11

Elena’s POV

The moment Amelia raised her hand, I flinched—expecting the sting, expecting the blow. My hand instinctively flew up to shield my face.

But before anything could happen, a sharp voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Elizabeth stormed out of the restroom, eyes blazing, her fists clenched at her sides. She stepped between us without hesitation, shielding me with her entire body.

“Don’t you ever touch her,” she snapped, glaring at Amelia with such fire I barely recognized her. “You hear me? I don’t care how scary you think you are—back the hell off.”

Amelia blinked, slightly thrown off by the sudden interruption.

“You’re a bully,” Elizabeth continued, her voice rising. “We all know that. But guess what? You don’t just go around bullying people for breathing near your so-called boyfriend. And speaking of Rick—maybe you should go home and train your dog, because if he weren’t busy sniffing around every girl in school, none of this would be happening.”

A few gasps echoed around the hallway.

I stared at Elizabeth, stunned. Her shoulders were squared, her jaw tight. I’d never seen her like this.

Amelia’s face twisted with rage, her eyes glowing red. “You’ve got a lot of nerve,” she hissed.

She turned to the girls behind her. “Let’s go. Now.”

They hesitated for a moment before following her lead. But before she walked away, she spun around and pointed a sharp, claw-like finger at me.

“As for you,” she said coldly, “I’ll make sure you experience hell in this school. You better keep your disgusting eyes off my boyfriend.”

Then, with a sharp growl—“Ahhh!”—she bared her fangs, two sharp canines glistening beneath the lights. The hallway filled with gasps. Even some of her own friends looked uneasy.

And then… she walked off, her heels clicking like gunshots.

My knees buckled slightly, but Elizabeth held me steady.

“Oh my God,” I breathed. “She’s going to be impossible to deal with.”

Elizabeth turned to me, brushing the hair away from my face. “You okay?”

I nodded slowly. “I don’t think I can hide this pregnancy for long. If she finds out… she’ll tell everyone. I just know it.”

Elizabeth exhaled deeply and looked me straight in the eye. “Listen to me, Elena. I don’t care if she’s a hybrid Wendigo or a full-blown demon. She is not going to touch you, and she won’t find out. I won’t let her.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Her words warmed me, but the fear was still crawling in my chest.

We left together after class and went through the day trying to stay invisible. But it wasn’t easy. The tension hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.

That afternoon, the entire school gathered at the basketball court. It was one of those mandatory events—no escape. I hated it.

My stomach twisted again. I hadn’t eaten since morning.

Rick was on the court, tall and athletic, the alpha presence rolling off him like waves. Girls screamed every time he touched the ball. His dark hair stuck to his forehead from sweat, and his eyes—those piercing silver eyes—kept drifting to me.

I looked away quickly.

Why was he staring at me like that?

Every time I glanced back, his eyes were still on me, burning a hole through my cardigan.

And Amelia noticed.

From across the court, she sat on the bleachers with her girls, her posture stiff and rigid. Her eyes weren’t on the game—they were locked on me.

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to avoid both sets of eyes.

“Don’t look at him,” Elizabeth muttered beside me. “She’s glaring again.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“Try harder.”

I tried to focus on the players, the scoreboard, anything but Rick’s intense gaze. It was like he was trying to read something from me—like he knew a secret I hadn’t even told myself.

When the match ended, the crowd roared. Everyone cheered as the players high-fived each other and jogged off the court.

I tapped Elizabeth’s arm. “Let’s go.”

She nodded. We got up immediately, pushing through the crowd, desperate to leave before Amelia or Rick tried anything. My body was aching, my feet sore, and the dizziness had started again.

“I hate this,” I muttered under my breath. “If it wasn’t compulsory, I’d never come.”

We were walking down the long hallway, heading toward the back exit. Most of the school was still at the court, so it was quiet—too quiet.

That’s when I heard footsteps.

I slowed. Elizabeth looked back. “Someone’s behind us.”

A moment later, we were blocked.

Rick and two of his friends appeared at the end of the hallway, leaning against the lockers like they owned the air itself.

My heart dropped.

Rick stepped forward slowly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He looked straight at me, ignoring Elizabeth entirely.

His eyes scanned my face, then lowered to my stomach—just for a second. Did he…?

He stopped a few inches away, his presence overwhelming. My pulse quickened.

Then, out of nowhere, he leaned forward and sniffed me.

I froze.

He exhaled slowly, then whispered, “You’re my mate.”

My breath hitched.

“Ever since you stepped foot into this school,” he continued, his voice low and possessive, “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. I knew it. I felt it. And now I can smell it.”

I stepped back. “No. No, you don’t get to say that.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” he said, stepping forward again. “You’re mine, Elena. And I take care of what’s mine.”

My head spun. “You’re betrothed. To Amelia.”

He shrugged. “That’s political. This is real.”

I stared at him like he was insane. “Stay away from me.”

I pushed him back, my voice shaking. “I want nothing to do with this. I have my own problems. I don’t need your drama added to them.”

“Elena,” he said, reaching for my arm. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll take care of you. Really take care of you.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me,” I snapped, yanking my arm away. “I need you to leave me alone.”

Elizabeth grabbed my hand, tugging gently. “Come on. Let’s go.”

We turned and started walking. I could feel Rick’s eyes on my back. I could feel the tension simmering behind us.

As we neared the flowerbeds just outside the hallway exit, I caught sight of her.

Amelia.

She stood there like a statue carved out of spite, her eyes sharp and murderous.

Her girls were around her, whispering, watching, grinning.

Her gaze locked with mine—stone cold, dangerous.

I didn’t stop walking. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even spare her a glance.

But she left.

She couldn’t even spare a glance anymore.