THE ALPHA'S LITTLE NERD

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Anna pov.

“You’re an idiot.”

Emma’s voice echoed behind me for what felt like the hundredth time as we walked out of school.

I sighed dramatically.

“You already said that.”

“And I’ll say it again,” she snapped. “You challenged Melissa to a duel while being wolf-less. Do you understand how insane that sounds?”

“I didn’t challenge her,” I corrected weakly. “She challenged me.”

“And you accepted!”

Okay.

Fair point.

Emma groaned loudly beside me while dragging her fingers through her hair.

“I swear friendship is shortening my lifespan.”

Despite everything, I laughed.

The evening breeze brushed softly against my face as we walked down the school stairs. Students still whispered around us excitedly.

Some looked at me with pity.

Others looked entertained.

One boy literally stared at me like he was already preparing funeral flowers.

Rude.

“You know,” I muttered, “people could at least pretend they believe in me.”

Emma snorted.

“You barely believe in yourself.”

…Again.

Fair point.

I stuffed my hands into my pockets with a sigh.

Honestly, now that the cafeteria drama was over, reality had finally started punching me in the face.

Hard.

Because what exactly was my plan here?

I still couldn’t feel my wolf.

Melissa was stronger than me.

Faster than me.

And unfortunately much more experienced in fighting.

Meanwhile the only thing I had mastered was embarrassing myself publicly.

Wonderful.

“Maybe she’ll slip and fall during the duel,” I muttered hopefully.

Emma blinked at me.

“You’re putting your life in destiny’s hands?”

“Absolutely.”

“You’re doomed.”

“I know.”

Emma groaned again.

Suddenly someone grabbed my arm from behind.

I nearly screamed and punched the poor person out of reflex.

Thankfully it was only Stella.

She looked furious.

“No because explain to me why EVERYONE in school suddenly thinks they’re fight commentators!” she ranted loudly. “I just passed three girls debating whether Melissa would kill you in one hit or two.”

Emma nodded seriously.

“I personally voted two.”

I gasped dramatically.

“Traitor.”

“You’ll survive longer that way,” Emma defended.

Stella burst into laughter before suddenly becoming serious again.

“You really accepted that duel.”

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

“When you say it like that, it sounds stupid.”

“Because it IS stupid!”

“Wow,” I deadpanned. “You guys are so supportive.”

Stella rolled her eyes before linking arms with me.

“Too late now anyway. We’ll just make sure you don’t die.”

Comforting.

Very comforting.

We continued walking quietly for a while before I finally glanced at Stella carefully.

“You okay?”

Immediately her expression shifted.

Ah.

There it was.

The Ben issue.

She looked away quickly.

“I’m fine.”

Liar.

Emma noticed too but wisely stayed quiet.

I nudged Stella lightly.

“You nearly killed Melissa earlier.”

“She deserved it.”

“She definitely deserved it,” Emma agreed instantly.

Stella sighed before kicking a small stone on the road angrily.

“I just hate people talking about it.”

Her voice came out quieter this time.

More vulnerable.

“She rejected you because she’s jealous,” I said honestly.

Stella scoffed.

“My ex-mate rejected me because he found another girl five business days after meeting me.”

Emma winced.

“Ouch.”

“Exactly.”

For a moment silence settled between us.

Then Stella suddenly straightened dramatically.

“But you know what?” she declared loudly. “He lost an icon.”

Emma nodded seriously.

“A legend.”

I raised my hand.

“A professional headache.”

“Excuse me?” Stella gasped.

I laughed immediately before she could attack me.

God.

I loved moments like this.

For a few seconds, everything almost felt normal.

Then—

A black car suddenly stopped beside us.

We all froze.

The tinted window rolled down slowly.

And unfortunately…

Evan Marcus was inside.

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

Emma’s expression immediately darkened.

Stella folded her arms instantly.

Meanwhile my stupid heart betrayed me by beating faster for absolutely no reason.

I blamed stress.

Definitely stress.

Evan looked exhausted.

Actually no.

Exhausted was an understatement.

Dark circles rested under his eyes and his usual cold expression seemed dull somehow.

Like he hadn’t slept properly in days.

His gaze landed on me first.

Of course it did.

“What?” Stella snapped immediately.

Evan ignored her completely.

Typical.

“You’re walking home?” he asked me quietly.

Wait.

Quietly?

Not rudely?

Who was this man?

I blinked suspiciously.

“Yes?”

“I’ll drop you off.”

Both Emma and Stella looked ready to start a war.

“No thanks,” Stella answered for me instantly.

Evan still looked only at me.

Not them.

Me.

“I wasn’t asking you.”

Oop.

Stella’s eye twitched.

I quickly stepped between them before she launched herself into traffic.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “We’re fine.”

For a second Evan didn’t respond.

His eyes simply stayed on mine.

And annoyingly—

My chest did that weird thing again.

I hated it.

Then his gaze dropped slightly toward my wrist.

Toward the faint bruise from where Melissa grabbed me earlier.

His jaw tightened almost instantly.

The air around him suddenly felt colder.

“You accepted the duel,” he said flatly.

Not a question.

A statement.

I frowned slightly.

“How did you—”

“The entire school knows.”

…Right.

Stupid question.

Stella scoffed loudly.

“Why? You planning another way to ruin her life?”

Evan finally glanced at her.

And wow.

That glare could genuinely kill people.

“I don’t have time for your nonsense today.”

Stella looked ready to commit murder.

Honestly, same.

But before either of them could continue, Evan looked back at me again.

“Cancel the duel.”

I blinked.

“…What?”

“You heard me.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Was this boy serious?

“Melissa will hurt you,” he continued calmly.

And somehow that annoyed me instantly.

Maybe because deep down I already knew that.

“I don’t need your concern,” I snapped.

Something flickered briefly across his face.

Pain?

No.

Probably my imagination.

“You’re not ready for that arena,” he said quietly.

My anger rose immediately.

“And whose fault is that?” I shot back. “You literally chased away the only person helping me train.”

Silence.

His expression hardened instantly.

Emma and Stella exchanged awkward looks.

Good.

Let him hear it.

For a second Evan looked like he wanted to say something.

Something important.

But instead he simply looked away tiredly.

“…Forget it.”

Then before I could react—

The car window rolled back up.

And seconds later the car drove away.

Leaving silence behind.

Stella blinked.

“Well.”

Emma looked confused.

“That was strangely emotional.”

I stood there staring after the car.

My chest feeling oddly tight.

And honestly?

That annoyed me most of all.