Sexting With A Vampire
Chapter 15

Stella

When I walk into the cafeteria, Alpha Raphael sits with his pack. He waves at me, causing me to grimace. My fingers sink into the tray, and I pretend I never saw him. Since I don't know if alpha Raphael is my mate, I'm not that into him. He freaks me out by being so forward.

And truthfully, I'm probably too brainwashed to find a werewolf attractive. I've been exposed to vampires my entire life. I grew up in Ashley's home as her servant, and her parents basically raised me. Sure, they were mean, but perhaps my brain is damaged? s**t. What if that's the reason my heart races whenever Evan is around? My stupid brain might see him as the perfect example of a vampire. Because I couldn't possibly like him?

Right?

Regardless, I forcefully shove Evan out of my head and try to find an empty seat.

The cafeteria is filled with people, and the only table with seats left is one where Whitney is already sitting.

She silently lifts her chin to look at me, revealing bruises around her eyes and a few scars on her neck

Was she punished for trying to apologize to me?

"You can sit with me," Whitney says when she catches me staring at her. A tiny smile curls her lips, but it looks gloomy. "Well, you don't have to since you probably hate me..."

I gulp, unsure what to do.

I don't honestly like Whitney, but Raphael won't approach me if I sit down by her table.

Sighing, I sit in front of Whitney and lift my legs to hide them under the circular wooden table.

"Won't Ashley get mad at you for hanging with me?" I ask while biting into my leftover sandwich.

I'm not a talkative person, but I'm trying for Whitney's sake. She doesn't deserve my forgiveness. Yet I still feel bad whenever I see the injuries on her delicate face.

"No, Ashley won't even care."

I brace myself before asking my other question. I'm only asking it since I feel like Whitney doesn't possess a danger right now. "And why is that?"

"Oh, it's nothing special... Just that Ashley ordered the other vampires to kill me. It happened during moonlight practice. Everyone attacked me. But for some reason, Evan stopped the other vampires from laying another hand on me when he saw what was happening."

"Oh?" I blink. "That's..."

"Our of character for him?" Whitney finishes for me.

I nod, and she smiles.

"I agree with you. Evan is the coldest vampire I've ever met. He kills without blinking, and everyone fears him. Yet when he heard why I was being punished, he briefly hesitated. He looked gentle, and suddenly, he was the one beating up Ashley." I stare at her. "Is that why Ashley called in sick?"

"I think so..." Whitney is sizing me up with interest in her eyes. "Evan really did a number on Ashley!"

"I see..."

"Yup." Whitney fully faces me. "So, are you screwing him?"

I freeze at her question.

I slept with Evan, yet I don't intend to ever reveal it. I value Evan's role as the vampire prince, and the last thing I need is to ruin his future by saying I f****d him. Therefore, I let my face become a wall. I try to channel my inner calm and not give anything away.

"No," I tell her with a poker face. "I'm not f*****g Evan."

Whitney grins. "I don't believe you, but it's okay. I understand you don't trust me. I've been bullying you for years, and... I'm honestly surprised you're choosing to sit with me."

I hand her a weak smile. "Don't think you're special or anything. I'm merely using you so that alpha Raphael won't approach me."

She laughs. "Wait, you're avoiding the hot alpha who claims to be your mate? s**t, that's funny."

I stare down at the table in shame and mumble. "Raphael freaks me out. He is too... Aggressive in his pursuit."

Whitney dries a tear on her finger. "Alpha Raphael is hot, and I would be boning him right now if I were you."

I blush at her voice of words. "Raphael doesn't appeal to me."

"Right, because your eyes are set on someone even more gorgeous-Evan, the cold-hearted vampire prince. Who, apparently, does have a heart when it comes to you."

Her words make me nervous, so I change the question. "Are the other vampires only mad at you for trying to apologize to me?"

Whitney looks at me and then lets her eyes travel to the vampire table. A look of fear flashes over her face, and she immediately avoids their curious eyes.

"Yes," Whitney sounds afraid. "Ashley's family claimed you, and you don't have a pack-you rightfully belong to them. And questioning their treatment of their dog would normally result in death." I ignore the comment about being a dog and hand her a weak smile. "Yet you're still alive."

"Only because Evan saved my a*s..."

I lift an eyebrow. "Is Evan able to make such a decision, though? Tell the vampires not to kill you?"

"Not really," Whitney peers down at me. She is a little bit taller. "By keeping me alive, Evan directly challenges his father's authority since he wrote the slave laws himself. A lot is happening right now."

I smile and hold up my glass. "What a great time to be alive."

Whitney smiles with me, and then her eyes light up. "Oh, wait! I almost forgot! You're going to the Spring Festival, right?"

What a chance of conversation...

I had almost forgotten Whitney is a bubbly cheerleader.

I squirm in my seat, answering weakly. "Uh, if Ashley will let me."

"She will." Whitney dismisses that fact with a brush of her hand and leans forward with her chin resting in her palm. "What is essential is that you find a lovely dress to wear, Stella... And since you're my new best friend as of today-"

"Woah, hold on!" I hold up my hands with my heart pounding. I've never had a friend, and her words shock me. "You and I are not friends-I'm only sitting with you to keep alpha Raphael away from me!"

"Which makes us friends," Whitney beams at me. "Anyway, to start our new friendship, I have decided to give you a gorgeous dress to wear for the upcoming Spring Festival!"

I nervously wet my lips. "And why would you do that?"

"To make us friends," Whitney says and then sighs. "And keeping you around will be a lifeline for me. Nobody will dare to hurt me when you're around since Evan fancies you."

My blush intensifies, and I mumble. "Evan doesn't fancy me..."

"Oh, but he does," Whitney hands me a grin. "And he isn't afraid of showing it either... All the vampires seem to suspect it since Evan got mad at Ashley for wanting to beat you. The other vampires think he is weird for caring, yet he doesn't give a f**k about it. I wish my mate would be like that. Someone who cared about me that much..."

I blink. "Isn't Ryker your mate?"

"No, he is only the guy my family wishes for me to marry," Whitney grimaces and sighs. "In the brooding vampire world, power is more important than love."

"I've heard it can be like that in the werewolf world too..."

"True..."

Withney studies me for a long moment before wetting her lips and lowering her voice. She even leans over the table to make sure nobody listens to our conversation. "You're a silver wolf, Stella. It means that you have the option of becoming super powerful. So, you can choose whoever you want as your boyfriend-use it."

I breathe a laugh and stare down at the table with a shy smile. "I'm pretty sure it doesn't work like that, Whitney."