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 from her eyes, as if she were the one being insulted here.
"How can you treat her like this?" Dylana's voice cracked. "She is our friend!"
Tears welled in 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. Completely blank. Void of 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, and 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, decaying, attracting flies?
"Johan…" Vallienne called softly, tears streaming down her face 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.
"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 control 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've stayed 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 and patted her head in an attempt to soothe her.
No one was shocked—they'd always been close. Childhood sweethearts, even. 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 begged Dylana. With her mate around, her body was barely listening. Her pheromones were affecting everyone, and she'd rather leave than be further humiliated.
Dylana nodded and helped her stand. But before they could walk away, Johan stepped in front of 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. Then, like a silver lining, Johan turned out to be her second chance mate.
He vowed to help her, promising never to abandon her. But when her heat didn't stop—even after the marking process—he started losing his cool. Still, he was chivalrous enough to stay loyal and bear her as his mate. And instead of being grateful, Evangeline kept pushing him.
"Are you that desperate to get fucked?" Johan growled. He'd clearly warned her to stay inside today, since it was an important night. But she loved getting on his nerves.
"Can't you hold yourself for even a day?"
"It's not in my fucking control!" Evangeline shouted, tears streaming down her face. Everyone kept telling her that—but it was never in her hands. She had no control over her body. And she 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 than a mate.
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 clutched Evangeline tightly, her eyes pleading with Johan to calm down.
But Johan ignored her. 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 chest. They'd been close friends since childhood, but she had no power to stop him. After all, she was just an orphan Alpha Graham had taken pity on and brought to 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.
With one small tug, he pulled Evangeline closer by her shirt. People took out their phones, cameras flashing. Hungry for scandal. Eager to witness her fall deeper down the drain.
Evangeline struggled under his hold, fighting against him—and her own body that betrayed 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 holding to his cheek.
Evangeline moved back hastily, hugging herself, 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 pleaded.
"How long should I be understanding?" Johan snapped. "Hasn't one year been enough?"
Turning to Evangeline, he declared coldly, "I, Johan Delorix, the to-be Alpha of the Lunaris Pack, reject you, Evangeline Raymore."
Taking a deep breath, Evangeline nodded. "I accept it."
Dylana looked at her 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 offered as they walked through the corridors.
"No," Evangeline shook her head. "This is an important day for you..." she murmured.
"But—"
"I'll be fine. Don't worry, Lana." Evangeline cut her off. Squeezing onto her hand, she assured with a small smile.
Dylana sighed in resignation. "At least let me walk you to the parking lot," she insisted.
Evangeline nodded, and Dylana walked her out, tears brimming in her eyes.
Vallienne, watching from afar, quickly dialed a number. "She just left." Staring at Evangeline's back, she added coldly, "Make sure you record everything live. And mark every inch of her body."