115

115
Emily’s POV

The morning air was crisp, but it did little to settle the unease stirring in my chest. I couldn’t shake the guilt I felt over my fight with Chase the night before, or the growing confusion about Gretchen’s sudden kindness. Despite everything, I was up early, determined to put the chaos behind me and focus on school. If I kept myself busy enough, maybe I wouldn’t have time to dwell on the mess my life had become.

I walked through the school gates, clutching my bag tightly as the familiar whispers began to fill the air around me. Their voices felt like needles pricking my skin—sharp, relentless, and impossible to ignore. I kept my head down, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze.

“Did you hear? She slept with a teacher to pass.”

“I bet she’ll do the same for the finals.”

“She thinks she’s better than us, but she’s nothing.”

Their words were cruel and baseless, but they still hit me where it hurt. I gritted my teeth and pushed forward, determined not to let them see how much it bothered me.

Just as I was about to reach the entrance, a figure stepped into my path, blocking my way. I stopped short, my eyes narrowing as I looked up to see who it was.

Carter.

Of course, it had to be Carter. He was the kind of guy who thrived on attention—tall, broad-shouldered, and with a smirk that screamed trouble. He was a young alpha, popular and notorious for his aggressive behavior and endless string of conquests.

“Emily,” he drawled, his voice loud enough to catch the attention of the students nearby.

I stiffened. “What do you want?”

He leaned in closer, his smirk widening. “I wanted to see you. You’ve been on my mind a lot lately.”

I blinked at him, caught off guard by his words. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, stepping closer. His tone was light, almost playful, but there was an edge to it that made my skin crawl. “I’ve been thinking about you, Emily. And I realized something.”

My stomach churned with unease as I took a step back. “What exactly did you realize?”

“That I want you,” he said, his voice suddenly louder. “I heard you’ve been… generous with the teachers. I figured I’d get in line for a piece of that, too.”

Gasps rippled through the growing crowd around us, and my face burned with humiliation and anger. I stared at him, stunned that he would say something so vile in front of everyone.

“What is wrong with you?” I demanded, my voice shaking with fury. “Do you think this is funny? Is this some kind of joke to you?”

“No joke,” he said, his smirk unwavering. “I’m serious, Emily. I want you. Why not make it official?”

I clenched my fists, my body trembling with a mixture of anger and disgust. “You’re unbelievable. Do you honestly think I would entertain someone like you?”

“Why not?” he asked, tilting his head mockingly. “You’ve already got a reputation. What’s one more notch on your belt?”

The crowd murmured around us, their whispers like a storm building in the distance. I felt like I was suffocating, but I refused to let him see me break.

“Listen to me, Carter,” I said, my voice firm despite the lump in my throat. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m not some toy for you to play with. Keep your disgusting comments to yourself, and leave me alone.”

I turned to walk away, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Hey!” he called after me, his voice sharp with irritation. “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?”

I froze but didn’t turn around.

“You don’t get to walk away from me,” he continued, his tone turning dangerous. “Not until you accept my offer.”

I spun around to face him, my anger bubbling over. “Accept your offer? You think you can humiliate me in front of everyone and then demand something from me? You’re delusional, Carter.”

His expression darkened, and he stepped closer, his posture threatening. “You don’t get to talk to me like that,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “Do you know who I am?”

“I know exactly who you are,” I shot back. “You’re a bully. A spoiled, entitled jerk who thinks the world owes him something. But guess what? Not everyone is going to bow down to you.”

The crowd was completely silent now, all eyes on us. I could feel their stares, their curiosity, their hunger for drama. But I didn’t care. I was done letting people like Carter walk all over me.

“Go ahead,” I said, my voice steady. “Keep wasting your time trying to intimidate me. But don’t forget—you’re the one who looks pathetic right now, not me.”