Chapter 229 229
Chapter 229 229
~ Kiara ~
I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked through the school gates.
Last night, Jason and I had talked on the phone for hours. His words kept replaying in my mind.
“No matter what happens, my family and I will always love you.”
Just thinking about it made my heart feel warm. For the first time in a long while, I felt safe. I couldn’t wait to see him again.
But the moment I stepped into the school courtyard, the smile on my face slowly faded.
Students turned to look at me. Some whispered to the people beside them. Others quickly looked away the moment our eyes met. A few even covered their mouths as they whispered.
My fingers tightened around the notebook in my hands, but I forced myself to keep walking with my head held high.
They’re probably talking about Jason and me, I told myself.
They’re just jealous.
Even as I tried to believe it, a strange feeling settled deep inside my chest, making every step feel heavier than the last.
I pushed open the doors to the main hallway, and the whispering got much louder.
Lots of students were standing by the lockers. No one was laughing or rushing to class. Every single person was staring at me with mean eyes.
“She does not belong at our school,” a guy muttered loudly.
“I bet Jason will kick her out of the Pack today,” a girl said. She did not even try to hide her voice.
Suddenly, many phones buzzed at the exact same time. Students looked down at their screens. Their eyes went wide, and then they glared back at me.
“Look at her face,” another student whispered. “Now that we know the truth, she looks just like them. It is gross.”
My feet slowed down. I felt a cold wave of fear. What truth? What were they talking about?
I started walking faster. My heart was beating so fast. My locker was at the end of the hall, but the crowd of students got tighter and tighter.
When I finally reached my locker, I stopped breathing. My stomach hurt.
A large piece of paper was taped to my locker door. Written on it in messy, bright red marker were the words: THE TRAITOR’S DAUGHTER.
Right below the words, someone had taped a picture of my parents.
Before I could even think, the students crowded around me. They trapped me against the locker.
They looked so angry. These were people I sat next to in class every day, but right now, they looked like they wanted to hurt me.
“Go away, you traitor!” someone screamed.
Suddenly, a heavy binder crashed against my shoulder. It hurt. Then, people started throwing crumpled paper, old lunch food, and plastic bottles at me. I covered my face with my arms and curled up into a ball.
“Please, stop!” I shouted into my sleeves. “Stop it!”
Suddenly, a tall student stepped forward with a mean smile. He lifted a large cup and poured cold coffee right over my head.
The sticky, dark liquid drenched my hair. It soaked into my shirt and ran down my face. The whole crowd started laughing at me.
I stood there shivering, feeling completely ruined, while the picture of my parents sat behind the messy stains on my locker.
“That is enough!”
A loud voice cut through the noise. It was my hometeacher. She pushed her way through the circle of students. Her face was pale and shocked when she saw me.
“Everyone, go away right now!” she yelled. “Go to your classrooms before I suspend all of you!” She grabbed my shaking hands. Her hands were warm. “Kiara, come with me.”
“We want the traitor’s kid out of our school!” a boy shouted from the back.
The teacher stopped and turned around. She looked very angry now. “You do not have the right to say that. Let me be very clear with you all… the Alpha has not kicked Kiara out. That means she has every right to be here. Anyone who touches her again will be in big trouble with the Pack leaders. Now, move!”
When the teacher mentioned the Alpha, the students finally got scared. They complained and gave me mean looks, but they slowly walked away to their classrooms.
The hallway became totally empty and very quiet. My backpack was lying in a puddle on the floor. I knelt down, but my hands were shaking so much I could barely pick it up. I tried to use my sleeve to wipe the stains off my uniform, but it just made it worse. Tears made it hard for me to see.
The teacher sighed and put a hand on my shoulder. “Kiara, go to the bathroom and clean up. I have to go to the office to report this, but I will be right back. Do not leave the school, okay?”
I could not even speak. I just nodded my head.
She turned and walked away. The sound of her shoes faded until I was completely alone.
I heard someone clapping from a dark corner.
I slowly turned around.
Kendra stepped out of the shadows. Her uniform was perfect, her lips were shiny, and she had a big, mean smile on her face.
“How does it feel, Kiara?” Kendra laughed. She walked slowly toward me. She looked at my wet hair and my ruined clothes. “I told you to back off. You should have listened to my warning.”
Suddenly, I felt very angry. I stepped toward her and squeezed my hands into fists.
“Kendra, why did you do this? Why did you ruin my life?”
Kendra stopped laughing. Her eyes became cold and mean.
“Because you didn't listen! I told you to stay away from Jason, but you kept hanging out with him. You thought you could just act innocent and keep him forever.”
She took another step and got really close to me. She spoke in a low whisper. “But after today, Jason will never want to talk to you again. No one will.”
“You are wrong,” I said. My voice shook, but I stood up straight. I looked right into her eyes. “Jason loves me, and we love each other. A mean piece of paper will not change that nor will my family history.”
Kendra smiled a cruel smile.
“Oh, really? Then watch this,” she whispered. She pointed her chin down the long hallway. “Look over there.”
My heart stopped. I turned around.
Standing at the very end of the long hallway, right by the exit doors, was Jason. He was standing completely still. His hands were deep in his pockets. He looked so far away. He didn't run to help me. He just stood there, staring.
"Let's see what happens next," Kendra said with a mocking smile.