4

Chapter 4

...

**Elena**

My chest burned with a dull, crushing ache.

If I'd let my emotions take over, I would've slapped Killian across the face, screamed at him, and exposed everything he'd done.

But what would be the point?

Who would've believed me?

I was Elena Swan; the stupid blonde hopelessly obsessed with Killian — the girl who would do anything just to stay by his side, even if it meant becoming nothing more than his plaything.

Hah...

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

The whispers and mocking voices from the students echoed around me, each word laced with contempt.

But I didn't cry.

Not because I had suddenly become stronger... I simply had no tears left after crying all night over a man who couldn't even protect my dignity.

"Elena..." Maya's gentle voice pulled me back to reality. The storm raging inside my chest faded for a moment as I turned to look at her. "Are you okay?" she asked, genuine worry written all over her face.

She probably thought I had completely fallen apart... That I'd do something reckless to myself after what happened.

And yes...

I had fallen apart, but this betrayal wasn't going to make me hurt myself — it was going to make me stop placing my happiness... and my future... in the hands of someone who could destroy both whenever he pleased.

Hah...

I let out a slow breath before forcing a small smile. "I'm okay, Maya. You don't have to worry about me." I lifted a brow, pressed my lips together, then tilted my head toward the classroom.

"Come on. Class is about to start." I slipped my hand into hers and gently led her toward the classroom before the lecture began.

"Huh? B-But..." The shock on Maya's face was impossible to miss. She looked completely confused by how calm I seemed after being cheated on by the man who had once been my entire world.

Then again...

Whenever Killian and I argued in the past, I was always the one sobbing uncontrollably.

Maya had seen me begging him for forgiveness more times than she could count... Even though most of those arguments had started because of him.

Yet somehow...

I was always the one apologizing. Always the one crying, and always the one begging him not to leave me.

So it made perfect sense that Maya couldn't believe the way I was acting now.

...

Throughout the lecture, I tried my best to focus.

But my hands refused to stay still; my thumb rubbed restlessly against my index finger beneath the desk, over and over again, while the uneasiness inside my chest refused to fade.

Maybe it was because I had swallowed all my anger instead of screaming in Killian's face.

Maybe it was because I had suddenly woken up in the bed of a man who claimed to be an Alpha.

Or maybe...

Maybe it was because Hera's smug voice kept replaying in my mind as she bragged about spending such a wonderful night with Killian.

I didn't know.

All I knew was that I couldn't concentrate on a single word the professor was saying.

Bzzz... Bzzz... Bzzz...

As soon as class ended, my phone vibrated inside the pocket of my skirt.

At first, I had no intention of checking it, but the moment I unlocked the screen, I saw Killian's name.

I didn't even have to open the message.

The preview on the lock screen was more than enough.

"Babe, I forgot to pack my hockey gear before leaving the apartment. Bring it to the locker room before practice, okay? And don't forget to use the back entrance so nobody sees you going inside."

Hah...

A cold, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Even after everything he'd done...

Even after cheating on me...

Even after humiliating me in front of the entire campus...

He still expected me to go back to the apartment, pack up his hockey gear, sneak through the hidden entrance, and deliver it to his locker room... Like I was some obedient little fool.

I couldn't find a single word to say.

My grip tightened around the phone, and every breath felt painfully heavy as I stared at the message on my screen.

I just kept staring... Until my fingers started shaking even harder.

"Elena, what's wrong? Why do you look so pale?" Maya, who was sitting beside me, immediately noticed the change in my expression. But I couldn't answer.

I couldn't say anything at all.

My eyes remained locked on Killian's message, and with every passing second, it felt like another piece of me was crumbling away.

Was it because I'd always obeyed him?

Was that why he'd treated me like this?

Like I was some pathetic idiot he could step on whenever he wanted?

The pain inside me collided with a surge of anger so fierce it made my whole body shake. Without giving myself time to think, my trembling fingers unlocked my phone, opened Killian's contact... And pressed Block.

Yes.

I blocked him!

I wasn't going to let him contact me ever again, and I wasn't going to let him trample over my dignity anymore.

Hah...

A slow breath escaped my lips as I swallowed hard, and for the first time in four years of dating Killian... I'd blocked his number.

And somehow... A tiny weight lifted from my chest.

"Elena..." Maya gently wrapped her hand around mine. Her eyes were soft, filled with nothing but concern. She stayed quiet for a few seconds, as if carefully searching for the right words. "You know..." she said quietly, "I'm here for you."

"You can tell me anything, and..."

Bzzz... Bzzz... Bzzz...

Her phone vibrated, cutting her off. "Hang on for a second, okay?" She gave me an apologetic look before answering the call and walking a short distance away.

Hmm...

"Thank you, Maya..." The words slipped from my lips in a whisper as I watched her from my seat.

My expression softened.

She was talking to someone on the phone, and I already knew who it was — Her parents.

They were looking after her eight-month-old daughter while Maya struggled to balance university and motherhood.

She'd given birth last year, far too young... And the man who got her pregnant had run away without taking responsibility.

Maya had her own battles to fight.

So how could I dump all my problems onto her?

She was already juggling classes while raising a baby.

To me...

Maya was an incredibly strong woman, and the last thing I wanted was to burden her with my pathetic love life... Especially when I was the fool in the story.

A few moments later...

"Elena, I'm so sorry." She hurriedly stuffed her laptop into her bag. "Kyra suddenly has a fever. I have to go home right now." She slung her bag over her shoulder in a rush. "I'll call you later."

Before I could respond, she was already running out of the classroom, her face filled with worry.

I simply nodded and gave her a small smile.

Once she disappeared through the door...

I was left sitting alone. Surrounded by classmates whose whispers continued drifting through the room.

Whispers about me. About how shameless I was.

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.

Closing my eyes, I took one slow breath after another, forcing myself to calm down. "Elena..." I whispered to myself. "You have to be strong."

"You have to learn how to be happy on your own." I bit my lower lip.

Those words became a quiet little promise... A reminder to myself not to fall apart because of a man who had never cared about my feelings in the first place.

Slowly, I pushed myself to my feet, then I walked out of the classroom... Leaving behind the judgmental stares... And the people who couldn't stop looking down on me.

But then...

"OH!"

"MY!"

"GOOOOD!"

My eyes flew wide open, and I froze where I stood.

Parked right outside my faculty building was a sleek black luxury car — Two men in impeccably tailored black suits were already waiting beside it.

I recognized them instantly, they were the same men who had driven me to campus this morning.

Which meant... That ridiculously handsome man with those piercing blue eyes hadn't been bluffing.

He had actually sent his men to pick me up.

"NO! NO! NO!"

"HECK NO!"

I'd already had enough drama to last a lifetime... The last thing I needed was to get tangled up in some bizarre werewolf fantasy.

Werewolves weren't real, they were nothing more than fictional creatures.

I had to get out of here.

Without a second thought, I spun around and sprinted straight into the crowd, heading toward the back of campus. It was a much longer route to the bus stop, but I didn't care.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

My heart pounded wildly against my ribs as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

"What's wrong with that stupid blonde...?"

"Is she running to find Killian?"

"She's seriously crazy." Their whispers followed me, but I ignored every single one.

I clenched my fists and kept running. I didn't stop until I reached the quiet garden behind the campus.

A few trees stood scattered around the area, and because students rarely came this way, it was usually peaceful but that wasn't what made me slow to a stop.

Smooch~

The unmistakable sound of a heated kiss drifted through the silence.

My gaze snapped toward the large tree in front of me.

There...

Two people were wrapped in each other's arms, kissing as though the rest of the world didn't exist. And I knew exactly who they were.

THUMP.

My legs began to shake, the strength drained from my knees and my heart dropped straight into my stomach.

And my chest... It felt as though someone had driven a knife straight through it.

It hurt!!!

It hurt so much that my entire body trembled.

So...

I wasn't as strong as I'd convinced myself I was. Not when it came to a betrayal this cruel.

I watched Killian tilt his head, completely lost in the kiss, as though he couldn't get enough of her.

Then...

"Ah!" Hera gasped the instant she noticed me standing there.

Killian immediately turned around, a smear of lipstick stained his lips.

His eyes widened for the briefest moment... Before narrowing into a glare.

"Elena... YOU!" He barked my name the same way he always did whenever I asked him to acknowledge our relationship in public.

My body reacted instinctively.

I started trembling all over again.

But...

No.

I'd already been humiliated enough!

I wasn't going to let him crush what's left of my dignity.

My heart still ached so badly I could barely breathe... But at the very least... I could hold my head high.

I saw him stride toward me, and I knew that look, He was trying to pull me somewhere Hera couldn't see us... Somewhere he could manipulate me again.

But before he could even reach me... I met his gaze with cold, steady eyes, then I lifted my chin. "Go ahead."

"I'm not here to ruin your moment."

"We're over anyway."

My voice trembled slightly... But I said every single word without looking away.

His eyes widened, and his entire body went rigid.

Maybe...

Maybe he'd never imagined I'd stand up to him like this.

I didn't care anymore!

Without another glance, I walked right past him; my head stayed high, my back remained straight and I left him standing there.

This...

This would be my first step toward protecting myself, toward protecting my own heart.

Even if every step felt unbearably heavy... Even if it felt like my shattered heart was breaking all over again.

...