The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18 
Ellie’s POV 
Before I could leave school, I was summoned to the dean’s office by his secretary. Her expression was apologetic but firm as she gestured for me to take a seat in one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs facing his mahogany desk. 
“Miss Ellie,” the dea began, shuffling through some papers with obvious nervousness. “I’m afraid there’s been a rather sudden change to the mating ceremony requirements that I need to discuss with you.” 
My stomach dropped like a stone. After everything that had happened over the past few weeks, I should have known that more complications were coming. “What kind of change?” 
The dean cleared his throat uncomfortably, avoiding my direct gaze. “The school board held an emergency meeting last night. They’ve decided that all students must attend the mating ceremony this year. No exceptions whatsoever.” 
He paused, clearly dreading what he had to say next. “Additionally, every single student must have a confirmed dance partner. Those without partners will face serious academic consequences, including possible suspension.” 
I stared at him in complete disbelief. The timing was too convenient, too perfectly designed to trap me. 
“Since when is that a rule? You never mentioned anything like this before. In fact, just last week you said attendance was optional.” 
“It’s… well, it’s a new regulation,” he stammered, his face reddening slightly. “The board felt that the mating ceremony was too important to school tradition to allow students to simply skip it.” 
The explanation sounded rehearsed, as if he’d been practicing it. I could tell he didn’t believe his own words. 
From somewhere behind me, I heard a low, knowing scoff. “That rule was clearly made up last minute.” 
I turned around to see Lucas leaning against the doorframe with casual confidence, his arms crossed and an amused smirk playing on his lips. He looked completely at ease, as if he owned the place. 
Even the dean seemed to straighten up in his presence, his tone becoming noticeably more respectful and deferential. “Mr. Lucas, I didn’t realize you were waiting to see me.” 
“Just passing by,” Lucas said with deliberate casualness, though his intense gaze was fixed on me with obvious interest. “Couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. Fascinating timing for such an important rule change.” 
The implication in his words was clear – he knew exactly what was really going on. I didn’t want any further entanglements with him or anyone else connected to this mess. The last thing I needed was to get caught up in another Alpha’s political games and manipulations. 
I stood quickly, eager to escape this increasingly uncomfortable situation. “I understand the new rules, dean. I’ll figure something out before the deadline.” 
But Lucas was faster and more persistent than I had expected. He caught up to me just outside the office, his long strides easily matching my hurried pace down the corridor. 
“Well, that was certainly interesting,” he said, falling into step beside me with practiced ease. “If the school’s suddenly so concerned about everyone having partners, why don’t we just pair up? It would solve both our problems quite neatly.” 
Before I could formulate a response, one of his former admirers appeared seemingly out of nowhere, as if she’d been lurking in the shadows waiting for exactly this moment. She was a Beta’s daughter named Jessica, with long blonde hair and a possessive streak I remembered all too well from my past life. 
“Lucas!” she called out desperately, immediately latching onto his arm with both hands in a grip that looked almost painful. “You already accepted my invitation, remember? Stop trying to get in the way,” she added, shooting me a venomous look that could have melted steel. 
But Lucas’s expression turned cold as winter ice. Without any warmth or consideration for her feelings, he pulled his arm free from her desperate grasp with obvious distaste. 
“If it weren’t for Ellie, I wouldn’t even bother showing up at this stupid ceremony,” he said flatly, his words cutting through her hopes like a blade. 
I rolled my eyes at his dramatic declaration. I knew he was bluffing and putting on a show. 
In my past life, Lucas had definitely attended the mating ceremony. He’d danced with at least three different girls throughout the night, playing his usual games and breaking hearts left and right. 
Lucas seemed to find my obvious indifference strangely appealing. His eyes lit up with genuine interest, as if I’d just become a fascinating puzzle he wanted to solve rather than another conquest to pursue. 
The girl, furious at being dismissed so publicly and cruelly, stomped off with tears streaming down her face. Several other students had gathered in the hallway to watch the drama unfold, whispering excitedly among themselves. 
I felt deeply annoyed that Lucas had used me as a convenient prop to ditch someone else. To me, he was just as shallow and emotionally unreliable as Dominic, if not worse. Maybe even more dangerous, since at least Dominic’s coldness was honest rather than hidden behind charm. 
“I’m not interested in being your excuse or your latest game,” I said sharply, turning to walk away from this circus. 
But Lucas wasn’t ready to give up so easily. He kept following me persistently, his footsteps echoing in the hallway behind me like a constant reminder of his presence. 
“Come on, Ellie. You clearly need a partner, and I need a partner. It’s perfectly practical,” he said with that easy confidence that probably worked on most girls. 
“Find someone else to play your manipulation games with,” I replied without slowing down. 
We turned the corner and suddenly ran straight into Dominic and his usual group of loyal followers. Marcus was the first to notice us, his face immediately lighting up with mischievous glee at the potential drama. 
“Well, well, look who’s here,” Marcus said loudly, nudging Jake with his elbow. “Ellie, if you just said a few nice words to Dominic, he might go soft and agree to take you to the dance after all. You know how generous he can be.” 
The suggestion made my skin crawl with revulsion. Dominic stood there looking every bit the magnanimous 
prince, dressed in his expensive designer clothes and wearing that infuriating expression that suggested he was doing me an enormous favor just by existing in the same space. 
I immediately saw Dominic’s influence behind the new “requirement“. He couldn’t accept my public rejection, so he used his family’s sway to pressure the school board into creating this rule. It was exactly the kind of underhanded tactic I expected from him. 
But Lucas seemed completely unbothered by Dominic’s intimidating presence. If anything, he looked genuinely amused by the obvious tension crackling in the air between all of us. 
Without any warning, he casually slung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his side. The gesture was deliberately possessive and calculated, designed to make a very clear statement to everyone watching. 
“First come, first served,” Lucas said with a lazy, confident grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “I already asked Ellie, so I’m afraid you’ll have to back off.” 
The hallway fell completely silent. Even Marcus’s usual constant chatter died away as everyone processed what had just happened and waited to see what would come next. 
Dominic’s face darkened like a storm cloud, his jaw clenched so tightly I could practically hear his teeth grinding. His piercing eyes flicked between Lucas’s arm around my shoulders and my face, searching for any sign of protest or discomfort that would justify him intervening. 
But I didn’t pull away from Lucas. I didn’t deny his claim or rush to reassure Dominic that this was all a misunderstanding. 
For the first time in years, I simply stood my ground and let the chips fall where they may.