Chapter2 HOT ALPHA INCOMING: PANTS OPTIONAL

Joy’s POV “You saw him?” Dante asked, sliding into the cafeteria booth across from me, his tray clattering down. He leaned in and brushed a quick, familiar kiss against my lips. Sigh. Perfect Beta. Occasional boyfriend. Perpetual heartthrob. Yeah, boyfriend. Technically. Our arrangement was... convenient. Open. Mostly for show. We were fake-dating—an open, staged relationship with no strings attached. Dante played the campus Casanova till the Moon Goddess handed him a mate, and I ? I used the charade to rebel against my pack and shut down their relentless “nerd” branding once and for all. Nothing screams rebellion louder than the 'nerdy Alpha princess' locking lips with the school's bad ass flirt. Call it petty. Call it performance art. Either way, it kept the “Where’s your mate?” vultures at bay. “No, I haven’t seen him,” I muttered, stabbing at my limp salad. “But if I hear another girl squeal ‘Lex’ like he’s some goddamn star, I might actually vomit.” Dante smirked. “Hot stuff,” he