Chapter 119 Public enemy

Chapter 119 Public enemy
Chapter 119

DARIUS

They threw us into opposite cages like animals. Caleb and his followers on one side. Me, Dorian, and my followers on the other. The metal bars separated us, but the hatred between us filled the entire space.

I turned to Dorian, who sat slumped against the wall nursing a cut on his forehead. "What is this video everyone keeps talking about? What did I supposedly post?"

"Shut the fuck up!" Caleb's voice exploded from across the room. "You lying, prpetentious arsehole!"

I whipped around to face him through the bars. "I have no idea what you are talking about! I did not post any video!"

"Liar!"

"Ask Dorian!" I gestured towards my best friend. "He seized my phone this morning. I have not touched it all day. How could I post anything?"

Caleb slammed his fist against the bars. "I do not believe you. The account that posted my father's video was named 'Darius Fans.' What kind of idiot do you think I am?"

I spat back immediately. "The account that posted my father's video was named 'Revenge.' Which is literally what you have wanted for years. So by your logic, you must have posted that one."

Caleb laughed bitterly. "I would never do that. I would never expose my own allies just to get to you."

"And I would not expose myself to get to you either," I shot back. "Think about it, Caleb. Just days after you transferred to this academy, chaos erupts. Videos get leaked. Fights break out. Does that not seem suspicious to you?"

"You are reaching," one of Caleb's followers called out. "Everyone knows you have been trying to get rid of Caleb since he arrived."

"Because he is a threat to our pack!" Dorian stood up. "Not because Darius is orchestrating some elaborate revenge plot."

"Your Alpha threatened Caleb the moment he stepped foot on campus," another of Caleb's wolves chimed in. "This is just an extension of that."

"Threatened?" I moved closer to the bars. "I challenged him to a fair fight. There is a difference."

"A fight you started because you are jealous," Caleb's voice was cold. "Jealous that Ravenna chose me over you."

My hands gripped the bars so tight my knuckles went white.

"At least I do not have to manipulate people to get what I want," I growled.

"Manipulate?" Caleb laughed. "Says the Alpha heir who uses his position to bully everyone around him."

"Bully?" One of my followers stepped forward. "You are the one who came into our territory acting like you owned the place."

"Your territory?" One of Caleb's wolves shot back. "This is a neutral academy. It does not belong to Mooncrest."

"It might as well," another of my followers added. "We have been here longer. We built this place up."

"And now you are tearing it down," Caleb's follower countered. "All because your precious Alpha cannot handle competition."

"Competition?" Dorian's voice rose. "You call sneaking around and stealing information competition?"

"We did not steal anything!"

"Then how do you explain the videos?" I demanded. "How do you explain knowing exactly what my father was involved in?"

"Maybe your father is just sloppy," Caleb replied with a cruel smile. "Maybe he got caught because he is not as clever as he thinks he is."

"Watch your mouth—"

"Or what? You will post another video about my father?"

"I did not post that video!"

"Liar!"

"I am telling the truth!"

The security guards outside our cages started banging their batons against the bars. "Quiet! All of you!"

But we did not stop. The insults kept flying back and forth.

"Your pack is built on lies and corruption!"

"At least we do not pretend to be righteous!"

"You are all cowards hiding behind your Alpha's reputation!"

"Better than being mindless followers who cannot think for themselves!"

"Enough!" The head security guard stepped between the cages. "One more word from any of you and we will add extra days to your detention."

Silence fell, but the anger remained thick in the air.

The guard pointed at me. "You, Pike. The school board has decided to place primary blame for this violence on you."

"What?" Dorian jumped up. "That is not fair. Caleb attacked first."

"Darius threatened Caleb when he first arrived at the academy," the guard replied coldly. "This fight is seen as an extension of that initial aggression. Therefore, Darius Pike is being held responsible for orchestrating the violence."

"That is absolute rubbish," I snarled.

"Take it up with the board." The guard walked away, leaving us in our cages.

Caleb's laughter echoed through the space. "Looks like justice is finally catching up with you, Pike."

I did not respond. I just turned my back on him and sat down against the wall.

We stayed locked in those cages overnight. The metal floor was cold. The lights never went off. None of us slept.

The next morning, heavy footsteps approached. I looked up and saw my father walking towards the cages, his face carved from stone.

"Where is my son?" Richard demanded.

A slow clap echoed from behind him. Alpha Nightshade walked in, a smirk on his face. "If it is not the almighty Alpha himself. Come to rescue your son from the mess he created?"

Richard did not even glance at him. "Release my son. Now."

"Not so fast," Alpha Nightshade moved to stand beside Richard. "Your boy attacked mine, orchestrated violence and you want him released just like that?"

"My son was defending himself," Richard's voice was ice cold. "Your son came here looking for trouble."

"Trouble?" Alpha Nightshade laughed. "You are the one instructing your son to bring me down. You were not content with the generational problem between our packs. You had to create a second generation problem."

Richard finally turned to look at him. "I do not instruct my son to do anything. He makes his own choices."

"Clearly poor ones."

"Release my son," Richard repeated to the security guards. "And Dorian and Selene as well."

The guards exchanged glances, then moved to unlock our cage.

I stood up slowly, my body aching from the fight and the uncomfortable night. The moment the door opened, I stepped out and flexed my ankles, trying to get feeling back into my feet.

Selene rushed out immediately and threw herself at Richard, wrapping her arms around him. "The security were so wicked. They locked me in here without giving me blankets. Look."

She pulled up her sleeve, showing red dots across her skin where the cold had affected her.

Richard's expression darkened. "This is unacceptable."

"I apologise for that," I told him quietly. "I will speak to the head security about the conditions. This treatment was inappropriate."

Caleb's cage opened, and he stepped out, rolling his shoulders. He walked straight towards us, that same smirk on his face.

"Just so you know, Pike," he announced loudly. "I am still going to continue attending school here. There is nothing you can do about it."

I stared at him coldly but said nothing.

"If you want to cry about it," Caleb continued, his voice dripping with mockery, "you might as well follow Papa Pike home and snuggle yourself into your Mama Pike arms and cry yourself to sleep."

Something inside me snapped. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me right."

I threw a heavy punch that connected with his jaw. Before he could recover, I grabbed his neck and slammed him against the wall, my forearm pressing against his throat.

"Were you sent here specifically to torment me?" I snarled in his face. "Is that your only purpose?"

"Darius!" Richard's voice cut through my rage. "Stand down. Let go of him now."

I did not move. I pressed harder against Caleb's throat.

"I am going to kill you," I whispered. "I am going to tear you into pieces and send them to your father if you do not learn to stay in your lane."

Caleb managed to laugh even with my arm crushing his windpipe. "This... this is why Ravenna did not choose you. Because of your attitude. Because you are nothing but a violent, controlling monster."

I pulled back my fist, ready to hit him again.

Dorian grabbed my arm. "Stop. Just ignore him. He is trying to provoke you."

"Let him go, Darius," Richard's voice was sharp. "Now."

I released Caleb and stepped back, my chest heaving.

"Everyone out," Richard ordered. "We are leaving."

We started walking towards the exit. Behind us, Caleb kept talking.

"That is right, run away like the coward you are!" His voice echoed down the corridor. "Hide behind your daddy! Let him fight your battles for you!"

I clenched my fists but kept walking.

"You are pathetic, Darius! A pathetic excuse for an Alpha! No wonder Ravenna wanted nothing to do with you!"

"Keep walking," Dorian muttered beside me.

"You are a disgrace to your pack! A weak, jealous child who cannot handle losing!"

My jaw was so tight it hurt.

"I am going to enjoy watching you fall apart! Watching your precious empire crumble! And when it does, I will be there with Ravenna, laughing at you!"

We finally made it outside. Richard turned to Dorian. "Take Selene to her room. Make sure she is settled. I need to speak with my son alone."

Dorian nodded and gently guided Selene away. She looked back at me once, concern written all over her face.

When they were gone, Richard turned to me. His expression was thunderous.

"I am highly disappointed in you."

I said nothing.

"This fight has made the news already. Do you understand what that means? It is tarnishing my image. Our family's image. The pack's image."

"I did not start—"

"I do not care who started it!" Richard's voice rose. "You finished it. You made it worse. And now we all have to deal with the consequences."

I looked at the ground.

"You are coming home this weekend," Richard continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Your mother wants to see you. And we need to discuss this situation properly. And figure out how we are going to defeat the Nightshades once and for all."

"Fine."

"And Darius?" Richard stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Stop reacting. Learn to endure humiliation. Stay out of trouble's way. Because if you cause one more incident like this, there will be serious consequences. Do you understand me?"

I met his eyes. "Yes, sir."

"Good." Richard turned and walked away without another word.

I stood there alone in the corridor, my body aching, my pride shattered, and Caleb's words still ringing in my ears.

This is why Ravenna did not choose you.