Vallienne gritted her teeth, frustration boiling beneath her skin. Her minions flinched and ducked behind her, too afraid to face the man striding toward them.
Meanwhile, Evangeline didn't dare to look up. The heat inside her had turned volcanic—wetness pooling between her thighs, her body pulsing with uncontrollable need. The mark on her neck glowed faintly, her heart stuttering when he stopped in front of her.
He was her second chance mate. Johan Delorix.
Dylana, probably the only person in this godforsaken pack who didn't despise Evangeline, stormed onto the stage after hearing what was happening. She dropped to her knees and held Evangeline's shoulders.
Glaring up at Vallienne, she snapped, "Step away, Vally!"
Vallienne immediately took away her heel, retracting back. Not because she was scared of Dylana, but because Johan was watching her intently. And worse, he was staring directly at the moistness on her face.
Vallienne's shoulders dropped. Tears spilled out of her eyes, as if she were the one being insulted here.
"What's wrong with you? How can you treat her like this?" Dylana's voice cracked. "She is our friend!"
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she looked at Evangeline's hand. Blood oozed from a round purple bruise, but what hurt her the most was Evangeline's expression. She was completely blank, void of any pain, as though she was used to it.
Johan looked down at his mate, his expression darkening with restrained desire. She was reeking of pheromones, and his wolf growled to claim her immediately.
Evangeline met his eyes for the briefest second, but all she saw was resentment. Who could love a mate with a heat that spiraled out of control anyway? With a body that smelled like overripe fruit, about to decay, attracting the flies around?
"Johan…" Vallienne called softly. Tears streamed down her eyes as Johan turned toward her. "I didn't mean to—she started it—I was just—"
"She stole my meds!" Evangeline cut her off. Her voice was weak, but everyone heard it clearly.
"No, she didn't!" Cassandra stepped forward, rushing to her boss's defense.
"Someone put it in her bag, and she was kind enough to text you about it." Turning to Johan, she continued, "Vallienne was preparing to deliver them back, but this disgraceful woman showed up and made a scene."
"Yes!" Rosemary joined in. "She probably planted it there herself."
"Why the heck would Lily do that?" Dylana retorted. Their theories made no sense.
"Obviously, to get attention and pull Vallienne down. She's a salty whore who can't check her pheromones or her jealousy!" Cassandra spat, glaring down at Evangeline.
Many couldn't help but agree, at least about the pheromones part.
"I was just telling Lily she should have been in her room. It's not safe to be around here, but she spit on my face and called me a whore," Vallienne complained, her voice turning meek and innocent.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and Johan's mood worsened.
"Alright. Stop crying." Johan coaxed her and patted her head in an attempt to soothe her.
No one was shocked—they'd always been close. In fact, they were popular as childhood sweethearts, and many were sure they'd turn out to be mates. But things changed after Evangeline turned out to be Johan's mate.
"Get me out of here. Please," Evangeline desperately begged Dylana. With her mate around, her body was barely listening to her. Her pheromones were affecting everyone, and she'd rather get out than be further humiliated.
Dylana nodded and helped Evangeline stand on her feet. But before they could walk away, Johan stood before them, his tall figure casting a shadow over Evangeline.
"Didn't I warn you to stay inside your house? At least for tonight?" Johan barked, his eyes flaring with fury.
When Evangeline rejected her first fated mate two years ago, things spiraled out of control. Her heat became nearly unmanageable, even with medication, rituals, and treatments. And then, like a silver lining of hope, Johan turned out to be her second chance mate.
He vowed to help her out of this mess, promising to never abandon her. But when Evangeline's heat didn't stop, even after the marking process, he started losing his cool. But he was chivalrous enough to stay loyal and bear her as his mate. And, instead of being grateful, Evangeline kept pushing him that many pitied him.
"Are you that desperate to get fucked?" Johan growled again. He had clearly warned her to stay inside her room today since it was an important school event. But she loved getting on his nerves.
"Can't you hold yourself for even a day?"
"It's not in my fucking control!" Evangeline retorted, tears streaming down her face. Everyone kept telling her that, but it was not in her hands. It never had been. She had no power over her body, and hated it more than anyone else.
Johan scoffed. That answer again. That same damn helplessness. It was this behavior that had turned her into more of a nuisance.
He stared at her for a second, then began rolling up his sleeves. "Fine," he muttered. "Let's just get it over with. Since, technically, it's in my hand."
Murmurs and gasps filled the room as he loosened his tie. Vallienne's face turned ghostly pale. Meanwhile, Dylana held onto Evangeline tightly, her eyes pleading with Johan to calm down.
But Johan ignored her. He had been way too lenient, forgiving all her mistakes—but he was so done being patient.
Unbuttoning his collar, he stared at Evangeline and demanded, "Strip."
"No!" Dylana objected, standing in front of Evangeline. "You can't do this to her!"
Johan's eyes glinted blue—his wolf near the surface.
"Move."
When she didn't, he grew furious and pushed her away. One slight push—and Dylana fell to the ground with a thud.
Tears formed in her eyes, fear gripping her heart. They had been close friends since childhood, but she had no power to stop him. After all, she was just an orphan the Alpha Graham had taken pity on and brought into play with his precious daughter.
Johan's gaze shifted back to Evangeline. "Did you not hear me?"
Evangeline bit the inside of her cheek, tears rolling down her face. The fact that she wasn't even able to object—that's what disgusted her the most.
As she stood there in conflict, Johan's patience wore thin."Alright. Let me do it. It'll be easier for you," he murmured, inching closer to her.
With one small tug, he pulled Evangeline closer by grabbing her shirt. People took out their cameras to record it, Hungry for scandal. Eager to witness Evangeline fall even deeper down the drain.
Evangeline struggled under his hold, fighting against him—and also against her own body that was betraying her, burning and wet at his mere touch.
But when his hand slid into her pants, trying to strip them away, Evangeline lost it.
Pak!
She slapped Johan hard across the cheek, leaving everyone gasping in shock.
Yes, she didn't deserve him; she was guilty of shackling him in this bond. But that didn't give him the right to treat her like this.
Johan's eyes widened, his hand flying to his cheek.
Evangeline moved back hastily, hugging herself, her eyes lowered to the ground. Dylana rushed forward and clutched her shoulder.
Johan scoffed, his frustration at its peak. Did she dare to slap him in front of the whole school?
"Johan, she's just frustrated right now. Please understand—she's in her cycle and overwhelmed," Dylana tried to convince him, fighting for her friend.
"How long should I be understanding?" Johan snapped. "Hasn't one year been enough?"
Turning to Evangeline, he declared, "I, Johan Delorix, the to-be Alpha of the Lunaris pack, reject you, Evangeline Raymore."
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I accept it."
Dylana looked at her friend in shock. Vallienne smirked in victory while everyone else was surprised. Shouldn't she be begging for him to keep her?
Evangeline's body—moments ago on fire with need—burned now with pain. It felt as though her flesh was set on fire. The mark on her neck glowed brightly one last time. Then, dimmed down, confirming the rejection
Johan spared her one last glance. "I'll see which werewolf will take you next with that attitude," he spat before walking away.
"Please take me out of here," Evangeline begged Dylana beside her. It was too much. Her pheromones, combined with the pain of rejection, felt like being choked by an invisible rope.
Dylana nodded and quickly escorted her out of the hall. "I'll drop you back to the pack house," she added as they made their way out of the auditorium.
"No," Evangeline shook her head. "This is an important day for you..." she murmured.
"But—"
"You need to perform well and win that exchange student seat. That's your only way to escape this hell," Evangeline cut her off. Squeezing onto her hand, she added, "I'll be fine. Don't worry, Lana."
Dylana sighed in resignation. "At least let me walk you to the parking lot," she insisted.
Evangeline nodded with a small smile, and Dylana walked her out, tears brimming in her eyes.
Vallienne, who had been watching from afar, quickly dialed a number. "She just left." Staring at her best friend's back, she added coldly,
"Make sure you record everything live. And mark every inch of her body."