly into his eyes, that stormy gaze glittering with cruel amusement.
“Careful,” he said. “She might cry. And then you'll have to mop up the hybrid’s tears. That’ll be really tragic .”
His friends laughed harder at his joke.
I swallowed hard, the humiliation was like a bitter acid sliding down my throat. My heart screamed at me to defend myself, but my body refused to move. So instead, I shoved past them, my fists trembling.
Behind me, Lucien’s footsteps followed unhurriedly.
“Little new tutor,” he called out.
My whole body stiffened, but I didn’t turn around.
“I’m going to make your life even more miserable,” he continued, voice dropping lower. “Especially when you come to my place later on.”
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