Mated To The Hybrid Prince - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

(Zion’s POV)
I should’ve stayed, but I rushed out of the classroom the second the door slammed shut behind Celeste’s minion.
“Hey wait!” I called out.
She was already halfway down the hallway, walking like she’d just seen a ghost. Her bag bounced against her back as she quickened her pace.
I caught up and tapped her shoulder. She spun around, her eyes wide and filled with fire.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
I raised both hands. “You’re Celeste’s friend right? I didn’t quite catch your name.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly, and she gave a short, bitter laugh.
“Kate,” she said angrily.
“So, Kate, listen…”
“Excuse you!” she barked, “What the hell did I just walk in on? And with her?”
Her voice echoed down the empty hall and I winced, stepping back guiltily “I can explain…”
“Oh, you better,” she hissed, her voice full of bitter disbelief. “Celeste asked me to find you, and instead I walk in on your pants halfway off with the school outcast!”
I flinched. “Don’t call her that.”
Kate narrowed her eyes. “Oh? Now you’re defending her.”
I glanced warily around the empty hall because silence in this school could be deceiving.
“Please,” I said, keeping my voice low, “don’t tell anyone what you saw. This can’t get out.”
Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her lips twisted with something between amusement and pain. “Why not? Because she used to be your adopted sister? Is that it?”
My chest tightened. “Who told you that?”
“Who do you think?” she snapped. “Celeste.”
The panic that gripped me was cold and fast. Not many people knew that part of Lily’s past, and if it got out now; especially after what just happened in that room, it would turn ugly fast. People would twist it and she’d be ruined, even more than she already was.
“I don’t like her,” I said quickly. “It’s Celeste. I like Celeste.”
Kate blinked, almost like she hadn’t expected me to admit it so easily. She stared at me sharply until her expression shifted into something smug.
“You want me to keep your little secret?” she said, tilting her head.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
“Fine, I will.” She stepped a little closer. “But you’re going to have to be nicer to me. I’m not just Celeste’s follower, and you’re going to stop acting like I don’t exist.”
It hit me then; the way she looked at me, the fake smiles, the too-loud laughs, the way she always lingered. Kate liked me, she had for a while, and I should have sensed it.
“Alright,” I gulped. “I will.”
We walked back to class side-by-side, and I could feel the weight of her pride swelling beside me. My wolf growled quietly, furious and impatient, tugging at my gut like a tether. He didn’t want her anywhere near me. He wanted to go back to Lily to complete what we started.
I hesitated before entering the classroom, and looked over my shoulder.
Lily still hadn’t come out.
Kate stepped inside, and I stood in the hallway for a few minutes longer before following her in. The moment I entered, everyone's eyes turned to me and the whispers started but I tuned them out.
Lucien was sitting in the back, arms crossed. I made my way over and dropped into the seat beside him.
“Hey,” I said. “About earlier at the cafeteria…”
He glanced at me warily.
“I was being a jerk. You were just trying to help, after all I put you in that position. I’m sorry.”
Lucien nodded, “I forgive you,” then he looked around. “So… you want to talk about it or later?”
“Later would do,” I smiled, “So, we are good?”
He nodded “We’re good.”
We bumped fists, and I didn’t need to look up to know everyone in class had heard us. Their ‘freaking werewolf ears wouldn’t miss anything and that was why we didn’t go further into our issue. Kade left where he was sitting to be with us, and we began teasing each other.
The door opened again and Lily walked in.
She looked disheveled, eyes cast down, skirt still wrinkled and her lips— goddess help me— were still swollen from our kiss.
Heat rushed through me, pooling low in my stomach.
My wolf surged forward inside me, clawing to get out, needing to be close to her. I clenched my fists and looked away.
She sat in the far corner, keeping her head down as the whispers started again.
“Did you see her? Probably begging for attention.”
“Zion really carried her out like that?”
“And now she enters after him? I bet they weren’t just studying.” a guy said mischievously, and the whole class laughed.
I stayed silent.
Every word sliced into me, but if I said anything, they’d connect the dots, and the last thing Lily needed was more attention. If they knew, if they found out what really happened between us, they’d destroy her.
Lucien turned to look at her, and his gaze was… soft. Curious.
No. He couldn’t like her.
Miss Hailey came in and started class. I stared at the board, barely hearing her words.
After class, I packed up slowly and Celeste appeared by my side like she always did. Her grip on my arm was too tight, like she could sense something slipping.
“Let’s go, babe,” she said cheerfully.
Kate was close behind her, smirking.
Lucien and Kade gave me a short nod and left. I followed Celeste and the others out of school. Everyone greeted us like we were royalty, which we were, but today, it felt like a performance.
Then I saw Lily again.
She was walking the opposite way, away from the student path which wasn’t toward her house’ direction.
My wolf stiffened.
He didn’t move or growl; he froze, alert and tense, like a predator sensing a trap.
A tight, cold feeling coiled in my stomach. I slowed down, watching her form shrink with distance.
“What are you staring at?” Celeste asked, her nails digging into my arm.
I blinked and looked away. “Nothing.”
She giggled and leaned into me. “You’ve been acting weird today.”
“Just tired,” I said, forcing my voice to stay even.
She wasn’t complicated like Lily. She didn’t make me question everything. She didn’t confuse me or challenge me or burn her way under my skin like a wildfire I couldn’t control.
Everyone liked Celeste. She was good for me, good for my image, for the throne.
But my wolf wouldn’t stop growling.
The farther we walked into the school premises, the louder my instincts became. Ragnar wasn’t just uneasy; he was pacing, and snapping at the edge of my control like something bad was about to happen...