Chapter 10: _ Back Home?

After her outburst, Heidi sees the shift in the Bellamy brothers’ eyes before she even hears the growls. She can hear the twitch of their jaws and the dangerous tightening of Alpha muscles. Grayson’s hand flexes like he’s ready to grab her by the throat and squeeze the answers out. Morgan snarls something she can’t quite make out, but it doesn’t matter. Their intent is loud enough in the air. They are furious, enraged, and they’re going to tear her apart. "Oh, hell," Heidi mutters before running like crazy. She bolts from the study, hears someone call her name... someone she knows is Darien, but she doesn’t dare stop. Not even to breathe or even to cry. It’s not until she bursts through the side entrance of the school building, into the open driveway, that she dares to slow down. Her lungs are burning. Her legs feel like overcooked noodles. But she can’t go home yet. Not until the school’s closed and she’d wait for Lucan to come drive. She spots a parked van half-covered in ivy and sprints to it, crawling behind its wide tire like some street rat, hugging herself tightly. "I hate this school!" She sobs. "I hate being a werewolf. I just... I-I want to go home." Her fingers shake. Her shirt clings to her back, damp with panic sweat. Her breath comes in shallow gasps as she crouches low, trying to disappear into the gravel and shadows. Her heart beats so loudly she’s sure it’ll alert them. Every sound she hears, be it a door creaking, footsteps crunching on gravel, a bird overhead... everything sends a jolt of fear through her spine. They were going to touch her. They were going to punish her. For what? For being pulled by their stupid mate bond? And Darien... Darien! That bastard ratted her out. After all that talk about protection, about keeping her safe, about being different from the others, he threw her to the wolves. Literally. She clenches her fists, nails digging into her palms. Mate bond or not, they’re all assholes. Arrogant, entitled assholes. She remembers what they did to her earlier, how they glared at her like she’d tracked in mud on their spotless floors. How the rest of the students had followed suit. As if she’d dared to touch a sacred relic just by breathing in the Alpha’s direction. And now, she’s supposed to what? Fall to her knees and thank the Moon Goddess for mating her with four Alphas who want nothing to do with her? Hell no. She hugs her knees to her chest and rests her head on them. The minutes pass, and soon, the school bell rings. Distant chatter floats on the breeze as students pour out in their tidy uniforms, laughing, shouting, gossiping. None of it touches her. She’s invisible. Just the way she likes it. Until she hears that voice. "Oh, look what the wind dragged in." Heidi stiffens, then slowly looks up. Sierra Castell. Poised and surrounded by her pack of pretty vipers. Sierra’s straight blonde swooshes as she steps closer, her eyes narrowed in gleeful malice. "She’s hiding. How cute," one of Sierra’s friends coos. "Like a rat behind a bin." "Oh no. Is she crying? Poor thing. Maybe we should help her sob louder." Another gasps. Sierra crouches, her expensive perfume wafting over the gasoline stink of the driveway. Her lips curve in a mockery of a smile. "Did the big, scary Alphas chase you out, Heidi?" she asks sweetly. "Did you finally realize your place?" Heidi doesn’t answer. She presses her face harder into her knees. That helps calm every nerve in her that wants to punch a fist through Sierra’s pancaked face. These... these pompous bitches had beaten her up earlier for getting bullied by the Alphas. That was her offense: getting bullied. Sierra’s smile slips. "I’m talking to you, freak." Heidi breathes in through her nose and counts to three. Her body is screaming to move, but there’s nowhere to go. The only place for her now is Sierra’s home. She’s at her family’s mercy now. "Honestly," Sierra’s third friend says, circling her like a lioness around a limp deer, "I don’t know how you haven’t been expelled yet. Getting the Alphas’ attention like some heat-crazed stray." "What do you mean, they noticed her? This bitch was listening to me talk about them and has been hatching a plan on how to get them under her skirt ever since. She jumped at the first chance she got." "She must have been drunk to think they could even do as much as hold her filthy hands." "Or just plain cheap." Sierra reaches out and tugs Heidi’s back. She flinches but doesn’t resist. That only makes Sierra grin wider. "Let me make this clear, Heidi," she whispers. "You pull another stunt like today, and you might not live to see mid-semester. You’ve already embarrassed the academy enough. Do you know how easy it is to make someone vanish in this school, Heidi? People forget things all the time." There’s a pause as Sierra awaits an affirmation from Heidi. Just then, a flat, male voice cuts through. "That’s enough." Sierra turns. The others do too, straightening like deer caught in headlights. Lucan Castell stands a few feet away, hands in his coat pockets with his usual blank face. His dark hair falls slightly over his eyes, but the look beneath it is hard. "Oh, come on, Lucan," Sierra says, rolling her eyes. "We’re just playing." "Time to go." "But..." He doesn’t repeat himself. Sierra scowls but straightens. "You’re no fun." One by one, the other girls click their tongues and walk away, heels tapping rhythmically on the stone as they head to the Castell car parked nearby. Heidi slowly lifts her head. Lucan is still watching her. His gaze doesn’t judge her, but it doesn’t pity her either. He just... sees her. He walks past her without a word. Heidi waits. Ten seconds. Twenty. "I’m driving the moment I get in the car," he points out without looking back. She scrambles up. The car door slams as Sierra gets in, tossing her hair over one shoulder and muttering something Heidi doesn’t catch. Heidi hesitates at the other door, eyes flicking to the estate crest stamped on the black car. A silver wolf encircling a tower. Castell. That’s supposed to be ’home’, but it’s not hers. It belongs to Sierra and Lucan. Their father owns it, not hers. She just wants to go back to her own father’s. She closes her eyes, mutters a "Please," before reopening and sliding in. The ride is silent. Sierra crosses her arms and sulks against the window. Heidi stares down at her lap, fingers twisting. Lucan takes sharp turns, clean stops, and no music. The Castells’ grand manor comes into view after fifteen minutes. It’s as intimidating as it is elegant. Heidi steps out of the car and already feels the chill settle in her bones. Sierra storms off toward the house without a word. Lucan lingers behind, grabbing his school bag from the trunk. Heidi stands there a while longer, hoping the ground will swallow her whole. Behind those doors lies the greatest evil Heidi has ever come across in the entirety of her existence... ... Mrs. Castell.