CHAPTER FOUR

HEATHER’S POV

“I can't understand why Troy would choose Keira over me,” I complain to my best friend, Jade. I’ve been fuming all night and all morning. “What is wrong with him? Why would he choose a lowly Omega over me?”

“I don’t know,” Jade replies, shaking her head. “The boy must’ve lost his mind. You’re clearly better than her, prettier than her, and of higher status. There’s no way he could want her over you.”

I shake my head. “I’ll bet she’s manipulating him. That has to be the answer. It’s the only plausible explanation.

“No matter what though, I will find a way to get revenge. I will get rid of her. She is making my life miserable and I can't live like this anymore.”

“You should,” Jade agrees. “How are you going to do it though? It has to be something particularly nasty. She deserves it.”

“You’re right,” I agree. I think on it a bit. “Well, she embarrassed me, so I’ll have to embarrass her.

“I can invite her to the party, make her think we’re friends. But by the end of the night I’ll humiliate her in a way that Troy would become the laughing stock of the pack if he chooses her over me.

“That will make Troy forget about her. I’ll treat her the way Troy treated me.”

“That’s perfect,” Jade grinned. “If you hurry, you might be able to catch her before school.”

“Catch you later,” I say. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

I race out the door and make it to school in time to spot her on the way up the steps.

"Keira, can I talk to you for a minute?" I call out.

She turns and looks at me with hesitation.

She doesn’t trust me, which is going to make things difficult. How can I convince her to come to my party?

I’ll have to figure it out. She wants to take Troy away from me. He wants her too, I know it. I can’t let that happen.

She may be an Omega, but she was a Luna before. Maybe she could be popular if she wants. People are starting to notice her.

That would wreck my whole world.

"I'm actually on my way to class,” she says.

"Oh, that's fine,” I reply. “It won’t take long. I just need to tell you something. It's important."

Keira is more reluctant than ever. Will she take the bait?

*

KEIRA’S POV

I look back at Heather, wondering what on earth is going on. She has never wanted to talk to me unless it was some kind of trap. Unless she wanted to embarrass me or threaten me.

What is she scheming?

"It's about Troy," she says, finally coming up with something.

"What about him?" I ask.

She has me there. Even though I know I shouldn’t, I like Troy, so I’m always going to listen when his name is brought up.

She leads me away from the crowded steps.

"I just wanted to talk to you about Troy,” she says.

"What about Troy?" I ask.

"I just want to know why he likes you better than me,” she says. “I mean, I am clearly way better than you."

I look at her, confused. How could she think Troy likes me better than her?

There’s a clear difference between Heather and I. And Troy is never going to choose me.

I open my mouth to speak, but she cuts me off.

Where is she going with this?

"I know that you’re an Omega, but for some reason he doesn’t see that.”

I wonder where she’s coming from, but then I remember what happened in the woods. How he saved me.

Could she be right?

I felt a connection with him. Did he feel that way too?

“He never said he likes me more,” I say. “He never said he likes me at all.”

“It’s obvious,” I she replies.

“Look, I never wanted any part of this,” I say. “I’m just trying to keep my head down while I try to fit into this pack. I don’t know why you’re always after me when I’ve never done anything bad to you.”

She stares at me and her look softens.

“Maybe you’re right,” she says. “Maybe I’ve been wrong about you.”

Now I am really confused. Is she really trying to be nice to me?

“Maybe you are a good person, Keira. I’m thinking of giving you a chance to prove that to me."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Come to my party,” she says.

I’m not falling for that trick again.

"What party?" I ask, trying to shrug her off.

"Tonight,” she says. “At my house. I don’t think Troy’s going to do anything nice for me, so I decided to throw a party for myself. It's my birthday."

I stand there, shocked.

On the one hand, I’d love to come.

On the other hand, this offer must be too good to be true.

What is she up to?

What should I say?

"Sorry,” I say. “I can't."

"Come on,” she says. “I know I messed things up last time. But this time, I want you to come. Really. I truly do."

"I…have a lot of homework."

"I know what you're doing," she says. "You're lying."

"I'm not lying," I say. "I really have a lot of homework."

"You're lying because you're mad at me,” she says.

She’s right. I a, mad at her. And I don’t trust her.

But it seems like she isn’t going to let me go until I agreed to go to her party.

Why does I want me at her party?

“I want to try to be friends with you, Keira,” she says. “I want you to be part of my circle of friends. I want you there."

Is she serious?

Does she really want me at her party?

“Troy will be there,” she adds.

My heart skips a beat. Troy will be there. Maybe this could be my chance with him.

“Why would you want me there with Troy?” I ask, suspicious.

“I’ve let it go, Keira,” I say. “You won. He’s yours.”

Is she tricking me into going to her party as a trap?

"Come on,” she says. “Why not? It's Friday night. You deserve to have some fun. My birthday party would be boring without you there."

Maybe she’s right. I need to relax.

I’ve been so angry. I’ve been so angry at Troy, angry at Heather, angry at everything.

I think of Troy being there. I can’t help it.

“Fine,” I say.

Then, I walk away. Shocked.

This can’t be real.

I just promised to go to her party.

She said that Troy will be there.

I suddenly feel more alive than I have ever felt since my pack was slaughtered.

I am going to her party.

I'm going to be around Troy again.

As I quickly hurry to class, I suddenly feel like I am ready to take on the world.