Chapter 118 NOT CORMAC, BUT CHAOS
MERRIELYNN.
The following day, I saw Cormac from across the hallway, and a big smile spread across my face before I even realized it.
We’d been no contact for four days, maybe.
I tried calling, but other than the first day, while he was driving down to the palace, he never picked up again.
Or returned any of my calls.
I knew he must have been busy, so I didn’t think too much about it. But the plan was to give him a hard time for it a bit, just for the fun of it.
But as I watched him walk down the hallway, the urge to do so faded instantly. I was just too excited to see him again.
Goddess.
I was in way over my head.
My heart felt light, and for a moment, everything else faded into the background. I started walking toward him, excitement bubbling in my chest. “Corm––”
Before I could call his name fully, he walked right past me.
Just like that.
No glance. No smile. No word.
My feet stuttered to a stop, and I stood there, frozen in place. My smile fell so fast it almost hurt.
I turned slowly, watching him disappear down the hall, his broad shoulders moving effortlessly through the crowd of students. It was like I wasn’t even there. Like I didn’t exist to him.
A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down and forced myself to move again.
Maybe he hadn’t seen me? Maybe he was distracted?
I furrowed my brows thoughtfully, a bitter feeling pressing against my chest.
He looked tired.
What happened when he went home?
The rest of the day dragged on painfully. Every class, every hallway, every glance at my phone made the nagging thoughts in my head louder.
It was getting harder and harder to deny what happened.
Why did Cormac ignore me?
Did I… do something wrong? Was he upset about something? The questions gnawed at me, and by lunch, I could barely eat. I sat at my usual table, pushing my food around with my fork, completely lost in my thoughts.
“Merrielynn?”
I blinked and looked up to see Emorie staring at me, concern in her eyes. “Huh?”
She frowned. “I’ve been talking to you for like five minutes. What’s going on with you?”
I forced a small smile. “Nothing. Just… tired, I guess.”
She didn’t look convinced, but thankfully, she let it go.
By the time fourth period rolled around, I was desperate for answers. I overheard a couple of guys talking about football practice with the quarterback starting up again.
News had gone around that Cormac’s suspension had been lifted. In fact, I’d gotten some congrats walking down the hallways, which told me the headmaster hadn’t kept it a secret that Cormac had gotten back in thanks to me.
Cormac knew.
A horrible feeling snagged me by the throat and refused to let go.
Did he...
I had gone out of my way to help him, to put in a good word with the headmaster, and now that he was back on the team, he didn’t need me anymore?
Was that it?
That couldn’t be it.
That wasn’t who Cormac was… not anymore. Right?
And if no, why the hell did he ignore me this morning?
We’re mates. There’s no way he didn’t sense I was there.
My stomach twisted painfully at the thought, but I had to hear it from him.
I slipped out of class, not even bothering to ask for permission. My feet carried me straight to the football field, where the team was already practicing. I spotted Cormac easily, standing among his teammates. Valtor stood closest to him, and I noticed they were the only two who seemed not to be in the best spirits.
The rest laughed and joked around them. And I watched him from a distance at first, like I wasn’t falling apart inside.
I walked straight onto the field, my heart pounding in my chest.
A few guys noticed me and murmured to each other, but I didn’t care. I kept going until I was standing right in front of him.
“Cormac,” I said firmly, crossing my arms.
He waited a full minute before he barely glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “What do you want, Merrielynn?”
His cold tone made my chest tighten, but I pushed through it.
“Why did you ignore me earlier?”
He shrugged instantly,“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t lie to me, Cormac. You saw me this morning. You walked right past me like I was invisible.”
Cormac sighed, “You’re overthinking things.”
“No, I’m not,” I shot back. “Something’s wrong.”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. His gaze met mine, and something flickered in his eyes—something cold and distant. When he finally spoke, his words cut through me like a knife.
“I don’t need you stalking me, Merrielynn,” he said, his voice laced with irritation. “Just because we slept together, or because we’re mates, or because I gave this thing we’re doing some title doesn’t mean you get to follow me around like some obsessed girl.”
I felt the air leave my lungs.
My hands trembled at my sides. “What?”
His eyes held mine with no warmth, “My rut’s over, Merrielynn. I got what I needed, and I’m ready to move on. The girlfriend thing... was a stretch.”
His words registered.
Pooling like lava in my gut.
My heart shattered into a million pieces right then and there.
“You… you’re joking,” I whispered, blinking back tears.
He laughed, the sound bitter and cruel. “No, I’m not. Look, you’re sweet and all, but let’s be real here. It was fun while it lasted, but that’s all it was. Fun.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My chest ached so badly it hurt to even stand. “So… so that’s it? That’s all I was to you?”
Cormac’s eyes darkened, his voice dropping to an even harsher tone. “Yeah. And the fact that you put in a good word for me to get back on the team? That was just a nice little bonus.”
I stepped back, shaking my head in disbelief. “You used me.”
He didn’t deny it.
Instead, he smirked again, his eyes cold and heartless. “Guess I did.”
Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. “Was this your plan all along?” My voice cracked. “To get me to trust you, help you, sleep with you… and then toss me aside?”
I didn’t care who heard, I could barely even hear my own words over the sound of the splintering of my own heart.
Cormac crossed his arms, looking down on the ground. “You’re being dramatic.”
I felt sick.
Every memory I had with him, every moment I thought had meant something, now felt like a cruel joke.
I let myself forget who Cormac Graves truly was.
Not Cormac, the one who made me fall.
But Chaos, the one who swore to ruin me.
He took a step closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “You should get off the field, Merrielynn,” he sneered. “Wouldn’t want you sullying it with your fostered, trailer trash genes.”
I gasped, the insult slicing deep into my chest.
Instantly, it took me back to memories of the person he was when we first met.
I had nothing left to say.
My heart was broken, my trust shattered, and any hope I had for us was gone.
I should never have…
Goddess.
Without another word, I turned and walked away, tears streaming down my face.
I didn’t look back.
I couldn’t.
As I left the field, my vision blurred with tears, and my legs felt like they could barely carry me.
The whispers of the other players echoed behind me, but I didn’t care anymore.
All that I could think of was the fact that I had given him my heart, and he had crushed it without a second thought.
By the time I reached the parking lot, I broke down completely, sobs wracking my body.
I had never felt more heartbroken in my entire life.