Chapter 3: Back to School

Nora’s POV

Has Charlotte put two and two together? God, I can only hope not. On the chance she had, I can’t let her tell anyone else. If word gets out I slept with my uncle, I’ll never recover from the sheer humiliation.

I suppose all I can do now is pray.

Desperate for a distraction, I whip out my phone and text my best friend, Sylvia.

Yo, I’m back on campus for the next few days. Wanna hang out?

My phone beeps. I look at the screen to see Sylvia’s reply. Yes bitch!! Come to my dorm room rn! XOXO

Still carrying my bags, I head to the east-wing dormitories towards Sylvia’s dorm. She lives in the third floor, with the best view of the University. I knock on her front door.

“Hey girly-pop!” Sylvia swings her door open, throwing her arms around me in a hug that almost crushes my windpipe. “I’ve missed you!”

“I missed you too!” I say, hugging her back.

“Come in! Sit down! How have you been? Oh! How was Alpha Aaron’s party?I notice you disappeared halfway through the night, anything interesting happen?” she smirks.

I blush bright red. “No. I, uh, felt sick and went home early. Too much to drink.”

“Oh,” Sylvia looks a little disappointed by the lack of juicy details. “Well, you better not get white girl wasted and have to leave early at your 18th this week!”

I feel a wave of relief as Sylvia changes the subject. “Don’t worry, I won’t,” I say.

“Do you know what you’re gonna wear?”

“Eh, it’s tricky. The ceremonial dress the pack picked out for me is kinda of…” I trail off.

“Ugly?”

“I was going to say bland, but yes, to be frank, it’s hideous,” I laugh.

“Bitch, let’s go shopping,” Sylvia grin’s a wide, LEGO grin of excitement. “I’ve been missing the mall, anyways.”

I smile. “I’m down.”

The mall in our little college town is rather small, but full of gorgeous boutiques with the cutest selection of outfits and accessories. Sylvia and I used to spend all our time browsing the window displays the first couple months at school. The next day we rush there, choosing my new birthday dress.

We enter a store on the second floor of the mall, searching through the various dresses

“What do you think of this one?” Sylvia shows me a floor-length, red gown.

“It’s very nice,” I say, which is what I’ve said about the last ten dresses she’s shown me.

“Ooh! What about this one?” Sylvia pulls a short, pink dress with lace sleeves. “This one is perfect!”

“I think it’s tacky, but so are you, so maybe it’s a perfect fit.”

Sylvia and I both turn to look at the source of the comment. It’s Charlotte. She stands with her hands on her hips and three stuffed shopping bags on her arms.

A cold, sinking feeling rushes through me as I remember what Charlotte said at the school gates.

“He entered the room after you…”

Does she have any idea what happened? Will she say anything to Sylvia? Did she say it to anyone before? I bite my lip, nervous at the thought.

“Never hope we can hear decent words from your filthy mouth.” Sylvia spits.

“Thank you for your concern, but I should care more about you guys first, you two virgins.” Charlotte scoffs at us.

Virgin? She uses this word to mock me? I can’t believe she just let the party thing disappear in her mind so quickly. For her, it must be fantastic material she could use to mock me for a long time. But she ignores it!?

“Yes, we know you are a slut.” Sylvia is one of the few students in the university who dare to insult Charlotte; maybe just because she is not afraid of being threatened by her.

Charlotte rolls her eyes, and loses her tongue.

“Well, it was fucking peachy seeing you, Charlotte, but we should go,” Sylvia links her arm around mine. “I don’t wanna catch whatever disease made you so fugly.” Sylvia pulls me out of the store.

We enter another store and choose a black dress, then we arrive back at her dorm room.

“I think this one’s nice,” I twirl in a circle, showing off the little, black dress.

“Your booty does look delicious in this one,” Sylvia says. “All of them are nice, but you are super bangable in this.”

“I know,” I laugh, taking the dress off and putting on a t-shirt and soft shorts. “Hey, wanna come home with me for the ceremony? I could use your help with my makeup.”

“Hell ya, bitch!” Sylvia says. “Your face can be my beautiful canvas.”

I smile, happy to have Sylvia at the ceremony. I should probably let my parents know about her coming. After all, she’s not from our pack, and they’re somewhat cautious of outsiders.

That night, I call my mother and ask, giving an string of reasons, like how nice it will be to have a close friend with me on such an important day and such, hoping she’ll say yes.

“If it’s that important to you, dear,” my mother sighs.

“Thank you so much, Mama!”

“I’ll have your uncle Ethan pick you and your little friend up?”

Fuck no.

“I wouldn’t want to bother him with the long drive,” I say.

“Nonsense,” my mother starts. “Ethan is a good heir, and your father like I hope you will be. You could learn a thing or two by getting close to him.”

Oh absolutely fuck no.

Is this some sort of twisted joke?

I’d rather get close with a convicted serial killer or a rabid sewer rat than with fucking Ethan of all people, but it seems my mother is pushing me down this direction. It seems running from Ethan is like swimming upstream…

A few days later, Sylvia and I wait at the schoolgates for Ethan to pick us up. I look at my watch, more and more anxious with each passing minute, as I just want Ethan to show up as late as possible. Or better yet, not show up at all.

But of course, he arrives right on time, pulling up on the street out in front of the gates in my father’s car.

“Here’s our ride,” I force a smile at Sylvia, praying she doesn’t notice the beads of sweat dripping down my forehead.

We crawl into the backseat of the car.

“Hello Princess,” Ethan turns around and waves. “And you must be her friend.”

Okay… Princess. Is this my new nickname?

“Sylvia Blue,” Sylvia bats her eyes and twirls her hair. “And you are?”

“I’m Nora’s uncle,” he says. “Ethan.”

“Nora,” Sylvia whispers. “You didn’t tell me you have a hot uncle.”

I feel as if I have been punched in the windpipe. “He is not hot!” I shout, imminently becoming embarrassed over my loud outburst.

“Are you kidding? He’s totally hot,” Sylvia gestures towards Ethan, no longer bothering to whisper.

Ethan smirks a subtle, but still visible smirk.

“I don’t think so,” I look out the window, avoiding Ethan’s gaze.

“I think you should know better than anyone, Princess,” Ethan says. “Because of that night we-”

I fling myself across the car, slapping my hand over Ethan’s mouth.