Taming the Hybrid Mate: Desired by Five Alphas-Chapter 212: The game night

Andria’s POV

Even with Becca as the game master, my heart was still very unsettled.

I walked into the shower, hoping it would slow the pounding of my heart.

The water from the shower helped a bit, but as soon as I hopped out of the shower, the gnawing feeling crawled back into me.

"Aria, calm down, everything will be okay. The Alpha successors aren’t fools, nor are they your friends from childhood. They are our mates. And they are Alphas at that, so be calm," Athena reassured.

Her reassurance should have swept the feeling away from me, but there was still a little bit of anxiety within, maybe from anticipation.

I put on a tank top and pants and stepped out of my room.

I pulled my door shut behind me and paused for a second, letting the hallway air settle on my skin. My hair was still a little damp from the shower, strands clinging to the back of my neck.

"Breathe," I whispered to myself, but even that felt like I was giving orders to a stranger.

Athena remained quiet for once. Too quiet that it unsettled me a bit.

The scent of caramel popcorn drifted faintly from our shared lounge. I knew it would be Becca’s doing, obviously. She would be the one, because Mel wasn’t the type to hop into the kitchen and prepare something like that.

I padded down the short hallway and slowed my steps as I approached the sitting room. Their voices weren’t loud, but they weren’t exactly whispering either.

And I recognized that tone in Mel’s voice, sugary and persuasive, trying to crawl her way back to being the game master.

"...but I’m telling you, Becca, the flow will be awkward. You don’t know how to control a crowd yet..."

"I’ll learn." Becca’s voice was steady, but I heard the tiny tremor underneath it. "Besides, you said you would help me. Didn’t you?"

"I will, but some roles aren’t just... transferable."

I froze just outside the archway, leaning lightly against the wall, watching them without stepping in.

Mel was sitting cross-legged on the center couch, leaning forward with both elbows propped on her knees like a detective interrogating a suspect. Becca sat opposite her, hands knotted in her lap, eyes shifting anywhere but Mel’s face.

A slow wave of irritation bubbled up inside me.

So she’s still pushing it. Even after this morning. Even after agreeing.

I took two soft steps forward, making sure my footfalls were quiet enough to let me watch a moment longer.

Mel hadn’t noticed.

"...look, Becca, if something goes wrong on a night like this, with this kind of crowd, it’ll reflect badly on you. And on Aria. And on all of us. You don’t want that kind of pressure." Mel’s voice dipped lower, coaxing. "Just let me handle it. Please."

Becca inhaled slowly, her brows pinching. "I just don’t understand why you are insisting so much..."

"I’m not insisting! I’m just, I’m just saying it makes more sense."

I stepped into the room, letting my presence be known to them finally.

"Actually," I said, "it’s starting to make less sense by the minute."

Mel jolted so hard her hand flew to her chest. "Aria—! Damn, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," I said, folding my arms as I walked past her and plopped into the chair closest to Becca. "Long enough to hear you ’not insisting.’"

Becca exhaled in relief, slumping slightly.

Mel’s gaze darted between us, her shoulders stiff. "I was just talking to her. It wasn’t a big deal. She misunderstood me."

"No," I said, my voice cool but not sharp, "you’re pushing. Again. And at this point? It’s starting to look suspicious."

Mel’s nostrils flared. "Suspicious? Because I want the games to be good?"

"No," I countered, leaning forward, "because you’re acting like being there is something behind being the game master that you don’t want to lose."

A faint color rose on Mel’s cheeks, out of irritation.

"There must be a reason you’re insisting this hard," I added. "So... what is it? What’s so special about you being the one in charge?"

Mel blinked rapidly. "Why are you suddenly acting like I’m plotting something? I’m just trying to help. And I feel like I’m the only one who can bring the game to life the right way."

I scoffed gently. "Oh, please. You’re not summoning demons. It’s a game night, not a ritual."

Becca snorted under her breath.

Mel shot her a glare.

I continued, "Becca will do just fine as game master. Probably better."

Becca tried to protest, "Ari..."

"No," I said, gently but firmly. "You will."

Mel stood abruptly, her lips pressed into a thin, displeased line. "Fine. Whatever. If that’s how you both feel." Her voice wavered with barely concealed annoyance. "I was trying to help. But apparently that’s a crime today."

"Mel..."

She shook her head sharply. "Forget it. I need air."

And with that, she stormed out of the sitting room, footsteps heavy, leaving the faint scent of her perfume lingering behind her.

Becca watched her leave with wide eyes. "Wow."

"Yeah," I exhaled. "She’s definitely acting weird."

Becca nudged my arm lightly. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For stepping in. Again."

"You’re my friend," I said simply. "And you didn’t deserve that."

She smiled softly.

But even as we sat there, the uneasy feeling I had been carrying since morning wrapped around me again like a cold sheet of fog.

Something about tonight felt... loaded.

Night settled sooner than expected.

Ashwood Academy never looked more alive. Dorm lights glowed across the courtyard.

"Let’s move the sofas towards that direction, so that there would be enough space," I stated, pointing towards the empty compartment in the living room.

In some minutes now we would be having our guests.

Mel was already dressed, Becca too. They looked extremely gorgeous for an apartment event.

"Ari, go dress up now, we will be having our guests soon," Becca called out to me.

"But we aren’t done yet," I answered.

"There’s not much left, Mel and I can handle the rest. Go dress up," she replied.

A knock on our apartment sent me walking towards my room.

"I told you so," Becca called out after me.

I hurried to my room, cleaned up a bit, and got dressed. I put on a silver silk dress, exposing my arm, and some part of my back. It was a short, simple but gorgeous dress, fitting for the event.

I stepped out back into the living room, and some students were already in. Some were playing the card game already, while some were just hanging around sipping drinks.

Becca had done an amazing job organizing things, even though she kept fretting and smoothing down her shirt every five minutes.

Mel stood beside her, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. She wasn’t smiling. She wasn’t scowling either. She was... neutral.

But I didn’t trust that neutrality.

"Aria, what do you think?" Becca asked, gesturing at the setup.

"Honestly?" I nodded. "It looks great."

Her cheeks warmed. "Thank you."

Mel didn’t say anything.

Familiar scents hit me one by one. Then came Alexa and Tricia, walking in like they owned the ground beneath them.

Alexa’s hair was curled to perfection, bouncing with each deadly step. Tricia had her trademark smirk plastered on her lips.

Both of them saw me instantly.

And both of them rolled their eyes... instantly.

I ignored it.

Becca swallowed hard and Mel smirked, I found it rather amusing that after all that had happened, Mel still fansied dramas, in fact, she has opted out of drama just to instigate it instead.

Minutes rolled into more minutes and soon the room was almost filled up. I was surprised at the number of students that had showed up for the game night.

Alexa and Tricia seemed a little bit anxious, and I think I overheard Alexa ask, "Where are the Alpha successor? I thought they would be here."

She was muttering more to herself than asking anyone in particular.

Time was going, and the event needed to begin, so that we could all retire to bed on time.

The longer the Alpha successors delayed, the more Becca deflated and the more Mel fidgeted.

At first, she pretended not to care. But after ten, fifteen, twenty minutes, the impatience started leaking out of her pores.

"They said they would come, right?" she asked for the third time.

"Yes," I said.

"Are you sure?"

"Mel," I snapped, "they said they would come. Didn’t you talk to Allison to confirm?"

She fell silent.

I started to doubt it eventually. The room was loud, bright, and buzzing... but something felt incomplete.

Becca sighed. "Maybe they changed their minds."

My chest tightened. "They wouldn’t..."

But maybe.

Alexa’s voice sliced through the air from across the room. "Looks like your Alphas ditched you, Aria."

My jaw clenched. Tricia laughed beside her, flicking her hair back. "Or maybe they have better things to do than being in a small gathering like this."

I ignored them, but their laughter bit into me anyway.

Mel’s eyes darted nervously between me and the door. She muttered something under her breath that I could barely hear.

Becca whispered, "It’s okay if they don’t come. Really. We should get started already."

I forced a smile. "Yeah."

I was somehow happier than I was disappointed that they didn’t come. Maybe that dream wouldn’t have to become a reality.

The games hadn’t even started and already the energy felt off. Like the night was slowly slipping into the wrong lane.

Becca called everyone to gather closer, preparing to start.

"Alright, everyone! We’re..."

She didn’t finish that sentence.

Because the doors slammed open.