Chapter 89: _Make Her Pay
Celeste’s POV
*****
I hopped out of bed when the banging became persistent, brushing back stray strands of my hair.
For the gods sake, I haven’t even washed my face yet.
"Do you want to break the door down again?" I snapped the second I opened it, eyes blink-squinting at the familiar dolled up face.
Lysandra Carrington’s stormy eyes were shaded with dark eye shadow. She wore a dark blue hoodie—something I’ve never seen on her once—and had the hood covering her face.
Without saying anything, she barged in like she owned the place. "Skip pretending, Celeste. I know what you did."
My brows furrowed, neck swaying from left to right of the hallway outside. A few students were already out, either scurrying to classes or staring curiously at my door and their phones.
Sighing, I shut the door. "You know what I did?" I repeated her words, spinning to face her. "What are you even talking about? You come here in the morning, demanding I—"
"Blood Eye, you mutt!" She snarled, eyes ablaze with rage and embarrassment. "You’re the one who tipped them about what I did to Luther."
Her words agitated me.
First, her calling me ’mutt’—yeah, I couldn’t take that crap anymore. Second—
"Why would I tip Blood Eye on that?" I tried keeping my voice calm, taking slow steps away from the door. "Besides, it could’ve been someone anonymous. We’re in a school with super hearing wolves, remember?"
Sadly, Madame Horrible wasn’t convinced. "You think I’m dumb? Blood Eye prides itself on accurate news... As annoying as they are." Next, she pulled out her phone, showing me the screen. "Did you bother reading through the whole post?"
Honestly, most of my attention was on the comments. I didn’t understand how a headline about her and Luther breaking up could blow up, revealing her dirty spell.
"Look at it, Celeste!" She barked, getting a few feet away from me with her phone screen glowing on my face. "They even said I got backed by a powerful witch. Do you realise how much trouble this could get me in?"
If I was meant to feel bad or some shred of sympathy—it wasn’t working. Not one bit.
Instead, I saw this as her karma for everything. She deserved it and far more.
After several seconds of my silence, she pulled her phone back, grunting in frustration. "Fine! Since you don’t want to confess, I guess you won’t mind something about you blowing up next." She paused, getting beside me before whispering. "Child of chaos."
Chills crawled down my spine.
Even I didn’t understand most of what that mysterious woman said last night. If word broke out about any of it—who knows the kind of rumors they’ll make?
Worst... What if the Dean or my PARENTS found out too?
"Wait!" I grabbed her arm just when she was about to waltz past me. "Y–You can’t do this."
Her head swung back to me, eyes gleaming with mockery. "And why can’t I?"
My lips opened and closed repeatedly.
I thought I had something to say. But I didn’t.
Seeing this, Lysandra scoffed. "You," she pulled her arm out of my grip, "are going to regret crossing me."
Gods above!
Why was I getting punished for something I didn’t do?
She flung the door open, ready to step out and wreak havoc.
However, the second that door opened—a familiar musky cologne whiffed into the room. I froze, eyes fluttering with confusion and shock as they settled on the person looming like a wall over Lysandra.
What the—
"L–Luther?" Lysandra stuttered, taking a few steps back. "What are you doing here?"
His eyes flicked to me—brief but longing all at once. Then, "I should be asking you the same thing, Lysandra." His focus fell back on her. "Let me guess. You saw the news on Blood Eye and came here thinking Celeste sent the tip."
Everything about him felt... New? Clearer maybe.
No longer did he seem like he was torn between two masters. The arrogant but deadly focused Alpha I once fell in love with seemed to be back.
"Luther..." Lysandra’s fists clenched as he shut the door, not waiting for my invitation. "If you’re insinuating something, say it. Right now I’m willing to rain hell on whoever—"
"I did it," the interruption was swift. Plain. "I sent the tip to Blood Eye. Not everything but enough to get them buzzing." His lips pursed. "Although, I never told them a powerful witch helped. I guess they filled in the gaps on their own."
The way he revealed all that so casually without even a hint of remorse made my jaw drop.
As for Lysandra—phew.
"How could you?" She shook her head, voice cracking. "You... My father is going to be furious. Even if the Dean lets me off easy I—"
"Let you off?" Luther chuckled coldly, hands in his pockets as he drifted to her. "The Dean and even your father might. But me?" He shook his head slowly, a sharp glint in his eyes. "I’ll make sure you pay, Lysandra. This was just the beginning. And you..."
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her to himself. She stiffened while I gasped softly, surprised.
His mouth was inches from her left ear. "... if you dare say a word about Celeste. Or spread anything to slander her—I’ll ruin you."
The finality and confidence behind his voice told me he knew ways to go around that. Even if the other party was Lysandra freaking Carrington.
Upon dragging herself out of his grip, Lysandra stood for a few seconds. She glanced over her shoulder at me, eyes distant but calculating.
"This isn’t over." She promised, spinning her neck back to Luther and the door. She moved, shutting the door with a bang that made me huff out a heavy breath.
That was a whole lot of craziness happening at once.
Yet, as I gawked at the man before me—I knew talks were far from over this morning.
And I was right.
"Good morning," he mumbled, coughing awkwardly while trying to evade eye contact. "Can... Can we please talk? Please?"
