Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182 As Promised

ARDEN

Finished

“What are you doing here?” I asked, still flustered. Despite the cool air flowing through the windows. my body felt hot all over.

Cade pointed at the fruit basket he was holding in his other hand. “I’m visiting my faction members,” he said smoothly, stepping further into the room. His gaze then landed on Owen. “How are you feeling?”

Owen, being Owen, smiled victoriously. “I’m good. I heard those bastards are going to pay for my hospital fees. Thank you. I’ve never had the chance to say that to you.’

“It’s no problem,” Cade replied, placing the fruit basket on the table

tabjc.

“Although,” Owen chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eyes that made my breath hitch, “I think you should be asking Arden how she’s feeling instead.”

I should have launched that fruit basket directly at his face.

My cheeks burned as I stood rooted to the spot, desperate to disappear.

2

“I didn’t think you’d be the one to run away after… having done it with someone,” Cade added.

I pursed my lips, unwilling to engage. “You weren’t waking up.”

“I could have,” he said. “We should have eaten breakfast together.”

My heart raced to the point where I had trouble breathing. The casualness of his words struck a strange chord within me.

“It’s done, though,” I muttered, averting my gaze. “It’s over.”

“But I’m assuming it felt good,” he continued. “Really good, in fact, based on your own words.”

“Cade,” I hissed, throwing him a sharp glare. “Stop it.”

He chuckled, seemingly unfazed.

“I’m kidding,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. Then his gaze softened, landing on mine. “It felt good for me, too.”

I caught Tessa and Owen exchanging knowing smiles, and a rush of embarrassment washed over me Instinctively, I grabbed Cade’s arm and dragged him out of the room and into the hallway

“Whoa, easy,” he said, his infuriating smirk now permanently affixed to his lips.

are you really here?” I demanded.

doff nonexistent dust from his pants. “I really just came here for that.”

sed to leave now because I have a lot to do.”

“Like… what?” I found myself asking before I could stop myself.

Finish

Cade looked directly into my eyes. “Well, Sienna’s officially out of the faction, and she’s been pestering me nonstop to accept her again.

“Are you going to cave into her request?asked, trying to mask the unease in my voice.

He didn’t hesitate. “No. Not at all. You wouldn’t want that either, right?”

I shook my head before I even thought about it. “Yeah.”

A strange silence hung between us. I stared down at my feet before finally glancing back up.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

Cade raised a brow. “For what?”

“For… everything,” I replied. “For helping me. For being there when… when I needed someone. For keeping me şafe.”

He shrugged, but I noticed the slight twitch in his jaw. “Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to be scared about the video, either.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“It’s gone. I destroyed it with no backup.”

Before I could respond, the faint sound of sirens pierced through the air. I turned my head toward the noise, tilting it in confusion.

“Are those firetrucks?”

Cade offered me a tight smile. “Just a precaution. It’s not important.”

I stared at him, eyes wide. “What did you do?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he smirked.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, but he simply leaned against the wall, arnis

crossed.

“How are people treating you now?” he asked, effortlessly changing the subject before I could press for further details.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, hugging myself. “It’s weird. But I’m just happy it’s done. I don’t have to stres about the point systein or status or those ridiculous purity conversations anymore.”

He tilted his head, watching me intently.

“You don’t want to do it again?” he asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Yeah,” I unconsciously answered, but my voice trailed off as the import of his question hu mc.

Chapter 182 As-Promised

“What?

“Well, it doesn’t have to be the last time,” he muttered casually.

I stared at him, entirely unprepared for such a statement.

“Are you joking?”

Finished

His smirk returned, more playful than ever. “Don’t think about it too much.” He stepped closer and gently pinched my cheek. “I can see your brain overheating.”

I slapped his hand away, my cheeks flushing a deep red. “You’re insane.

“Only slightly,” he replied, taking a step back toward the door. “But admit it. You’d consider it.”

“I’d consider throwing a chair at you.”

“I’ll take that as a maybe.”

With that, Cade exited the room like he hadn’t just tossed a live grenade into my overworked brain.

“See you later, Arden,” he waved before walking away.

I returned to the hospital room only to find Owen and Tessa lingering by the door, their expressions sheepish.

“Were you listening in on us?”

“Don’t worry!” Tessa quickly disclaimed. “We only heard the latter part of your conversation.”

I groaned. As if that made it any better!

Owen nudged my shoulder and smiled, enjoying himself. “You’re in so deep.”

***

Tessa and I made our way back toward the dorms, my cheeks still warm from all the teasing i had received from the two of them.

Γ

“Come on now. I’m sorry,” Tessa chuckled. “It’s just so fun to tease you.”

“I can’t wait for the day I can tease the two of you, too,” I grumbled, causing her to chuckle once more.

As we turned the corner into the courtyard, I could feel the stares again. I crossed my arms and lowered my gaze, trying to walk faster.

“If it makes you feel better, Cade’s also being treated such after that short video aired.”

“Huh?”

“Well, so many people want to be with Cade. Like really want to be with him. It’s like he’s the ultimate Alpha now.”

182 As-Promised

frowned. “He always was the ultimate Alpha. Everyone knew that.”

“Sure, but this just confirmed it. It gave it visuals.” She giggled.

Strangely, that did not make me feel better.

My steps faltered. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Mmmh. Is it?” Tessa asked, trying to hide another laugh.

Finish

Before I could even think of a comeback, someone caught my wrist. I turned, startled, and met a very familiar face-Elias.

“What are you doing?” I asked, pulling slightly.

“You didn’t respond to my text,” he said.

“That’s because I told you we’ll meet tomorrow anyway,” I answered calmly.

Elias sighed, shoulders dropping. “Can’t we just go out right now?”

“No,” I replied flatly.

He stared at me, looking like someone just kicked his puppy. “You know this is the first time I’m being rejected blatantly like this?”

“Good for you,” I muttered and pulled my hand from his grip, sidestepping past him.

Tessa let out a full-bellied laugh. “That’s the first time I’ve seen Elias so flustered. It’s fun!”

“It’s not fun for me,” I grumbled, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’ve run into all four of the Alphas today. And every single one of them is giving me a headache.”

She smiled sympathetically but didn’t deny it. “Yeah, they’re confusing all right.”

We were just about to head to the bus stop when we heard whispers and the scent of smoke wafting through the air.

“What’s that smell?” I asked, sniffing again.

Tessa’s head whipped to the side. “It’s coming from the direction of

My heart stopped. “The maze gardens.

Before I knew it, I began walking briskly in that direction, My legs moved, gravel crunching beneath my shoes as we pushed past students and staff moving the opposite way. The haze grew heavier, the air acrid with the smell of something chemical and burnt.

The maze gardens couldn’t burn. It was undoubtedly my favorite spot in this place. My heart pounded as

wasn’t the garden. we rounded the corner, and I immediately sighed in relief when I saw

Instead, it was the old storage building beside it.

Chapter 182 As-Promised

The building where I saw the files, monitors, and servers containing the videos of the students.

I gasped, staggering to a stop.

Finished

Thick smoke curled into the sky. Several guards were already on site, waving off students. Fire hoses trailed from red trucks as firefighters shouted orders.

And right in the middle of the chaos stood Mr. Winters.

His face, normally so cheerful, was twisted in rage.

“Do you know how important that is to me?” he shouted at one of the guards. “You were assigned to this building. You should’ve seen something. You should’ve-”

He cut himself off, seething.

The whispers around us grew louder.

“Wasn’t that just a storage facility?”

“I heard it had surveillance.”

Then Mr. Winters turned.

His eyes landed on me.

For a fraction of a second, I saw it-pure murderous intent.

It chilled my blood.

But just as quickly, it vanished. His expression smoothed into something collected as he faced the crowd.

“Please head back to your dorms,” he said, his voice a touch too polite. “Your safety is our priority.”

Still, something lingered in his gaze. Something that made the back of my neck prickle.

However, amidst this feeling, I also felt utter relief.

It was gone. All of the unexported videos were gone.

Just as Cade promised.

128

-ring ing Better Brother

Chapter 188 What She Deserves

ARDEN

I was still trying to calm my nerves.

Everything that had happened yesterday-no, this entire week-felt like one long, spiraling fever dream.

From losing my virginity to the incessant pestering from the other Alphas, and the burning building… my mind was cluttered with far too much.

My wolf hadn’t stopped pacing beneath my skin, restless and on edge. And now, of course, I had to deal with class. Where was life’s pause button when you truly needed it?

Miss Loveson stood at the front, her curls bouncing with every word she spoke. She had recently permed her hair, so the scent of the solution made my nose twitch a bit.

“For your semester project,” she began, “you’ll be working in pairs. One woman and one man.”

“Please find your partners before I share the details of the project.”

I leaned over to Tessa immediately, feeling disappointed.

She chuckled softly, amusement in her eyes. “I would if I could,” she replied even though I didn’t speak. “But we can’t.”

My heart sank at her words, disappointment flooding me, when suddenly, I felt two pairs of eyes land on me. My wolf bristled before I even turned around.

I turned around to find Rowan gazing at me with his usual flirty smile. “Do it with me,” he said casually.

Before I could fully process it, a strong hand wrapped around my wrist.

Cade din’t say anything at first. His gaze was just fixed on Rowan with a look that could ignite a silent battle of wills. His fresh scent also intensified. Mixed with the scent of the perm solution, it was making me feel quite dizzy.

“I asked her first,” Rowan said.

Cade merely tilted his head in response. “She’s from my faction now.”

୮

“That doesn’t automatically mean you have to pair up,” Rowan snapped. “Let Arden decide.”

Both of them turned their intense gazes on me. I felt like I was trapped in the middle of their silent was My wolf stirred beneath my skin, caught between instinctual submission to their Alpha auras and the urge to flee the thick dominance in the air.

“Why do you even want to work with me?” I shot at Cade. “You said I was incompetent in our last project.

“Exactly,” he muttered. “That’s why you need me.”

I let out a deep breath, shaking my head in frustration. I then attempted to remove

his held on my wrist,

napter 183 What She Deserves

but he tightened his grip just enough to anchor me in place.

His touch sent sparks through my arm. Was it hot in here?

No, it was just me. Or maybe, it was him.

Why did he have to be so infuriatingly handsome while saying things that grated on my nerves?

“You’re still not done choosing partners?” Miss Daveson asked as she strolled past us.

Finish

“Since Cade is already holding Arden’s arm, then you two can pair up. Tessa and Rowan, that leaves the two of you.”

I turned quickly to look at Tessa. Her expression had stiffened, her usual bright demeanor replaced by what appeared to be melancholy.

Rowan clicked his tongue and crossed his arms defiantly over his chest.

He didn’t even glance at Tessa.

“Let’s switch,” he offered, looking at me.

“Alright!” Miss Loveson announced, ignoring him completely. “I’ve written the pairs down!”

My gaze fixated on Rowan’s clenched jaw, his body tense and ready to argue again. However, Miss Loveson continued, her tone decisive as she laid down the law of the assignment.

“This project is about understanding,” she elaborated./Pack dynamics, male and female differences, and how instincts shift depending on bonds. You are to observe your partner. Interact. Spend time together. And at the end of the semester-”

She paused, “-you’ll write something about your partner. Truthfully. Explore your differences and how they coexist as entities. Don’t hold back.”

I stared blankly ahead, my thoughts racing. The word bonds echoed in my head, and I felt my wolf stir. Cade’s proximity wasn’t helping.

At that moment, Cade finally let go of my wrist. Yes, he had been holding onto it this entiretime. His fingers brushed down to my palm before he allowed it to fall away. “This will be fun,” he muttered.

Next to me, Tessa pulled out her notebook, glancing at Rowan from time to time. He, in turn, sat back with a glare on his face, refusing to acknowledge her presence.

As my gaze bounced between the two of them, I couldn’t help but ponder their connection. They were both from the South, yet Tessa had never mentioned being in the same pack as Rowan. Perhaps did the know each other before?

I quietly shook my head. Tessa had been patient with me all this time, and I wanted to give her all the ume in the world. After all, she was my best friend.

*****

Despite my efforts to push the thought into the recesses of my mind. I couldn’t help but notice it. Tessa