After Luca's little display in the hallway, things had shifted.
Not drastically, not in a way most people would notice.
But I did.
Damon's pack wasn't just wary of my wolves anymore.
They were watching him too.
And if Luca noticed, he didn't seem to care. He still moved through the school like he owned the damn place, effortlessly untouchable, smug as ever.
I should've been annoyed.
Instead, I found myself wondering what else he was hiding.
Because there was no way in hell Luca was just some rogue Alpha with a sharp tongue and good instincts.
No, he was something else entirely.
And I was going to figure out what.
â
By the time lunch rolled around, I had almost forgotten about her.
Almost.
Until I stepped into the cafeteria and heard that voice.
"Oh, look," a sickly sweet tone rang out. "If it isn't our little charity case."
I stopped mid-step.
The entire cafeteria went silent, the tension so thick I could cut it with my claws.
Slowly, I turned to face the source of the voice.
There she was.
Hailey.
Damon's ex.
The supposed queen of this school, decked out in her designer jeans and glossy blonde waves, sitting pretty at her usual table like she hadn't just made a mistake.
Kian muttered a curse beside me, already shifting forward, but I held up a hand.
Not yet.
I wanted to hear this.
Hailey smirked, crossing one leg over the other as she studied me like I was some kind of entertainment for her.
"Tell me," she continued, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "What's it like knowing your mate doesn't even wantyou?"
The cafeteria sucked in a breath.
Nova shifted beside me, her eyes flashing, but I just laughed.
Because of course she thought that was an insult.
Of course, she thought I wanted Damon.
I took my time stepping closer, letting my eyes rake over her until her smirk faltered just a bit.
"What's it like knowing he still doesn't want you either?" I shot back smoothly.
Her jaw clenched, her fingers tightening around her tray.
But I wasn't finished.
"See, Hailey," I continued, tilting my head, "the difference between you and me is that I don't need a mate to be worth something." I took another step closer, lowering my voice just enough to make her lean in. "But you? Without Damon, you're nothing."
Her eyes darkened. "Youâ"
I smiled, cutting her off. "You should really be careful who you pick fights with, sweetheart."
Then, without another word, I turned my back on her and walked straight to my table.
It was over.
And yet, as I sat down, I felt her burning gaze on me.
Because Hailey wasn't done.
Not even close.
And that was just fine.
Because neither was I.
You said:
I could feel itâher rage, her desperationâlike a storm brewing on the horizon.
And the thing about storms?
They were predictable.
......
The next few days were... interesting.
Luca and I had settled into something I wasn't sure how to define.
We didn't flirt, exactly.
But he had this way of being there, of watching me like he was waiting for something.
And I?
I wasn't sure if I wanted him to stop.
Meanwhile, Damon had started avoiding me completely.
Not that I minded.
It was better this way.
His pack, however?
They were getting restless.
Between my wolves taking over their training sessions and Luca showing up like a wildcard none of them could place, they were on edge.
And then there was Hailey.
She had been quiet since our cafeteria exchange.
Too quiet.
Which meant she was planning something.
â
It happened after school.
I was just about to head home when I heard the sharp click of heels behind me.
"Going somewhere?"
I sighed before turning.
Hailey stood there, arms crossed, flanked by two of her little minions.
Predictable.
"What do you want, Hailey?" I asked, bored.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "What? No friendly chit-chat?"
I just stared at her.
She huffed, then stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You think you're so untouchable, don't you?"
"Pretty much."
Her jaw ticked. "Damon doesn't want you."
"And yet, here you are. Talking about him to me." I smirked. "It's almost like you're the one who can't let go."
Her nails dug into her palm, but she forced a smile. "You won't be so smug for long."
"Is that a threat?"
She leaned in, her breath brushing my ear. "It's a promise."
And then she was gone, leaving me standing there with a smirk on my lips and a knowing weight in my chest.
She was going to try something.
And I couldn't wait to see her fail.