Jade’s POV
Crash—
I hadn’t even stepped into the hallway yet, but the noise hit first—whoops, jeers, the dull thud of impact echoing off tal.
I took two more steps forward, and the scene that greeted was exactly what I’d expected.
A crowd had gathered around my locker, whooping and cheering as they took turns hurling footballs at it.
Each impact hit with sickening precision—right over the fresh graffiti soone had spray-painted overnight.
Go fuck yourself dumbass. We don’t want you here criminal. You should have died with your father.
And there, covering all the others in letters twice as large, still dripping—
TRAITOR.
That word again.
I stared at it, and the letters twisted before my eyes, morphing, bleeding into sounds that burrowed into my skull—
"TRAITOR!" The Alpha’s voice bood across the pack grounds, shaking the earth beneath my feet.
"Beta Marcus Knight has plotted to overthrow , to seize power through betrayal and bloodshed!"
My father—on his knees, hands bound behind his back, face bloodied but eyes still burning with defiance.
"I am innocent!" His voice cracked. "I have served you faithfully for twenty years—"
"Lies!" Alpha Dante’s eyes blazed gold, his wolf rising to the surface. "I have proof. Witnesses. You will die for your cris, and your family will bear the sha of your treachery for generations."
My mother’s screams tore through the air.
My own voice, raw and desperate, begging for rcy that would never co.
The executioner’s blade caught the sunlight, glinting.
And then—
Boom!
Pain exploded across my temple as a football slamd into my head, knocking sideways.
Laughter erupted around .
"Nice shot!"
"Traitor’s daughter can’t even dodge!"
I pressed my palm against my throbbing head, blinking away the spots dancing in my vision.
The past released , dragging back to the present.
One year.
It had been one year since my father’s execution. One year since our family na beca synonymous with betrayal. One year of this hell.
Jade, you should be used to it by now. I reminded myself.
I lowered my head and walked forward, refusing to look at any of them. Their jeers and insults washed over like white noise as I reached my locker and yanked it open. I grabbed the textbooks I needed for first period, shoved them into my bag, and slamd the door shut.
Just get through today. One more day.
I turned to leave—
—and my foot caught on sothing.
I crashed to the floor, books flying from my arms and scattering across the hallway. The impact knocked the air from my lungs.
The crowd exploded with laughter.
"Oh my God, she actually fell for it!"
"Did you see her face?"
I looked up through the curtain of my hair.
Of course.
Linda Hartwell stood over , one perfectly manicured hand covering her mouth in mock surprise.
Captain of the cheerleading squad.
Daughter of the new Beta—the man who’d taken my father’s position after his execution.
The most beautiful and popular girl in Shadow Moon High.
My forr best friend.
"Jade," she cooed, tilting her head with fake concern.
I started gathering my scattered books, refusing to et her eyes.
"Mmmm, do you guys sll that?" Linda wrinkled her nose dramatically, looking around at the crowd. "What is that awful stench?"
Her clique giggled on cue.
"Slls like..." Linda’s eyes locked onto , her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Slls like loser."
The hallway erupted in laughter.
I stood up, clutching my books to my chest, and tried to walk past her.
Linda stepped directly into my path.
"Excuse ," I said quietly, attempting to move around her.
She blocked again. "What do you think you’re doing? Ignoring ?"
"I don’t want trouble this morning, Linda." I kept my voice level, empty. "Just let pass."
"Let you" She laughed, sharp and bright. "You don’t give orders, traitor."
I tried to step around her one more ti.
Her hand shot out and cracked across my face.
Slap!
The slap echoed down the hallway. My cheek burned, my eyes watering from the impact.
The crowd went silent for a heartbeat, then exploded with excited whispers.
"That’s what you get for ignoring ," Linda said, examining her nails casually.
My head snapped to the side, but I bit down hard on my tongue and forced myself to stay still.
To endure it.
Mom wouldn’t want you to cause trouble. Mom wouldn’t want you to fight back.
My mother still believed the Alpha had shown us rcy by letting continue my education. She called it a gift. A kindness we didn’t deserve.
I didn’t agree.
But she was the only family I had left in this world, and I couldn’t—wouldn’t—disappoint her.
So no matter what they did to , I could take it.
I had to.
But my restraint only seed to amuse Linda more. Her smile widened, vicious and gleeful.
"Look at you," she sneered. "Not even fighting back anymore. Where’s your sha, Jade? Oh wait—" She laughed. "You never had any, did you?"
I kept my eyes on the floor, my fists clenched at my sides.
"Just like your slut of a mother."
My head snapped up, my wolf snarling beneath my skin.
Linda’s eyes glittered with satisfaction. She’d found the nerve she was looking for.
"What’s wrong?" she purred, stepping closer. "Did I hit a nerve? It’s true, isn’t it? The Alpha should have killed your entire family a year ago."
Her voice rose, carrying down the hallway. "Why bother keeping a traitor’s widow and his bitch daughter alive? You’re both just stains on this pack—criminals with poisoned blood running through your veins!"
The crowd pressed closer, phones out, recording every second.
"Your whole family is rotten," soone called out.
"Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!"
"Once a traitor, always a traitor!"
My hands clenched into fists. My wolf surged beneath my skin, growling, demanding blood. Demanding justice.
Enough.
Enough!
I raised my hand—
A strong grip caught my wrist mid-swing, fingers like iron bands holding frozen in place.
The entire hallway went silent.
Even before I looked up, I knew who it was.
I recognized the scent all too well.
It was them.
Ronan. Ryder. Renzo.
The triplet heirs of Shadow Moon pack.
Alpha Dante Ashridge sons.
My childhood crushes now turned nesis.
I looked up and Ronan was holding my arm while Ryder and Renzo stood solidly behind him looking furious at .
Ronan, jaw clenched, ice blue eyes looking like he wanted to kick my soul out of my body.
Ryder, arms folded, expression unreadable but gaze was intensely filled with hatred.
Renzo, lips curled in a half smirk that never reached his dark eyes.
My chest tightened but I refused to falter. “Let go” I forcefully jerked my arm off Ronan’s grip.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ryder asked in his usual deep and raspy voice that makes every lady swoon around him.
Linda suddenly latched onto Ryder’s and Renzo’s arm, plastering herself against them.
“You saw it boys, she tried to slap !” she whined dramatically. “I was only trying to be nice and strike up a conversation with her but she suddenly beca violent, pushing and trying to slap ."
Renzo didn’t even look at her. His eyes were on . “Is that true?”
“No.” I said standing my ground. “I didn’t touch her.”
Linda gasped, fakeoffended. “You liar!”
Before I could move, her hand cracked across my cheek.
The sound echoed.
My head snapped sideways. My skin burned.
The triplets stood there and they all acted like Linda slapping was no big deal. Of course. As the daughter of a traitor, I deserve it right?
Linda imdiately turned to the boys.
"I’ll tell you what actually happened guys. I saw Jade standing alone and I felt bad cause she has no friends now. I just wanted to talk to her but instead she called a whore and accused of stealing her popular status in school." Linda said faking a pout.
"She called you a whore?" Ronan was already looking furious.
Linda nodded imdiately "Yes, and then she went on to say that we are all fools for treating her this way and that even...." Linda dramatically stuttered for a mont "...even your father, the Alpha, is a dumb ruler and she would make him regret what she did to her father"
"What?!! I never said all that!!" I tried to defend myself.
"How dare you utter such words Jade, you disgust ." Ryder stated in a cold voice.
"You seem to have forgotten your status and we shall remind you today Jade, you shall be punished for all you did today" Renzo said and Linda nodded happily.
"Yes, punish her." She nodded
Ronan grabbed my arm tightly and began to pull.
"Co with us, you are about to regret coming to school today Jade" He said.
My arm hurt as he pulled along but Ryder and Renzo were right behind and they said nothing.
We got to an large and empty hall and Ronan pushed to the floor.
I quickly stood back on my feet.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I tried to sound brave.
"For the rest of the school day, you are going to be cleaning this place alone" Ryder commanded and I was taken aback.
"What?"
Renzo finally stepped forward, staring at with that cold gaze that infuriated and sohow got hot at the sa ti.
"If we co back and we do not et this hall sparkling clean, we are going to spank your ass cheeks so hard you would not be able to sit for weeks" He stated.
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