Chapter 16

Vedant's POV

Are Chiara and Iris the same person? I’m still not sure. I’ve been observing her for a while, but every time I think I know one way or the other, she does something to the contrary.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t quite figure it out. I wrack my brain for another test, something that would prove that Iris and Chiara are the same or not without a shadow of a doubt.

Suddenly it comes to me. I think about the scar that Iris showed me was behind her ear. If Chiara has the same one, I’ll know they’re the same person.

I grab Chiara’s chin in one hand and use my other to gently brush the hair off the back of her neck, tilting her head to get a better look. No scar. She’s not Iris.

I made a mistake. I can’t believe I’ve wasted so much time trying to figure this out. I’m an idiot.

Chiara’s eyes flutter shut, and I can’t help the disgust that washes over me. She thinks I want to kiss her. Anger, both at Chiara, and at myself settles deep in my chest.

I can’t believe I ever thought this bitch could be my sweet compassionate Iris. I should have never even made the comparison. It was an insult to Iris to even consider it.

I push Chiara away and her eyes shoot open, confused.

“Did you think I was going to kiss you? Don’t flatter yourself. I have no interest in the pack charity case. You’re nothing more than the bitch who killed my brother.”

A hurt expression flashes across Chiara’s face. “Why did you even bother saving me?”

“It was the mate bond, causing me to behave irrationally. Whether you posted that picture or not has nothing to do with me.”

I do my best to ignore the pain on Chiara’s face as I continue. “Don’t cause any more trouble for me.”

Chiara's POV

I scan Vedant’s face and see that he’s serious. I thought he was different from the other’s at school, but I see now that I was wrong. I thought he could help me, but I guess I really am on my own.

He still think’s I’m the bitch who lured his brother to his death. Every time I let myself think that the kid I grew up with is somewhere in there deep down, he proves me wrong. He’s just like everyone else.

I push past Vedant on the path and make my way home, disappointed once again by the man that Vedant has become. I am stupid for ever thinking that he still cared about me.

The next day at school is worse than the last. The ridicule is constant, and I start to miss the isolation. Girls call me a slut to my face and boys spend all day making comments about what they do and don’t like about my body. By the end of the day, I am ready to snap.

A group of boys wolf whistle as I walk past them on my way to my locker and I turn. “That picture was posted without my consent.”

“Sure, backtrack all you like now, but everyone knows that you crave the attention.” One of the boys winks and I continue past, my eyes stinging.

I pull out my phone. I need to make a post on the school forum. If I can get enough people to believe me, this will all die down.

Chirara: On Tuesday a nude photo was posted anonymously without my knowledge. I want everyone to know that I did not consent to this picture being taken nor posted. I hope everyone will find it within themselves to let go of this farce so we can move on with the school year.

I put my phone in my bag and begin the long trek home. When I arrive, I give myself one hour before checking the comments to make sure plenty of people have seen my post. The people at school have never been kind to me, but I hope that they can find some compassion once they realize that I didn’t post that picture myself.

I lay in my bed and navigate to the forum, holding my breath. I open the comments to my post and my stomach turns almost immediately.

The comments are vile. I thought I would at least have support from some of the other girls at school, but even they think that I brought this upon myself.

Nobody cares that I didn’t post that picture, they think that I got what I deserved. I scroll through for a few minutes, hoping to find even one supportive comment, but I am only met with people telling me that I brought it on myself, and more comments about my body.

I close the page on my phone and put it across the room, unable to handle reading anymore of the awful things people are saying about me.

I lay back down on my bed and bury myself in blankets, wishing that the pack had never taken me in. I hear my phone buzz, but I ignore it. I can’t take anymore abuse, and I’m sure it’s someone giving me another update about just how much everyone hates me.

I close my eyes and try to sleep, but my phone buzzes three more times over the course of two hours. I sigh and pull myself from the cocoon of blankets to grab my phone.

I smile for the first time in days when I see Felix’s name staring up at me. I open the messages.

Felix: You haven’t been online in a couple of days. I just wanted to make sure that everything is all right.

Felix: Did something happen?

Felix: You know you can tell me anything right? I’m here for you.

Felix: I’m worried about you.

My smile falters as I read his message and my face heats with shame. The whole school has seen me naked. How am I supposed to explain to Felix that’s why I haven’t been online in the past few days.

I put my phone down. I don’t want to lie to Felix, but how can I explain tell him what happened without shaming myself?

I sigh and resign myself to answer him later but pick my phone back up a second later as the guilt starts to gnaw away at me. My problems at school are not Felix’s fault and he deserves some kind of explanation, even if I can’t give him the whole truth.

Iris: I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to ignore you. The bullying at school has ramped up a lot recently and it’s been easier to stay off my phone.

Felix: That sucks, I’m sorry. If it’s really that bad, the offer to join my pack still stands. You can message me day or night and we will be open to you.

Despite my hopelessness, Felix’s message makes me smile. I can’t leave yet, but if I can pass the training class and become a warrior Vedant will have no choice but to reject our mate bond and let me go for the good of the pack.

I will train as hard as I need to in order to make that my reality. I will escape this hellish place.