Elara’s POV
Maybe I was imagining things. Because there was no way, no possible way that Alric, the almighty hockey player, had just told me not to leave him alone.
I blinked at the memory, dazed. I’d only been planning to wait out the scandal anyway, to let it blow over so my life could slide back to normal. No spotlight. No whispers. And especially no Lyra.
Her name echoed in my head, so sharp and cruel. The school video scene replayed behind my eyes,I curled tighter into the bed. Shame hit me like a bucket of freezing water poured straight over my body.
Back to Alric, he had left with a single sentence…“I’ll make you a meal.”
I’d nearly laughed at the absurdity of it. Alric in the kitchen? It didn’t fit. But as sleep tugged at me, the door suddenly swung open.
The smell hit first
