Chapter 10
Joe's POV.
I was leaning against my favorite locker in the far corner of the hallway, arms folded, when Kyle and Jamal came striding up. The first bell hadn't rung yet, but the corridor was already buzzing with pre-class chatter.
"Yo, you coming to Jamal's party this weekend or what? He's got a DJ lined up. "It's going to be wild", Kyle asked, elbowing me in the ribs like he was delivering the punchline to the best joke in the world.
I grunted. "Maybe."
"Man, you better. The last party was lit. And this time, the cheerleaders from Red Lake High are coming too," Jamal added with a smug grin. "I already got my eye on two."
"You always have your eye on two," I muttered, tossing my half-empty bottle of Gatorade into the trash.
"That's 'cause I've got options," Jamal smirked. "Unlike some people." His eyes flicked toward me.
I gave him a glare that would've sent most running, but Jamal just laughed and slapped my back.
"Relax, Alpha. We're just messing with you. You've been quiet all morning. Still thinking about that mystery girl from last week?" Kyle asked.
I didn't answer.
Because yeah. I was.
Lily.
Her name had carved itself into my mind like a brand. Her scent. Her quiet strength. Her eyes are always wide with innocence. And that stupid, painful look she gave me when I rejected her.
I haven't slept properly since. My wolf had been snarling for days. Running helped, sometimes. Music helped a little. But nothing cleared my mind entirely.
"Y'all are boring me to death," I muttered. "I need to…"
"Yo, hold up," Kyle said suddenly, cutting me off. "Is that… Mark?"
A hush rippled through the corridor.
"Whoa," Jamal whispered, his jaw dropping.
Kyle tipped his head, eyes wide. "Would you look at that?"
l turned to see what they were talking about.
And there she was.
Lily.
In a blue tank top and black shorts. The same one I saw in that shopping bag a few days ago.
And she looked…
No. No, no, no.
Her hand was wrapped around Mark's arm like it belonged there. They were laughing, walking through the hallway like they were royalty.
And she was holding the roses.
The roses I sent.
"Whoa-ho-ho!" Jamal howled. "No freakin' way. That's Lily?"
"The same Lily you guys used to clown for being invisible?" Kyle added.
"Yo, she glowed up hard. Damn."
"I didn't even recognize her at first."
"Mark scored big time. Didn't think he had it in him."
Jamal elbowed Kyle. "Check it out, King Wellington has competition!"
They were all howling with excitement, and I stood there like someone had punched me square in the gut.
Jamal clapped his hands together. "Man, remember when we used to say she'd graduate without a single guy even looking her way? Now she's trending."
Kyle snorted. "Crazy part? She's the only girl in this school Joe never got. That's gotta sting."
I shot him a sharp look.
"What? I'm just saying. You've been with every girl worth talking about, Joe. Every Single One. But Lily? She played you. She didn't look your way, and now she's with Mark, looking so hot. I knew she looked so good before."
"She didn't play me," I growled.
"Yeah, yeah," Jamal said, winking. "Tell that to your ego. Now look at Mark, underrated underdog turned king."
"Underrated underdog," Kyle repeated, grinning. "That's your new competition."
I clenched my jaw.
Across the hall, Mark stopped, pulled Lily toward him, and whispered something just close enough that I couldn't hear the words. The way she tilted her head, eyes closing, told me it was sweet. They looked like something out of a teen drama show.
He whispered something else into her ear again.
She giggled.
And then he kissed her.
A perfect, gentle kiss, just long enough to make her pulse against him.
And everyone in the hallway erupted into cheers and "Awwws."
"Aw!" "So cute!" "I ship it!"
My vision went red.
It shouldn't hurt. It really shouldn't. I was the one who told her to keep quiet. I was the one who rejected her.
But my wolf? He was losing his damn mind.
"Ours, Mine.,Mine."
I glared across the hallway, locking my eyes on her. She looked so happy. So damn happy.
I reached out, not with my hand.
With my wolf.
'Lily.'
'Can you hear me?'
Nothing.
'Lily, answer me.'
Still nothing.
No link, no connection.
Her wolf's still dormant.
The realization hit me like a storm. That's why she wasn't hearing me. That's why she wasn't feeling the pain, the rage, the heat crawling through every cell in my body.
She didn't know.
But I did.
And I couldn't un-know it.
My fist curled.
Kyle leaned close. "Yo, you good, man? You're looking like you wanna kill somebody."
"I'm fine."
"You sure? Cause your face says otherwise."
"Drop it," I snapped.
They fell quiet.
I stood there, watching as Mark tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
And she smiled.
At him.
My wolf snarled again.
Not him.
And for the first time in my life, I didn't know if I had the strength to walk away.
Jamal snapped his fingers in front of my face. "Earth to Joe. Ready for first period?"
I blinked and forced a nod. "Yeah."
They tapped me on the back and headed down the hall. I stood there, chest tightening, and forced myself to walk in the opposite direction, to my own classroom. But every step felt like a surrender to Mark.
I passed Lily and Mark as I went down the hall. She glanced at me, a flicker of something in her eyes, regret? Surprise? I squashed it down and turned away.
The door to Room 213 loomed ahead. I pushed it open and slid into my seat at the front, back against the desk. When I closed my eyes, I saw Lily's face, the ghost of that kiss still lingering in my mind.
My wolf whimpered, craving the mate bond we'd shared… and lost.
And in the hush before the teacher arrived, I realized I wasn't supposed to care. I was the future Alpha, strong and untouchable. But I did care. More than anything.
I clenched my fists under the desk, torn between pride and longing, as the bell rang and the first period began. My head pounded, and my heart… my heart ached.
Because I had lost her.
And I didn't know how to get her back.