CLAIMED BY THE QUARTERBACK ALPHA( AN EROTIC HIGH SCHOOL EDITION)

"Out of the way, bitch."

The words hit before the shove.

I stumbled back and looked up. "What did you just call me?"

Dave Walker stood in front of me like the hallway had shaped itself around him. Tall. Broad. His dark hair was messy in a way that looked deliberate, like he didn't care enough to fix it. A sharp jawline cut down his face, tense with irritation, an Adam's apple moving slowly as he swallowed. His eyes were dark and empty, the kind that didn't soften when they met yours.

His hands stayed in his pockets, lazy and careless, like pushing me meant nothing.

"You're blocking the path," he said coolly.

Behind him, his pack slowed, boots heavy against the floor. Six rugby players. All built like trouble. All watching me like I was a mistake standing in their way.

"I was standing here," I said. "You walked into me."

Dave's mouth twitched. Not a smile. Not a frown. Something colder. "Then you chose the wrong place."

Atlas leaned against a locker. "She doesn't know who you are."

"I know exactly who he is," I snapped. "A jerk with muscles."

A few students froze. Someone whispered my name. Someone else laughed nervously.

Dave tilted his head slightly. His neck flexed, tattoos sliding under the collar of his jersey. Dark ink curved along his arm wolves, claws, symbols I didn't understand. His skin looked too pale against the black lines, like the art was carved into him instead of drawn.

"You don't talk to Captains like that," Ryder said.

"I don't talk to bullies like they're kings."

Dave stepped closer. The air shifted. I could smell smoke and something bitter on him, like alcohol from last night still lived in his lungs.

"Humans," he muttered. "Always loud when they should be quiet."

My chest tightened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

His eyes flickered. Just once. Like something ugly lived behind them.

"Means move."

"I won't."

Silence slammed down.

Dave stared at me for a long moment. His jaw tightened. His Adam's apple bobbed. Something sharp crossed his face anger mixed with something darker, something wounded.

"Stay out of my way," he said. "I don't like being reminded of mistakes."

"Then stop making them."

His hand came out of his pocket just long enough to brush past me, hard enough to push me sideways into the locker.

"Watch your mouth," he said as he passed.

The pack followed him.

Atlas laughed. "She's got courage."

Ryder added, "Or a death wish."

Their laughter trailed behind them like smoke.

I stood there, heart racing, fingers digging into my bag strap. My pride refused to let me cry. My fear refused to leave.

I didn't understand why he looked at me like I'd done something wrong just by existing.

But I understood one thing clearly.

He was everything I hated about this school.Perfect.

"Nina."

Tessan's voice reached me before I fully turned around. She was standing near the lockers, cheer bag on one shoulder, eyes wide.

"What just happened?" she asked.

I opened my mouth to answer but Dave's pack hadn't gone far.

Atlas leaned against a locker a few steps away. "Looks like she survived."

Ryder smirked. "Barely."

Dave stopped walking.

That was worse.

He turned slowly, like he'd changed his mind about letting me exist.

"You still standing?" he asked.

Tessan moved closer to me. "Leave her alone."

The hallway went quiet again.

Dave's eyes flicked to her. "Who are you?"

"Someone who doesn't shove people for fun."

Blaze laughed. "She's got a guard dog."

"I'm not scared of you," Tessan said, but her voice wavered.

Dave looked back at me. "You like hiding behind friends?"

"I don't hide," I said. "I survive."

His jaw tightened.

"Humans always say that," he muttered. "Then they cry later."

My throat burned. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough."

Atlas folded his arms. "Captain, bell's about to ring."

Dave didn't move.

"Say sorry," Tessan snapped.

The word hit like a slap.

Dave's mouth curled. "For what?"

"For touching her."

"I touched a problem in my way."

Students started whispering again. Phones came out. Someone laughed.

Dave's gaze cut back to me. "You like attention?"

"No. I like respect."

He stepped closer again. Not enough to touch me. Enough to make the space feel smaller.

"Respect is earned."

"So is decency."

That did it.

Dave's eyes hardened. "You should be grateful I didn't push harder."

Tessan grabbed my arm. "Let's go."

I wanted to. I really did.

But something inside me refused to bow.

"You don't scare me," I said.

Dave's lips parted in a humorless smile. "You keep saying that."

The bell rang.

The pack finally moved.

Dave walked backward for a second, eyes never leaving mine. "Stay out of my way," he said. "Next time, I won't be polite."

Polite.

I watched him disappear down the hall.

Tessan exhaled shakily. "What is wrong with him?"

I swallowed. "Everything."

But even as I said it, my chest felt tight.

Not from fear alone.

From the way he looked at me like I reminded him of something he hated.

And I had a feeling this wasn't over

The gym smelled like rubber mats, sweat, and the cheap citrus cleaner the janitors used every morning. The kind of smell that stuck in your throat and reminded you that nothing here was soft or glamorous. Cheer practice wasn't glitter and smiles. It was bruises, strained muscles, and girls fighting for attention.

"Again!"

Coach Marlene's voice sliced through the room like a whistle.

She stood in the center of the gym floor with a clipboard tucked under her arm, her dark afro bouncing slightly every time she moved her head. Her sharp eyes scanned every movement like a hawk watching weak prey.

"Your timing is sloppy," she continued. "You want to cheer for the Ridgewood Wolves, not embarrass them."

Ridgewood High.

The school where Dave Walker ruled like a king no one dared challenge.

I swallowed quietly and tightened my grip on my pom-poms.

Focus, Nina. Just focus.

"Formation!" Coach Marlene clapped loudly.

Pom-poms rustled as the cheerleaders rushed into position.

The polished gym floor reflected the bright overhead lights, and for a second, my reflection stared back at me blonde ponytail tied high, black-and-gold uniform hugging my waist, short pleated skirt brushing the middle of my thighs.

I hated how small I looked in this mirror.

"Five, six, seven, eight!"

We jumped into motion.

Left arm high.

Right arm punch.

Turn.

Kick.

Clap.

The rhythm pounded in my ears as we shouted the chant in perfect timing.

"Wolves! Wolves! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

My muscles burned as we repeated the routine again and again.

Cheerleading looked cute from the stands.

But up close?

It felt like war.

"Stop."

Coach Marlene's command froze everyone instantly.

Her gaze slid slowly across the formation before landing on me.

"Better," she said shortly.

Then she looked toward the back line.

"And Veronica."

A slow pause.

"Fix your attitude."

A soft wave of whispers rippled across the cheerleaders.

Because everyone knew Veronica Hill hated being corrected.

And right now, her perfectly glossed lips curled into a thin smile that wasn't really a smile.

"Of course, Coach," Veronica said sweetly.

But the moment Coach Marlene turned away, Veronica's eyes shifted toward me.

Cold.

Sharp.

Judging.

Her arms folded over her chest as she walked closer, the other girls trailing behind her like loyal shadows.

"Well," Veronica said slowly. "Look who suddenly thinks she belongs here."

Her friends giggled quietly.

I tightened my grip on the pom-poms.

"Did I say something funny?" I asked flatly.

Veronica tilted her head.

"You didn't have to."

Her eyes dropped briefly to my uniform.

"You just showed up."

More giggles.

I kept my face calm.

Inside, though, my chest burned.

Because Veronica Hill didn't just hate me.

She saw me as competition.

And she made sure everyone knew it.

"You know," Veronica continued lazily, "some people join cheerleading because they love the sport."

She stepped closer.

"And some people join because they want attention from the rugby team."

Her friends snorted.

"Especially from the quarterback."

The words hung in the air.

Dave Walker.

Even hearing his name made something tight twist in my stomach.

I forced a dry laugh.

"Trust me," I said calmly. "Dave Walker is the last person I want attention from."

"Really?" Veronica murmured.

Her smile sharpened.

"Because from where I'm standing..."

She leaned closer.

"...you looked pretty comfortable arguing with him yesterday."

My jaw clenched.

Of course.

The hallway fight had already spread across the entire school.

Rumors traveled faster than oxygen at Ridgewood High.

Before I could answer-

The gym doors opened.

And the noise outside suddenly poured in.

Heavy footsteps.

Male voices.

Laughter.

My stomach dropped instantly.

Because I already knew who it was.

The rugby team.

Veronica's friends straightened immediately, whispering excitedly.

"Oh my god..."

"They're here..."

"Dave's here."

The players walked in like they owned the building.

Tall.

Broad.

Confident.

Black and gold practice jerseys stretched across powerful shoulders as they crossed the gym floor.

Six of them.

Six wolves.

But even among them

Dave Walker stood out.

He walked in the center of the group like gravity pulled everything toward him.

His dark hair was messy like he'd run a hand through it too many times. His jaw was sharp enough to cut glass, and the faint shadow of stubble along his chin made him look older than a high school senior.

His sleeves were rolled halfway up his arms.

And the tattoos along his skin moved with every step.

Black ink.

Sharp lines.

Wolf carvings twisting around muscle.

He looked dangerous.

Like the kind of person who didn't break rules.

He broke people.

My heart hated how fast it suddenly started beating.

"Relax," one of his teammates laughed. "It's just cheer practice."

Dave didn't answer.

His hands were shoved deep in his pockets as his eyes slowly scanned the gym.

Then

They landed on me.

My stomach twisted.

He stared for exactly two seconds.

Cold.

Unimpressed.

Then he looked away like I wasn't worth the energy.

A few cheerleaders sighed dramatically.

Veronica flipped her hair immediately, stepping forward like she'd been waiting for this moment all day.

"Hey Dave," she purred.

He didn't respond.

He just grabbed a water bottle from the cooler and took a long drink.

One of the players elbowed him lightly.

"Your fan club is calling."

Dave glanced lazily toward Veronica.

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

"Oh."

One word.

Flat.

Uninterested.

Veronica's smile faltered for half a second.

The rest of the team laughed quietly.

My lips almost twitched.

Serves her right.

But then Dave's eyes shifted back to me.

Slow.

Sharp.

And this time, his gaze lingered.

Like he was studying something he didn't trust.

Something he didn't like.

I looked away first.

Because I refused to give him the satisfaction.

Still

Even without looking at him

I could feel his stare.

Heavy.

Unsettling.

Like a storm cloud waiting to break.

Across the gym floor, whispers started again.

"Is that the girl who fought Dave yesterday?"

"Yeah."

"She's crazy."

"No one talks to him like that."

"Especially not a human."

The word human made something cold crawl up my spine.

Because they weren't wrong.

Most students here didn't know.

But some of us did.

Dave Walker and his five teammates weren't normal boys.

They were wolves.

Real ones.

And something about the way Dave was looking at me right now

Made my instincts scream one terrifying thought.

This rivalry between us?

It was only just beginn

Practice finally ended with the loud echo of Coach Marlene's whistle cutting through the gym.

"That's enough for today!" she called out, clapping her hands once. "Stretch and clear out."

The cheerleaders immediately broke formation, the tight tension in the room dissolving into chatter and laughter. Pom-poms dropped onto the benches, water bottles opened, and sneakers squeaked against the polished floor.

I sat down on the edge of the bench and rubbed the back of my neck.

My muscles ached.

Cheerleading looked pretty from the stands.

But the truth?

It hurt.

"Girl, you did good today."

Tessan Moore dropped beside me, breathless from practice. Her curly dark hair bounced wildly around her shoulders, and she wiped sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her hoodie.

Tessan had been my best friend since freshman year.

Loud.

Fearless.

And way too obsessed with the rugby team.

Especially one particular player.

Her eyes suddenly widened as she grabed me by my arm.

"Oh my God."

"What?" I muttered tiredly.

"They're still here."

I didn't need to ask who they were.

Across the gym, the rugby team leaned against the wall near the entrance. They were laughing loudly, tossing a ball between them, their presence filling the entire space like a storm cloud.

Six of them.

And right in the center

Dave Walker.

He leaned against the brick wall with one shoulder, arms crossed loosely over his chest.

Relaxed.

Dangerous.

Untouchable.

His teammates joked loudly around him, but Dave barely laughed. Instead, he watched the room with those heavy, unreadable eyes.

Like he was bored.

Like everything here existed beneath him.

Tessan squeezed my arm harder.

"Do you realize Dave Walker is literally standing twenty feet away from us?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Trust me," I muttered, "I noticed."

Her voice dropped into an excited whisper.

"He's the captain of the rugby team."

"I know."

"He's basically the hottest guy in this entire school."

"Debatable."

Tessan gasped dramatically.

"Debatable?! Nina, are you blind?"

"Or maybe I just have taste."

She shook her head in disbelief.

"You literally fought him yesterday."

"And?"

"And you're still alive."

I smirked faintly.

"Disappointing, right?"

Before Tessan could answer

A shadow suddenly fell over us.

"Well, well."

That voice.

Smooth.

Sweet.

Fake.

I didn't even need to look up.

Veronica Hill stood in front of us with her arms folded across her chest. Her perfectly styled hair fell over one shoulder, and her glossy lips curved into a thin smile.

Her entire group of cheerleader friends stood behind her.

Watching.

Judging.

Waiting.

"Practice is over," Veronica said slowly. "You can stop trying so hard now."

Tessan rolled her eyes immediately.

"Oh look," she muttered loudly. "The plastic princess has arrived."

Veronica ignored her.

Her eyes were locked on me.

"You know something interesting?" she said calmly.

I stayed silent.

Veronica leaned slightly closer.

"My boyfriend told me something funny earlier."

My stomach tightened.

I already knew where this was going.

"He said someone's been acting like she belongs here," Veronica continued. "Like she's suddenly important."

Her smile sharpened.

"But the truth?"

She tilted her head.

"You're just a temporary replacement."

Tessan stood up instantly.

"Back off, Veronica."

But Veronica wasn't looking at her.

Her gaze remained fixed on me.

And right then

Another voice cut across the gym.

"Veronica."

My heart dropped.

Because I knew that voice too.

Slowly, I turned my head.

Jason Reed walked toward us from the far side of the gym.

Tall.

Athletic.

The kind of guy teachers loved and girls admired.

My boyfriend.

Or at least

He was supposed to be.

He stopped beside Veronica.

Too close.

Way too close.

Veronica's smile widened slightly.

"Hey, Jason."

The air around us suddenly felt thick.

Uncomfortable.

Tessan looked between them, confusion flashing across her face.

Jason barely glanced at me.

Instead, he looked at Veronica.

"You ready?" he asked.

Ready?

For what?

My chest tightened painfully.

"Ready for what?" I asked quietly.

Jason finally looked at me.

But there was something different in his eyes.

Something distant.

Something cold.

"For the party tonight," he said casually.

Veronica slid her arm through his.

Like it belonged there.

"Oh relax, Nina," she said sweetly. "You're not invited."

A few cheerleaders snickered.

My ears started ringing.

"jason ," I said slowly.

He didn't pull his arm away.

Didn't move.

Didn't even look uncomfortable.

And that was when it hit me.

The crack in the perfect picture.

The thing everyone else probably already knew.

Except me.

"We should go," Jason said to Veronica.

Then he walked away with her.

Just like that.

Leaving me standing there.

Tessan stared after them in disbelief.

"What the hell was that?"

I forced a dry laugh.

"I don't know."

But deep down

I did.

Across the gym, someone chuckled quietly.

I didn't want to look.

But I did anyway.

Dave Walker still leaned against the wall.

Watching.

His eyes met mine from across the room.

Slow.

Sharp.

Knowing.

Like he had already seen this coming.

Like he had already seen me break.

His mouth curved slightly.

Not a smile.

Not kindness.

Something darker.

Something colder.

"Looks like your boyfriend problem just solved itself," one of his teammates muttered beside him.

The group laughed quietly.

Dave didn't.

He just kept staring at me.

Then he pushed away from the wall and walked past us.

As he passed, his voice dropped low enough that only I could hear it.

"Told you," he murmured.

His shoulder brushed mine as he walked by.

"Humans disappoint eventually."

My chest tightened painfully.

Because the worst part?

I wasn't heartbroken yet.

But something told me

I was about to be.

The first thing I heard when I stepped into school that morning was laughter.

Not the normal kind.

The sharp kind.

The kind that made people cover their mouths and glance around like they were hiding something.

My shoes slowed against the hallway floor.

Two girls near the lockers were whispering, but the moment they noticed me, their voices dropped.

Still, I caught enough.

"You're serious?" one of them whispered.

"I swear," the other murmured back. "Everyone at Jason's party saw it."

My chest tightened.

Jason's party.

The one he told me not to come to.

The hallway suddenly felt too loud. Conversations buzzed around me, but every few seconds someone glanced my way.

Then another whisper floated through the air.

"You mean she still doesn't know?"

My grip tightened on my backpack strap.

A boy leaning against a locker shook his head slowly.

"You should've seen it," he muttered to his friend. "He literally asked Veronica to be his girlfriend right there."

The words made my heart stumble

Girlfriend?

That didn't make sense.

Jason was my boyfriend.

My locker was only a few steps away now, but suddenly it felt like the longest walk of my life.

More murmurs drifted through the hallway.

"Poor Nina."

"I thought they were still together."

"She didn't even show up to the party..."

My hand froze halfway to the locker handle.

Before I could process any of it, a familiar voice called out behind me.

"Nina!"

I turned just in time to see Tessan Warren pushing through the hallway crowd.

My best friend looked furious.

Her curls bounced wildly as she stormed toward me, her expression tight with anger

She grabbed my shoulders the second she reached me.

"Tell me you didn't go to Jason's party," Tessan said.

I blinked in confusion.

"No," I answered slowly. "Jason told me not to come."

Tessan closed her eyes briefly.

When she opened them again, they were blazing.

"That lying snake," she muttered.

My stomach twisted.

"Tess," I said quietly, "what happened?"

She hesitated.

For a moment it looked like she didn't want to say it out loud.

Then she exhaled sharply.

"Jason stood in the middle of the party last night," she said. "And asked Veronica Hill to be his girlfriend."

The hallway noise faded into a dull hum.

"That's not funny," I whispered.

Tessan stared at me.

"You think I'm joking right now?"

I searched her face.

She wasn't smiling.

She wasn't teasing.

She looked ready to start a fight.

"He wouldn't do that," I said.

"He already did," Tessan replied flatly.

I shook my head.

"Maybe someone misunderstood."

"Nina," Tessan said firmly, "the entire party saw it."

My heart began pounding harder.

Then a smooth voice drifted through the hallway.

"Well... look who finally showed up."

My head turned.

Veronica Hill stood a few lockers away.

Her blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her arms were folded across her chest like she owned the entire hallway.

Three of her cheerleader friends stood behind her, watching the scene unfold with barely hidden smiles.

Veronica tilted her head slightly.

"Did no one tell you yet?" she asked sweetly.

Tessan stepped forward immediately.

"Say another word and I swear"

Veronica raised a hand lazily.

"Relax, Warren. I'm just being polite."

Then her gaze settled on me.

"Your boyfriend asked me to be his girlfriend last night."

The words sliced through my chest.

"Jason is my boyfriend," I said quietly.

Veronica laughed.

Not kindly.

"Was."

A few whispers broke out behind her.

Tessan moved closer to me, her anger practically radiating.

"You're disgusting," she snapped.

Veronica only shrugged.

"Don't shoot the messenger."

Then she leaned slightly closer to me.

"Jason's the one who dumped you."

The hallway erupted in murmurs.

Heat rushed to my face.

"Nina," Tessan said softly, tugging at my arm. "Let's go."

But I shook my head.

"Where is he?"

Veronica's smile sharpened.

"Outside," she said casually.

She leaned in just enough for only me and Tessan to hear.

"Probably waiting for me."

Something inside me snapped.

I turned toward the exit doors.

Tessan hurried after me.

"Nina, wait!"

The cool morning air hit my face as I stepped into the courtyard.

Students were scattered across the grass and benches, talking before class started.

And then I saw him.

Jason stood near one of the benches as He rested his arm casually on the pavement

My chest tightened painfully.

Jason noticed me first.

His expression flickered with surprise for half a second before it hardened.

I walked straight toward them.

Tessan followed close behind.

Jason sighed the moment I stopped in front of him.

"Nina... this isn't a good time."

"You asked her to be your girlfriend?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied with a shrug.

Just like that.

No guilt.

No hesitation.

"You told me not to come to the party," I said.

"Yeah," Jason said, rolling his eyes. "Because I didn't want a scene."

Tessan exploded instantly.

"A scene?" she shouted. "You publicly cheated on her!"

A few nearby students turned to watch.

Jason looked annoyed now.

"Look, Nina," he said coldly, "we were already over."

My head snapped up.

"Since when?"

He gestured lazily toward Veronica.

"Since I upgraded."

The words felt like a slap.

Veronica smiled sweetly beside him.

"Don't take it personally," she said.

That was enough.

"You betrayed her!" Tessan yelled.

I grabbed her arm before she could lunge forward.

"You cheated on me," I said quietly.

Jason scoffed.

"It's high school, Nina. Relax."

The courtyard buzzed with whispers again.

My throat burned.

For a moment I thought I might cry.

But I refused.

Instead I turned and walked back toward the school building.

Fast.

Before anyone could see the tears building in my eyes.

Behind me I heard Veronica laugh.

Jason said something I couldn't make out.

More whispers followed me like a storm.

When I stepped back into the hallway, I stopped suddenly.

Because Dave Walker and his friends were leaning against the lockers.

Watching.

Waiting.

Dave straightened slowly when he saw me.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Well," he said lazily, "that was entertaining."

His friends snickered.

One of them murmured under his breath, "Public breakup."

Another added, "Brutal."

Dave pushed himself off the locker and walked a little closer.

His sharp eyes scanned my face like he was studying every crack in my expression.

"Didn't see that coming, huh?" he said.

"Back off, Walker," Tessan snapped.

Dave chuckled.

"Relax. I'm just observing."

A quiet laugh rippled through his group.

Someone muttered, "Poor girl."

Another voice added mockingly, "Dumped and humiliated in one morning."

My throat burned.

Dave tilted his head slightly.

"Looks like your perfect boyfriend wasn't so perfect," he said.

The hallway laughter grew louder.

My vision blurred.

But I refused to cry in front of them.

I lifted my chin.

"I wasn't heartbroken yet," I said.

I met Dave's gaze directly.

"But I was about to be."

Then I walked past him.

Leaving the whispers behind.

But the humiliation followed like a shadow.

And somewhere behind me

Dave laughed.

The hallway noise followed me for a while.

Whispers.

Snickers.

Low conversations that died the moment I passed by.

I kept walking.

Fast.

Faster.

My vision burned and blurred, but I refused to let the tears fall where everyone could see them.

Not in the hallway.

Not in front of Dave Walker.

Not in front of the entire school that had just watched my relationship explode.

"Nina wait!"

Tessan's footsteps hurried behind me.

I turned the corner sharply and pushed open the first door I saw.

The janitor's closet.

The smell of cleaning chemicals filled the air as I stepped inside and slammed the door shut.

Darkness swallowed the tiny space.

A thin line of light slipped in from the bottom of the door.

My chest rose and fell too fast.

For a moment, I just stood there.

Frozen.

Trying to breathe.

Trying to hold everything inside.

But the moment Tessan pushed the door open and slipped inside behind me

I broke.

A sob ripped out of my chest before I could stop it.

My knees gave out and I slid down the wall, collapsing onto the cold tile floor.

"Nina oh my God."

Tessan rushed toward me immediately.

Her arms wrapped around my shoulders as another sob tore through me.

"I" My voice cracked. "I didn't even know."

Tears spilled down my face now, hot and unstoppable.

"I didn't even know he hated me that much."

"He doesn't hate you," Tessan said quickly, kneeling beside me. "He's just a coward."

I shook my head violently.

"He stood there," I choked. "Like it was nothing."

The image replayed in my mind.

Jason's arm around Veronica's waist.

His careless shrug.

Since I upgraded.

My stomach twisted painfully.

"God, Nina," Tessan muttered, her voice shaking with anger. "If I had been at that party, I swear I would've thrown a chair at his head."

Despite everything, a broken laugh escaped me.

Tessan squeezed my shoulder.

"You deserve so much better than that idiot."

Another sob escaped my throat.

"I gave him everything," I whispered.

The words sounded pathetic the moment they left my mouth.

Three years.

Three years of loyalty.

Three years of defending him when people said he was a jerk.

Three years of believing he actually cared about me.

And he replaced me with Veronica Hill in a single night.

My fingers curled into fists.

"I feel stupid," I whispered.

"You're not stupid," Tessan said firmly.

"I didn't even see it coming."

"That's because you're not a snake like them."

Silence filled the small closet for a moment.

My breathing slowly steadied, though tears still slid down my cheeks.

Outside the door, the muffled sounds of students moving through the hallway echoed faintly.

Life continuing like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile my entire world had just cracked open.

"I hate them," Tessan muttered suddenly.

Her voice was low.

Dangerous.

"Jason and Veronica. All those idiots laughing in the hallway."

My throat tightened again.

"And Dave," I whispered.

Tessan's jaw clenched.

"Oh, especially Dave."

I wiped my face with the sleeve of my hoodie.

"Why does he hate me so much?" I asked quietly.

Tessan frowned.

"I don't know."

"He acts like I personally ruined his life."

"You barely even talk to him."

Exactly.

That was the part that confused me the most.

Dave Walker had hated me since the day I transferred to this school.

Cold looks.

Cruel comments.

That sharp, mocking smile whenever something went wrong for me.

Like he enjoyed it.

Like watching me struggle entertained him.

Tessan leaned back slightly and studied my face.

"You know what?" she said suddenly.

"What?"

She shrugged.

"Maybe he's just a jerk."

I sniffed weakly.

"That's the best explanation you've got?"

"Pretty solid explanation if you ask me."

Another small laugh escaped me.

For the first time since the morning started, the tightness in my chest loosened a little.

Tessan nudged my shoulder gently.

"Hey."

I looked at her.

"You're not going to let this destroy you, okay?"

My lips trembled.

"It already did."

"No," she said firmly.

She pointed toward the door.

"You walk out of this closet, you wipe your tears, and you show them you're stronger than their stupid drama."

My eyes burned again.

"I don't feel strong."

"You don't have to feel it," Tessan replied.

"You just have to fake it."

She stood up and held out her hand.

"Come on."

I stared at it for a moment.

Then slowly reached up and took it.

Tessan pulled me to my feet.

My legs felt shaky, but I managed to stand.

She studied my face critically.

"Okay, yeah... we definitely need damage control."

I let out a weak laugh.

"Is it that bad?"

"You look like you fought a raccoon."

"Great."

She pulled a small pack of tissues from her pocket and handed them to me.

"Fix the mascara situation before Coach Marlene sees you."

My stomach dropped slightly.

"Cheer practice..."

Tessan grimaced.

"Yeah."

I wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks.

Took a deep breath.

Then another.

My chest still hurt.

Jason's betrayal still burned inside me.

The humiliation.

The whispers.

Dave's mocking voice replaying in my mind.

But Tessan was right.

If I walked out of this closet crying-

They would win.

And I refused to give them that satisfaction.

I straightened my shoulders.

Tessan watched me carefully.

"That's the spirit," she said quietly.

I forced a small nod.

"Let's go."

Tessan reached for the door and pushed it open.

Bright hallway light flooded the small closet.

The noise of the school returned instantly.

Voices.

Footsteps.

Lockers slamming.

Normal life.

I stepped out first.

And forced my face into something that looked like confidence.

But deep inside

Something had cracked.

Something painful.

Something sharp.

Because even though no one had seen me cry in that closet

I knew the truth.

I cried where the werewolves couldn't see me.

But they would still smell the weakness.

And Dave Walker?

He would enjoy it the most.