CHAPTER 74: IGNORING HER

Nathan’s POV

That feeling when you break up with someone—or at least, try to—tell them to stay away, that you’re done, that you have to be done... but somehow, you’re the one hurting the most?

Yeah.

That’s the hell I was going through.

The teacher’s voice droned on at the front of the classroom, something about the structure of persuasive essays, but it all sounded like static in my ears.

My focus?

It was three seats in front of me.

On my Hailee.

Her shoulders were stiff, her head slightly bowed like she was doing everything she could not to look back.

I’d spilled everything last night—my pain, my jealousy, the betrayal I felt. I said things I’d been holding back for days.

And still... here I was.

Watching her like a lovesick idiot.

Missing her like we’d been together for years instead of whatever this was.

And the worst part?

I didn’t even hate her.

I wanted to.

God, I wanted to hate her so bad. It would’ve been easier. Cleaner. I could’ve walked away and never looked back.

But no.

I kept remembering her laugh. The way she used to look at me like I was the only one in the room. The softness in her voice when she’d whisper my name.

Now?

Now it felt like there was a wall between us I couldn’t break through—even if I wanted to.

She shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her notebook.

And just like that, I was spiraling again.

Was she thinking about me, or was it them who made her heart race now?

Was I just a temporary feeling to her?

I tore my gaze away before I lost my mind again.

This was the consequence of letting someone in. Of falling in love.

And maybe I only had myself to blame for thinking I could be enough for her.

Maybe I never was.

But damn it... I still wanted to be.

I looked at Dane and noticed his eyes were on her. He was gawking at her and wasn’t even hiding it. My frown deepened, and I looked away and settled my gaze on Callum, who sat right beside Hailee.

I observed that from time to time he kept staring at Hailee—and God help me, I felt so miserable in my seat.

Why does it have to be her?

There were thousands of girls drooling over them. Why did it have to be my Hailee?

A girl I’d been into for years.

"Alright, everyone, that’s it for now. We’ll continue after break," the teacher announced, snapping her folder shut.

Chairs scraped against the floor as students got up, chattering and heading toward the hall or the courtyard. I stayed in my seat a moment longer, trying to gather the pieces of whatever was left of me.

A few of the guys walked over to my desk—Eli, Trey, and Dave.

"Yo," Eli grinned, slapping my shoulder as he sat on the edge of the table. "You in for the game this evening? Lotus Pack and Black Fur Pack are showing up. Should be lit."

"Yeah," Trey chimed in. "Alpha said it’s a friendly match, but you know the other packs don’t know what that word means."

Dave smirked. "Friendly, my ass. It’s gonna be war. You better bring that rage you’ve been holding in, Nate."

I gave a half-hearted smirk and nodded. "I’ll be there."

Honestly, a fight on the field sounded like the one thing I did want right now. Something I could throw myself into without thinking. Without feeling.

Just then, I heard footsteps approach.

My pulse shifted.

I didn’t have to look up. I already knew who it was.

"Hey," Hailee’s soft voice broke through the circle of noise, and I slowly raised my gaze to meet hers.

Her expression was guarded, but I knew her well enough to recognize the nervousness behind it. She clutched her notebook against her chest like a shield.

"I, um... I thought we could talk about the rest of the project?" she asked.

I nodded once and motioned to the empty seat beside me. "Take a seat."

She hesitated, then sat slowly, placing her notebook on the desk. My friends all turned to look at her, some with mild curiosity, others with obvious smirks.

"Yo," Dave said with a grin, "you coming to watch the match tonight?" he asked Hailee.

She shook her head. "I don’t know yet."

"Oh, you should," Eli laughed. "Everyone’ll be there—including Belly."

My jaw tensed immediately.

"Belly?" Trey chimed in with a laugh. "Damn, you remember what happened between her and Nathan, right?"

Dave cracked up. "Bro, how could we forget? That girl was obsessed. Didn’t she show up outside your window in lingerie once?"

I didn’t respond. I just clenched my fists under the table, wanting them to shut up.

"She was like, ’Nathan, take me now or I’ll scream!’" Eli mocked in a high-pitched voice, and the guys burst out laughing again.

I felt Hailee stiffen beside me.

She didn’t say anything, but I saw the way her shoulders tensed, the way she suddenly looked down and flipped through her notebook with a little too much focus.

It was affecting her. Of course, it was. And still...

I let it go on.

I could’ve shut them up. Changed the topic. Told them to get lost.

But I didn’t.

Because part of me wanted her to feel something.

To feel what I had felt hearing her in that car with Callum.

To feel just a fraction of the burn that still lived in my chest.

And so I sat there, pretending to be calm, while my friends laughed about my past and Hailee sat beside me—quiet, unreadable, and maybe just a little bit heartbroken.

Good.

Because so was I.

She flipped a page in her notebook again, still not looking at me, her fingers trembling just slightly.

That tiny movement made something twist in my chest.

"I worked on the intro and the second segment," I finally muttered, low enough that only she could hear.

She nodded, still not meeting my eyes. "Okay."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "We’ll have to decide who’s presenting which parts. It’s a ten-minute limit total. Five each."

"Sure," she said.

The guys were already walking away now, probably heading to the field or cafeteria, still chuckling to themselves. I watched them go, then looked at Hailee again.

"We can’t meet today for the project because of the game. Tomorrow, my place. Seven?" I asked.

She nodded and closed the notebook. Without saying another word to me, she walked away while I sat there like an idiot, staring at her.

"You know what you’re doing, right? You’re pushing her into their arms," my wolf muttered.

He was right.

And I hated how right he was.

But what could I do?

I was angry. Hurt. Confused.

And somewhere deep down, still so stupidly in love.

Eventually, I forced myself to move and joined the guys in the cafeteria. We took our usual spot by the long windows, the same table we always claimed, talking nonsense and throwing fries at each other like children.

I was halfway through biting into a sandwich when the microphone screeched slightly and the lights flickered for effect.

Then a too-perky voice rang out across the cafeteria.

"Hellooo, seniors!"

I turned toward the platform near the middle of the hall where the Social Committee usually made their announcements.

Great.

Mariam Morgan—the ever-smiling, always-dramatic Social Head—was grinning at us from behind the mic.

"Welcome to this month’s Freaky Wednesday!" she chirped.

A few cheers and laughs echoed through the room.

Oh, right.

I’d completely forgotten.

The last Wednesday of every month was "Freaky Wednesday," where the Social Committee made us do stupid stuff in the name of "fun and bonding."

And today, apparently, was no exception.

Mariam raised two decorative boxes into the air. "In this lovely golden box are the names of all senior year males," she said. Then she held up a rose-patterned box. "And in this floral masterpiece are the names of all senior year females."

Groans and laughter followed her words.

"Now," she went on, clearly enjoying herself way too much, "each couple picked will have to do one thing... kiss."

Louder groans this time. Whistles too.

My frown deepened. I wasn’t in the mood for such games.

"This is purely random and just for fun," Rhea said innocently, though the gleam in her eyes said otherwise. "No pressure... but also, don’t be a coward."

She slipped her hand into the floral box first, rummaging dramatically.

"Alright... our first lucky lady is..." She pulled out a slip of paper and unfolded it with theatrical flair.

Her smile stretched wider.

"Ohhhh, this is gonna be interesting," she said.

Then, loud and clear, she read the name:

"Hailee Stones."

My heart stopped.

Gasps and laughter rippled through the cafeteria.

I sat frozen in my chair, my hand clenched around my soda cup.

Mariam dipped her hand into the gold box now, ready to pull the guy’s name.

And me?

I wasn’t breathing.