Chapter 8– Pathetic Weak Thing

Lori's POV

Silence filled the room instantly, and I had hug myself to keep my feelings under control because Dante's words had been so cold and devoid of any form of emotion. Silas' face morphed between shock to a series of emotions I couldn't name.

Dante's words carried so much weight because everyone knew that Silas was the most favoured player on the team, and Dante talking so seriously about having him removed and training someone else... it was so unexpected.

"I said..." Dante, who hadn't taken notice of how quiet the room had gone, moved menacingly towards Silas, his eyes blazing with a kind of heat I have never seen before, the gaze made Silas, an Alpha, to flinch and look submissive under Dante. "You only have two choices here, Silas. It's either you let her treat you, or you bleed and die on this table and our lives will go on without you. This team will survive without you. And your pack will suffer heavily because this games has been your source of income to feed your people." Dante pulled back and adjusted his jersey. "I hope you chose wisely."

Silas's jaw tightened, and his teeth ground hard together so hard that one could see the muscles ticking beneath his skin. For a moment, I thought he was going to call Dante's bluff and still refuse, but his eyes slid away from Dante as he looked at me and gave me a subtle nod. "Fine."

I felt the tension ease slightly from my shoulders, and I released the breath I didn't know I was holding. I didn't know how to handle anymore confrontations if it happened again.

I covered the distance between us, watching him stiffen, but I didn't comment on it. "You're going to need stitches," I said quietly as I observed the leg, keeping my voice professional and detached even though my hands were trembling slightly. "The gash is deep, but it didn't hit your bone, so you'll probably heal fast and be back on the ice in a week."

"Just get it over with," Silas muttered, staring at the ceiling.

Dante watched for another moment, his arms still crossed over his chest, and then he turned and walked out of the room without a word. The door clicked shut behind him, and everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief that he was gone. I knew it was about time for them to start ridiculing me, but I wasn't going to engage any of them and just focus on stitching the wounds.

Silas was quiet throughout, allowing me to do it without a hitch, his face was tight as if he was going through the worst humiliation ever. My heart clenched at the sight of that, but I wasn't going to lose focus. 

When I finished, I stepped back and began packing my supplies. "You're done. Keep the area clean and dry for twenty-four hours. I'll check the stitches tomorrow."

"You won't need to." He sat up slowly, swinging his legs off the table, and his cold blue eyes finally met mine. "Because you won't be here tomorrow. Or the day after that."

"Excuse me?"

"Excuse him?" Michelle, the blonde woman from the stands, appeared in the doorway with her arms crossed and her lips pursed in a smirk. "You think you can just waltz in here, get the coach wrapped around your finger, and take over like you own the place?"

Other teammates had gathered behind her, plus their women attached to their hips. I felt my stomach drop as they all stared at me with judgemental eyes, and I understood what they were thinking... I was the woman who was publicly ridiculed a few weeks ago for infidelity, and here was Coach Dante standing up for me. Of course it would raise so much suspicion, but I hated this feeling. This weakness in me that I couldn't stand up for myself.

"I'm not trying to take over anything," I tried to defend myself quietly, pained that everytime I would bump into them, I would have to explain that I was just a medic here, and I wasn't here for Silas or Janie. "I'm just doing my job."

"Your job." Michelle laughed, the sound sharp and ugly. "Is that what you call it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you've been spreading your legs for the coach just like you spread them for half the pack back home."

My face went hot and rage burned through my chest. "That's not—"

"Don't bother denying it." Another woman stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. "Everyone saw how he defended you. 'Lori is a certified healer with more medical training than anyone'." She mimicked Dante's voice in a mocking falsetto. "Please... the only training you have is in manipulation, and that is what you've done to him. But we will make sure to make him see you for the dirty hag that you truly are."

"I guess she manipulated him by acting pregnant and pathetic. Pregnant for a bastard's son." Michelle added, stepping closer. "And the moment those babies come out, he'll drop you like the trash you are. You know that, right?"

Silas stood up from the table and walked toward the door, pausing just long enough to look back at me over his shoulder. "You heard them," he said quietly. "You think having the coach on your side changes anything? It doesn't. You're still the same pathetic Omega you've always been. And I promise you this, Lori..." His eyes darkened. "You will regret making him speak to me that way. Whatever game you're playing, I'll make sure you lose."

The door swung shut as his teammates followed behind him, and I was filled with a hollow ache in my heart. The ache turned to pain, pain of the betrayal, the cruelty of everything, and how alone I was really in this world.

Bastard's son? No, the children belongs to Silas. Seducing Dante? I wouldn't even dream of it. Why was my life so pathetic? Why was I always at the receiving end of everything bad thing that has ever happened to me?

I didn't know when the silent tears began slipping from my eyes, neither did I even realize how deep in my thoughts I had gotten that I didn't notice Dante standing beside me with his thick arms folded around his chest. He had a neutral expression on his face.

"The car is waiting outside. Don't let the driver wait for long." He said slowly when I finally noticed him. "And wipe those tears before you get home. Your goal is to take revenge and not to be a pathetic weak thing."