<h4>Chapter 35: In Trouble</h4>


    Nathan’s POV


    "You must be fucking kidding me!" I growled, anger bubbling up in my chest likeva ready to erupt. Dane didn’t flinch. He stood there, calm as ever, which only pissed me off more.


    "No, cousin," he said, calmly. "I’m not. I like her. There’s this—this butterfly feeling I get in my stomach whenever she’s near. It feels like—"


    "Stop it!" I snapped, cutting him off. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, and I had to nt my feet firmly to stop myself from lunging at him.


    His brows lifted slightly, but he didn’t back down. "I’m just being honest with you."


    "Honest?" Iughed bitterly. "You show up out of nowhere, confuse her with charming words, follow her around like a damn puppy, and now you’re standing in my room telling me you want to pursue her?"


    Dane tilted his head. "Nathan, I didn’t ask to feel this. It just happened."


    "She’s not other girls you can chase just because it ’happened,’" I seethed. "I love her."


    "And I might be falling for her too," he said inly. "What do you want me to do—pretend I don’t feel it?"


    I shook my head slowly, my chest heaving. "You can’t just fall in love with someone you barely met hours ago!" I snapped at him. "You know how I feel about her. You know what she means to me."


    "I do," he said. "But I also see what she means to you. And maybe that’s the problem."


    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"


    "It means," he said, calmly but firmly, "she’s confused, Nate. And you being angry at me won’t fix that. You don’t own her. Neither of us do. If she chooses you, then fine. I’ll walk away. But until then..."


    He let the sentence hang in the air like smoke.


    And I hated how much truth was in it.


    I red at him, jaw tight. "Get out."


    "Nate—"


    "Get out of my room, Dane. Now."


    He looked at me for a second longer, then nodded once and turned to leave. But just before he stepped out, he said without looking back, "I didn’te here to start a war with you. But if this is one... I won’t back down easy."


    Then the door closed.


    I stood there, my fists still shaking, breathing hard.


    I didn’t care what Dane or Callum felt. I wasn’t going to lose her.


    I fell back on the bed, my frown deepening as I stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything.


    What the hell is going on? Why Hailee? There were hundreds of girls in this pack—some prettier, higher in rank. Yet it was Hailee all three of us were drawn to. Dane, Callum... and me.


    The one person I wanted—suddenly everyone wanted her too. Why now?


    My wolf stirred in my chest, his voice cold and using. "You’re at fault, Nathan."


    I blinked slowly. What?


    "You had this girl in your life for four years. You saw her every single day. You could’ve told her how you felt... but you didn’t. If you had, she would’ve known where you stood. She wouldn’t be confused now. Hell, you could’ve marked your territory by now."


    I gritted my teeth.


    "I was just confused," I muttered aloud.


    "And in that time, you gave others the space to slip in. Now look what’s happening."


    I sat up, dragging both hands down my face in frustration. He wasn’t wrong. I’d been so confused—so cautious—trying to protect what I felt, waiting until everything was perfect.


    But now, that caution might cost me everything.


    A knock on my door made me jolt, but I didn’t answer. Whoever it was, they could wait. After a moment of silence, I stood up and headed for the bathroom. School was starting soon, and thest thing I needed was to show up looking like I’d spent the night fighting my own thoughts. Even though I had.


    I let the cold water ssh over my face, clearing some heat from my skin. I stared at myself in the mirror for a few seconds—at the tired eyes, the clenched jaw, the frustration still lurking in every corner of my expression.


    I couldn’t go on like this. Hailee wanted space. She wanted rity. Fine. I’d give her that. But I wasn’t backing off. I still loved her. And I still believed—deep down—that she loved me too.


    After taking a cold shower, I dressed quickly: dark jeans, a in white T-shirt, and my ck jacket. Simple, clean. But I still felt like a mess on the inside.


    I grabbed my car key and backpack before leaving my room. Downstairs, I noticed everyone was at the table, including Dane. I frowned and thought of just walking away, but I decided not to be rude, so I walked over to the dining area.


    Arriving there, I greeted. "Good morning, Father... good morning... I’m not hungry, so I’ll just head out," I said, but Father’s reply was immediate.


    "Sit down and eat, young man," he said authoritatively.


    I frowned. "I said I am not hungry... I beg to take my leave," I said and turned around, leaving the dining room.


    "Nathan...e back here," Father yelled, but I ignored him.


    "Nathan!" he growled.


    "Fuck you," I spat, not bothering to look back.


    I could see the confused look on the faces of the guards... they were confused if they should stop me, but none dared stop me.


    The drive to school was quiet. Too quiet. Even the music I yed barely cut through the noise in my head. My mind kept circling back to Hailee. I gripped the wheel tighter, my jaw clenched.


    As I pulled into the school lot, the usual wave of attention hit me. Girls hanging around the parking lot sent flirtatious nces my way. A few bit their lips. Some whispered behind their hands and smiled too wide. I didn’t even look at them.


    I mmed the door shut behind me, slid on my backpack, and walked toward the building like I didn’t feel all their eyes crawling on me.


    I made my way into my ss, but the second I walked in... my heart sank.


    She was already there.


    Hailee.


    Seated.


    Beside Callum.


    They weren’t touching. They weren’t flittering. But her body was turned toward him, her brows pinched slightly as she exined something on a page in front of them. He was listening—really listening—and something in his eyes told me he wasn’t just paying attention to her words. He was paying attention to her.


    My chest tightened, that familiar ache starting to w its way back. Still, I didn’t react. Didn’t say a word. I forced myself to move—to walk across the room and take my usual seat.


    Three seats behind them. Far enough to stay invisible.


    I set my bag down and pulled out my book, pretending to read while my eyes stayed locked on the page... but my attention was on them... listening to what she was exining to him.


    "So will you sit with me for lunch?" I overheard Callum suddenly ask. His words were whispered, but because I was using my intense hearing ability I heard him.


    My frown deepened as I waited for what Hailee would say... but before she could answer...


    The door creaked open suddenly, silencing every whisper in the ssroom. Everyone turned. Even Callum and Hailee.


    Standing in the doorway was Beta Marcus—my father’s second-inmand. Dressed in all ck, posture straight as a de, eyes cold and unreadable. But they weren’t scanning the room. They were locked straight on me.


    I felt my stomach drop. Shit.


    My grip on the book tightened as he stepped fully into the ss. Every student was dead quiet now, probably wondering who was in trouble. But I didn’t need anyone to tell me—I already knew. Marcus wasn’t here by chance. He was sent. By my father. And judging from the look on his face, he wasn’t here to talk.


    "Nathan," he said firmly, his voice echoing like thunder through the stillness, "you’re toe with me. Now."


    Everyone’s gaze snapped to me. Even Hailee’s. I saw the confusion in her eyes, the concern she didn’t bother to hide. But I didn’t look at her for long. My eyes locked on Marcus as I stood, my chest buzzing with rage I could barely contain.


    Of course, he sent Marcus. He always sent Marcus when he wanted to make a point.


    I slung my bag over my shoulder and started walking, my jaw clenched. I didn’t care what he had in store for me this time. I could already feel it in my bones—whatever was waiting for me... it wasn’t going to be pretty. This was punishment. And we both knew it.