Chapter 36

The tension between Jessica and me had reached its breaking point. Despite my efforts to prove myself and gain respect through my training, Jessica's relentless animosity seemed to grow as our training period went on.

She never took her eyes off me the entire afternoon, and I knew that she was planning something.

It was as if she couldn't stand the thought of me rising above her.

Once the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I rushed out of the doors, trying to get as far away from her as possible.

The air was suffocating me with the lingering hostility. The whispers and sidelong glances from Jessica's followers made it clear that they were eagerly awaiting something-- most likely the next chapter in our ongoing feud.

I tried to storm down the hallway as fast as I could, determined to leave the school before Jessica caught me again.

Lucas wasn’t here today, and I wasn’t stupid enough to train alone after school today. I just wanted to get home as soon as possible.

For the first time, I realized that there was a long distance from my classroom to the school gate and there were many students slowly walking along the way—

Only I was running through them.

But before I could make my exit, Jessica intercepted me, her face twisted in fury.

"You think you can run from me?" she asked, her voice laced with venom. "Everyone's talking about how you've managed to survive against me. Well, I won't let that continue."

I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the eyes of other students on us, the tension palpable. I knew this confrontation could escalate quickly if I wasn't careful.

"Jessica, let's just calm down," I said, my voice steady despite the rising panic within me. "There's no need for this. We can coexist without all this hostility."

She laughed with a bitter sound.

"Coexist? You really think that's possible after what you did? You humiliated me in front of everyone, and now you expect us to coexist? Don't make me laugh."

Could I convince a bully to put down her self-esteem?

Impossible.

I fought to maintain my composure. "I never wanted to humiliate you, Jessica. Our rivalry has gone too far, and it's time to put an end to it. Let's just move on and focus on our own paths."

"You don't get it," she said. "I can't just move on."

"I'm never going to put this behind us." She shook her head. "Not until I get my revenge."

Her eyes blazed with rage, and before I could react, she lunged at me, her hands reaching for my hair.

Her wolf ears appeared on both sides of her head, and I could also see her sharp teeth.

Fortunately, Jessica only shifted her limbs and ears. Her werewolf appearance was not as grand as I thought.

In an instant, we were locked in a frenzied struggle, hair being pulled and limbs flailing. Chaos erupted around us as the other students quickly pulled out their phones, capturing the scene in videos.

"Fight! Fight!" some of them chanted their voices with a mix of excitement and voyeurism. It was as if the whole world had paused to watch our clash unfold.

My heart raced as panic washed over me. I thought about Lucas for a second, but I quickly realized he wouldn’t be here to help me.

"Lucas can't save you now, Shana!" she sneered, her grip on my hair tightening. "You're all alone, just like you always were."

With determination fueling my every move, I managed to break free from Jessica's grip, using her own momentum against her.

I tried to ignore the pain Jessica was inflicting on me, concentrating on my swift and precise attack. Thankfully, each of my strikes hit their target with unwavering accuracy. The sound of impact filled the air, matching the intensity of my resolve.

Onlookers watched in awe as my onslaught left Jessica's defenses crumbling.

She tried to fight back, but her movements lacked the precision and power that I had honed through countless training sessions.

I realized that Jessica was not the strongest student of werewolf training. She was just willing to bully those who were weaker than her.

I managed to resist her wolf.

A kick caught Jessica off guard, and she crashed to the ground. I took the chance to pin her to the ground from behind.

Murmurs and gasps filled the room.

"This doesn't have to continue, Jessica. We can put an end to all of this," I said.

She struggled to catch her breath as resentment filled her gaze. "I don't give up that easy."

"We don't have to be enemies, Jessica. And you don’t have to be that bully all the time."

For a fleeting moment, it seemed as if she might accept my offer, her features softening. But then, pride took hold, and she grabbed my hand, flipping me down to the ground.

I fell hard, hitting my head on the floor. My ears began to ring, and my vision became blurred.

"This is far from over," she hissed as she went to stand over me. “And I don’t need a wolfless to tell me what to do.”

When I saw her raise her furry foot in the sky, I thought she was going to stomp on my face.

My weak arms reached up to grab her leg in an attempt to stop her movements.

"Let go of my foot," she hissed, kicking ferociously. She managed to get free from my loose grip, and my heart sank in my chest.

I was on the floor while she was standing above me.

She had the greater advantage.

Just as my hope began to fade, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "What the hell is going on here? Break it up!"

The coach stormed towards us, his face contorted with anger. He wasted no time in separating us, forcefully pulling Jessica away from me. The commotion died down as the onlookers realized they had been caught in the act.

I saw the disappointment etched on Coach's face. "Thank god I was trying to find Shana. This behavior is unacceptable!" he reprimanded, his voice laced with frustration.

“And didn’t I say no wolf with Shana?!” He turned his face to Jessica, who ignored him and looked away.

"Both of you, my office. Now."

Reluctantly, Jessica and I followed the coach down the hall, our heads bowed in shame. The weight of our actions hung heavy in the air as we made our way to the coach’s office.

We had allowed our rivalry to spiral out of control, and now we would face the consequences.

"Actually, you know what?" The coach turned to look at us. "You're going to the dean's office. I think it's best if he handles the both of you."

Guilt and remorse coursed through me, overpowering my senses as I confronted the harsh reality of my actions. The weight of my anger had clouded my judgment, blinding me to reason and empathy.

Now, I had to confront the consequences that awaited me, no matter how daunting they seemed.

As we sat in the waiting area outside the dean's office, an uncomfortable silence enveloped us.

The reality of our actions began to sink in, and I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of disappointment in myself.

I had let my anger and frustration get the best of me, allowing it to cloud my judgment and push me into a dangerous situation.

The door to the dean's office swung open, and we were called inside. The stern gaze of the dean met our eyes as we took our seats, the weight of his presence intensifying the gravity of the situation.

This was just great.