Chapter 2

Adele Wilson

Lunchtime; Academy canteen

‘Did you see what happened? I feel Jason did that to save her'.

'Why would Jason save her? It doesn't make sense’

‘Jason doesn't easily get involved with other students. He rarely speaks to Henry too'

'Could it be that he has a crush on her? That's not even possible'

'Chloe is so going to kill her'

My grip tightened on the fork as I closed my eyes, dragging in a deep breath.

‘Can they fucking let us eat in peace?’

My wolf cursed angrily.

I turned to them, my blood boiling in rage.

“If you are going to gossip about someone, why not fucking keep your voices down?” I screamed, but it was only in my head.

“Let's just ignore them, Astrid.” I whispered to my wolf, turning to continue eating. It was better to not attract attention to myself.

Just then, Chloe's familiar scent thickened the air, accompanied by the noises around me fading into silence.

Here comes another bitch that I have to deal with.

“Hey, fatty!” She pulled a chair before me and sat, her blue eyes blazing with fury as they locked on me.

Then her face wrinkled in disgust.

"Is something going on between you and Jason?"

I huffed silently. It would've been a dream come true for me if what she said were true.

“What?”

“Answer my question." she sneered.

"No."

"Then why did he butt in earlier in the ballroom?"

I blinked. “Huh?”

‘See? I told you Jason helped us! He saved us! That wasn't just a coincidence. Maybe he's starting to notice us’. Astrid squealed beneath my skin, and I rolled my eyes mentally.

“Fucking shut it, Astrid. We are in a mess now, can't you tell?” I screamed in my head, and she went quiet.

Chloe scoffed, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You are really going to act clueless with me, huh?”

"I don't know what you are talking about." And without another word, I stood up hurriedly in a bid to leave.

"Sit your ass back down, Adele. I'm not done talking."

‘Ugh! This annoying bitch! I wish we could screw her over. She's always getting on our nerves!’ Astrid growled angrily, and my fingers tightened on the tray in my hand, eyes locked on Chloe.

I sat.

“Adele…” She leaned close. “I don't care about whatever game you are trying to play, but trust me, I am the last person you want to mess with. Stay away from my man,” she threatened.

‘Did she just say her man? That's ridiculous. Were they dating?’

Astrid scoffed, and I also did, but silently.

“Try anything stupid, Adele, and you are out of the academy. Of the pack… And oh… With just a snap of fingers, your father will lose his job." she smiled.

"You don't want to mess with what is mine."

She stood, patted my hair, and smiled before leaving.

I left the canteen without finishing my food, and headed straight to the figure skating arena to clear my head.

At the arena, I sat on one of the chairs, staring into space, my mind clouded with so many thoughts as tears blurred my vision.

My heart raced, and my skin tingled as I felt Astrid crawling out of me.

‘Are you okay, Adele?’ Her voice echoed in my head, distressed.

I didn't say anything.

‘Hang in there, Adele. Remember we are in this together. You are not alone’.

“Life can really be unfair, I know.”

A gasp tore through my throat, and I flinched as a familiar voice echoed beside me.

I lifted my gaze, and I froze at the sight that welcomed me.

‘It’s Jason!’

My wolf screamed excitedly as I shot to my feet.

“Jason?”

My eyes swept over him. He was cladded in a green jersey with white stripes on the arms, with 'Predator' inscribed in front of it. His helmet was in his arm, so I presumed he was either heading to the ice hockey rink, or leaving.

“Hey!” My voice cracked, and my breath caught in my throat as he suddenly closed the distance between us, his eyes locked on me.

He leaned close, our face just inches apart, and his eyes locked on my lips.

‘Oh goodness! Is he going to kiss us?’

I closed my eyes, my knuckles tightened beside me as I waited for our lips to touch… but the next second, I felt his warm thumb brush my lower lip, and my eyes snapped open.

“You had something on your lips.” He smirked.

Right… I must've lost my mind for a moment to think he would kiss me.

He stared silently, his eyes blank and unreadable, but I knew something was going on in his mind.

And just when I was getting bored of the silence, he spoke.

"Do you want to trample upon them?”

I blinked, my lips dropped open.

“Henry, Chloe, and all your bullies. Do you want to make them pay?"

I swallowed nothing.

He smiled cockily… one that didn't reach his eyes. Then he said, “Do you want me to help you?”

"I'll make everyone who's ever laughed at you, kneel before you."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. What's this offer out of the blue?

First, he was always watching me, and now this?

‘What are you waiting for, Adele? We've been waiting for this all our lives! Come on, say yes’.

Astrid begged, desperate to free us from the shackles that have been used to tie us down for years.

For a moment, I was tempted to take the offer right away. The pain was already too much and I needed an escape, but hell, is this the right thing to do?

His phone rang, disrupting him. He glanced at the screen, then turned to me.

"If you want to survive in this academy, then you have to make a choice, Adele..."

He even knew my name?

"To either be a predator... or a prey."

He straightened up, then flashed me a faint smile as he said, "I'll be waiting here by this time tomorrow, expecting your reply. I will take your absence as a ‘no’."

"Why do you want to help me?" I asked as he turned to leave.

He paused, then looked at me over his shoulder, his face hardened. "Just because."

That was his only reply before he walked away. Just because? What does it mean?

I sighed, dragging my fingers through my hair. Many thoughts lingered in my mind, but not once did I let myself think about what he said.

My phone pinged, and I hesitantly reached for it.

Dad;

'I'll be sleeping over at the packhouse tonight, darling. The alpha needs me here. I kept some leftover food at home. Make sure you eat. Daddy loves you'.

My lips curled in a smile as my eyes scanned through the text.

'Just because'

But Jason's words replayed in my head again, disrupting my thoughts.

"There is no way we are accepting that, Astrid." I whispered, tightening my fingers around my phone…