Nina looked up from her desk as I entered the classroom, a friendly smile on her face. She's always been observant and empathetic, often noticing when someone's off.

"Hey," she said quietly as I took my seat, her eyes studying my expression. "How are you holding up today?"

I gave a casual shrug as I responded. 

"I'm alright," I said, trying to maintain a casual tone. I was attempting to act like nothing significant had happened, hoping to push the events of yesterday out of my mind.

Brittney chimed in, her voice filled with disdain. "Did you spend the whole night crying over that damn cheater?"

I gave a dry smile, trying to appear unbothered. "Nah, not really," I managed to say, attempting to downplay the situation.

As I caught a glimpse of Felix and Giselle engaging in conversation again, a wave of worry washed over me. Seeing them together, even though they were in different classes, still stung. I instinctively lowered my head, hoping they wouldn't notice my distress. 

My heart ached as I realized I might not find another mate, even though my mom had tried to boost my spirits before I left for school. 

The pain of letting go of the two-year relationship I had built with Felix was too much to bear. I still loved that alpha deeply, and the thought of letting him go was like a knife to the chest.

Brittney's voice growled with resentment, her frustration evident as she spoke. "Oh, and have you seen Giselle yet? She's such an obnoxious girl. Trust me, if this place wasn't controlled by Scarlett Moon, I would've given that girl a piece of my mind for ruining things between you and Felix!"

Nina added her opinion, her arms crossed in front of her. "Yeah, don't forget that Giselle comes from the Scarlett Moon pack. They're a pretty tough bunch, and she uses her father's influence to do whatever she wants here. No one dares to stand up to her, knowing who her dad is."

"I don't get it. Scarlett Moon is loaded with hot, strong Alphas. Why is she after Felix, who's not even the most gorgeous one in her pack? It doesn't make sense." Brittney shook her head, her expression puzzled. 

Nina shrugged, her eyes rolling slightly. "Yeah, you know that saying—the grass is always greener on the other side. But for Giselle, it runs deeper. She's the kind of girl who's always jealous of what others have. I don't think she even really likes Felix, per se. She just can't stand the idea of him being with someone else, especially you, Kate." 

"Of course. I mean, you're prettier than her, and that definitely drives her nuts. Giselle can't stand the fact that you're more attractive than she is, which only fuels her jealousy." Brittney couldn't help but laugh, her expression smug. 

My heart ached as I caught a glimpse of Felix being attentive to Giselle. The pain, anger, and betrayal flooded over me once again. I couldn't understand what Felix saw in Giselle that made him so drawn to her.

I silently wondered if it was because of her beautiful werewolf form that Felix was drawn to Giselle. She was a werewolf with a stunning coat, which only added to her allure. 

Could that be the reason he had chosen her over me?

Nina glanced at me, her expression sympathetic. "Just forget about him, Kate. I'm positive you can find another Alpha who's far more loyal than Felix could ever be."

"And who knows, maybe your second chance will be a man who's better in every way than Felix. Think of it—he'd be the kind of guy who'd move mountains just because he loves you so much!" Brittney chimed in, a sly grin on her face. 

Nina nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with approval. "Yeah, Brittney is right. Your second chance guy could truly be someone exceptional. He'd go to extreme lengths to prove his love, showing just how devoted he is to you. How romantic." 

I let out an exaggerated eye roll, feeling slightly bored. 

"Nah, I'm not ready for a second chance yet," I responded, my voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "The memories of me and Felix are still fresh in my mind, and I can still taste the sweetness of our time together."

Brittney snickered, her voice dripping with impatience. "You're taking way too long to move on, even though plenty of alphas out there are checking you out. Come on, let's have some fun at the park after school. It'll take your mind off Felix."

"Yeah, Brittney's right. We could have a picnic, or play some games, or just enjoy the nature around us. You need to clear your head and let yourself have some fun." Nina chimed in, her eyes lighting up with excitement. 

I shook my head, feeling a bit drained. 

"Nah, I think I'll head home instead," I replied, my voice tired. "I just need some alone time to sort my thoughts out."

Nina's expression turned resolute, and she spoke adamantly. 

"No, no, we're gonna have some fun." She gestured at herself and Brittney. "We already got permission to bring you to the park after school, and we still haven't celebrated your birthday yet."

I sighed again, "But..."

Brittney chimed in, "You know, you probably have a hankering for some delicious food. Maybe some meat or spaghetti? Or how about a few bagels with your favorite spreads?"

After a moment of contemplation, I nodded, reluctantly agreeing. "Alright, fine. But just a quick outing, okay?"