THE ALPHA WHO HATED ME - Chapter 13: Chapter 13
You are reading THE ALPHA WHO HATED ME, Chapter 13: Chapter 13. Read more chapters of THE ALPHA WHO HATED ME.
EVANGELINE POINT OF VIEW
The hallway falls silent before I even see her.
I'm walking toward my locker, thinking about how quiet things have been lately, when conversations die around me like someone turned off a switch. Students stop mid-sentence. Some actually step back against the walls.
Celeste Hartwell has returned. And every wolf in Blackclaw Academy bows without being told to.
I freeze by the water fountain, watching as she walks through the main entrance like she owns the place. Which, from the way everyone reacts, she probably does.
"What's wrong?" I ask, walking over to her.
She glances around nervously, making sure no one is listening. "There's something you need to know."
The way she says it sends ice through my veins. "What?"
"Celeste is back."
The name means nothing to me. I wait for more explanation.
"Celeste Hartwell," Luna continues. "The Beta's daughter. She's been in Switzerland for the past two months."
"Okay." I still don't understand why this matters to me.
Luna's expression grows more serious. "She's Ronan's fiancé."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Fiancé. Not just some girl he's dating. Not just a crush or a temporary interest.
His fiancé.
"That's..." I struggle to find words. "That's good for them."
But Luna isn't finished. "She's also the school queen. Has been since freshman year. Everyone worships her. Everyone fears her."
My throat feels dry. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because she knows about you. About what happened in the cafeteria."
The memory of that day crashes over me. The mate bond flaring. Ronan's rejection. The humiliation that followed.
"She knows about the bond," Luna whispers.
My heart starts racing. "How?"
"Her friends told her everything. Madison and Sarah couldn't wait to fill her in on all the drama she missed."
I lean against the wall for support. This is bad. This is very bad.
"What does that mean for me?"
Luna's silence tells me everything I need to know.
"She's angry," she finally says. "Really angry. And when Celeste gets angry..."
"What?"
"People get hurt."
The warning settles in my chest like a stone. As if my life wasn't complicated enough already. As if dealing with Ronan and his binding stone wasn't enough.
Now I have to worry about his fiancé too.
"I should go," I whisper.
"Evangeline..."
"Thank you for warning me. But I need to get to class."
I walk away before she can say anything else. Before she can tell me more things that will make this nightmare worse.
First period passes in a blur. I can't focus on anything the teacher says. My mind keeps spinning with Luna's words.
Fiancé. School queen. Really angry.
By second period, my hands are shaking so badly I can barely hold my pen. The binding stone around Ronan's neck still affects me, but it's weaker now. Professor Blackwood's potion gave me some strength back.
But not enough to deal with whatever's coming.
The bell rings for the break between classes. Students pour into the hallways with their usual energy and noise. I gather my books slowly, hoping to avoid the rush.
When I finally step into the hall, something feels different. There's an excitement in the air that wasn't there before. Students cluster in groups, whispering and pointing.
And then I see why.
She walks through the main entrance like she owns the place. Which, from the way everyone reacts, she probably does.
Celeste Hartwell is beautiful in the way that makes other girls hate themselves. Perfect blonde hair that catches the light. Flawless skin that's never known a pimple. A body that fits her designer clothes like they were made for her.
She moves with confidence that comes from never being told no. Never being made to feel small. Never wondering if she belongs somewhere.
As she passes a group of sophomore girls, one of them starts to giggle too loudly. Celeste doesn't even look at her. Just raises one perfectly manicured finger to her lips.
The girl goes silent immediately. Her face turns red with shame.
"Sorry," the girl whispers to no one in particular.
Celeste continues walking like nothing happened. But the message is clear. Even her smallest gestures command absolute obedience.
Everything I'm not.
Students part in front of her like she's royalty. Some bow their heads slightly as she passes. Others just stare with open admiration.
Madison and Sarah flank her on either side like loyal guards. Emma follows behind, carrying what looks like an expensive handbag.
This is what a queen looks like. This is what real power looks like.
"Evangeline."
Luna appears beside me, her voice urgent. "There's something you need to know about her."
I can't look away from the blonde vision commanding the hallway. "Who is she?"
"Celeste Hartwell. Beta's daughter. She's been in Switzerland for two months." Luna's expression grows serious. "She's Ronan's fiancé."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Fiancé. Not just some girl he's dating. Not just a crush or a temporary interest.
His fiancé.
"She's also the school queen," Luna continues. "Has been since freshman year. Everyone worships her. Everyone fears her."
I watch as Celeste examines her reflection in a trophy case. Even the glass seems to shine brighter when she looks at it.
"Why are you telling me this?" I whisper.
"Because she knows about you. About what happened in the cafeteria. Her friends told her everything."
The memory crashes over me. The mate bond flaring. Ronan's rejection. The humiliation that followed.
But then I see him.
Ronan appears from the direction of the administrative offices. He's wearing his usual perfect uniform, but something about him looks different today. Happier. More relaxed than I've seen him in weeks.
He spots Celeste immediately. His whole face lights up with genuine joy.
The sight cuts through me like a knife.
I've never seen him look at anyone like that. Never seen him smile with such pure happiness.
Not even during those brief moments when the bond flared between us.
Celeste sees him too. Her perfect face breaks into a brilliant smile that could power the entire school.
They move toward each other like magnets. Like two pieces of a puzzle clicking into place.
When they meet in the middle of the hallway, Ronan doesn't hesitate. He pulls her into his arms and spins her around like something from a romantic movie.
Students around them sigh and smile. Some pull out their phones to record the moment.
The perfect couple reunited.
But as they approach my section of the hallway, my schedule slips from my trembling fingers. The papers scatter across the floor.
I drop to my knees, scrambling to collect them before anyone notices.
Celeste's designer heel comes down on my class schedule. She doesn't look down. Doesn't acknowledge what she's done. Just keeps walking hand-in-hand with Ronan, grinding my papers under her perfect shoe.
The message is clear. I am dirt beneath her feet.
When he sets her down, their hands intertwine naturally. Like they've done this a thousand times before. Like it's the most natural thing in the world.
My wolf lets out a broken whimper that only I can hear.
The bond in my chest throbs with agony. Even wounded and suppressed, it recognizes what it's seeing. It understands that the person it's tied to belongs to someone else.
Someone better.
Someone worthy.
I watch them approach with growing horror. They're walking straight toward me. Straight toward where I'm kneeling on the floor like a servant.
Please don't see me. Please don't notice me. Please just walk past.
But as they get closer, Celeste's eyes find mine. We stare at each other for a moment. Queen and peasant. Predator and prey.
Her perfect lips curve into a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. A smile that promises pain.
She whispers something to Ronan. His eyes flicker when he looks at me, not with hatred, not exactly. Something colder. Guilt, maybe. Or fear. But then Celeste leans in closer to him, and the moment shatters.
His expression hardens into the familiar mask of contempt.
They keep walking. Keep holding hands. Keep being everything I'll never be.
But I can feel Celeste's eyes on me as they pass. Can feel her studying me like I'm an interesting bug she might want to step on.
The message is clear without words being spoken.
I know who you are. I know what you tried to do. And now I'm back to make sure you remember your place.
My wolf curls up in the corner of my mind and whimpers again. Louder this time. More broken.
She can feel what I'm feeling. The crushing weight of seeing Ronan with his real mate. His chosen one. The person he actually wants to be with.
Not the pathetic omega who the universe tried to force on him.
Students start moving again once the royal couple passes. The excitement dies down. Conversations return to normal.
But I can't move. Can't breathe. Can't do anything but kneel here on the cold floor, holding my crumpled schedule.
The bond pulses weakly in my chest. Still there. Still connecting me to someone who wants nothing to do with me.
Someone who has found happiness with someone else.
My wolf whimpers once. Then something shifts. Not pain this time.
Something deeper. Something that tastes like copper and feels like lightning.
Ronan has his queen.
And somewhere deep inside, my wolf stirs with rage.
The hallway falls silent before I even see her.
I'm walking toward my locker, thinking about how quiet things have been lately, when conversations die around me like someone turned off a switch. Students stop mid-sentence. Some actually step back against the walls.
Celeste Hartwell has returned. And every wolf in Blackclaw Academy bows without being told to.
I freeze by the water fountain, watching as she walks through the main entrance like she owns the place. Which, from the way everyone reacts, she probably does.
"What's wrong?" I ask, walking over to her.
She glances around nervously, making sure no one is listening. "There's something you need to know."
The way she says it sends ice through my veins. "What?"
"Celeste is back."
The name means nothing to me. I wait for more explanation.
"Celeste Hartwell," Luna continues. "The Beta's daughter. She's been in Switzerland for the past two months."
"Okay." I still don't understand why this matters to me.
Luna's expression grows more serious. "She's Ronan's fiancé."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Fiancé. Not just some girl he's dating. Not just a crush or a temporary interest.
His fiancé.
"That's..." I struggle to find words. "That's good for them."
But Luna isn't finished. "She's also the school queen. Has been since freshman year. Everyone worships her. Everyone fears her."
My throat feels dry. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because she knows about you. About what happened in the cafeteria."
The memory of that day crashes over me. The mate bond flaring. Ronan's rejection. The humiliation that followed.
"She knows about the bond," Luna whispers.
My heart starts racing. "How?"
"Her friends told her everything. Madison and Sarah couldn't wait to fill her in on all the drama she missed."
I lean against the wall for support. This is bad. This is very bad.
"What does that mean for me?"
Luna's silence tells me everything I need to know.
"She's angry," she finally says. "Really angry. And when Celeste gets angry..."
"What?"
"People get hurt."
The warning settles in my chest like a stone. As if my life wasn't complicated enough already. As if dealing with Ronan and his binding stone wasn't enough.
Now I have to worry about his fiancé too.
"I should go," I whisper.
"Evangeline..."
"Thank you for warning me. But I need to get to class."
I walk away before she can say anything else. Before she can tell me more things that will make this nightmare worse.
First period passes in a blur. I can't focus on anything the teacher says. My mind keeps spinning with Luna's words.
Fiancé. School queen. Really angry.
By second period, my hands are shaking so badly I can barely hold my pen. The binding stone around Ronan's neck still affects me, but it's weaker now. Professor Blackwood's potion gave me some strength back.
But not enough to deal with whatever's coming.
The bell rings for the break between classes. Students pour into the hallways with their usual energy and noise. I gather my books slowly, hoping to avoid the rush.
When I finally step into the hall, something feels different. There's an excitement in the air that wasn't there before. Students cluster in groups, whispering and pointing.
And then I see why.
She walks through the main entrance like she owns the place. Which, from the way everyone reacts, she probably does.
Celeste Hartwell is beautiful in the way that makes other girls hate themselves. Perfect blonde hair that catches the light. Flawless skin that's never known a pimple. A body that fits her designer clothes like they were made for her.
She moves with confidence that comes from never being told no. Never being made to feel small. Never wondering if she belongs somewhere.
As she passes a group of sophomore girls, one of them starts to giggle too loudly. Celeste doesn't even look at her. Just raises one perfectly manicured finger to her lips.
The girl goes silent immediately. Her face turns red with shame.
"Sorry," the girl whispers to no one in particular.
Celeste continues walking like nothing happened. But the message is clear. Even her smallest gestures command absolute obedience.
Everything I'm not.
Students part in front of her like she's royalty. Some bow their heads slightly as she passes. Others just stare with open admiration.
Madison and Sarah flank her on either side like loyal guards. Emma follows behind, carrying what looks like an expensive handbag.
This is what a queen looks like. This is what real power looks like.
"Evangeline."
Luna appears beside me, her voice urgent. "There's something you need to know about her."
I can't look away from the blonde vision commanding the hallway. "Who is she?"
"Celeste Hartwell. Beta's daughter. She's been in Switzerland for two months." Luna's expression grows serious. "She's Ronan's fiancé."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Fiancé. Not just some girl he's dating. Not just a crush or a temporary interest.
His fiancé.
"She's also the school queen," Luna continues. "Has been since freshman year. Everyone worships her. Everyone fears her."
I watch as Celeste examines her reflection in a trophy case. Even the glass seems to shine brighter when she looks at it.
"Why are you telling me this?" I whisper.
"Because she knows about you. About what happened in the cafeteria. Her friends told her everything."
The memory crashes over me. The mate bond flaring. Ronan's rejection. The humiliation that followed.
But then I see him.
Ronan appears from the direction of the administrative offices. He's wearing his usual perfect uniform, but something about him looks different today. Happier. More relaxed than I've seen him in weeks.
He spots Celeste immediately. His whole face lights up with genuine joy.
The sight cuts through me like a knife.
I've never seen him look at anyone like that. Never seen him smile with such pure happiness.
Not even during those brief moments when the bond flared between us.
Celeste sees him too. Her perfect face breaks into a brilliant smile that could power the entire school.
They move toward each other like magnets. Like two pieces of a puzzle clicking into place.
When they meet in the middle of the hallway, Ronan doesn't hesitate. He pulls her into his arms and spins her around like something from a romantic movie.
Students around them sigh and smile. Some pull out their phones to record the moment.
The perfect couple reunited.
But as they approach my section of the hallway, my schedule slips from my trembling fingers. The papers scatter across the floor.
I drop to my knees, scrambling to collect them before anyone notices.
Celeste's designer heel comes down on my class schedule. She doesn't look down. Doesn't acknowledge what she's done. Just keeps walking hand-in-hand with Ronan, grinding my papers under her perfect shoe.
The message is clear. I am dirt beneath her feet.
When he sets her down, their hands intertwine naturally. Like they've done this a thousand times before. Like it's the most natural thing in the world.
My wolf lets out a broken whimper that only I can hear.
The bond in my chest throbs with agony. Even wounded and suppressed, it recognizes what it's seeing. It understands that the person it's tied to belongs to someone else.
Someone better.
Someone worthy.
I watch them approach with growing horror. They're walking straight toward me. Straight toward where I'm kneeling on the floor like a servant.
Please don't see me. Please don't notice me. Please just walk past.
But as they get closer, Celeste's eyes find mine. We stare at each other for a moment. Queen and peasant. Predator and prey.
Her perfect lips curve into a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. A smile that promises pain.
She whispers something to Ronan. His eyes flicker when he looks at me, not with hatred, not exactly. Something colder. Guilt, maybe. Or fear. But then Celeste leans in closer to him, and the moment shatters.
His expression hardens into the familiar mask of contempt.
They keep walking. Keep holding hands. Keep being everything I'll never be.
But I can feel Celeste's eyes on me as they pass. Can feel her studying me like I'm an interesting bug she might want to step on.
The message is clear without words being spoken.
I know who you are. I know what you tried to do. And now I'm back to make sure you remember your place.
My wolf curls up in the corner of my mind and whimpers again. Louder this time. More broken.
She can feel what I'm feeling. The crushing weight of seeing Ronan with his real mate. His chosen one. The person he actually wants to be with.
Not the pathetic omega who the universe tried to force on him.
Students start moving again once the royal couple passes. The excitement dies down. Conversations return to normal.
But I can't move. Can't breathe. Can't do anything but kneel here on the cold floor, holding my crumpled schedule.
The bond pulses weakly in my chest. Still there. Still connecting me to someone who wants nothing to do with me.
Someone who has found happiness with someone else.
My wolf whimpers once. Then something shifts. Not pain this time.
Something deeper. Something that tastes like copper and feels like lightning.
Ronan has his queen.
And somewhere deep inside, my wolf stirs with rage.
End of THE ALPHA WHO HATED ME Chapter 13. Continue reading Chapter 14 or return to THE ALPHA WHO HATED ME book page.