I Walked Away After He Slapped Me in Public

The slap had turned my face to the side. My cheek burned so badly that even breathing hurt, but the quiet around me hurt more. Dozens of trainees stood in a half circle, watching me as if they were waiting to see whether I would cry, scream, or kneel and apologize.

Orion Draven’s fingers curled slowly into his palm. For one second, something like regret crossed his face. Then Lilith Vane made a small, broken sound behind him.

Orion looked back at her, and whatever guilt had appeared in his eyes disappeared.

“Sylvie,” he said sharply, “enough.”

Lilith stood behind his shoulder with her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were red. Her face looked frightened and sorry. But when our eyes met, I saw the faintest light of triumph there.

“Orion, don’t be so mean.” Her voice was soft.

Orion’s jaw tightened. His anger did not fade. “Sylvie, this is Ironhold Academy. Are you done yet?”

His voice was cold as ice.

I touched the corner of my mouth. I could not tell if the wetness was blood or tears.

I had followed Orion Draven for twelve years. I had seen him angry, reckless, cruel to others, impatient with everyone who slowed him down. But he had never once raised his hand to me.

Orion started to say something else. I did not want to hear it. I grabbed my training bag and ran out of the room. Someone whistled behind me.

I did not know where to go, but I did not want to train anymore. I did not want to face any of those people.

This was the first time anyone had ever slapped me. And it was Orion who did it.

When I was six, my Pack met the Draven Pack at a gathering. Orion was squatting on the ground, throwing stones. Sunlight cut across from the distant ridge, stretching his shadow long.

Our Packs were neighbors. My mother always said I followed him around from the very start.

During my first year at Ironhold Academy, winter was especially cold. A boy on my team chewed up some herbs and stuck the paste in my hair. The training room filled with ugly laughter.

I cried. The mentor scolded him. But I cried all the way home that day.

Orion’s father heard about it. He told Orion to go check on me the next day.

Orion kicked open the back door of the training room. I still remember that day after twelve years. He lunged at the boy and slammed his fist down on the desk.

“Listen here.” He grabbed the boy’s collar. His voice still had the softness of a child. “Sylvie is mine. If you ever touch her again, I will end you.”

Before he left, he patted my head. From that day on, I became Orion Draven’s shadow. I never left his side.