Revenge On Ice

Lyra Did you know? That the worst thing about knowing the future is that it's inevitable. I stared at my reflection in the mirror while carefully dragging a mascara wand through my lashes. I looked like a girl trying desperately to look confident. Trying being the important word. I applied another layer of lip gloss, smacking them together until they shone. "You're doing too much," Maya said, her brush pausing mid-stroke. Her brow furrowed as she studied me through the mirror. "Seriously, Lyra. It's just a Tuesday." I shrugged, reaching for the bronzer. "I feel like being extra today." Maya's hand dropped to her side, mascara wand forgotten. Her eyes narrowed, those sharp hazel irises that always saw right through me. "Wait." She set the wand down slowly, deliberately. "Are you doing makeup because of Darian?" I felt the smile tug at my lips before I could stop it. I bit the inside of my cheek, turning back to the mirror. "Oh my God." Maya's voice pitched upward, "You are. You're actually doing this again." "Relax..." I said, looking at my reflection. "No." She spun me around to face her, her fingers gripping my shoulders. "I don't like him, Lyra. I don't like what he does to you. He treats you like trash. Like you're some, some dog, no offense, waiting for scraps of attention." "He's just...." "Just what? Just cruel? Just manipulative? Just a complete and utter. " "He's my mate, Maya." I said it softly, She stared at me, something between exasperation and heartbreak flickering across her face. "What do you even see in him?!" I wanted to explain. I wanted to tell her about the way my wolf howled when he walked into a room, the electric pull that made my skin prickle. But how could I put that into words that wouldn't sound pathetic? So I just shrugged, looping my arm through hers. "I'll be fine. This time will be different. You'll see." It had to be She sighed, but she let me tug her toward the door anyway. "You know you're impossible," Maya muttered, shaking her head. "I've been told." I replied, bumping my shoulder against hers as we stepped into the hallway. She shoved me back with an exaggerated glare, and I laughed harder. For a few seconds, everything felt normal. Then suddenly Maya's smile faltered. "...Lyra." "What?" Her eyes drifted past my shoulder. "Is it just me or is everyone giving us extra attention today?" I frowned and glanced around. A few students quickly looked away when our eyes met. Others didn't bother. They just stood there, whispering to one another. Someone snorted. Another nudged their friend and pointed. My laughter died and more heads turned as we walked. Their gazes flickered from their phone screens to me... and back again. A ripple of laughter spread through the hallway. Something cold settled in my stomach. The further we walked, the more obvious it became. They were watching me. Maya pulled out her phone, and I watched the color drain from her face. "What is it, Maya ?" I asked, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. "What's going on?" "Nothing." She replied too quickly. "It's nothing." I reached for my own phone, but she snatched it from my hands before I could unlock it. She held it behind her back like a parent hiding candy from a child. "Don't worry about it," she said, but her voice was shaking. "Just some stupid gossip. You know how these people are. They...." She trailed off and I followed her gaze. I stopped dead because taped to my locker was a picture of me in nothing but my pink panties. My hand was covering my chest, but just barely. My lips were parted in that practiced, sultry pose I'd spent hours perfecting in my bedroom mirror. The word SLUT was scrawled above it with angry red marker. Suddenly, the air around me felt thinner and I found it difficult to breathe. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, loud and frantic. It was a dream. It had to be a dream. I'd sent that photo to Darian. Only to Darian. It was supposed to be private. It was supposed to be between us. It was supposed to... "Hey Darian!" Someone called. I turned to see Darian Graham, walking toward me like he owned the school. His brown hair was perfectly tousled, and his jaw was set in that arrogant line I'd once found so attractive. He looked at me like I was nothing. Like I was less than nothing. I rushed toward him, my legs moving before my brain could catch up. I could hear Maya calling my name, reaching out to stop me, but I didn't care. I needed to understand. I needed him to tell me this was a mistake. "Darian." My voice came out broken. "Darian, why is that picture all over? I sent it to you. Only to you. Why would you..." He shoved me and I stumbled backward, my shoulder hitting the lockers with a thud. Pain exploded through my arm, but I barely registered it. "I can't believe you'd be that naive," he said, with amusement in his voice. "You think my father would let me bond with a nobody like you? I'm the future Alpha, Lyra. Wake up." "Darian Darling. I have been looking everywhere for you." Someone said and I turned to see Rosa walking towards us. She swayed her hips, her blonde hair swinging as she walked straight to Darian . She wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. Right in front of me. "YOU SON OF A b***h!" Maya's scream came from nowhere and before I could blink, she had lunged at Darian. Her fists connected with Darian 's jaw with a sickening crack, sending his head snapping to the side. She made a move to punch him again but before she could land another blow, two of his friends grabbed her arms. They wrenched them behind her back, and Maya screamed, struggling against them. Darian wiped the blood from his lip and looked at me again, "Well, would you look that? The trash is helping the other trash out." "The only trash I see here is you, Darian." Maya spat out. Darian ignored her this time and turned to me with a cold look that made me flinch. "I, Darian Graham," he said, his voice ringing through the silent hallway, "reject you, Lyra Hale, as my mate. I sever the bond between us, now and forever." The bond snapped like a tendon being cut, and It felt like my heart was being torn out of me with brutal, unforgiving force. I let out a loud groan of pain as my legs gave out. I hit the floor with barely enough strength to hold myself. I couldn't stop it, couldn't control it, couldn't do anything but feel the pain. It was everywhere. My insides were on fire, like someone had reached inside me and was pulling me apart piece by piece. I clawed at my stomach, trying to make it stop, but it only got worse. I heard the wet, horrible sound of my own retching as I tasted something metallic in my mouth. Somewhere, I heard Maya screaming my name, but it was all distant, muffled, like I was underwater. Through the haze of agony, I saw something glint on the floor. My bracelet. The silver one he'd given me last month, the one I'd worn every single day, the one I'd convinced myself meant something. It must have fallen off when I collapsed. I reached for it. My fingers scraped against the floor, clawing toward that tiny piece of hope. Rosa's heel came down on my hand. I screamed or tried to. It came out as a gurgle, blood bubbling between my lips. "Still reaching for his gift?" Rosa's voice dripped with mock pity. "Even now? Even after he rejected you? How pathetic can you get?" The crowd erupted in laughter. "I heard she sent him twelve pictures." "Twelve? God, at least have some self-respect." "Bet she thought the bond would actually take Rosa lifted her foot, and I gasped with relief until she knelt down, her face inches from mine. "It's over, Lyra. Everyone knows what you are now." She reached down, and I felt her fingers brush my wrist. "Ow!" Rosa cried out, staggering backward, clutching her arm like I'd somehow done something to her. "She attacked me! She tried to break my wrist!" "No...." I tried to say, but my voice was ruined, choked with blood. Darian's face twisted with fury. He raised his hand, palm open, and I braced myself for the impact. But it never came. I felt a gust of wind, and then Darian was flying into the lockers. The hall went silent and Rosa let out a short shriek. I blinked, trying to focus through the pain. Someone was standing over me. I raised my head a little to see a face that I'd know anywhere. The same face I'd been dreaming about for years. Silas Noctis. He'd come. For a moment, I'd almost thought my plan wouldn't work. He bent down and scooped me into his arms gently. "How dare you touch my fiancée," he said in a low cold voice. I looked up at him through blurry vision, clinging to him, the very picture of fragility. But, you know, the best thing about being reborn twice is that you are always one step ahead.