Chapter Twenty Five
Sabrina’s POV-
I was on my way to class when I saw them. Elara, Damien, and Julian, standing in the corridor.
My gut twisted at the mere sight of them and I ducked behind some trees before they could see me, my heart racing with both curiosity and dread. I shouldn’t have cared. I should have just kept walking, head high as if they didn’t mean a thing to me. But I couldn’t
Not when Damien was here, with his eyes locked on Elara as though she was the only thing in existence.
It made me sick – sick with jealousy, sick with longing, sick with the inescapable truth that the man I loved loved her.
I bent down, trying to hear what they were saying over the sound of the leaves rustling
Elara had shivered away, leaving only Damien and Julian at odds, their words cold and scorching.
I couldn’t hear every word they said, but I heard enough Julian teasing Damien about Elara, Damien’s voice low and furious as he told Julian to stay away.
My chest tightened Damien’s lecture wasn’t just about pack rivalry or pride it was specific.
He wanted her.
He wanted her, and that realization burned in my veins. Why her? Why Elara? What did she have that i didnt have? The moment Damien’s fist flew through the air and landed on Julian’s jaw I was so far from gone in my doubt that I almost missed it
The sound of impact crackled across the corridor, and I gasped, my hand covering my mouth to suppress it.
I was frozen in place with shock, my eyes wide while Julian staggered backward and touched his face.
I wanted to scream, to run out and stop them, but fear left my feet cementing me to the floor.
If they noticed me, if they knew I’d been watching, it would only complicate things. And I hugged myself close to the tree, my breath short, and watched the scene unfold.
Julian didn’t hit back.
–
No, instead he laughed a crude, mocking sound that made my skin crawl.
He dabbed blood from his lip and leaned in, his voice heavy with venom. “What’s wrong, Damien? Can’t bear that Elara’s running through your fingers?” “She’s not yours anymore–perhaps she never was.”
He grinned, invading his space with little help p from the storm erupting off Damien. “Do you think you scare me away? I’m not going anywhere, Elara’s going to be mine, and you can’t stop it.”
My fingers throbbed as I felt like gripping his shirt. Julian’s words hurt! And it was not because I gave a shit about him hell, Julian was just a means to an end- but because he was tight in on a second thought.
Clara was the problem
She was the excuse Damien used when he couldn’t see me, she was the reason he pushed me away, she was the reason I was dways second best
My envy burned brighter, and I wanted to rip her apart.
Damien’s face tightened, his hands twitching as if he’d throw another punch, but then he turned and stormed off, his
+25 BONUS
shoulders taut
I stayed hidden, my heart pounding, until he was gone. Julian remained at the scene, still laughing to himself, trying to wipe at his split lip as if the fight had been some sort of game.
That’s when I saw my chance–a way to use this mess to my benefit. I’d make sure Elara didn’t either if I couldn’t have Damien yet. And, of course, Julian, in his smug certainty, was the perfect tool
I emerged from behind the trees, composing my expression into one of concern. “Julian” I called gently, rushing toward him. He turned, eyebrows shooting up in surprise, and I put on an anxious frown. “Oh my gosh, are you okay? I just saw what happened your lip’s bleeding”
He shrugged, his smile reappearing, lopsided this time. “I’m fine, Sabrina Just a minor quarrel with our dear professor.”
I had leaned over, placed my hand on his arm, and said, sympathy laced in my voice. That seemed as much as a disagreement Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. Without waiting for him to protest, I pulled him toward a nearby bench where I always kept and brought out a small first–aid kit stashed in my bag
I sat him down, dabbing at his lip with a tissue, my hands steady, while my eyes were glancing up to meet his. “You didn’t deserve that,” I told him, shaking my head, “Damien’s out of control.”
Julian snorted, leaning back. “He’s just angry because he realizes he’s losing her. Not my problem if Elara’s got better choices.”
His words hurt, but I masked it with a gentle smile, taking advantage of the opening “So do you like her, huh?”” I said, my tone light, curious like I was just making conversation. “Elara, I mean. I know how you look at her.”
He thought about it, narrowing his eyes slightly, before nodding “Yeah, I do. She’s different. Special And I’m not going to let Damien scare me away.”
I tilted my head, dapping his lip again, allowing the pause to extend just enough to seem abnormal. “What if I could help you?” I said, at last, my tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper “Help you get her, I mean.”
Julian’s smile disappeared, replaced by a wary curiosity. “Help me? How?”
I reclined back, arms across my chest, and smiled at him knowingly. “Let’s just say I have my ways. You don’t need to know any details yet – just trust me. Wait for my good news.” I kept a vague expression, allowing him to fill in the blanks.
The less I talked, he reasoned, the more he would guess, and the more he would need me.
He looked through me for a moment, and by reading into his eyes, I could tell he was intrigued but skeptical. “Why would you do that?” he asked, his voice low. “What do you get out of this, Sabrina?”
I held his stare, allowing the moment to hang between us. My heart raced in my chest, but I held my face steady, my lips forming a knowing smile. “You want Elara,” I said, stretching the words, each careful and deliberate.
“And I want Damien
