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Chapter 61 Lucky

Chapter 61 Lucky

ARDEN

“Do you want to study at the Silver Lounge?” Elias basked /bbas /bwe met outside the building for myst ss. We had agreed to start preparing for the uingpetition, and despite my insistence that we simply meet at the gates, Elias hade all the way here.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I bshook /bmy bhead/b. “No.”

His brows knitted together bin /bconfusion. “Why bnot/b?”

I pressed my lips together. The truth was, I wasn’t in the mood to run into Sienna. Though I couldn’t deny that the lingering sting from the p I had given her still sent a satisfying tingle through my palm.

With a smirk tugging bat /bthe corners of bhis /bmouth, Elias raised an eyebrow. “Do you want toe to my ce instead?”

I turned to him, bmy /bexpression deadpan. “bNo /bway.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, clearly amused. “Just asking

A small smile crept onto my lips as I responded, “I know a ce.”

He looked at me with a bhint /bbof /bsuspicion. “Where are we going?

“You’ll see,” I said, clicking my tongue yfully bas /bI tugged at his sleeve, dragging him along with me.

We wove through the campus, and after a bit of wandering, we finally reached the destination. As I pushed the door open, the bell chimed gently, announcing our arrival.

“Wee!” a familiar voice called out

ra, buried beneath a pile of old tomes and scrolls, peeked out from behind the reception desk. Her hair was piled up in a messy bun, and she woreicallyrge magnifying sses perched on her nose, making her eyes appear five times their

busual /bsizeb. /b

A smile spread across her bface /bbas /bsoon as she recognized me. “Arden!”

“ra,” bI /bgreeted warmly, bmaking /bmy way bover /bto her.

“What brings byou /bhere today?” she asked with genuine curiosity.

“Do you bhave /bseats avable?” I replied, tucking ba /bstrand of hair behind

my ear.

ra nodded eagerly. “Of course! At the back. Just follow the left corridor. Are you nning to study?”

Her eyes briefly flicked over to bElias/bb, /bwho had wandered off to a tall shelf, running his fingers along the leather bindings of

the books.

“Yeah, thanksb,/b” I said.

“No problemb./b” She shed me a bright smile and waved her hand in farewell, already turning bback /bto her pile of books. “Sorry I can’t keep youpany. We just received a shipment of antique booksb, /band they’re a dusty mess.”

“No worries,” I assured her again, leading Elias toward the bcozy /bstudy area tucked away at the back of the library.

bice we settled in, the atmosphere was blissfully quiet. I gathered the textbooks I had brought along; the Prelims were just around theer, and thepetition would follow closely behind. This was the calm before the storm, and I needed to muke the most out of it

fora few moments, all bwas /bpeaceful Elias remained silent, opening bhis /bnotebook and beginning to scribble furiously. I found myself diving into my reading, flipping through my notes and outlining key points. My mind began to settle, bgradually /btaking

the necessary focus.

1:16 AM c c

Chapter 61 Lucky

However, just as I was achieving bthat /bfocused state of concentration, my phone buzzed.

Once

Twice.

Thrice.

I sighed and finally checked my messages. But just then, my phone buzzed bagain/bb. /bIt was Cade.

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“What is his problemb?/b” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. His texts didn’t seem important; he was still teasing me about being jealous from a bwhile /bago. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to smile. It was ridiculous, yet he was being weirdly sweet?

Then another message popped up. This time, it was from Jaxon. I clicked my tongue, annoyance bubbling up inside me.How did he even get this number? I stared at the screen for a moment before blocking him without a second thought. I definitely didn’t want bthat /bheadache.

Elias, sitting across from me, suddenly let out a deep breath, loud enough to make me look up. “If you weren’t going to study,” he muttered, “then you shouldn’t bhave /bagreed toe with me.”

What?”

He turned his head slightly, avoiding my gaze. “You’re just distracted. The entire time.”

“I am studying.” I said defensively, though I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.

He nced pointedly at the untouched book in front of me. “Reallyb?/b”

I pressed my lips into a tight line. Okay, maybe he had a point.

“I thought we were supposed to actually prepare for thepetition. Instead, you’ve been texting, sighing, and smiling every bfive /bseconds.”

Elias had his arms crossed, his pen tapping lightly against the edge of the table. His lips were pulled down into a bquiet /bfrown, and although he tried to mask it with indifference, there was something undeniably childish about the way his brows furrowed. He looked sulky.

I couldn’t help it; a small chuckle escaped me as I tilted my head toward him. “Are you sulking?”

“No,” he muttered. “I’m just saying. We came here to study, but you’re not even paying attention to me.”

1 raised an eyebrow. “To you?”

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice a little defensive. “I’m your partner, aren’t I?”

Anotherugh slipped from my lips before bI /bbcould /bstop it. “You look like a kid deprived of his wants.”

It bwas /bmeant to be a lightheartedment. However, the moment the words left my mouth, I regretted it. Elus fell silent. His bjaw /bclenched, and his gaze dropped back to his notes Oh no, did I say something wrong?

“I didn’t mean it like bthat/bb,” /bI said quickly. “I mean-

Ehas still hadn’t spoken.

ean, my parents don’t love me, either,” I blurted, hoping it might blighten /bthe mood.

He turned toward me slowly, one brow raised. A small chuckle escaped his lips. “You’re really admitting that out loud?” he

asked, will amused.

1 scratched the back of my neckb, /bsuddenly feeling self–conscious. “Well, you seemed offended.”

“I’m not,” he bsaid/bb, /bshaking his head. “I’m far too old to be offended.”

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Chapter 61 Lucky

“We’re not too old to long for a parent’s love,” I responded, my tone turning more serious, “But sometimes… it cages us. It’s not easy, but sometimes it’s better without it. That doesn’t mean we can’t still want it, though

His

gaze wavered for just a second, a flicker of understanding crossing bhis /bface.

Although the atmosphere had brightened a little, it gained an awkward edge after my admission Determined to break the tension. I reached forward and grabbed one of the review materials he’d brought, hoping it might shift the focus back to studying.

As I opened it and began scanning the pages, my eyes widened in disbelief. There were diagrams, annotations, summaries. and timelines of past bpack /bwars I hadn’t even remembered. Every section was meticulously color–coded,plete with strategicmentary in the marginsb. /b

“Woah.” I breathed, flipping to another page. “When did you even have the time to write this?”

Elias simply shrugged. “It’s nothing.

“It’s bnot/b, though,” I said, still flipping through the pages. “Your war strategies–no wonder people say what they say. Even the other factions adapted some of these, didn’t they?”

He remained silent, a thoughtful look crossing his face,

“You’re a really good strategistb,/b” I continued, my eyes still glued to the detailed notes.

Still, he didn’t respond.

“The pack is lucky to have you.” I badded/b, ncing up at him.

Elias smirked faintly, finally turning his head baway/b, trying to hide his expression. He crossed his arms tighter against his

chest.

“You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“bWhy /bwouldn’t I?” I countered, my tone earnest. “These are impressive.”

He finally turned to me, his expression challenging. “You bthink /bI need someone by my side to praise me or something

I smiled sofily. “I think most people say they don’t. But truly, no man is an ind”

I leaned back, keeping my gaze locked on him, bcurious /bto see his reaction.

“We all crave connection, Elias. Even the most brilliant minds need someone who sees them for who they are. Someone to say. “bYou /bbdid /bwellb. /bSomeone who chooses you when you don’t bask /bto be chosen

His eyes stayed fixed on mine, absorbing my words.

After a long pause, a stillness enveloped us until the corner of Elias’s mouth twitched, just barely, but it was there.

And then he spoke. I think I already found that person,”

Silence settled between us for a moment before I smiled up at him, a warm feeling blooming in my chest.

“That’s good, then,” I said, my bvoice /bgentle. “Hold on to bthat /bperson.”

“You are lucky to have them”