I reached for the private room door, but through the frosted glass, I caught a glimpse.
Alpha Yuri sat at the head of the table, Willa pressed close, staring at him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.
He just kept his eyes fixed on the spinning bottle in the center of the table, acting like she wasn't even there.
The bottle slowed, pointing right at Alpha Yuri.
"Alpha Yuri, truth or dare?" a friend asked.
He glanced up, nonchalant.
"Truth."
The friend grinned, his eyes flicking from Willa to Alpha Yuri.
"Alpha Yuri, is the person you love in this room?"
The air froze.
Everyone knew our history.
Willa, who'd nearly ruined him and walked away without a shred of guilt, and me, who'd stayed by his side, poured everything into rebuilding him, lifting him up to become one of Zaleos-pack's rising stars.
The answer should've been obvious.
It shouldn't even be a question.
But Alpha Yuri stayed silent.
He didn't deny it.
He just sat there, his fingers tapping the table lightly.
My heart sank deeper.
[Here it comes! The big moment! He's about to drop the hammer!]
[He's hesitating! Told ya, no way he's over the female lead!]
A friend, thinking he was too obvious to bother answering, chuckled, "What a dumb question! The answer's crystal clear-Alpha Yuri's not even bothering to respond! Tessa's stepped out, so obviously the person he loves isn't here."
It was the perfect out.
But Alpha Yuri didn't take it.
Willa stared at him, on the brink of tears, then turned away, defiant.
A single tear, perfectly timed, landed on Alpha Yuri's hand.
He flinched, as if burned, his other hand instinctively brushing the wet spot, lingering there.
As Willa stood, ready to bolt in a dramatic, humiliated mess, Alpha Yuri let out a heavy breath.
"She's here."
Everyone froze.
The friend who'd asked stammered, thinking it was a slip-up, "Alpha Yuri, hold on-Tessa's not back yet..."
But Alpha Yuri cut him off, his voice firm.
"I said the person I love is in this room."
The silence was suffocating.
I wasn't there.
Willa was there.
Who he meant was clear as day.
Willa's face lit up, tears giving way to a radiant smile.
"Alpha Yuri, I knew it. I've never stopped loving you. My love is the same."
[AAAAAAH! He said it! HE SAID IT! Male lead finally admitted it!]
[That NPC dude thought he was helping the side chick? LOL.]
[Didn't see that coming, huh? Our male lead's a hopeless romantic-his heart beats for the female lead and only her! Try to test him? He'll slap you down!]]
[Male lead wants her to pay for betraying him, but the second he sees her hurting, he's all torn up inside! Too shippable!]]
[Side chick at the door, looking like a total clown, haha!]]
Willa grabbed Alpha Yuri's hand, pressing it to her chest, as if to make him feel her heartbeat.
Alpha Yuri's expression flickered, but he didn't pull away.
Then his eyes met mine at the doorway.
His pupils constricted, a flash of panic crossing his face.
Willa glanced at me, smug, but her voice dripped with fake innocence.
"Tessa, don't get the wrong idea. Alpha Yuri saying he loves me wasn't serious-it's probably just... drunk talk."
"Don't be mad, okay? I'll apologize for him."
[I'm done. Why is the female lead apologizing? You and the male lead are the real deal, first loves forever. The side chick's the one who swooped in-she's the homewrecker!]]
[When will the male lead realize he doesn't hate her-he's just so in love he can't handle it!]]
[Everything he does screams he's team female lead. It's only a matter of time before he admits his true feelings. Female lead's got this in the bag!]]
