I walked slowly toward my door, pausing to draw in a long, shaky breath. My palm hovered on the knob as if the wood itself was a barrier I wasn’t ready to face.
Finally, summoning courage, I turned it open—only to let out a dramatic sigh of relief.Not who I expected, Just Leslie my roommate.
"Roomieee!" she squealed, throwing herself at in a tight hug. My heart was still racing from that ridiculous knocking, but I forced a smile and hugged her back.
"God, Les, I almost thought you were dead," I teased with a smirk, masking my relief.
She flopped dramatically onto her bed, rolling her eyes with a grin. "Please. My man was just too clingy. He wouldn’t let leave him all weekend, and honestly? I didn’t want to."
I let out a soft laugh and leaned against my bedpost. "Lucky you. If I had a happy relationship like yours, I’d do the sa." The words slipped out like a sigh, more truth than joke.
Leslie caught it instantly. Her smile faltered into that pitying look I hated. "Kiana... don’t tell Maddox is still being a pain in the ass?"
I didn’t answer imdiately,I just settled on my bed and stretched out,staring at the ceiling and letting the silence speak for .
Of course, Leslie being Leslie, she switched gears in an instant. "Anyway! Did you hear? Friday’s the big Princess and Prince of Monticello High Prom night." Her eyes lit up, and she nudged with her elbow. "Hope you’re ready."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Ready for what? I don’t even have a date. Won’t be getting one either, so what’s the point?" My voice sounded flat, but inside my chest, the ache pulsed, raw and stubborn.
Leslie sat up, crossing her arms with a frown sharp enough to cut glass. "Don’t tell Maddox isn’t taking you. If he doesn’t, Kiana... maybe it’s ti to let him go."
Her words hit like a slap. I blinked at her, stunned, because we both knew letting go of Maddox was easier said than done. If it were that simple, I wouldn’t still be tangled in this ss.
"You say that like it’s easy," I muttered, forcing a small smile. "Hopefully he’ll ask . If he doesn’t... well, maybe it’s because he’s not going either."
"Ugh, don’t even get started on that horror-show boyfriend of yours." Leslie threw her hands up, then shuddered theatrically. "You know I still can’t forget what he did to last sester just because I took you to that night club party? Maddox Bianchi—innocent face, demon heart."
I narrowed my eyes, sitting up to glare at her."Watch it, Leslie. He’s still my man." I threatened, but she brushed it off with a soft laugh.
We spent the rest of the night talking about our goals, relationships and studies. I was so caught up in it I didn’t even rember how I fell asleep.
The next morning, I woke up really earlier than usual. And the very first thing I did was to check on my phone, just to see if maybe Maddox had texted because he mostly gets mad if I don’t reply to his texts faster.
Then I realized I didn’t reply to Mordred’s ssage yesterday and so I sent him an "okay" and threw my phone back on my bed.
After getting ready, I waited for Leslie before finally going to class. And as she said, today was actually the day boys will propose to the girls they’re interested in and take them to tomorrow’s prom as their date.
It was quite a sight and cute to watch. It began right at the entrance of the school. Most of the boys were waiting for the ladies with a banquet of flowers, teddy bear and so gifts.
Luckily for Leslie, her man—Jordan,who attended different high school ca with so gifts for her. It was really nice and sweet of him to think about his woman like that.
After taking several pictures and chatting with so of our mates we headed inside and went straight to the school cafeteria. That’s when I heard the rumors.
"Maddox, the school President, actually asked Ciara to be his prom date this morning in his class." A girl seated behind Leslie and I muttered to her friends.
My heart ached instantly but blushed it off with a smile and asked Leslie not to pay any attention to what they’re saying. But that was just a start, through the hallway to the class room...everyone was talking about it.
So talked about the expensive gifts he got Ciara, how she was happy to receive those gifts and how she and Maddox actually hugged and kissed each other.
It felt as if a dagger had been shoved into my heart. But I remained composed, clenched my hips to control my temper and then rushed to the bathroom to do what I normally do when I’m overwheld or furious.
I washed my hands countless tis until my palm was red like blood. Then I finally exhaled sharply. I really wanted to cry, shout and even grab him by the neck and choke him till he’s breathless.
But I pressed on it all, and assured myself it’s even good I wasn’t there to witness it. It’s great I missed such a scene and so I will just take it as a terrible nightmare and let it pass.
But fate was such a tease, the mont I got out of the bathroom and slipped to the locker room, I spotted him...seated beside Ciara and leaning in with a smirk to whisper sothing into her ears.
I pretended not to see them and passed by but Ciara intentionally called once but I didn’t turn then stood up and crossed my path. Now she was really reaching..I turned to Maddox who was seated quietly and watching it happen without saying a word.
Then faced her,"what now? Why cross my path? I asked her with a frown.
"Are you def? Didn’t you hear calling you? Oh perhaps you’re mad because you saw with Maddox. Just like you always do when you see us together." She uttered teasingly and folded her hands.
I stared at her for a mont, trying to figure out where all this audacity was coming from. Then I stepped closer until there was no space left between us and whispered for only her to hear, " I don’t respond to dogs when they bark at because they’ll always remain an animal no matter who the owner is."
Then rolled my eyes and walked past her without waiting for a response. But what she yelled stopped in my tracks but I didn’t turn around.
"After all I’m not a second option!"
Then I heard a loud laugh from Maddox which hurts more than anything else. I’ve been through a lot of humiliation because of him, but this one? Hurts more than them all.
I didn’t speak back, just sighed and went on with my day. My whole day in school felt like a punch and so sort of Karma. Everything reminded of the rumors and Ciara’s boldness towards .
Finally the class ended and it was ti to go ho. I was a bit excited despite all the drama, but my happiness got cut short when I got dragged to a whole hockey hall by Maddox’s boys.
I protested on our way but they were stronger than and so I couldn’t get away with it.
When we reached there, Maddox was seated on one of the benches with Ciara on his lap, surrounded by so of the students.
I let my eyes flicker around the room, hoping to catch sight of a teacher or perhaps any authority. Because with the way Maddox’s gaze pinned down, I could already feel humiliation creeping close.
"Well, well , well, Kiki. You really did think you would get away with disrespecting my Prom date like that?" He shot with a smirk, as if watching panic satisfied him.
I tiled my head and stared through his soul. I didn’t want to talk back at first, because that would make him lose it but Ciara’s body language got to shoot back.
"Why not? Did I bruise you and your little prom date’s ego?" I muttered, letting my words sink in.
"How dare you talk back at without permission!" He roared, then shoved Ciara aside and walked towards without hesitation. "It seems you’ve forgotten who owns you and I have to teach you right now.."
Before I could even blink, his palm cracked across my face, sending crashing to the floor. Pain stung hot against my cheek, but before I could recover, his rough fingers gripped my chin, jerking my head up to et his blazing eyes. "Look at ," he snarled—then another slap landed, harder, sharper and fueled with rage.
Tears stread down my cheeks but everyone who sat there saw it as entertainnt, especially Ciara who even clapped her hands and yelled, "This is little, she deserves so beatings for that rudeness."
And Maddox smirked at her then turned to face . "You heard that? Well, you won’t be going to the prom tomorrow so I wouldn’t mind teaching you so lessons until your bones break."
Then everyone began laughing as if that was a joke. Knowing damn well, Maddox does what he says. I pleaded with him, because I knew how far he could go to make miserable in front of people just to show dominance over .
My knees buckled, and I clutched desperately at his leg, tears spilling down my cheeks.
"Please, Maddox, I’m sorry... I swear I won’t even breathe near Ciara again!" My voice cracked, trembling with fear, but his eyes slid past like I was beneath him.
" Too late, boys ...give her so heavenly beatings but make sure she breathes because I need her alive." he ordered, then went back to his seat ignoring all my protest.
Then the boys began. The first punch drove into my stomach, folding in half as the air whooshed out of my lungs.
Another cracked across my temple, stars bursting in my vision. Boots thudded against my ribs, my back, my legs, each strike branding my body with pain.
Inside , my wolf howled. Fight back, Kiana! Tear them apart! Don’t let them break us! Her fury burned hot, clawing at the edges of my mind, begging to be unleashed.
My nails scraped the floor, aching to lengthen into claws, my teeth grinding as if fangs wanted to tear through.
But I couldn’t. Maddox’s presence pressed down on like chains, suffocating my wolf, forcing her into silence. Fear shackled tighter than silver ever could.
I scread until my throat was raw, pleaded until my voice broke into hoarse sobs. My body shook violently, curling into itself on the cold floor, but the kicks kept raining down.
Each strike was a cruel reminder that my destiny wasn’t freedom but it was tornt.
First my mom’s painful death in front of , second being abandoned by my pack, thirdly, being sold twice before getting adopted into a family that sees as one of their possessions instead of their child.
And now fated to a boy who wouldn’t hesitate to tear apart if it’ll make him happy.
"Why, why !!!!" I yelled on top of my voice, letting out all the emotions that had choked inside .
Then Maddox signaled to his boys to stop. I tried to stand up but failed miserably. And so I knelt on the floor and glared at him.
"It’s over Maddox, it’s over between us...unless you kill –even if you don’t,
I’ll do it right after I leave this place...." I muttered with a shaky voice, my fits were trembling when I managed to look him dead in the eye and continued.
"And I’ll make sure to hunt you after.. I’ll hunt you till you have nowhere to go, nobody to talk to and helpless like I am right now."
The room went silent for a second, then they all bursted out laughing including him. To him, I was just mumbling because I’m annoyed. But to ? It was a promise.
I’ve finally given in, I can’t keep up anymore. I’ve made up my mind to end my suffering by vanishing from this world for good. After all, there’s nothing I wanted that has ever been mine.
"Lift her up!" He barked, his voice echoing through the hall. The boys imdiately helped get on my feet.
"You’ll end your life? You’re threatening isn’t it?...trying to manipulate to stop right?"He muttered, his husky voice filling the room before letting out a chuckle.
"Listen to Kianna, you belong to and can’t even die without my permission. Now get out of my sight before I lose it for good." he added, then smirked faintly before turning to face Ciara.
That did it, I limped my way out without saying a word. When I reached the entrance I stared at him for the last ti before leaving.
At the hallway, I t two students from my class who helped to the roof top out of sympathy.They actually thought I needed fresh air but didn’t know what I was about to do.
My body trembled as I dragged myself, limping toward the far wall. Every breath burned in my chest, every step felt like knives digging into my ribs.
My wolf scread inside , her voice raw and desperate. "What are you doing, Kiana?! Stop! Don’t you dare! Don’t you let him win this way!"
But I shut her out. I couldn’t bear the sound of her rage and her pleading. I couldn’t bear myself either.
My hands clutched at the cold bricks as I climbed, fingers shaking, knees buckling beneath .
I reached the edge and stood there, the world was spinning beneath my feet. Closing my eyes I breathed in deep, trying to drown out the chaos in my head.
Just one step, and it will all be quiet, but the voices in my head scread louder, my wolf howling, mories flashing like lightning—but I tilted forward anyway, craving the silence and release.
And then....
A hand shot out of nowhere seizing my wrist. My eyes flew open imdiately as I was yanked backward with brutal force, crashing onto the ground.
Pain jolted through , knocking the air from my lungs.
I gasped, blinking through tears and shock, staring up at the figure above . My breath caught in my throat.
"Y–You again?"
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