Chapter 163 163

Chapter 163 163

Arielle's POV

I swallowed, my voice barely a whisper. "I can't.”

He looked at me, taking a step closer like he'd swallow me whole in a second out of pure frustration. The intensity in his eyes made my skin prickle, and I instinctively stepped back, my heel digging into the grass.

"What do you mean by you can't?" His voice rose, sharp and cutting. "You just want to stand here, look pathetic, and pretend you're helpless?"

"Excuse you—"

"Or do you want to lie about your condition like you lied earlier, huh?" He stepped closer again, and I felt the heat radiating from him, the barely leashed anger simmering beneath his words.

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. I bit my tongue, forcing myself not to retort. Not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me crack.

He went on, his voice dripping with disdain. "What is it? Are you an Omega? Even they know how to turn into their wolves and run. At least they try." He paused, his eyes boring into mine. "So what's your excuse?"

I blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I'm not feeling well."

He stared at me, disbelief flickering across his face. "Not feeling well?" He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "That's the best you can come up with? After everything else? You're standing here, looking perfectly fine, and you expect me to believe that?"

"It's true," I said, my voice flat.

"Right." He crossed his arms, his gaze hardening. "Just like it was true that you were alone in that gym? Just like it was true that you went there to try on a dress?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. He was relentless, his words like knives, each one cutting deeper than the last.

"You know what I think?" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous murmur. "I think you're hiding something. And I think you're using this—" he gestured at me, at my stillness, "—as a shield."

I snapped. "Maybe you should be more professional and not drag petty things into this!"

He laughed, the sound hollow and cold. "Petty? Lying to my face about what you were doing in that gym is petty? Lying to your best friend is petty?" His eyes narrowed. "It's really pretty, you know. The way you keep deflecting."

The sarcasm was grating, scraping against my nerves like sandpaper. I tried to keep cool, to hold onto the last shred of composure I had. But I couldn't. "Wait—were you eavesdropping on Mandy and me earlier?" I scoffed, the sound sharp. "Is that what you do now? Spy on your students?"

"Eavesdropping?" He tilted his head, a mocking smile playing at his lips. "I don't need to eavesdrop. Your lies are loud enough to hear from across the building."

"Then why do you care so much?" The words burst out of me, raw and desperate. "Why do you keep pushing? Why can't you just leave me alone?"

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze searching mine. Something flickered in his eyes—something I couldn't name. Then he stepped back, shaking his head.

"Fine," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "I'll stop pushing. And I never care for anything like you. You clearly don't want my help, so I won't waste my time."

He turned, his shoulders rigid, and started walking away.

"Wait." The word left my mouth before I could stop it.

He paused but didn't turn.

"I want to tell you something." My voice was trembling, barely above a whisper. "Mandy... her life is..."

I halted, the words catching in my throat. I stared at his back, my heart pounding, my mind racing.

He waited. The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating, pressing against my skin like a physical weight. I turned slightly, and I could feel his gaze boring into the back of my head, waiting, expectant. But I couldn't finish the sentence. I couldn't tell him. Not yet. Not when it would put Mandy in even more danger. The words were right there, burning on my tongue, and I swallowed them down, forcing them back into the dark place where I kept all my secrets.

He waited a moment longer, then shook his head and chuckled, a strange, hollow sound that made my skin prickle. "What? What happened to Mandy?"

I stood there, frozen, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I had almost told him. Almost let myself trust him for a moment. But the fear held me back—the fear of what Logan would do, the fear of losing Mandy, and the fear of what it would mean if I let Aeson in. I shook my head, hoping he would just walk away, hoping he would let it go.

He chuckled again, the sound sharper this time. "Are you going to lie and say Mandy is in danger now? Because that would be a new low, even for you."

I could only look at him, wishing I could say it wasn't a lie. Wishing I could just tell him the truth and let him handle it. But the words wouldn't come.

"Speak," he ordered, his voice low and commanding.

I rolled my eyes, feigning defiance, forcing a mask of indifference onto my face. "There's nothing to say. You're just being paranoid."

My phone buzzed, the vibration sharp against my thigh. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from the prick. Logan.

You better not think of using the little time you've got to do anything stupid. You're going to regret it if you dare, baby.

I looked around, scanning the field, the trees, the distant buildings. But I didn't see him. He was watching, somewhere, hidden, and waiting.

I tried not to get agitated, my fingers tightening around the phone. "I need to go," I said, my voice flat. "Excuse me."

I walked away before he could respond.

\---

Later, in the restroom, I leaned against the sink, my hands gripping the cold porcelain. My phone buzzed again.

I answered it, my voice clipped. "What do you want, Logan?"

His voice slithered through the speaker, smooth and mocking. "We have unfinished business, baby. You can't just run away from me. I was thinking about the good old days. How you used to look at me like I was the only one in the room. Now you're looking at an old man like he's your salvation. It's pathetic."

"I'm not running. I'm just not interested in playing your games anymore. You had your chance, Logan. You blew it. In fact, didn't you run away like a coward earlier?"

He laughed, the sound grating on my nerves, echoing through the phone. "I just avoided him. So meet me where no intruder will come. The west of the woods. People hardly go to that part of the woods. Be there in an hour."

"No. I won't. I'm not going to keep dancing to your tune."

His voice dropped, cold and dangerous, the warmth draining completely. "Don't test me, Arielle. You're not with Mandy right now, and I can easily kill her at this spot. You know I can. She's right there in the classroom, laughing with her boyfriend. You think I can't get to her? I've already sent someone to watch her. If I give the signal, she's…wheeew! she's gone."

My eyes widened, my heart racing. I could hear the threat in his voice, the certainty. "L…Logan, no, don't do that. Are you mad?"

"Maybe. But that doesn't change the fact that you'll be there. One hour. The west side of the woods. Come alone. If I see anyone with you—even a whiff of anyone—I'll end Mandy before you can blink."

His voice was cold, detached, like he was discussing the weather. The line went dead.

I stared at the phone, my hands trembling. I had to go. I had no choice.

I rushed out of the restroom, my steps quick, desperate, heading toward Mandy's classroom. I had to check on her, to make sure she was safe. I had to see her with my own eyes.

I pushed open the door.

And froze.

My eyes widened, my breath catching in my throat.