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“And she’s off,” he says under his breath.
“Well, do you think the Alphas know?”
Asher inhales slowly and doesn’t answer me.
“So, that means yes,” I say to him.
“Charlotte, I doubt they’ve seen it, but yeah, maybe they know.”
“I don’t have the status I used to have at Stonehaven, and I better get used to it. In Rockingham, I’m from a wealthy family. Here, I’m a slut who films herself sucking dick to earn spending money.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that.” Asher moves closer and holds the book between us. I didn’t have to buy another book for English. Asher makes sure of that as he shares the latest with me. After an hour, he has to leave to DJ. He apologizes for leaving, and I tell him it’s okay as I slip the book out of his hands.
“I’m surprised anyone’s in the mood to dance when it’s this cold.”
He shrugs. “The playlist is chill-out music. And less drinking. Things have calmed down, but the house is still packed. Are you sure you don’t want to go?”
I shake my head. “Thanks for asking, but I really do need to study.”
Chapter 34
Charlotte
I don’t want to be alone after he leaves. So I head over to Wren’s double and knock on the door. I hold my shit together while keeping my shoulders straight and prepare for Prisha to open the door. But Wren answers, and she’s alone. I can take it when she’s a snob, but that look of concern makes me catch my breath.
“Come on in,” she says.
“I don’t want to bother you if you’re going to the Alpha party,” I reply.
She shakes her head. “Prisha went over with a few of the Theta sisters, but I stayed here to study. What’s up?”
I shrug and look around her room. It resembles a page torn out from a photo shoot. Everything matches, from the red and check comforters to the natural wood lamps on the desks. There’s a photo of Wren’s parents in a silver frame on her desk, and I sit over there.
“I have something to ask,” I start, “And it won’t be easy to say. What are people saying about me?”
Wren looks at the floor. At Stonehaven, we’d ask each other all the time what people were saying about us. It was a game to see if we were trending with the gossips. And if we weren’t, we would do something wild to get back on the radar. Eventually, we didn’t need to ask.
“They said you made a sex tape,” she replies gently. “Is it true?”
I nod.
“Charlotte, that is too wild.” Wren giggles nervously and tries to make it a joke. “You really went too far to be noticed this time.”
My mouth is tight. “It wasn’t to get noticed.” I meet her gaze. “I lied to you about my dad. Something happened. Something bad. And I really don’t want to go into details except to say that he’s cut me off for good.”
Wren rushes over to me and kneels beside the chair. “Charlotte, what happened...” She cuts herself off, placing her hands on her mouth. “Sorry. I’m sure it will only be temporary. He’ll probably forgive you.”
“No, he won’t. He’s done with me. I had to leave Stonehaven. I didn’t have the money to finish senior year.”
“Then how do you afford it here?” She frowns, and then the realization smooths her brow. “Astrid? Oh, Charlotte. You should have told me. I would have helped.”
“With tuition and books?” I ask incredulously. “Wren, it would’ve been too much to ask.”
“So Astrid does help you?”
I can’t look her in the eyes. “Howland threatened to cut her off, too, if she gave me a penny. She tries, but I don’t want her to risk her future too.”
“I knew something was wrong.” Sighing, Wren sits on the floor. “I mean really wrong, but I just didn’t want to say anything. So I pretended, thinking if something was really wrong, you would tell me one day.”
