Semua Bab THE ALPHA WHO HATED ME: Bab 31 - Bab 40

Chapter 31**Evangeline's POV**I freeze behind the oak tree, my breath caught in my throat like a trapped bird. Ronan's voice echoes through the forest, calling my name again, and every muscle in my body screams at me to run. But there's nowhere to go. The trees are too thick here, and he's standing right on the path that leads back to town.My wolf cowers deep in my chest, whimpering like a kicked dog. She can feel his presence, the weight of his power pressing against us even from a distance. The binding stone around his neck pulls at something inside me, making my stomach twist with nausea."Evangeline, I know you're here." His voice is closer now, maybe twenty feet away. But there's no gentleness in it. Only cold command.But there's something strange in his tone. Confusion. Like he's not entirely sure where the scent is coming from.The charm Maeve gave me grows warm against my skin. It's working, masking my scent just enough to confuse him. But not enough to hide me completely.

Chapter 33**Ronan's POV**The heavy oak door closes behind me with a sound like a coffin lid slamming shut. My father doesn't even let me take off my jacket before he's calling my name from his study."Ronan. Now."His voice carries the weight of command that's been drilled into me since I could walk. The tone that says there's no room for argument, no space for delay. Just obedience.I walk down the hallway, my footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The walls are lined with portraits of dead Alphas, all wearing the same cold expression my father perfected years ago. Their painted eyes follow me as I pass, like they're judging whether I'm worthy to carry on their legacy.Most days, I'm not sure I am.The study door is already open when I reach it. My father sits behind his massive desk, fingers pressed together in that pyramid shape he makes when he's about to deliver bad news. The lamp casts harsh shadows across his face, making him look older than his fifty-three years."Sit," he

Chapter 35**Evangeline's POV**Saturday evening arrives like a funeral march. I've changed clothes four times, each outfit looking more wrong than the last. The cream-colored invitation sits on my dresser, mocking me with its elegant script and golden lettering.*You're invited to celebrate with Celeste Hartwell**Saturday, 7 PM**Formal attire requested*I finally settle on a simple black dress that belonged to my mother. It's the nicest thing I own, and wearing it makes me feel like she's somehow with me tonight. The fabric is soft against my skin, and the cut is flattering without being flashy.Perfect for someone trying not to draw attention.The charm Maeve gave me hangs around my neck, hidden beneath the dress's modest neckline. It's been quiet all week, just a gentle warmth against my skin. No warnings. No pulses of alarm. Maybe I was right to hope that Celeste really has changed.Maybe tonight will be different.I take the bus to the fancy neighborhood where Celeste lives. Th

Chapter 37**Ronan's POV**My phone buzzes while I'm sitting in my room, staring at the cracked binding stone around my neck. The spider web of silver lines has been growing all week, and tonight they pulse with an angry light that makes my chest ache.Tyler's name flashes on the screen. I almost don't answer. I'm not in the mood for whatever party nonsense he wants to share.But something makes me pick up."You need to see this," Tyler says without greeting. His voice sounds strange. Shaky."See what?""I'm sending you a video. Just... just watch it."The call ends, and a notification pops up. Video message from Tyler. I tap it without thinking.The first thing I see is Celeste on a platform, wearing a white dress and a crown like she's playing dress-up. Students crowd around her, holding drinks and laughing. Some kind of party.Then I see her.Evangeline.She's standing on the platform next to Celeste, looking small and nervous in a black dress. But she's there. At a party. Looking

Chapter 39**Celeste's POV**The house feels like a graveyard after everyone leaves. Empty cups and dirty plates scatter across the patio like evidence of a crime. The platform where I stood as queen now looks pathetic in the moonlight, stained with pig's blood and my broken dreams.I sit in my pristine white dress, still wearing the crown that feels heavier with each passing minute. My hands shake as I replay the night over and over in my head. The triumph. The laughter. The moment when I felt like I ruled the world.Then him.Ronan's voice cuts through my memory like a blade. The way he looked at me when he arrived. Not with love or admiration or even basic respect. With disgust."You went too far, Celeste."The words circle in my head like vultures. He embarrassed me. In front of everyone. In front of Madison and Sarah and Emma. In front of students who look up to me. In front of people who were supposed to witness my coronation, not my humiliation.My crown slips sideways, and I s