Chapter 79
I entered the ward, where Jane was already awake, her frail figure lying still against the sterile white sheets. The fluorescent lights above cast a harsh glow on her pale face, highlighting the bruises that had been carefully treated. Bandages wrapped around her arms where syringes were inserted, and the beeping of the monitors filled the silent room. Seeing her like this made my heart ache with guilt.
“Jane,” I called softly, stepping closer to her bedside. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing a tired, but gentle gaze. “How are you feeling?”
ne tried to sit up but winced from the pain, so she settled back down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve been better, Shirley.”
I took a deep breath, guilt weighing heavily on my chest. “I’m so sorry, Jane. If it weren’t for me, Sorcia wouldn’t have targeted you like this. You wouldn’t have had to suffer these injuries because of her retaliation.”
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Jane shook her head weakly, her expression solemn. “This isn’t your fault. Even if you weren’t around, Sorcia and her followers would still have found a reason to bully me. They’ve been at it for a while, ever since I started here. This isn’t the first time they’ve hurt me, you know.” Her voice trembled slightly as she continued, “I’ve been trying to keep them at bay by doing what they say, but it never seems to be enough.”
Her words hit me hard. I had no idea that Jane had been enduring this for so long, hiding her pain behind a quiet smile. I could see the desperation in her eyes, a hopelessness that had settled in her heart.
“Sorcia’s father is a shareholder of the academy,” Jane explained, her voice tinged with fear. “I’ve been too scared to tell
my parents or anyone else. They wouldn’t be able to do anything, and it would only make things worse for me.”
“They, the late–awakened werewolves, seemed to be born to be bullied,” she added with a bitter smile. “But that’s not how it should be. We shouldn’t have to live in fear.”
My resolve hardened. “Jane, I promise you, I’ll make this right. Sorcia and her group won’t get away with this. I’ll make sure of it.” I reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “But for now, just rest. Focus on getting better.”
Jane didn’t say anything else, her eyes slipping closed as exhaustion overtook her. I watched her for a moment, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavily on my shoulders. I couldn’t let Sorcia continue to terrorize people like this, especially not Jane.
After I Let Go My Alpha, He Knelt in Regret
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When I arrived at the academy, the usual hum of conversation in the hathway ceased the moment I stepped into the classroom. I could feel eyes on me, whispers circulating among my classmates.
“Is that Shirley? I saw her ad today. She looks even better in person.”
“She’s just a late–awakened werewolf. Nothing special, just a pretty face.”
I ignored the murmurs, focusing on the task at hand. My gaze found Sorcia, who was sitting at her desk, casually checking her reflection in a small hand mirror. The sight of her calm, self–satisfied demeanor fueled my determination. Without hesitation, I strode over to her and snatched the mirror from her hand, tossing it aside.
Sorcia looked up at me, annoyance flashing in her eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I leaned on the edge of her desk, staring down at her with a cold, unyielding gaze. “Didn’t you once say you wanted a one–on–one fight with me during our first fighting class?”
Sorcia’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “And what of it?”
“I’m offering you a duel,” I stated firmly.
The room erupted in whispers, students exchanging shocked glances. While fighting was forbidden within the academy, a formal duel was a different matter. It was a rare event, usually only allowed
with the approval of professors and conducted under strict supervision.
Sorcia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not yet convinced. “You, a late–awakened, dare
challenge me?” She laughed, the sound sharp and derisive. “Fine, I accept. But if we’re going to do
this, there needs to be a wager.”
I knew this was coming, and I braced myself for her next words.
“If you lose,” Sorcia said, leaning forward with a predatory grin, “you’ll end your relationship with Alfa Lorik and drop out of the academy immediately. It’s an embarrassment to have a
late–awakener like you among us.”
The students around us watched in stunned silence, some with anger flashing in their eyes. They had suffered under Sorcia’s reign too, but none had dared stand up to her.
Everyone looked at me expectantly, waiting for a response.
After I Let Go My Alpha, He Knelt in Regret
