Alpha Black

Chapter Four: The Punishment

Celine's P.O.V.

I stood in front of Principal Harry's desk, Alpha Black beside me. I could barely keep from fainting; my hands were trembling, terrified that someone would tell my father. Damn it, I'd be ruined if he found out.

I’d earn the title of "fallen" if he knew I had kissed Black. Yes, I had tried to kiss him first, but he liked it and kept going, kissing me like a savage.

Principal Harry spoke, "Now, tell me what was going on outside!"

Black hesitated but finally exhaled and, with steady resolve, replied, "I was kissing her."

I was surprised by his confidence and steadiness, even as I stammered in a shaky, fragmented voice, "I… It wasn't my fault, he did it."

A little lie could save me, but I had to get out of here quickly.

Harry looked at us both, then said, "Celine, just because your father has complete control over this academy does not give you the audacity to act like this. And you, Alpha Black, do you think this justifies kissing each other here?"

I added, feigning innocence, "But I didn’t want him to kiss me. I had nothing to do with it."

Black glanced at me, catching my words as I kept repeating, "I didn’t want him to kiss me." His expression hardened with irritation, and he finally said, "Yes, she has nothing to do with it. It’s my fault."

I couldn't believe he took the blame, though he had kept kissing me. I snapped, shifting from the innocent, sweet girl to a storm ready to blow the place apart. "What do you think everyone is, huh? Foolish, reckless, kissing whoever's in front of you without a care!"

I continued, releasing all my anger, "You brute! How dare you kiss with such force? I was forced into this—this savage kiss that made my mouth’s corners bleed, with my lips swollen beyond recognition!"

Principal Harry’s voice thundered with anger, "Enough! This conversation is over. You will both clean the entire school after hours until midterm exams are over. And as of now, you’ll be detained for three hours after school today in one of the classrooms."

What in the world? I was going to be punished? But I held my tongue, swallowing my words.

I left the office with my head down, touching my lips in anger, stomping my feet like a child before heading to Ms. Cooper’s class. But as soon as I entered, the whole class erupted in shouts and cheers.

Among the chants, voices echoed, “It’s the kissing girl… the kissing girl…”

Others taunted, “Alpha squeezed her lips until they swelled like apples.”

“I bet they taste like cherries or strawberries, since he kept kissing her for so long,” a boy shouted.

A girl chimed in, “Seems like it was a sweet, delicious kiss. You enjoyed it a lot, didn’t you?”

“Kissing girl… Kissing girl… Kissing girl…”

Everyone was chanting "kissing girl," shamelessly gossiping about the kiss, and I wished the ground would open up and swallow me. That would have been better than enduring this miserable day.

After endless whispers and cheers, the day finally ended. Claire, smiling cheerfully beside me, asked, "So, how was the kiss from Black?"

I flared up and snapped, "Enough! My head is about to explode with everyone’s questions, even you, Claire!"

Claire looked disheartened and muttered, "I only wish I were in your place."

I burst out, impatiently, "I wish all of you were in my place! Now I’ll be detained for three hours, and every day after school, I’ll be cleaning the academy! I’ve got a project to finish, plus basketball practice—which I barely understand—and assignments piling up."

With that, I stormed off in frustration. Claire realized that maybe she shouldn't have brought up the kiss, and decided to leave me alone to calm down.

Alpha Black was waiting outside the room where we’d serve detention. He looked as though he had something to say. I felt nervous and mumbled before entering, "This is the worst day of my life."

Black followed me in, slamming the door behind him. He lit a cigarette, propped his feet on the chair, and exhaled smoke as he glanced over at me. I sat at the back of the room.

He probably wondered why other girls clung to him like leeches, while all I did was keep my distance. Then he chuckled and walked over, blowing cigarette smoke in my face before handing me an icy bottle of water. "You can relax," he said. "Your muscles are tense, and you’re stressed. Press the cold bottle to your lips, and the swelling will go down."

I looked at him, unimpressed. "I don't want anything from you."

He smirked and replied, "Alpha Black, at your service, kissing girl."

I gasped, hearing him call me "kissing girl." It seemed like this nickname would stick with me forever.

He sat beside me and asked, "Was it that awful?"

I shouted, "It… It was my first kiss! I wanted it to be with anyone but you!"

Black leaned in, his voice whispering by my ear in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. "Your mate is a lucky man, Celine. He’ll have a bold, untouched girl."

His words had a twisted, suggestive tone, and his touch felt strange, yet I was intensely curious. I couldn’t help but bluntly ask, "Have you… done it before?"

All he did was smile, which filled me with even more irritation. It was a stupid question; of course he had, probably hundreds of times.

But before leaving, I turned to him, determined, and declared, "You asked if I didn’t like your kiss? Well, it was garbage, you pervert!"

I started to walk away, but he grabbed me, immobilizing me effortlessly.

He asked, his voice deep and intimate, almost as if lost in a trance, "Was the kiss really garbage, you little pup, Celine?"

I tried to pull away, but he was far too strong. In that same voice, he continued, "Then I’ll teach you how to stand up to me."

He kissed me again, harder and deeper, but this time, the kiss felt different. I couldn't resist; I wanted him to keep going, controlling me as if he knew exactly how to hold me in his grasp.