I WOKE UP AS MY HOCKEY ALPHA'S GIRLFRIEND

Chapter 20

The moment Ethan said my name, my entire body went still. Like someone had pressed pause on my life. Out of everyone in this mansion, Ethan Sparrow was the last person I wanted to find out.

He wasn't just my bully, I knew he wouldn't waste time exposing the truth if he found out. And now he had.

The warmth disappeared from his face so quickly it was almost frightening. The gentle Ethan who had patiently guided me through the dance vanished. And the Ethan I had known since middle school finally returned. The one who looked at me like I was something he'd scrape off his shoe was back like a button switched him back to bully mode.

Without another word, he grabbed my wrist tightly. Then he dragged me off the dance floor. I stumbled after him, my heels scraping against the polished floor. The music kept playing. And the spotlight still followed us for a few seconds before finally giving up.

Around us, whispers spread through the room. I could hear people murmuring. Just a minute ago we'd been dancing. Now, Ethan Sparrow was dragging his girlfriend out of the ballroom with a face that promised murder.

I didn't even try to pull away.

What was the point?

He knew. There was nothing left to defend. The only thing I prayed for was that he wasn't taking me to the Alpha King.

Or worse, Vivian.

He shoved open the balcony doors and practically hauled me outside before finally stopping. The cool night air slapped my face and I immediately yanked my hand free.

"Ow!" I cradled my wrist against my chest. "You're hurting me."

His eyes dropped to my wrist. Red fingerprints were already beginning to form. He didn't even look guilty.

He laughed. The kind of laugh that forms when you realize you've been fooled. "I should've known." His glare pinned me where I stood. "You've been acting strange since the beginning."

He took one step closer. "And that joke."

My heart dropped. That stupid joke.

"The joke about dancing with two left legs,” he continued. “You think I don't remember?”

I closed my eyes for half a second.

How could I have forgotten?

That stupid joke.

Years ago, before Ethan became... Ethan. Before he learned the difference between Alpha and Omega. Before he decided people like me weren't worth sitting beside. We used to laugh about that joke.

But tonight, I had forgotten I wasn't supposed to remember it.

"I..." I started.

"Don't." His voice sliced through mine. "I know." He pointed at me.

"You are not Mary."

I swallowed.

"Mary doesn't defend Omegas. She doesn't put an omega in her team and make her lead stunter. Mary doesn't forget her father…" His jaw tightened. "And I should have known from the moment we kissed.”

He looked like he just discovered he had kissed a frog. Well, I would not be surprised if he thought worse. For Alpha wolves like Ethan and Mary, omega wolves were filthy.

"You knew Brownian motion,” He continued, his eyes narrowing. "And most importantly, you remembered a joke only one person would remember."

Silence stretched between us.

Then he finally said it.

"Emily Carter."

There wasn't any point denying it anymore. I let out a slow breath.

"If you'll just let me explain—"

"No." His answer came instantly, stopping me.

"I don't want an explanation,” he said. "I've always known you wanted more than your place."

I frowned. "What?"

"You couldn't accept being an Omega." He laughed bitterly. "So you stole Mary's life."

My eyes widened. "What the f**k?"

"You've been given opportunities Omegas barely dream of, and somehow that still wasn't enough."

Every word hit harder than the last and anger was simmering in my chest already. No one had left the hall to check up on us, and I was glad about that. I just needed this revelation contained, but Ethan was beginning to accuse me.

"So you decided being Mary Saint Laurent sounded better,” he said.

And then I decided that I've had enough of his yammering.

"You think I wanted this?" I demanded, raising my voice.

"I know exactly what you wanted. You wanted to steal Mary's life.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I kissed you." His face twisted with disgust. "I can't believe I actually kissed you."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah?" I folded my arms. “It takes two to kiss, Ethan. And trust me, Ethan Sparrow. Kissing you has never once appeared on my bucket list."

His jaw flexed. For a second, I thought he was going to shout. Instead, he looked away. When he spoke again, his voice was frighteningly calm.

"Mary is in your body, isn't she?”

I nodded. "Well, if you'll let me explain—"

"No,” he said. “I don't care how this happened." His eyes locked onto mine. "You'll fix it, Emily Carter. You have one week."

He pointed toward the mansion.

"I don't care if it's magic. I don't care if you have to meet the moon goddess herself."

"I never wanted—"

"You stole Mary's life."

That did it. I threw my hands into the air.

"I f*****g love my life!"

The words exploded out of me, and he finally stopped talking. I could shout too.

"I don't want to be Mary!" I screamed.

He scoffed. "Liar."

"I don't want to live in a mansion where people slap me for breathing. I don't want to pretend to like your arrogant face.

"I don't want to spend every day wondering what mistake will expose me. And I don't want to be dumb enough to pour water into acid!"

I pointed back toward the ballroom.

"The only reason I'm here tonight is because Mary begged me…because she didn't want her perfect little life falling apart. And the only reason I danced with you was because I was trying to protect her reputation."

I let out a frustrated laugh.

"And do you know what's funny?"

He didn't answer.

"I don't have to pretend anymore." I took one step backward. "I don't have to fake being comfortable around you, Ethan Sparrow. I don't have to hold my breath every time you walk into a room."

I looked him straight in the eyes.

"You suffocate me, Ethan."

Then I smiled. Because I finally felt free.

"I'm not going back in there." I pointed toward the ballroom. "You dragged me out in front of everyone. So, no. I'm not walking back inside pretending everything is fine."

I turned away.

"And one more thing." I looked back over my shoulder. "I'm not Mary Saint Laurent." A small smile tugged at my lips. "So unlike her, I don't kiss your ugly ass."

I held his gaze for one last second.

"Have a good night, Ethan Sparrow. And while you're returning back to the mansion, think of something to tell the guests about your unruly behaviour tonight.”

Then I walked away, feeling smug.