I WOKE UP AS MY HOCKEY ALPHA'S GIRLFRIEND

Chapter 23

Emily

There was something funny about danger.

Maybe it was just me.

Or maybe everyone's brain simply stopped working whenever death looked them in the eye.

Because tell me why Ethan Sparrow had just driven into the school compound like a man who had forgotten the existence of brakes, stepped out of his car, and I was still standing there like a decorative flowerpot.

Run, Emily.

That was all my brain kept screaming.

Run before he remembers he's an Alpha. Run before he remembers he hates you.

Unfortunately, my legs had decided they were no longer accepting instructions from my brain.

Ethan shut the car door with the usual calm he wore when he was making a show. Which was basically every moment, unless when he was speaking to an omega wolf.

I'd expected fury.

I'd expected half the pack's enforcers with him. Maybe even handcuffs to make my arrest more dramatic. Instead, he simply locked his car and started walking towards us like this was any normal school morning.

My eyes remained glued to his face, trying to decide whether I should prepare for assault or survival. Reading Ethan Sparrow's expression was like trying to solve chemistry equations without numbers.

It was so damned impossible.

Beside me, Mary was saying something. I barely heard her.

"...he looks so good."

Seriously?

His good looks were the least of my problems. Mary really was the vainest person I'd ever met.

Ethan finally stopped in front of us. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and his jaw tightened briefly before his gaze shifted from Mary to me. And today, he looked super taller than he used to. Maybe it was because my heart was racing or because he was really up close.

"Now everything makes sense," he said quietly. "I finally understand why Mary has been acting so strangely since the fall."

Then he looked at Mary.

Or rather, he looked at Mary wearing Emily Carter's face. I noticed the tiny flicker of discomfort before he deliberately looked away. He couldn't stand to look at the face of the girl he had been hating for years.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked her.

Mary stepped forward instinctively and reached for his hand. Ethan immediately took a step back.

"You can't do that,” he said. "We're in public." His eyes briefly swept over the students watching us. "They'll think an omega is trying to touch me."

I rolled my eyes.

"Omegas don't have a disease, Ethan. They're just wolfless."

He spared me a single glance before turning back to Mary as though I hadn't spoken.

"I asked why you didn't tell me."

Mary lowered her head. "I'm sorry." Her voice was pitifully small. The kind she didn't use on me. "I wanted to tell you. I really did. But how was I supposed to explain that I woke up inside Emily's body? You would have thought I'd gone insane."

Ethan nodded once.

"If you had told me from the beginning, none of this would have happened." He glanced at me again. "I wouldn't have invited Emily to dinner. I wouldn't have spent an entire week wondering what was wrong with you."

His jaw tightened. "The longer you kept this from me, the worse it became."

Mary nodded repeatedly. "I know, and I'm sorry."

Ethan's gaze shifted to me. "You hear that?" I raised an eyebrow. "She apologized." His expression hardened. "And I seem to remember that you owe me one too."

I folded my arms, confident now. Surely, Ethan wasn't going to publicly humiliate his ‘girlfriend’. Maybe it was time to tell him every other thing I've always wanted to say.

"My Lord..." I smiled sweetly. "How exactly have I offended you?"

His eyes narrowed, and I saw amusement flash in them.

"You lied to me for an entire week,” he said. "You ruined last night's dance and walked out on me." He pointed. “You embarrassed everyone at the Luna's dinner."

"Oh..." I nodded thoughtfully. "I remember now."

Then I smiled.

"You're forgetting one tiny detail though."

His jaw flexed.

"I owe your mother an apology, and I'll call her later, and explain everything.”

He clenched his fist. "Don't call my mother."

I smiled even wider. "See? Problem solved. I don't have to call anyone. So apparently I owe nobody an apology."

He stepped closer, eyes darkening. I could feel his wolf. "You owe me an apology, Emily."

Before I could answer, someone called across the courtyard.

"Ethan! Lover's fight?”

Several students had already stopped to watch us.

His expression shifted immediately.

Only then did he seem to remember we were standing in the middle of school, and technically, I was still Mary. He exhaled slowly before taking one step back.

"No,” he said, switching to a friendlier tone.

I shook my head. "I don't owe you anything, Ethan,” I said. "If anything, you owe me an apology. But I know Alpha wolves don't apologize. So here's my proposal. I'll forget everything you've ever done to me, and focus on getting my body back…because I miss my body, and I miss my life. And honestly..."

I looked him straight in the eye.

"I hate being around you, Ethan Sparrow. I really hate being around you."

He growled, just enough for me to hear it. Then he realized I wasn't worth his time,and turned back to Mary.

"You need to tell her to stop this,” he said. "If she keeps acting like this, she's going to ruin everything."

Mary nodded immediately.

Total pick-me behaviour.

"I will,” she said. "I'll talk to her. I won't let her speak to you like this again."

He nodded once before turning to leave.

But since I didn't want the whole show to end abruptly, and I was feeling super mischievous, I called after him.

"Ethan,” I said sweetly.

He stopped but didn't look at me.

"We're at school,” I continued. "Everyone's watching, and you're forgetting something. Aren't you going to give your girlfriend a peck before you leave?"

I tilted my head and pointed dramatically at my cheek. "For appearances, so the school press doesn't say we're having a lover's fight.”

His shoulders became noticeably rigid. He slowly turned around to face me. I could practically see him weighing his options.

Ruin my reputation or kiss the omega I hate.

“You should stop talking to him like that,” Mary was saying.

Ethan suddenly started walking towards me, his gaze sharpened in a way that frightened and excited me at the same time. He stopped a few inches from me. Then his hand quickly wrapped my waist before I could realize it.

“Wh--what are you doing?” I asked, trying to break free.

But it was so damned impossible.

He gazed down with a small smile. “You said it yourself, Emily. The whole school is watching. How about we give them a worthy performance?”

“No…no,” I protested, helplessly trying to break free.

But he lowered his face, and I instinctively turned my face. At least, my face responded to danger.

“Oh, not the cheek,” he said.

I could feel his breath against my skin, and even the strong perfume he wore assaulted my poor nose.

His other hand slowly turned my face to him and kept it still. Before I could say anything, his lips covered mine, stealing my words and breathing.

It was the kind of kiss enemies had before becoming best friends for life. Because I couldn't stop him. I mean, if I could, I wouldn't.

Gods, it's embarrassing saying this. But Ethan gives a great kiss.

This wasn't the first time Ethan was kissing me, but there was something about that kiss that felt different than when he thought I was Mary. And by different, I meant in a f*****g good way.

He pulled me forward before letting go of my lips. I could hear the fastness of his breath and his eyes had narrowed.

He gazed at my lips and brushed it roughly with a finger. “This is how to be Ethan Sparrow's girlfriend.”

Then he stepped away without another word and walked off.

I watched him, still dazed from earlier. That hadn't gone according to my calculations.

The moment he disappeared, Mary rounded on me defensively and furiously. Apparently, they're not the same thing.

"What was that for?" She demanded angrily.

I shrugged, trying to hide the fact that my heart was still racing from that kiss."I'm trying to fit into your life and making sure nobody suspects anything,” I said.

"Unlike you,” I continued."You should be acting like Emily. Emily Carter doesn't do pick-me behavior."

Mary frowned. "It's not pick-me behavior,” she defended. "Ethan is the love of my life."

I knew she wasn't going to stop there. People like Mary Saint Laurent always believed they were special and everyone wanted to listen to how perfect their life was

"He's my mate,” she added.

I couldn't hold back my laughter "Oh please, Mary. You can lie to the whole school. But you can't lie to me. I’m living inside your body, and I stay with your garrulous mum. I know your wolf hasn't awakened."

I smiled because this moment was priceless. "I know Ethan isn't your mate. So whatever fantasy you're living in, it ends the day he finds his real mate."

Her expression darkened. "Don't you dare say that."

I shrugged. "It's not a threat, darling. It's fate. So wake up and smell the coffee, Mary. Ethan Sparrow may not be your mate."

She lifted her chin stubbornly. "My birthday is coming, and my wolf will awaken. And when she does, I’m certain Ethan will be my fated mate."

I smiled. "Congratulations in advance on becoming the next Luna. I genuinely don't care.” I frowned now. “What I care about is tomorrow. My presentation means everything to me."

I studied her carefully. "Have you actually been practicing?"

She looked offended. "Of course, I have. I can handle it. There's nothing special about chemistry. "I'll give an excellent presentation this time.”

I shook my head. "I don't trust you, Mary. You already destroyed my first presentation. I'm not letting that happen again. So after school, we're meeting, and I'll listen to your entire presentation."

“I have other things to do.”

“No,” I corrected. “The only thing you're doing is being me. And this presentation means the world to me. If you f**k it up again, I'll do the same with your perfect life.”

I stepped closer until we were almost nose to nose.

"This isn't a threat, Mary."