CHAPTER 146: LOSING FRIENDS

Andria’s POV

I had to act in this scenery; I can’t let this commotion linger as the student council president.

"Go back to your dorms or back to the cafeteria, this scene isn’t allowed," I shouted. Surprisingly, the students started to disperse, although some murmured as they left.

I walked into the royal cafeteria, looking Allison and Liara straight in the eyes, and then to the silly reason for the commotion, Jackson, who was smirking.

"I’m sure you are delighted with yourself for being the reason behind the commotion this afternoon."

"I didn’t cause anything; Allison is just being silly and jealous," Jackson defended.

"Well, if you hadn’t been stupid enough to dump your mate, maybe she wouldn’t be so aggressive," I retorted and then turned to face Liara, "I mean, come on, Lia, this silly rogue prince is not for you, you are royalty, he will end up manipulating you and taking your legacy away from you. Don’t forget that he is from the family of rebels; you can’t handle him. Lia put yourself in Allis..."

Liara cut me off, "Don’t lecture me, Ari. How did you turn to Allison’s advocate all of a sudden? It seems you like to play pity party." She paused, sizing me up. "She has been the one tormenting you since Tracy left. She has been the one opposing you, fighting you any chance she gets, and now you defend her over me? Are you ok?" she screamed at me.

I was silent for a while, my breath heaving in and out. I didn’t want this drama escalating so fast, and I didn’t want the drama diverting to me. I tried to settle this dispute amicably, but I can’t do it while tense.

"Lia, I’m not taking sides with anyone; in fact, I have your best interest at heart. I don’t want you getting hurt. Just turn around and see who you are defending. He is delighted with the show.

He shouldn’t be in the royal cafeteria in the first place, but since you are royalty, you have the right to bring in at least two non-royals into the cafeteria, so that’s understandable.

But you already know the circumstances surrounding your bond with your mate. All I’m saying is that if he did this to Allison, nothing stops him from doing the same to you after he has taken what he wants from you."

"What do you mean, I would do the same to Lia? Lia is my fated mate, Allison forced herself...

"Say those words again, Jackson, I dare you. My brother warned me against you, but I trusted you blindly, believing your silly promise to make me shine, because I desperately wanted my father to notice me for once as his daughter. I thought you offered that acknowledgment, and for once, I felt someone saw me.

You wanted to have my father’s position by all means, and you thought that seducing his daughter would be easier for you. You are the one who persuaded me to bond with you, and I was so stupid to listen to you," Allison burst out, and to my greatest surprise, Liara didn’t flinch.

She just turned to me. "You believe her make-believe story, right? Could it be because her brother is your mate?. Look, Ari, I’m not as lucky as you, who has been blessed with what? Like five mates, where you have to choose. He is my only true mate, and he is an Alpha too. I’ve got no brother, so I need him if I want my father’s throne."

I see, who could have known that Lia was ambitiously stupid, falling for the same trap Allison had fallen for. A need for relevance in the sight of their fathers, one with an overpowering brother and the other with none, which makes it easier for him to infiltrate. I hope Sir Kaelric knows of this and saves Lia. For now, she seems love-struck.

"When things turn against you, Lia, don’t come looking for me; you’d better look before you leap." I turned towards Allison, "Join us at the general cafeteria."

She looked happy and surprised. She quickly grabbed her bag, shot a glare at Jackson, and then at Lia before joining me.

"One last word, Ari. I’m not Allison, and I don’t think you can easily fight me if you decide. It’s either you come to terms with my new relationship with Jackson or....

"Or what?" I interrupted.

"Or you can just fuck yourself, you and your little mediocre group that’s been using my power to shine. I’ll see how you would survive Ashwood without me by your side," Liara said, bursting into a humorless laughter.

I was visibly agitated. I had to tell this little brat that royalty doesn’t equate to mental strength. "I had survived even before you set foot in Ashwood, and I’ll keep surviving. You are just one weak princess who hadn’t experienced the four walls of school before and needed some lit group to belong to till she found her footing. What is the difference between you and a coward? I thought you were my friend, turns out you are another mistake."

I turned without giving her another chance to respond, and I left the cafeteria.

A feeling of sadness washed over me. I suddenly lost the appetite to eat, but I couldn’t abandon Allison.

I led Allison to Mel, Michaela, and Becca. "Friends, welcome our new friend and swap?" I announced.

I could read the disapproval on their faces. "Ari, are you the rescuer of lost puppies? First, it was Mel, apologies," she said, looking at Mel, "Now Allison of all the she wolves in Ashwood," Becca said, disapprovingly.

"You just spoke my mind, didn’t want to say anything because she might have attacked me like before," Michaela added.

"But you just said something, and you already know my response to that. Michaela Liara made you part of the group despite my disapproval, and I had no choice but to play along. If you aren’t happy with the new member, you can as well run along with Lia," I said, my words breaking out. I was on the verge of tears.

"Are you ok?" Becca asked me, Michaela bowed her head, and I could feel the whole place tensing up. I had no other option but to excuse myself.

"Excuse me," I told them, dashing out of the cafeteria, before I burst out in front of them. And of all the places to run to, I found myself running towards the duel hall.

It wasn’t long after I had arrived that I realized that the duel hall was the wrong location.