Chapter 247: I wasn’t forced

The ride from the Alpha’s residence to Dravenhall was far from comfortable. Yuki kept her face turned toward the side window, watching the manicured lawns of the upper estate fade into the bustling avenues of the university district.

She didn’t know what to say to this sudden fiancé sitting beside her, and the quiet enclosed space of the luxury car made her hyper-conscious of every breath she took, every shift of her legs, and the way her fingers kept twisting the strap of her bag.

She could feel Xavier’s eyes drift toward her from time to time, catching her reflection in the glass. Honestly, she was still reeling from the discovery that he was the Gamma’s son. She couldn’t wrap her mind around why someone like him would actually want her. After all, he was Kaden’s best friend. Wasn’t there some unspoken bro code that made her completely off-limits?

Xavier kept his gaze trained on the morning road, his hands resting lightly on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. He didn’t push for conversation or force small talk, understanding instinctively that she needed time to process the chaotic sequence of events.

When the car finally smoothly glided into the medical school parking lot, the engine hummed to a gentle stop. They were early for her eight o’clock lecture, but the campus grounds were already buzzing with students rushing between buildings.

The silence inside the car stretched. They both sat there in the quiet space, fully aware that a conversation needed to happen, yet neither seemed to know where to anchor it.

Yuki clutched her tote bag tightly against her lap, turning to face him with a small, self-conscious laugh. "Thank you for the ride, Xavier. Honestly, I never expected you to be the Gamma’s son." She chimed at him

She had known his family held high-ranking positions because they resided within the inner pack house territory, but realizing his father commanded the second most powerful military force in Ravencourt, second only to Alexander, was an entirely different reality.

The Velmore line of Ravencourt was practically royalty. They weren’t just powerful by title; they were one of the extremely rare Alpha bloodlines capable of co-existing under Ravencourt rule. In every technical sense, the Velmores were Alpha wolves.

Xavier offered a crooked, slightly embarrassed smile, reaching up to awkwardly rub the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess that detail kind of slipped out, didn’t it?" he chirped in response.

Yuki let out a soft laugh, teasing him as she leaned back against the headrest. "Does your father know his highly capable heir was attending crazy frat parties on the weekends?"

Xavier’s eyes crinkled at the corners, his tone dropping into a warm whisper. "Let’s keep that a secret between us, okay?"

Seeing his easy, familiar smile brought a wave of relief over her, loosening the knot of tension that had been sitting in her stomach all morning. She nodded with a soft smile and reached for the door handle. "I should probably head to class now."

"Yuki, wait," Xavier called out, his tone shifting so suddenly that she paused, her hand freezing on the latch.

She turned to meet his gaze. His clear, honey-brown eyes were locked onto hers, filled with a raw, hesitant vulnerability. His lips parted as if he were about to speak, but he hesitated, his chest rising and falling as he searched for the right words.

Yuki waited patiently, staying still in the passenger seat. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, exhaling a slow breath through his nose before turning his body slightly toward her.

"I know this all happened really fast, and you’re probably completely overwhelmed," he started, letting out a short, nervous laugh. "I know how extreme it looks, but my parents... they didn’t want the opportunity to slip away."

Yuki nodded gently, offering him an understanding look. "Xavier, it’s fine. I already understand the arrangement. I get it if you aren’t really into this and just went along with what your parents wanted." She truly believed he had simply been pressured into the arrangement by his family to secure a political tie.

His eyes widened in instant shock, a wave of total confusion washing over his face as he stared at her. Before he could interject, Yuki continued smoothly, opening her palm.

"You don’t have to force yourself into this, really. We can still be friends, and—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Xavier reached across the console and slammed her passenger door firmly shut, the heavy thud ringing out in the enclosed car.

"There’s a massive misunderstanding here," Xavier said hurriedly, his voice breathless as he searched her eyes. "I didn’t mean it like that at all."

Yuki blinked, thrown off by his sudden reaction. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Xavier took a slow, deep breath, resting his forearm on the steering wheel as he looked directly at her. "Do you honestly think I was forced into this engagement?"

"Isn’t that what happened?" she blurted out, her brow furrowing.

He shook his head firmly, a faint, incredulous chuckle escaping his lips. "Yuki, do I look like someone who can be forced into a life-altering contract against his will?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. "Does that mean..."

"Yes," Xavier cut in softly, finishing her thought without hesitation. "I wanted this engagement from the very beginning. My parents didn’t let the chance slip because I begged them not to, Yuki."

Her chest tightened instantly, her breath catching in her throat.

"Do you remember Ajax’s party?" Xavier asked softly, his voice dropping into a low, earnest register. "When someone asked if I would ever fight my best friend for his girl, and I said I would?"

Yuki’s eyes widened, her heart skipping a violent beat as the memory flashed through her mind.

"I liked you, Yuki," Xavier confessed, his gaze unwavering. "I know I didn’t go about this the conventional way. I skipped the whole dating phase and jumped straight into an engagement." He let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. "But that was the only way I could secure a real wall around you right now. I know... I know you still have feelings for them."