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Chapter 234
~Erald’s POV~
My stomach dropped when my mum said that. There was no ti for preparation, and they actually waited this late before breaking the news to .
I was shattered through and through.
They said his na. I didn’t hear it. Or I did, but my brain refused to store it.
All I could think was, ’You are being given away.’
Wrapped in a ribbon, in the na of peace, alliance, and power, like I was a contract instead of a daughter.
**Flashback Ends**
The mory snapped back just as his feet crossed through the academy threshold.
He moved like soone who knew his power, not in an arrogant way, but in the way fire knows it will burn whatever gets too close.
He was dressed in black, fitted pants, a collared shirt half-unbuttoned like he didn’t care for formalities, and a long coat that whipped slightly behind him in the breeze.
Students noticed and, of course, were curious, especially girls, where whispers rippled outward.
Who’s that?
Is he new?
Why does he look like he walked out of a damn fantasy novel?
He is handso.
God, sign up to be his date.
I’m definitely going for this one since Valerie Nightshade has taken all of the Regional Alpha Heirs from us.
My wolf surged to the surface, clearly angry at the side comnts, but I did not wish to react to make him feel special and to make the girls feel like I am jealous because they were free to get him if it would spare from being tied down.
And then, he smiled.
Though his smile wasn’t directed at ... yet. But just... at the sky, like he was tasting freedom for the first ti in a long ti.
And I hated how beautiful that smile was.
I felt like a deer caught in the open, left vulnerable and exposed. Then, almost casually, he turned toward , and our eyes t.
I could swear the air shifted, and my wolf, Skye, was already purring and awakening in anticipation.
His lips tilted just barely enough for to know that he knew he was here for .
And unlike , he wasn’t the least bit uncertain about what that ant.
"Hello, Erald. My na’s Rain, Rain Ryker."
"Rain..." I partly froze when he extended his hand for to take and flashed such a dangerous, lovely smile.
"Hi... I’m..."
"Erald, dummy," Skye chided, breaking from my little trance.
"Um, sorry. You know my na. Welco to Prestige Supernatural Academy."
"Thank you. I need to first go to the principal’s office."
"Sure, this way."
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~Lucy’s POV~
It was one thing to see Kieran getting agitated because of his father’s constant ddling. But it was another entirely—sothing raw and vile—to see him getting agitated over soone like Valerie Nightshade.
I watched him from across the hallway, arms folded, lips pressed into a tight line. The students were still buzzing about the cancellation of the field trip and the reassignnt of project groups.
But Kieran had known early. He always did.
He’d tried—gods, had he tried—to weasel his way into Valerie’s pairing. I heard the whispers about him cornering the physics professor in the back wing, offering favours, gifts, and subtle threats cloaked in charm.
It hadn’t worked.
And when the list was posted this morning, Kieran’s na wasn’t beside Valerie’s. It wasn’t even next to Erald’s.
No.
He got .
And Brielle.
"Arrghhh!!"
The sound of tal scraping tile echoed in the history class as Kieran flung a chair across the room. It bounced off the far wall and clattered to the ground with a satisfying, rage-filled clang.
I flinched at the sound, my arms tightening around the books pressed against my chest.
"I will make that professor pay for what he’s done," Kieran snarled, pacing the empty classroom like a caged beast. "This was my chance—my one chance to get Valerie Nightshade back in my damn corner, and he ruined it. Ruined it!"
I hesitated, then stepped forward, trying to summon sothing close to a smile. "At least... You have in your group."
The words fell out like a small, hesitant offering.
Big mistake.
Kieran whirled on , his expression twisted in disgust. "You? What good are you to , Lucy?" he barked, eyes wild. "I wanted Valerie. Not so simpering wallflower who follows around like a stray dog."
I flinched hard this ti, my shoulders hunching instinctively like I expected a blow. He didn’t hit , but that didn’t stop the terror that crept down my spine.
He scoffed, grabbed his bag, and stord out of the room, leaving the door swinging behind him and standing there with tears burning my eyes.
My throat ached.
I didn’t cry right away. I just stood there, blinking, heart thudding, cheeks burning with humiliation.
And then I did cry.
Just a little quiet but definitely angry.
It’s her fault.
Valerie, it’s always been her fault. Her fault for existing, for living, for breathing the sa air as Kieran.
Everything had changed the mont Kieran had seen her, even before he got into PSA with her blue eyes and an attitude like the world owed her.
She took everything. The attention. The professors’ respect. The boys. Even Kieran, who once looked at like I mattered.
Now I was just the girl he got stuck with.
I wiped my tears with the edge of my sleeve and walked away from the ss of chairs and frustration. I didn’t care where I went—I just needed sowhere quiet, sowhere forgotten.
Eventually, I found myself outside one of the closed-off classrooms on the east wing. The old room was partly thick with dust and neglect. A sign taped to the glass read: "UNDER RENOVATION – DO NOT ENTER," but the door creaked open with a soft push.
I stepped inside and let the door shut behind with a gentle click.
This place was mine now.
The desks were half-covered with white sheets, the windows hazy with gri. The only light ca from the high panes overhead.
In the centre of the room, nailed crookedly to the faded chalkboard, was a single photo of Valerie Nightshade.
A printout from a group post online—her laughing with Erald and Isla, probably during so celebration. I didn’t rember who put it up. But I hadn’t taken it down.
I stood there for a mont, breathing in the musty silence, then pulled a handful of darts from my coat pocket.
I had been coming here more than I’d like to admit.
I raised my arm and threw.
Thunk. The first dart embedded itself in Valerie’s printed eye.
"Die," I hissed.
Another dart.
"You think you’re better than everyone—walking around like you’re so goddess reborn."
Thunk.
"You took him. You ruined everything."
Tears spilled again, unchecked this ti, as I hurled the next one.
"You’re nothing but a cursed mutt with pretty eyes!"
Thunk. Thunk.
Her smile stared back at , defiant even in pixels.
I raised my arm for one final throw—hand trembling with rage and sothing deeper, sothing darker—when the dart never landed.
A hand had caught it mid-air with two fingers, effortlessly.
I gasped and stumbled back, my eyes flying wide as a figure stepped from the shadows near the side cabinets.
A tall, lean girl dressed in all black. Her dark violet lipstick curled into a grin that looked more like a threat.
"I know people disliked Valerie," she said coolly. "But I never expected to find one as deranged as you are."
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