Lola’s POV

People were starting to gather. Amy’s voice had gotten louder on purpose, drawing attention. I heard footsteps and low murmurs as passers-by slowed to watch. They didn’t know what happened. But they didn’t need the details to start judging.

Then the crowd shifted. A few voices quieted. That’s when I saw Flint pushing through them, his face unreadable. He stopped when he reached me, eyes sharp and locked on mine.

He knelt down beside me, jaw tight. His hand reached for my arm. I let him help me up.

His touch made my skin burn, but not from the cold. Just being near him like this, in front of everyone, after everything… It made me feel smaller than ever.

And he still hadn’t said a word.

Flint’s eyes were full of questions and hurt. “Lola,” he said quietly, his voice trembling just a little, “is this true? This isn’t real, is it?” He glanced at Amy, then at the diary she held, then back at me. The whole crowd leaned in, hungry for my answer.

I tried to open my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat was tight. I could feel tears burning my eyes. I shook my head, but even that felt weak. I was terrified, not just for myself, but because I knew Flint was seeing a part of me I’d never wanted him to see. I never wanted anyone to know, but especially not him.

The crowd got louder, now sensing weakness.

“She’s not good enough for Flint,” a girl said, and another one snickered, “Did you see how desperate she looked on the ground?”

“If I found out my sister was obsessed with me, I’d be sick,” a boy said, shaking his head.

I looked at Flint, searching his face for something. But he just looked confused and hurt. I wanted to explain, to say it wasn’t supposed to be like this, but I couldn’t find the words. Everything inside me was tangled up.

I hated that he was seeing me like this. Worse, I hated that I had put myself in a position where Amy could use my secret to ruin everything. My face felt hot, my stomach sick. I didn’t want to cry, not in front of all these people, not in front of Flint.

Amy’s voice cut through the crowd, cruel and satisfied. She waved my diary in the air, the pages fluttering. “Should I show Flint what you wrote? Maybe you should read it yourself, Lola. Let everyone see how much you want him.” The crowd murmured with anticipation, all of them eager for more drama.

Flint’s face darkened. He took a step closer to Amy, his voice firmer now. “Amy, that’s enough. Give the diary back.”

Amy ignored him and looked at me with fake pity. “You know, Lola, I always wondered why you looked at him that way. It’s a little pathetic, honestly.” She held the diary out, as if she wanted Flint to take it, but she pulled it back just as he reached for it.

Then Amy said, “Flint, I don’t mind if you want to be with her. I’ll step aside. If you and your little mate are meant to be, I’ll let you be together.”

The words hung in the air. My heart pounded. I couldn’t meet Flint’s eyes. The crowd gasped and started to whisper again, some people laughing, others looking at me with pity or disgust.

Flint’s hand tightened into a fist. He looked at Amy, then at me, then at the diary. For a moment, he looked lost. “How could I possibly want to be with my sister?” he said, voice shaking, louder than before. “That’s not what this is. I never thought of Lola that way.”

The crowd was silent, shocked by his words. Then a wave of whispers started up again.

“She’s just his sister.”

“He’s just being nice.”

“He’d never want someone like her.”

Flint kept talking. “Anything I did for Lola was because she’s my sister. That’s all. She’s family, and I care about her. But she’s not” He stopped, looking away.

Amy’s eyes sparkled with malicious delight. “But she’s your mate, right? Are you going to reject her right here?”

Flint looked at me for a long moment. I saw the hesitation, the struggle. But then his eyes went cold. “My Luna has to be strong. She has to protect the pack. Lola, you’re too fragile. I’m sorry.”

His next words were slow and heavy, each one cutting deeper than the last.

“I, Alpha Flint, reject you, Omega Lola, as my partner.”

The words echoed in my ears. My legs trembled. I felt my chest tighten, my wolf inside me crying out in pain and confusion. I tried to steady myself. My voice was flat, almost empty. “I accept,” I whispered. The bond between us, whatever was left of it, snapped like a rubber band stretched too far.

I didn’t know if I could move. I didn’t know what to do. I could hear the laughter and the whispers, but I was numb.

Amy smiled, triumphant. “Well, that settles it. I guess that’s the end of your little crush, Lola. Maybe now you can finally move on.”

A few people snickered. Someone muttered, “This is brutal.”

I tried to straighten my dress and hide my shaking hands, but my whole body was tense. Every muscle ached from holding back the tears and the embarrassment. I looked down at my feet, not wanting to see anyone’s face, especially not Flint’s.

Then Amy, still clutching my diary, turned to Flint with a wicked smile. “Do you want to read the rest? I think you’ll find it very interesting. Or maybe Morgan wants a look.”

She laughed, but suddenly a new voice broke through the noise.

“That’s enough, Amy.”

It was Morgan.

He walked through the crowd, his eyes hard and focused. He didn’t stop for anyone, pushing aside people who didn’t move fast enough. The entire group went quiet as he approached.

Morgan stopped in front of Amy, his body language unyielding. “Give me the diary.”

Amy tried to pull it back, but Morgan was faster. He took it from her, his hand tight and sure. She glared at him, but he just stared her down until she stepped back.

He turned and looked at Flint. For a second, nobody spoke. Morgan’s face was calm, but his eyes were cold.

Flint glared at Morgan. “What are you doing?” he asked.

Morgan ignored him and looked at me. He reached out, gently pulling me behind him, his arm firm around my shoulders, blocking me from Amy and the stares of the crowd.

I could feel the warmth of his hand, the steady beat of his heart through his jacket. My own heart was racing, but I was grateful for the barrier between me and everyone else.

Morgan faced Flint again, lifting his chin. His voice was clear and full of certainty. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

Flint’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Morgan shook his head and turned to face the crowd, making sure everyone could hear him. The entire group was quiet, waiting to see what he would say next.

He held the diary in one hand, his other arm protectively around me. “You didn’t know? Lola is my girlfriend.”