#Chapter 7: The Unexpected Offer

Wide-eyed and breathless, I stared at Asher. He couldn’t have meant what he said. He really wanted to be the father of my baby? How? He didn’t even like me! No, there had to be another explanation. “W-what does that mean?” I asked, shaken. “I made a promise to Dylan to take care of you,” Asher said. “This is me keeping that promise.” My thoughts were trapped inside a fog of surprise and confusion. I could barely process what he was offering. I was incredibly grateful to him for being willing to step up in my time of need, but… this felt like too much. We barely knew each other. I didn’t know how to say that, so I just stood there, gaping at him. “I can be the child’s godfather,” Asher continued, shrugging slightly. “You’ll need help, since you’re still just a kid yourself.” At once, my mind cleared and I realized his true intentions. His offer had not been made out of any kindness or affection for me. He thought me incapable of being a mom. “I am not a kid,” I said shortly, anger clipping my words. “I’ve taken care of myself just fine until now. I can handle anything that comes my way.” “Oh, really?” Asher huffed out a fake, harsh laugh. “You call this, taking care of yourself?” I stood taller, insulted. “What is that supposed to mean?” He narrowed his eyes at me. Any hint of warmth that had been within those depths froze over once again. “You are pregnant from hooking up with Joseph. You can’t get more reckless than that.” His words cut into me like a blade. Yes, I should have been more careful with Joseph. And sure, maybe I should have seen through his act in the first place. But Asher had no right to judge me! Or to keep butting his way into my life like he belonged here. He didn’t. We were worlds apart. Son of an Alpha and a top athlete, Asher was already well established within the Academy. His life was guaranteed to be successful. And with the number of girls eyeing him whenever he left his room, he was undoubtedly going to be lucky in love too. “I don’t need you, Asher.” My voice was rising. I couldn’t help it, he made me so angry. He should focus on his own life, his own future, and forget about me and my baby. Where my voice had raised, Asher’s stayed perfectly level. “Why are you being so stubborn? You are going to need help.” I wished his façade would crack, just a little, so I could feel like he actually cared. I breathed deeply, trying to calm down. “I’ll take care of myself and the baby. You don’t have to trouble yourself with us. I wouldn’t want me or my baby to get in the way of your bright future.” I’d managed to lower my voice, but a bitterness still crept in. I kept thinking of all those girls watching him – wanting him. It bothered me more than it should have, for reasons I didn’t fully understand. Finally, he gave a reaction, frowning. He glowered at me, demanding an explanation without voicing it. I was embarrassed by my own irritation, but if he needed a list of all the reasons he should leave me alone, I had to include this one. “I’ve seen the girls lining up to be on your arm,” I said. “Are you going to tell them to wait while you help me with a baby? No.” He clenched his jaw. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Tell me I’m lying,” I insisted. I waved toward his door. “I bet there are girls out there right now just waiting for me to leave so they can make their move on you.” He didn’t deny it, but he didn’t seem happy about it either. But then, he never looked happy about anything. “Think what you want,” he said briskly, like a dismissal. “I will,” I snapped. “Fine.” Silence settled around us again. I wondered if I should have walked out, but Asher’s body stood between me and the door. He didn’t move, so he likely wasn’t done lecturing me yet. I braced myself, but I still wasn’t prepared for his question. “Since you are having the baby, when do you have to leave the Academy?” I froze. I hadn’t wanted to think about that, but there was no running from it now. I had known continuing the pregnancy would have consequences. But how could I give up my dreams so easily? I’d worked for years to get into the Academy. I wasn’t willing to lose my best chance at success. “I’ll take a break when I have to,” I said. “Then come back after the baby’s born.” He watched me, brow lowering. “Weren’t you recruited as a cheerleader three months ago?” I nodded. “Then you’re still on your six-month probation. The recruiters must have told you that all freshmen athletes need to take the midterm exam before you become a full student.” Asher, as Captain of the hockey team, knew all the rules for athletes inside and out. I dreaded where he was going with this. “I know that, but –” “If you miss that exam, you’ll get expelled.” I swallowed hard. He asked me, “You don’t honestly intend to keep cheerleading when you’re pregnant, do you?” As a cheerleader, I knew the difficulties and the dangers of the sport. Even perfectly healthy girls sometimes got hurt. Twisted ankles and broken elbows weren’t uncommon. Plus, with the exam in three months, I’d have to find a way to hide my growing belly. Before I knew it, Asher had his phone in his hands. “The faculty advisor will tell you it’s impossible. Let them tell you, since you hate listening to me.” He dialed a number then held out the phone for me to take. It only rang twice before someone picked up. “This is the advisement office,” said a voice through the phone. I grabbed it from Asher and placed it to my ear. “How may I help you?” “I-I was wondering about the athlete midterm exam,” I said into the phone. “I heard that there is a rule that if a student misses the six-month exam, they will get expelled?” “That is correct.” The answer came instantly. I clutched the phone tightly. Inside, I clung to my last, tiny flicker of hope. Surely there were exceptions to the rule. “What if something happens to the athlete, like an accident… o-or they get sick, and they have to miss it?” “Any problem that a student has is theirs to solve,” the faculty advisor said, stern. “At Lunarhaven Academy, we only want students who can solve problems, not those who make excuses.” Fear formed icy tendrils in my chest. I’d always considered this elite college to be perfect. Difficult, sure, but never so… cold. So unforgiving. My gaze sought out Asher. I knew he wouldn’t offer comfort, but I thought if I saw his smug smirk, I’d get angry enough to keep fighting somehow. He wasn’t smirking. He wasn’t even looking at me. Half-turned from me, he glared at a spot on the floor. He was frowning. Was it truly hopeless then? I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to accept defeat, but my options were so few. “However,” said the voice on the phone. I snapped out of my defeated thoughts. I hung on every word. “Yes?” “The midterm exam is only one of two ways for athletes to officially become students at our Academy.” The words sunk in slowly. Only one of two ways… Did that mean… there was another way? My hope flickered to life once more. Did I still have a chance?