Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By His Rival

Chapter 8

Aurelia’s POV

I barely slept last night.

Between the dinner tension, the way Julian’s father had studied me with such brazen intensity, and the venom that had practically exploded off the screen of Sierra’s eyes, my mind had been racing.

And then, of course, there was Julian himself.

The ease with which he played the devoted boyfriend. The way he threw his arm around me like we were actually something more. The way his father and stepmother had picked me apart like I was some exotic bug Julian brought home from the streets.

It was exhausting.

But as I look at myself in the mirror this morning, my eye tracing the dark circles in the whites of my eyes and the gentle bruise still forming in the wake of my father’s last attack, I remind myself of one simple truth.

I don’t have a choice.

This isn’t about Julian. This isn’t about revenge against Drake or Sierra. This is about survival.

If I want to keep a roof over my head, if I want to prevent my father from throwing me out, if I want even the tiniest chance at clawing my way out of this miserable life, I have to make this arrangement work.

I sigh and rake a hand through my messy hair before pulling my bag on.

Once again, it’s time to take on the appearance of a normal human being.

—

As soon as I walk into campus, I feel the eyes of a hundred people on me.

Whispers trail in my wake.

"Is that her?"

“No, never, Julian Adams would not — ”

“Did you see them at dinner last night? My cousin is employed by the Adams. They said she really was there!”

I clench my teeth and keep my head down as I walk by and head to my locker.

I knew this would happen.

Julian was one of the most wanted man in our whole school. Immovable, great, beyond punishment. The thought that I—an omega, a nobody—could be his girlfriend? Unbelievable.

And yet, here I am.

I ignore the gawks and twist my locker open but I haven’t even grabbed my books when a sultry voice purrs behind me.

“Well, well, well. Look at you.”

I shut my eyes for a brief moment before facing.

Sierra.

She leans casually against the line of lockers, arms crossed, a sickeningly sweet smile fixed on her perfect face. Behind her, her usual coterie of admirers poses in a neat little row, waiting for the show to start.

I sigh. “What do you want, Sierra?”

She raises her head as if innocent. “Me? Oh, nothing much. Just curious how much Julian is paying you to play along with this little fantasy of his.”

I narrow my eyes. “Excuse me?”

She giggles. “Come on, Aurelia. We both know Julian would not touch you with a ten-foot pole. I mean, really. You’re not even worth looking at.”

Her friends snicker, and my hands ball into fists at my side.

I could let this go. I could walk away.

But I’m tired.

I just got fed up with being treated like I do not belong. Sick of being kicked in the nuts and expected to shut up about it.

I move closer, dropping my voice. “Jealousy looks bad on you, Sierra.”

Her smile vanishes. “Excuse me?”

I smirk. “I think you heard me plenty well.”

Her nostrils twitch, but before she can retort, an arm casually drapes around my shoulders.

Julian.

“Ladies,” he says smoothly, making no eye contact with Sierra at all as he looks down at me and smirks. “You ready to go, babe?”

Babe?

I hardly hit the ground with it before he’s pulling me away, with Sierra seething behind us.

I don’t lose him until we round a corner.

“What the hell was that?” I demand.

Julian just grins. “That, sweetheart, was me saving your ass.”

I scoff. “I didn’t need saving.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Oh really? Because it seemed to me that Sierra was about two seconds from attempting to shred your throat.”

I roll my eyes. “I can handle Sierra.”

Julian laughs and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Sure you can.”

I scowl. “Why do you even care?”

He shrugs. “Because if we’re going to sell this whole couple thing, you can’t let her walk all over you. You’ve got to act like you belong.”

I cross my arms. “And what if I don’t belong?”

Julian stops walking.

He just stares at me for a moment, something unreadable in his expression.

Then, finally, he says, “Then make them think you do.”

The way he says it makes my breath hitch.

But before I can answer, he’s already walking ahead of me.

And despite myself, I follow.

—

It all goes completely off the rails by lunchtime.

I can’t take three steps without hearing some insane theory about how I lured Julian into this relationship.

“She’s probably threatening him with something.”

“She’s after him for money, clearly.”

“She must have cast some sort of spell on the guy.”

I grit my teeth as I shove my tray onto the cafeteria table, Julian sliding in next to me.

“People are crazy,” I say under my breath.

Julian gives a grin, entirely unfazed. “They’re just shocked. It’s a compliment — you should take it as a compliment.”

I glare at him. “I should take that I’m a gold-digging witch as a compliment?”

He shrugs. “At least they’re talking about your.”

I groan, resting my head on the table.

“Aww, don’t be so dramatic,” Julian nudges me.

I peek up at him. “You lured me to dinner with your family and now the entire school thinks I’m some evil mastermind who put a spell on you. “I apologize for getting a bit dramatic.”

Julian smirks. “I do love a girl with a little chaos in her.”

I groan again. “I hate you.”

He just grins wider. “No, you don’t.”

I sigh, reach for my drink and take a sip, mumbling, “Not yet.”

Julian bursts out laughing.

And I am despite myself, despite the absolute nightmare my life has become…

I find myself laughing too.

It’s short — a quick little laugh that gets out before I can hold it in — but Julian feels it right away. His smile goes victorious as he leans in closer.

“See?” he teases. “You don’t hate me as much as you say you do.”

I shake my head and divert my gaze. “Don’t go jumping ahead.”

“But I’m ahead of myself,” he says smugly, popping a grape in his mouth. “I always am. It’s kind of my thing.”

I roll my eyes, but I don’t complain. That’s the trouble with Julian — he radiates confidence effortlessly, so finding the nerve to argue with him feels like trying to fight gravity.

I still can’t let him win that easy.

I look at him, raising an eyebrow. “So what’s your grand plan, you master of deception? Are we just going to keep pretending and hope that Sierra and Drake f*****g keel over from jealousy?”

Julian smirks. “That’s one option.”

I sigh, shoveling my food around my plate. “And the other?”

And he leans in a bit, lowering his voice. “We make them watch as I treat you as the most important person in the world.” We convince them I picked you — as opposed to them.”

At the sound of his words, I feel a strange tingle reverberate in my spine.

It’s a game. A performance. I know that.

And yet … something about the way he says it — so much surety, so much certitude — makes it impossible not to feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

I clear my throat and will myself to pay attention. “And then what? What do you do after two months?”

Julian is lounging back, not a care in the world. “Then we break up. Dramatically. Perhaps in the middle of a party.” He grins. “I’ll do it with one single tear, tragic tear. It’ll be iconic.”

I laughed, incredulous. “You’re actually insane.”

He puts a hand against his heart in mock offense. “Only slightly.”

Shaking my head, I sigh. “Fine. But if you screw me over, Julian, I swear —”

“No, I won’t,” he interrupts smoothly, suddenly dead serious. “I gave you my word, Aurelia. Nor will I go back on my word.’’

For some reason I almost believe him.