2

Chapter 2

Adele Wilson

Lunchtime; Academy canteen

'Did you see what happened earlier? I feel like Jason did that to save her'.

'Why would Jason save her? I don't feel that way'.

'Jason doesn't easily get involved with other students. He rarely speaks to Henry too'

'Could it be that Jason has a crush on her? That's not even possible'

'Chloe is so going to kill her'

Slowly, my fingers curled around the fork I was using to eat as I listened to those disgusting whispers from the students.

They couldn't even keep their voices down.

'If you are going to gossip about someone, why not fucking keep your voice down?'

I wanted to yell, but composed myself.

Chloe's familiar and unique perfume thickened the air, accompanied by the noise around me fading into silence.

"Hey!"

Chloe pulled a chair and sat beside me, her eyes on me.

Her blue eyes were blazing with anger that sent horrifying chills down my spine.

She stared at me, face wrinkled in disgust.

"Is something going on between you and Jason?"

My eyes widened. "Huh?"

Jason has never spoken a word to me, what made her think that?

"Answer my question." she sneered.

"No."

"Then why did he butt in earlier in the ballroom?"

She wasn't going to give up, determined to get the answer that wasn't even there.

"I... don't understand what you are talking about."

She scoffed, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You are really going to act clueless with me, huh? Why he help you earlier?"

Help me? Could this be true? Did he really butt in earlier to help me? But why?

"I don't know what you are talking about." And without another word, I stood up hurriedly in a bid to leave.

"Sit your ass back down, Adele. I'm not done talking."

I found myself obeying her.

“Adele…” she paused, then leaned close. “I don't care whatever game you are trying to play, but trust me, I am the last person you want to mess with. Stay away from my man,” she threatened.

“Try anything stupid, Adele, and you are out of the academy. Of the pack… And oh… With just a snap of fingers, your father will lose his job.” A smug smirk tugged at her small lips.

"You don't want to mess with what is mine."

She stood up, patted my hair, and smiled before leaving.

I couldn't finish my lunch after what happened, and going back to the class was the last thing on my mind, so I went to the only safe place where I could clear my head. The figure skating arena. It's always empty by this time of the day.

The door to the arena creaked loudly as I pushed it open, the soothing scent of the ice rink and its beautiful sight welcomed.

I dragged myself to sit on on of the chairs, the only questions on my mind as I stared at the ice rink; 'Will I ever get to skate there like other people?'

"Life is unfair, right?"

I looked beside me, and my chest heat up at the sight of Jason, in his team's jersey. A green jersey with white stripes on the arm, with 'Predator' inscribed in front of it. His helmet was in his arm, so I presumed he was either heading to the ice hockey rink, or leaving.

Wait... Did Jason Wolff... the unreachable Jason just talked to me?

My chest pumped up and down with my heart beating loudly against it as he closed the distance between, sitting right next to me, and gazing into space.

"Life can really be unfair..." he paused and looked at me. "If you give it a chance to be." He smiled. One that didn't reach his eyes.

"Huh?"

I pinched the skin under my skirt. To be sure I wasn't dreaming, and the sting confirmed that I wasn't.

Silence thickened around us, dragging on intensely. My brain suddenly stopped functioning, not knowing how to act around him, or even form a single sentence.

Don't blame me. I had never sat this close to him.

Then he spoke out of the blue. "Do you want to trample upon them? Henry, Chloe, and all your bullies. Do you want to make them pay?"

I froze, blinking my eyes as confusion shot through me.

"What if I told you I could reshape your life? Make your dream real?" He offered, his eyes blank.

"I'll make everyone who's ever laughed at you, beg to be in your presence."

My lips parted as waves of shock sparked through me. Why was he doing this?

First, he was always watching me, and now this?

For a moment, I was tempted to take the offer right away. The pain was already too much and I needed an escape, but hell no! I couldn't allow myself make such mistake.

His phone rang, disrupting him. He glanced at the screen, then turned to me.

"If you want to survive in this academy, then you have a to make a choice, Adele..."

He even knew my name?

"To either be a predator... or a prey."

He stood up and turned his back on me.

"I'll be waiting here by this time tomorrow, expecting your reply. I will take your absence as turning down my offer." He turned to leave.

I rose to my feet. "Why do you want to help me?"

He paused, then looked at me over his shoulder, a soft smile playing around his lips. "Just because."

That was his only reply before he walked away. What does that mean?