Chapter 74 She's Breaking
Finley
The second Hayden said my name, it was like… click. Everything fell into place. His plan? Honestly, kinda brilliant. Like, the type of plan only a real Alpha could come up with.
My job? Simple—well, simple-ish: be the bridge. Keep Phoebe, Phoenix, and the Divergent Howls from completely falling apart. Basically, I had to play Phoebe’s official boyfriend while still being Phoenix’s best friend, and make sure the rumor mill didn’t blow up the team. No pressure, right?
Hayden laid it out like some general in a Hollywood war movie—calm, steady, his Alpha energy on god-level. He didn’t just talk, he commanded. And we all nodded—me, Zion, Adonis—even though I probably looked like one of those bobbleheads on a car dashboard. What can I say? The dude’s impressive. Hayden isn’t just a leader. He is the definition of one.
Step one? Move Phoebe out of our dorm and into Tyra’s room in the she-wolf building. Headmaster Hartman already approved—well, more like Hayden said it, and nobody dared to argue. That guy doesn’t just demand respect—he bleeds it. Even the crankiest old wolf would bow when he walked past. It wasn’t just about power. It was bloodline. Noble Alpha bloodline that practically screamed obey me.
Tyra was sprawled on her bed when we came in with Phoebe’s stuff, chewing her pink bubblegum like she was in some music video.
“So… you two are official now?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Yep,” I said, trying to sound chill even though my insides weren’t. “Guess so.”
“No judgment,” Tyra replied, snapping her gum with a tiny smirk. “Honestly? This whole mess might actually work in my favor. Phoenix is back, and maybe I’ll finally get my shot.”
I just dragged a hand down my face. Wolf instincts, man. You can’t fake them. And yeah, I wasn’t immune either.
“I just… I’m scared all of this will ruin your futures,” Phoebe whispered, voice cracking like she was apologizing to the floor. “It’s all my fault.”
“Hey…” Tyra and I said at the same time.
We both looked at her. She seemed so damn small right then, clutching the strap of her bag like it was the only thing holding her together. Her knuckles were white, her shoulders heavy, like she was carrying the whole world on her back.
I stepped closer, put a hand on her shoulder. “Listen, Phoebs. This isn’t your fault. At all. You stepped up when the team needed you most. You protected Phoenix. You kept us from tearing each other apart. That makes you one of the coolest wolves I know, okay?”
Her eyes filled, but she didn’t answer.
I glanced at Tyra. “Stay with her for a bit? Don’t let her be alone. I gotta hit the hospital.”
Tyra gave a little salute. “Go. I’ve got her.”
Hospitals smell like medicine and burnt coffee. Phoenix was already sitting up when I got there, still pale but looking a little stronger. His brown eyes locked on mine the second I walked in.
“Fin,” he rasped.
“Yo,” I said, dropping into the chair beside his bed. “How’s my favorite almost-dead guy doing?”
He gave me the flattest look ever. “Don’t.”
“Alright, alright.” I lifted my hands in surrender. No jokes. Got it. “Okay, here’s the deal. Livingston is basically a pressure cooker right now. Your name’s everywhere, rumors are insane, and the team? Yeah, the Divergent Howls aren’t exactly everyone’s darlings anymore.”
Phoenix’s jaw tightened. “Because Phoebe pretended to be me.”
“She didn’t have to,” I shot back. “She chose to. To cover for you. To protect the team. And now it’s tearing her apart.”
His hands clenched into the blanket, but he didn’t say a word.
“She’s under insane pressure, bro,” I pushed. “Rumors, stress—it’s all crushing her. If you don’t come back soon, I don’t think she’ll hold out much longer.”
The door opened and in walked Mr. and Mrs. Matthews—total class act, like actual wolf royalty. They gave me polite smiles, but all their focus was on Phoenix.
After some small talk, I told them everything. The rumors, the toll on Phoebe, how close she was to breaking. I didn’t sugarcoat a damn thing. They needed to know this wasn’t just drama—it was dangerous.
By the time I finished, Mrs. Matthews’ eyes were shiny with tears, and Mr. Matthews just gave a firm nod. “Then Phoenix returns tomorrow. Thank you for bringing this to us.”
Phoenix didn’t argue. Not a single word.
The next day, Phoenix came back to Livingston. No party, no cameras—just the Divergent Howls locked in a room together. When he walked in, Phoebe froze like her brain had blue-screened. For a second, I thought she’d actually pass out.
Phoenix gave her the tiniest smile—thin, but real. Phoebe didn’t smile back. Not yet.
Later, Phoenix found me in the common room. We sat there in the half-dark, shadows stretching across the floor like some indie movie scene.
“How’s Phoebe really doing?” he asked.
I didn’t even hesitate. “She’s… quiet. Too quiet.”
His fists clenched again.
“You wanna help?” I told him. “Talk to her. Make sure she knows she’s not alone.”
And later, he did. We all did. Hayden pulled us into one room—Phoebe, Phoenix, me, Zion, Adonis. The whole pack.
Hayden started first, voice steady as stone. “Phoebe, the Divergent Howls needed you, and you pulled us through. Now that Phoenix is back, you can finally rest.”
Zion stepped up, ruffled her hair gently. “Time for our sweet Phoebe to be the one cheering us from the sidelines. Wouldn’t it be better seeing our mate in real clothes instead of a disguise?”
Adonis smirked, shooting a look at Hayden. “Pretending all the time has to be exhausting. And if anyone tries to mess with you—including Hayden’s ex? They go through me first.”
I didn’t give a speech. Just squeezed her hand and whispered, “You’re not alone, Phoeb. Not now. Not ever.”
She looked at us—all four of her mates—and a second later, her shoulders dropped, like she could finally breathe again.
I caught Phoenix staring. He didn’t move, didn’t speak. Just studied his twin like he was memorizing the fact she was still here.
And me? I sat right there beside Phoebe, praying it was enough to keep her from falling apart.