Chapter 25: Shattered Pieces

Amelia's POV

I burst through the science building doors, tears blinding me as I ran. My hands trembled violently as I struggled to wipe my face. Each breath felt like swallowing glass, the humiliation burning through me like acid, dissolving whatever scraps of dignity I had left.

But worse than the shame was the pain radiating from my chest—the mate bond with Alexander screaming in agony. It wasn't just emotional; it was physical torture, like someone had stabbed me and was slowly twisting the knife.

My wolf howled inside me, thrashing against my human form. I ducked behind a massive oak tree, pressing my forehead against the rough bark, desperately fighting the shift threatening to overtake me.

"Not again," I whispered through clenched teeth. "Not here. Control it."

"Amelia! Wait!"

Daniel's voice. Just what I fucking needed.

He jogged toward me, reaching for my arm. "This isn't your fault. It was Vanessa. She switched your slides."

I jerked away from his touch like it burned. "Don't touch me."

"Let me help you," he insisted. "I can explain everything to Alexander—"

"Help me?" I laughed bitterly. "Every time you 'help' me, my life gets worse."

His eyes narrowed. "If Alexander thinks you were deliberately spreading rumors about him—"

"What's going on here?" Isabelle appeared with Wesley, her face flushed with anger. She shoved Daniel back.

"Get away from her," she spat. "This whole disaster is because of you and your psycho girlfriend."

Wesley positioned himself between us. "Leave now, Daniel. Before I report Vanessa's sabotage to the faculty board."

Daniel's gaze hardened. "Alexander won't let this slide, Amelia. Watch yourself." He turned and walked away.

The moment he was gone, my legs nearly gave out. Isabelle caught me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"We're here," she whispered. "We know the truth."

"We can file a complaint," Wesley suggested. "What Vanessa did was academic sabotage."

I shook my head, feeling the tremors starting again. "It won't matter. You don't understand what a Head Alpha can do."

The ride home passed in a blur. I leaned against the window, watching the world pass by without really seeing it.

"Tomorrow will be better," Isabelle promised.

"Nothing's been better since I discovered Alexander is my mate."

As we pulled up to my house, I took a deep breath and wiped my face. "My mom can't know about this. She will..."

"I can come in with you," Isabelle offered.

"No." I forced a smile that felt like it might crack my face. "I need some time alone. But thank you—both of you."

Mom was sitting in the living room when I entered. "How did the scholarship competition go?"

I kept my voice steady. "Still waiting on results, but I think I did okay."

She studied my face too long. "Your eyes are red. You saw him today, didn't you? Alexander?"

"Let's not talk about that," I deflected. "Did you take your medication?"

I moved through dinner preparations mechanically, chatting about nothing important. After ensuring she took her pills, I excused myself.

"I have some homework. Goodnight, Mom."

In my bedroom, I locked the door and slid down against it. The sob that tore from my throat was silent but violent. I pressed my hand against my mouth, terrified Mom would hear me falling apart.

My wolf paced restlessly inside me, whimpering and searching for the mate who had rejected us. Eventually, exhaustion won. I dragged myself onto the bed without bothering to change clothes.

My phone buzzed beside me. A text from Isabelle: "If you need me, call me. Anytime. I mean it."

I couldn't even muster the energy to reply before darkness claimed me.

In my dream, I found myself crouching behind thick bushes at the Eclipse Pack border. I was looking through Nathan's eyes, feeling his exhaustion as he focused his camera on Richard's secluded cabin. I could feel the tension in his muscles, see the dark circles under his eyes from days of surveillance reflected in the lens of his equipment.

Suddenly, I heard growls erupting from behind us. I felt Nathan's body spin around, but too late—three Eclipse Pack guards had already surrounded him, their eyes glowing with hostility.

"Shadow Pack spy," one snarled, lunging forward.

I tried to scream, to warn him, but no sound came out. I watched helplessly as Nathan fought desperately, but he was outnumbered. I felt physical pain as claws ripped through his chest. I collapsed with him as he fell to his knees, blood pooling beneath us.

As life drained from his eyes, he looked up—and somehow, impossibly, he saw me standing there.

"This is your fault, Amelia," he gasped, blood bubbling from his lips. "I'm dying because of you. Because you couldn't control yourself. Because you had to fall for him."

"Nathan, please—" I reached for him, but my hands passed through him like smoke.

"I trusted you," he whispered, eyes dimming. "And you destroyed everything."

The scene dissolved around me. Suddenly Daniel appeared, circling me like a predator, his eyes glowing wolf-gold.

"Did you really think you could escape me?" he snarled, grabbing my wrist when I tried to run. "You became mine the moment you chose me."

I twisted free, only to collide with Vanessa, who was wearing academic robes and holding what looked like my scholarship certificate.

"Poor pathetic Amelia," she taunted, tearing the certificate to pieces that fluttered around us like snow. "Did you see Alexander's face today? The disgust? The hatred?"

I covered my ears with my hands. "Stop it!"

"Everyone knows you're obsessed with him," she continued, her voice somehow penetrating despite my efforts. "I made sure of it."

The scene warped again. Cassandra stood before me in a wedding gown, diamonds glittering at her throat, Vanessa smugly standing beside her as maid of honor.

"Poor little Omega," Cassandra purred, adjusting her veil. "Did you really think you could compete with me?"

"He's my mate," I whispered, my voice small and broken.

"A mate he rejected," she corrected, her smile razor-sharp. "A mate he despises."

She turned toward an ornate bedroom door, throwing me one last triumphant look before stepping inside. Vanessa blew me a mocking kiss before following.

The door closed behind them. Alexander's possessive growl echoed from within, deep and filled with pleasure.

My wolf howled in agony inside me. I lunged toward the door, clawing at the wood until I felt my fingers bleeding, desperate to reach him. My knees gave out as I sobbed, pressing my forehead against the barrier between us.

The Westbrook family materialized around me, watching my breakdown with cruel satisfaction.

"A worthless Omega daring to aspire to the Head Alpha?" Elaine sneered, nudging me with her foot like I was something disgusting. "How pathetic."

"Please," I begged, not even sure what I was asking for anymore.

The scene shifted once more to Westbrook Estate's grand hall. Alexander loomed over me, distorted and massive, his eyes burning like molten gold.

"Sign the blood oath," he demanded, his voice inhuman. The document before me pulsed like a living thing.

"I can't," I whispered, shaking my head. "Please don't make me."

"Sign it," he growled, "or your brother never returns to this pack."

"You're cruel," I sobbed.

"No," he said, leaning close enough that I could feel his breath on my face. "I'm just not yours."

The words on the document writhed like snakes, slithering up my arm, burning into my skin. I screamed as they carved themselves into my flesh—

I woke screaming, sheets tangled around my sweat-soaked body. My heart hammered as I gasped for air, eyes darting wildly around the room.

Gradually, I recognized my bedroom. The familiar posters. My desk. The pile of laundry.

My phone glowed in the darkness. Three missed calls from Isabelle, and a new text: "Amelia, please answer. I'm worried about you. I heard you screaming through the phone when I called. Are you okay?"

My hands trembled as I picked up the phone, struggling to type a response that wouldn't make her panic more.