Zoe POV

I could not speak. Could not breathe.

I look around. Everyone is staring at me.

'They all think I did something. They all think this is my fault.'

My father's eyes are hard. Stern. I have never seen him look at me like this.

My brother Cole stands near the wall. His expression is cold. Like he has already decided I am guilty.

Some of the pack members are looking at me with judgment in their eyes.

Then Alpha Noah pushes through the crowd.

He moves toward me fast. Pain has turned his beautiful gray eyes bloodshot and raw. His black hair is disheveled, and even with his strong, handsome features twisted in agony, he is striking. His jaw is clenched so tight I can see the muscle twitching.

'He must be feeling it. The pain of losing his mate. The bond breaking.'

For a moment, I think he is going to shift right here and tear me apart.

He stops just in front of me. His hands are clenched into fists.

"Tell them," he says. His voice is low. Dangerous. "Tell them what you did."

"I did not do anything," I whisper.

"LIAR!"

I feel like I am drowning. Like the walls are closing in.

'What do I do? How do I make them understand?'

I could tell them about the text messages. About Jake. But then they would want to know why I did not mention it before. Why I waited until now.

'They will think I am making it up. They will think I am lying to save myself.'

But what choice do I have?

'If I say nothing, they will never believe me. If I say something, they might not believe me either.'

My hands are shaking.

'Dad is not going to help me. Cole has already turned against me. Mom thinks I killed Chloe.'

I am alone.

'But the text messages are real. They are proof. They have to believe proof.'

I pull out my phone. My fingers feel numb as I unlock it.

"There were text messages," I say quietly. "From someone at school."

Everyone goes silent.

I hold up the phone so they can see.

"His name is Jake. Jake Anderson. He has been... bothering me for months. Asking me out. Saying things. I kept saying no, but he would not stop."

My father's expression changes. Just slightly. Something flickers in his eyes.

'He knows who Jake is. Of course he does.'

Jake's father was Robert Anderson. One of the pack's best Gamma warriors. He served under my father. Ten years ago, during a border attack, Robert fought alongside my father. He died holding off the enemy to buy time for reinforcements to arrive.

My father has carried guilt over Robert's death ever since. He visits Jake's mother—an Omega who lost her mate that day. He makes sure they have everything they need.

Jake is a martyr's son. The pack treats him with respect because of what his father sacrificed.

'Dad will not take my side. Not against Jake. He owes Robert too much.'

I feel my last hope crumbling.

"Last night, he sent me messages. He told me to meet him in the forest. I ignored them. I was getting ready for the party. I put my phone down on my desk and went to take a shower."

I swallow hard.

"Jake kept sending messages. A lot of them. Asking why I was not responding. Getting angry."

***

I can still see it so clearly.

I was in my room, getting ready for the party. My dress was laid out on the bed. Brown and gold.

My phone buzzed. Once. Twice. Three times.

I picked it up and saw Jake's name on the screen.

My stomach dropped.

Jake had been harassing me for months. It started with him asking me to be his girlfriend. I said no. I told him I was not interested.

He did not accept that.

He started following me around school. Waiting for me after class. Cornering me in hallways.

Then he started saying things. In front of other students. Loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Come on, Zoe. I know you want me."

"Stop playing hard to get."

"I bet you taste so sweet."

My face would burn with humiliation every time. Other students would laugh or look away uncomfortably. No one ever said anything to stop him.

Then it got worse.

One day, he caught me alone by the lockers. He leaned in close. Too close.

"I want to f**k you so bad," he whispered. "I think about it all the time. About making you scream my name."

I tried to walk away. He grabbed my wrist.

"Don't be like that, baby. I just want to taste you. Want to lick that sweet little p**sy of yours."

I yanked my arm free and ran.

After that, I started avoiding him as much as possible. I changed my routes through school. I made sure I was never alone.

But he kept texting me. Kept messaging me.

Last night was no different.

'Meet me in the forest tonight. Near the old creek. 8pm.'

I did not respond. I never responded to Jake's messages anymore. It only made things worse.

I put the phone down on my desk and grabbed my towel. I needed to shower and get ready.

The phone kept buzzing. Over and over.

'Why aren't you answering?'

'Zoe, I know you're seeing this.'

'Don't ignore me.'

'Answer me right now.'

'What the hell, Zoe? Where are you?'

'You think you're too good for me?'

'I'm done playing games with you.'

I walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I did not want to deal with Jake. Not tonight. Not on my night.

When I came out, Chloe was in my room.

She was holding my phone. Reading the screen.

"Zoe." She looked up at me. Her face was serious. "Who is this Jake person? Why is he sending you messages like this?"

My stomach dropped.

"It is nothing," I said quickly. "He is just someone from school."

"This is not nothing." She held up the phone. "He is harassing you."

I did not know what to say.

Chloe stood up and took my hand. "I am going to go talk to him. Tell him to leave you alone."

I stared at her. I could not believe what I was hearing.

Chloe wanted to help me. Chloe, who barely talked to me most days. Chloe, who was always busy with her perfect life.

Something warm spread through my chest.

But then reality set in.

"I do not want you to go," I said. "I do not want to deal with him. Jake is... he does not listen. I have told him no so many times already. The best thing I can do is just avoid him."

Jake is not just some random guy from school. He is a bully. No one dares to cross him. No one dares to stand up to him.

Three weeks ago, my best friend Annie stopped talking to me. She just cut me off completely. One day we were friends, the next day she would not even look at me.

I knew why. Jake had gotten to her. He told her to stop being friends with me. And she listened. Because everyone listens to Jake. Because no one wants to become his target.

And there was another reason I did not say out loud. Jake did not just harass me. He said things to other girls too. Inappropriate things. Disgusting things.

'What if he tries something with Chloe? What if he says something to her?'

I could not risk that.

"I am not going to the forest," I said firmly. "I just want to ignore him."

I walked past her toward the bathroom. I needed to finish getting ready. I needed to focus on the party.

When I came back out, Chloe was gone.

***

"That is what happened," I say. My voice sounds hollow. "I did not think Chloe would actually go to the forest. I thought she just wanted to help, but then... she left."

My father's face has gone pale.

He turns to one of the pack warriors. "Bring Jake Anderson here. Now."

The warrior nods and leaves immediately.

We wait in silence.

My mother has gone quiet. She is staring at nothing. Her face is blank. Empty.

Noah is still standing close to me. I can feel the anger radiating off him.

Cole has not moved. He is watching me like I am a stranger.

'They still do not believe me. Even with the messages. Even with proof.'

Minutes pass. They feel like hours.

Then the door opens.

Jake walks in. He looks confused. Scared.

"Beta Thomas?" His voice is uncertain. "You wanted to see me?"

My father does not answer. He just looks at Jake for a long moment.

Then Alpha Owen steps forward. He is holding my phone.

"Jake." The Alpha's voice is cold. "What do you know about these messages?"

He holds the phone up so Jake can see the screen.

Jake's eyes go wide. He looks at the phone. Then at me. Then at everyone else in the room.

"I..." He swallows hard. "I did not... I mean, I did not see Chloe last night. I swear. I did not see her. Zoe didn't reply to my messages, and I didn't go to the forest."

"That is not what I asked," Alpha Owen says. "I asked what you know about these messages."

Jake's face turns red. He looks trapped.

Then his expression changes. Hardens.

"Zoe and I were dating. We were together. But then she broke up with me. She led me on and then just threw me away. She played with my feelings."

My jaw drops.

"What?" I cannot believe what I am hearing. "That is not true! We were never dating! I never—"