Taming the Hybrid Mate: Desired by Five Alphas-Chapter 128: Let’s put it to a vote

Andria’s POV

The restraint in his voice was steel. It was control, the kind that infuriated Jackson even more than any insult.

Jackson’s smile tightened, but he stepped back, gesturing to his group. "Let’s go."

Allison shot me a venomous glance before trailing after him. Alexa and Tricia muttered as they followed, like pests buzzing in the air.

When they were gone, the field seemed to exhale.

"Coward," Damon muttered, slamming his bat into the dirt.

"Provoker," Aven corrected. His gaze lingered on Jackson’s retreating figure. "And we don’t have to give him what he wants."

"The answer to your previous question about Liara’s whereabouts, she retired back to her dormitory, she said she wasn’t feeling okay, but I feel like she is in her heat," Becca whispered, twisting her mouth into a weird grin.

What could have triggered her heat?.

Michaela exhaled hard. "Do they ever stop?"

"No," I said simply. "And that’s why we won’t either."

Damon’s grin returned, sharp and eager. "Then let’s give them a game they’ll never forget."

I smirked at him, and he winked at me, causing the mate bond to pull at my core. There was a sudden connection.

I was beginning to like this competitive and jovial side of Damon. The Alpha successors aren’t bad after all.

***************************

"Wait, did she just say kissing booth?" the vice president, Jason’s voice cut deep, his brows rising with a mixture of shock, amusement and excitement.

The room fell into a hush, like everyone had just realized they might’ve heard wrong. Except they hadn’t.

"Yes," Mel repeated, unfazed, her glossy lips tugging into a confident smile. "A kissing booth. For the fundraiser."

My pen paused mid-air.

Across the long mahogany table, Allison stiffened, her hazel eyes narrowing as if Mel had just announced a rebellion.

Her fingers drummed against the polished surface, a sound sharp enough to echo her irritation.

There was sudden tension and silence in the room as every student council member contemplated her suggestion.

Her suggestion sounded exciting, but it could turn sour when your mate ends up kissing another she-wolf.

Jason leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head, that boyish smirk of his deepening. "Now that," he said, nodding toward Mel, "is what I call an attention-grabbing idea."

"Attention-grabbing?" Allison repeated, her voice cool, laced with sarcasm. "It’s chaos wrapped in lip gloss. How do you even plan to run that without trouble?"

I chuckled under my breath. She must be scared that her mate would wind up kissing some other she-wolf.

Mel’s smile didn’t falter. If anything, it sharpened. "By organizing it properly, of course. It’s a fundraiser, not a scandal. There will be rules, supervisors, and ..." she tilted her head slightly, gaze flickering toward me "... volunteers."

I understood what she meant immediately. She was obviously referring to my little drama between the Alpha successors.

Oh, no.

"Volunteers?" Jason said with a grin, clearly entertained. "You’re telling me we can sign up some students, too?"

"To help raise funds," Mel cut in before he could get too smug. "It’s harmless, Jason—a kiss in exchange for a donation or vice versa. I’m sure the other students will be excited to hear it. The Alpha successors will be there."

Macy’s eyes suddenly lit up at the sound of the Alpha successors. I rolled my eyes and turned to study Allison’s expression.

She wore a very pissed off expression. She must be so angry that her brother was stealing the spotlight again from her, or that the idea was entirely putting her relationship with her mate at risk.

Macy, our treasurer, adjusted her glasses and looked down at the figures spread before her. "We do need something big," she murmured, mostly to herself.

"Something different. The last bake sale barely raised enough to cover decorations, and the car wash was a mess."

"That’s because Damon kept using the hose like a weapon," Jason muttered.

"What?" I burst out before I recover myself. Damon was such a hilarious fellow beneath his sly, cocky appearance.

"Still," Macy continued, ignoring the aside, "a kissing booth would draw attention. If we manage it well, it could triple what we made last year."

’Or was that just an excuse for you to fulfil your fantasy?’ I thought to myself.

Allison’s fingers stilled. She exhaled, sharp and audible. "We are not turning this academy into a circus. Or a..." she gestured vaguely, her voice lowering "...social scandal."

"Relax, Allison," Jason teased, leaning forward. "No one is suggesting that you must be at the booth; it will serve a vast majority, so I think I’ll go with it, just like Macy had said."

He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable or rather, I chose to ignore his quick wink.

She shot him a glare that could have frozen lava. "You think this is funny?"

"I think it’s brilliant," he countered easily. "You know how many students will line up just to see who’s volunteering? The mystery alone would rake in donations."

There was tension between Jason and Macy, as both looked to me to make the final decision that would end the banter.

This was spiralling fast.

"All right," I said, raising my hand slightly to draw attention. "Let’s slow down. Mel, I’ll admit it’s unconventional. But we need structure. How do you propose we manage something like this?"

Mel’s grin softened into something more calculated. "We announce the event, and see how many people react to it. We then set up a booth at the fundraising event. Each student who wants to partake in the kissing booth donates, let’s say five dollars, to get a slot."

She turned, addressing the table. "We could even make it part of the Festival Week. Let the booth operate for one day only. I think that exclusivity will drive participation."

Macy nodded slowly. "I’m sure the numbers check-out will be huge. Even a small line makes a significant impact. I’m sure the other students will like to pay a lot just to kiss their huge crush."

A slight wave of jealousy overcame me as I thought of Macy having to kiss any of the Alpha successors, but I tried to conceal the feeling.

Whatever happens that day, I’ll try not to have an outburst.

Jason was already grinning. "And who decides the volunteers? Because I have a few names in mind, the Alpha successors, like she earlier stated, and some...."

His eyes darted towards Allison and then at me.

"You’ll keep your list to yourself," Allison snapped. "This is a school event, not your dating show."

"Touchy," Jason whispered, though the smirk didn’t leave his face.

I sighed softly. It was moments like this that made being student council president feel like managing a pack of wolves.

"All right," I said again, louder this time. "Let’s put it to a vote."

Allison’s head snapped toward me. "You can’t be serious."

"I am," I replied calmly. "Every idea deserves consideration. That’s why we’re here."

Her jaw tightened, but she said nothing. For the first time, Allison didn’t object to me.