CHAPTER 5: THE GAME

EVELLESSA

Cassain insists on taking me to school.

Of course he does after it's taken me roughly thirty minutes of continous persuasion before my brothers and dad finally agreed to me taking the bus but here I am with Cass getting another choke holder.

Even though I told him five times that I can walk. Or bus. Or teleport via sheer frustration. But no. The man is glued to me like a husband on a mission.

“I said I can portal you,” he says as he opens a shimmering blue doorway in front of us.

“I didn’t agree to that.”

“You slept in my bed, I made you cum, you're my mate." he says. “We’re past disagreements.”

I make a strangled noise and step through before he can see my blush.

We arrive behind the gym building.

I stumble a bit. He steadies me with one hand on my waist.

“Stop doing that,” I mutter.

“No.”

I want to punch him. Affectionately. Maybe.

“Good luck today,” he murmurs as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Ares says your wolf is in a good mood.”

“She is not.”

Inside, Aretha is humming like she drank battery acid.

Aretha: Let him touch us again. Let him—

“Shut UP,” I hiss.

Cassain smirks knowingly. “I’ll pick you up after the game.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m going to.”

I swear I hate him.

And also… don’t.

Our school is loud, chaotic and unbelievably packed.

The college team with Cass as quarterback are early and of course they look incredible.

They have no business looking that good in jerseys.

Especially Cassain.

“Focus,” I whisper to myself as I slide into my seat in the front row, the one accidentally reserved for “VIP supporters.”

Meaning: Cassain forcefully put my name there.

The game starts. They demolish the other team. They don’t even break a sweat. Magic isn’t allowed in school games, but supernatural stamina? Untouchable.

Cassain looks up at me twice mid-play.

I ignore him.

Aretha doesn’t.

Aretha: Mate looks good when he’s sweaty.

“I’m going home.”

“You’re staying,” she says.

The cheerleaders arrive behind us after halftime, shaking pompoms and self-esteem.

Their captain, Marissa—long legs, long hair, long history of being annoying—spots me instantly.

“Oh,” she says loudly, “why is she here?”

Her squad laughs.

I smile politely. “Duh I'm a student, this is a school it's just logic.”

She sneers. “Cassain looked at you twice.”

“Criminal behavior,” I say flatly.

Her eyes widen at my sarcasm. “You think you’re funny?”

“I know I am.”

The squad gasps.

Marissa steps closer. “You think he likes you?”

“Are you auditioning for an insecurity Olympics, or…?”

Her jaw drops.

Aretha is cackling inside me.

Aretha: Push her.

“No.”

“Trip her.”

“No.”

“Throw her.”

“NO.”

Marissa’s eyes flash with jealousy. “I mean… look at you.”

I blink. “I am literally looking at me every day. What are you on about?”

“You’re… plain.”

“You’re wearing five pounds of makeup for a school game.”

Her squad gasps again.

This time louder.

Marissa smiles sweetly but her eyes scream homicide.

“Come with me,” she says. “Coach needs you to help fold uniforms.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because she said so.”

I sigh, annoyed but fine. “Fine. Quick.”

Two of her girls—Kayla and Megan—lead me to the changing room.

Coach is nowhere.

Doors slam.

Locked.

I stare at them.

“Seriously?” I ask.

Kayla smirks. “Since Cassain’s paying attention to you, we figured we’d humble you—”

I grab her by her ponytail so fast she doesn’t see it coming.

She SCREAMS.

Then I grab Megan by hers.

She SCREAMS harder.

Aretha takes over with joy.

Aretha: YES. VIOLENCE.

I slam them together like two badly-behaved Barbie dolls.

They slide down the lockers whining.

Kayla tries to stand.

I drag her back by her hair.

Megan tries to bite me.

I slap her lightly.

She cries.

“You two,” I say calmly while adjusting my uniform, “picked the wrong girl to mess with.”

Kayla whimpers, “Let go!”

“No. Apologize first.”

“We’re sorry!”

“Say it like you mean it.”

“WE’RE REALLY SORRY!”

I release them.

They crawl away, fixing their hair dramatically like I scalped them.

I roll my eyes. “Drama queens.”

The door unlocks.

A teacher stands there.

Her mouth drops at the sight.

“Miss Evelessa… admin's office. NOW.”

I sigh. “Of course.”

I walk into the admin's office calmly.

Kayla and Megan are already seated, both acting like I put them in a hospital.

Their parents are there too.

I haven’t even sat when Kayla’s mom shoots up.

“SHE ATTACKED MY DAUGHTER!”

Megan’s dad points at me. “Arrest her!”

I blink. “Arrest—? This is a SCHOOL.”

Kayla sniffles. “She grabbed my hair.”

“You locked me in a room,” I say.

“No we didn’t!” Megan cries.

“She STOLE the key,” her mom says dramatically. “She has a criminal look.”

I stare.

A criminal look?

What does that even look like?

The chancellor rubs his forehead. “Let’s all calm down—”

The door opens.

And in walks…

My father.

He looks furious.

Not at me.

At everyone else.

He sits beside me, pats my hand, and says loudly:

“My daughter does not pick fights. Whoever got hurt provoked her.”

Kayla’s mom gasps. “Are you calling our daughters liars?!”

“Yes,” he says calmly. “I am.”

I choke back laughter.

Megan’s dad yells, “Your child assaulted ours!”

Dad looks at me.

“Evelessa,” he says, “did they touch you first?”

“Yes.”

“Then she defended herself,” my dad says. “Case closed.”

Kayla’s mom jumps up again. “THIS ISN’T A COURT!”

Richard shrugs. “Sure feels like one with all the shouting.”

The chancellor raises his hands. “Everyone, please. We must hear all parties—”

Kayla sniffles loudly. “She dragged us like— like—”

Her mom sobs. “MY BABY!”

Megan fake-faints onto her father.

He doesn’t catch her.

She hits the floor.

Hard.

I try not to laugh.

My father does not try.

He laughs.

Out loud.

The room explodes again.

Everyone talking over everyone.

The chancellor presses a button. “SECURITY—”

Before he finishes, his phone rings.

He freezes.

Looks at the caller ID.

Then straightens.

“Everyone quiet.”

He answers.

“Yes sir… yes… yes I did… the incident… no— no, she’s not at fault— yes— oh— OH. I see. Yes. Immediately.”

He hangs up.

Stands.

Adjusts his tie.

Looks at us.

Then points at Kayla and Megan.

“You two are suspended.”

The whole room freezes.

“What?!” Megan squeaks.

“No! No! NO!” Kayla cries.

Their parents stand. “THIS IS UNFAIR—”

“Sit down,” the chancellor snaps. “Your daughters locked another student in a room with the intent to intimidate her.”

Kayla sputters. “Who said that?!”

The chancellor folds his arms. “Doesn't matter I've just received a footage of what really happened ".

He glances at me.

Then my father.

Then back at me.

“Miss Evelessa,” he says, clearing his throat, “on behalf of the school, we apologize.”

My dad tilts his head. “As you should.”

The parents sputter like broken sprinklers.

“This isn’t over!” Kayla’s mom screams.

The chancellor gestures toward the door. “It actually is. Please escort your daughters home.”

Security shows up.

The parents are pushed out.

They scream dramatically like they’re being exiled from a kingdom.

When they’re gone, the chancellor turns to us.

“Miss Evelessa,” he says, a little pale, “please… keep being… uh… yourself.”

“I plan to.”

He nods nervously.

Dad stands. “Come on, baby girl.”

We exit the office.

As soon as the door closes behind us—

“Evelessa,” my father whispers, “tell me the truth. Who was the person that resolved this?”

I blink. “I don’t know.”

He narrows his eyes.

“Your wolf is suspiciously calm.”

Aretha purrs.

I grab my dad’s hand. “Can we go home?”

“Not before someone tells me what—”

A portal opens beside us.

My father jumps back and reaches for his concealed dagger.

Cassain steps out.

Black coat. Hands in pockets. Expression dark.

Dad bristles. “YOU.”

Cassain nods politely. “Sir.”

“What do you want?”

Cassain’s eyes shift to me.

“Your daughter.”

Richard growls. “For what?”

Cassain steps closer.

“Evelessa,” he says quietly, “someone is coming.”

My stomach drops.

“Who?”

He shakes his head once.

“I need you to come with me. Now.”

Richard moves in front of me instantly.

“My daughter is NOT going anywhere with you.”

Cassain looks him dead in the eye.

“This isn’t a request.”

I gasp.

“Cassain—”

He reaches out his hand to me.

A portal cracks open behind him, glowing violently, unstable.

My dad pushes me back.

“What’s going on?!”

Cassain’s voice drops.

Low.

Urgent.

“Your daughter’s life is in danger.”

The hallway lights flicker.

The floor trembles.

Someone screams down the corridor.

Cassain’s eyes flash wolf-gold.

“Evelessa, you are free to come with me sir but she's coming with me now.” he growls, “TAKE MY HAND.”

I stare at him.

At my dad.

At the shaking hallway.

At the shadows forming at the end of the building.

And I discover I'm frozen to the sane spot in fear.