BETRAYED BY HOCKEY STAR: LOVED BY ALPHA KING

Chapter 18. DRAVEN'S POV

DRAVEN’S POV

The second Principal Dillford said those words, the whole room sucked in a breath like we’d just witnessed some royal coronation.

Elara? Cheer captain? I'm sure that's what they were all thinking.

She stood there looking shocked, like she genuinely didn’t think she deserved it. Meanwhile, I was leaning against the wall pretending not to care pretending like my heart wasn’t beating hard enough to bruise my ribs.

Because the truth was, I’d pushed for this.

I’d exposed Kyle.

I’d made sure everyone knew what she did.

I’d made damn sure Elara got justice.

But I couldn’t let her see that.

Not when she was already getting too close to figuring me out.

As for the evidence someone was in the stall recording, a shy girl named Aria.

Last night I had come to school to search for cameras but nothing and fortunately Aria thought to do the right thing, she came up to me and asked for my number. I tried to decline but she tugged for me to give it to her because it would be worth my time.

I decided to trust her and she sent me the video and that's how I got Kyle and he minions

Elara swallowed, voice small. “Sir… I-I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”

She glanced my way, like she wanted me to look back, like she wanted… something. But I kept my eyes on the floor. If I met her eyes, I’d give too much away.

Kyle’s threat was still ringing in my head anyway.

You’ll regret this, Elara.

I felt my jaw lock. If she touched Elara again, I'd—

“Alright,” Dillford said. “Think about it. Let’s settle down now.”

Everyone sat back on their seats, buzzing with whispers. Elara sat too, her shoulder brushing mine as she passed. It shot straight through me, sharp and warm.

Class started again, but I didn’t hear a damn thing. I just kept replaying her face when Kyle hissed at her. The way she tried to pretend she wasn’t shaken. The way she kept glancing at me like she was waiting for something comfort, reassurance, a look, anything.

And I gave her nothing.

It's clear that she doesn't want me. What if she decided to break up our mate bond? I need to prove that I am enough for her.

---

Lunch rolled around, and we ended up at the same table because pretending not to care didn’t mean I wanted her far from me and we also need to keep our relationship public.

It was quiet and awkward.

She played with her food. I picked at mine.

Then, out of nowhere, we both spoke.

“I’m sorry—”

We froze, then she laughed.

“I didn’t mean what I said earlier,” she said. “It just came out wrong. I do appreciate everything your doing and and I don't see you as just your friends, I mean more than friends, um no wait….”

She kept on but all I could do was just smile, she was so beautiful in an out, everything about her was just so radiating even the way she caresses her hair when she is nervous.

I reached for her hands, “Its alright, Yeah, I get what your saying.” I sighed. “I wasn’t ignoring you to be a jerk. Just… had stuff on my mind.”

She smiled.

For a moment, it felt easy again.

Then she stood. “I’ll be right back. Bathroom.”

“Okay,” I said, acting chill.

Finally everything would be back to normal. I had a lot planned for her, she deserves everything. I've been too laid back, I haven't seen Maddox in school since the party, I wonder what he is up to.

---

I waited the whole lunch period.

She didn’t come back.

At first, I told myself she probably ran into a teacher. Or a friend. Or she just forgot the time.

But when the bell rang and she still wasn’t there, something ugly twisted in my gut.

I got up.

Searched the cafeteria.

Hallways.

Girls’ bathroom — as close as I could get.

Library.

Gym.

Outside.

Every classroom on the damn hallway.,

Nothing.

By the time I checked the last door, my heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

I asked everyone and they said they didn't see her.

“Draven?” I turn around, it was Aria the girl who gave me the photos.

“Yh, hello Aria, do you need something, I'm kinda in a hurry.”

“Oh I'm sorry, I just wanted to know what happened.”

I explained everything to her as fast as I couldn't and asked if she had seen Elara.

“Yes, I saw her pick her phone up like she was on a call and then she ran out of school. I thought she was going to meet you. “

Shit, panic rose to my chest. I ran out of the school, hearing Aria call out my name. I couldn't respond or think all I wanted was to make sure Elara was ok.

I seared outside and I didn't see her. I tried to go back to school but I stepped on something that made me crack.

I recognized it as Elaras Phone.

I picked it up and tried to run it on, black ink was on the surface of it. It would have been easy to find her if I checked who called.

Then my phone buzzed, a message from pooped up from an unknown number

“You’ll regret what you did to Kyle.”

My blood went ice-cold and anger coated my mind.

And instantly, I knew who it was

fuck!