Tension Rising

Jayden's POV:

The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My heart thudded steadily in my chest, and my fists clenched at my sides. Today was the day I would confront Liam. No more backing down. No more letting him humiliate me. I wasn’t just Jayden, the guy everyone underestimated. I was more than that, and if it meant showing a piece of the wolf within me, then so be it.

I tightened my tie, my jaw set. My reflection stared back at me, determined. This wasn’t just about proving something to Liam or the school. It was about proving something to myself. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder.

Downstairs, the smell of pancakes filled the air. Mom was in the kitchen, her usual bright smile greeting me. “Jayden, breakfast is ready,” she called, flipping another pancake onto a plate.

“I’m not hungry,” I said quickly, heading for the door.

Mom stepped in front of me, wiping her hands on her apron. “You can’t go to school on an empty stomach,” she said firmly.

“I’m fine, Mom,” I insisted, avoiding her gaze.

She reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Jayden, listen to me. I know things haven’t been easy, but you need to stay out of trouble, okay? No fighting. Promise me.”

I nodded, though my mind was already elsewhere. Her words barely registered. I was going to fight, whether she liked it or not. Liam had pushed me too far, and I wasn’t going to let it slide anymore.

“I promise,” I mumbled, brushing past her and heading out the door.

The walk to school felt endless. The crisp morning air did little to calm my racing thoughts. My anger simmered just below the surface, my wolf pacing inside me, eager to be unleashed. I replayed yesterday’s events in my mind, the sound of Liam’s taunts, his smug face, the way his friends laughed.

As I approached the school gates, something caught my attention. A group of guys had surrounded a younger student, their laughter loud and cruel. The boy looked terrified, his hands clutching his bag tightly.

My blood boiled. I started toward them, ready to intervene, but then I stopped. Liam was walking toward them too. I ducked behind a tree, watching from a distance.

What’s he doing? I wondered, my brows furrowing.

Liam strode up to the group, his expression dark. “What the hell are you guys doing?” he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

The bullies froze, exchanging nervous glances. One of them smirked, trying to play it cool. “We’re just messing around, man. No big deal.”

Liam stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “If you don’t back off right now, you’ll be messing around with me. Do you want that?”

The group hesitated, but the tension in the air was undeniable. Liam’s presence was enough to make them back off. One by one, they scattered, leaving the younger student alone.

“Go,” Liam said to the boy, his tone softer now. The kid nodded quickly and ran off without a word.

I stared in disbelief. Liam, the same guy who made my life hell, had just helped someone. It didn’t make sense. Was this some kind of act?

Shaking my head, I turned and headed toward the classroom. My thoughts were a tangled mess. Why would Liam do that? Was there more to him than I thought?

By the time I reached my seat, I was still replaying the scene in my mind. I barely noticed when Liam entered the room, his presence pulling everyone’s attention as usual. My stomach tightened when he started walking toward me.

What does he want now?

He stopped in front of my desk, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might actually say something civil, but that hope vanished when he grabbed my shirt and yanked me to my feet.

“What’s your problem?” I snapped, trying to pull away, but his grip was iron-tight.

He pushed me against the wall, his face inches from mine. His voice was low, barely more than a whisper, but every word dripped with menace. “I don’t care what you think you saw earlier,” he hissed. “Don’t you dare think I’ve gone soft.”

My heart pounded as I met his gaze. His eyes burned with a mix of anger and something else I couldn’t quite place. I wanted to fight back, to shove him off me, but something held me back.

“You think you’re tough, huh?” he continued, his grip tightening. “I’ll make sure you know your place.”

I clenched my teeth, refusing to let him see the fear that crept into my chest. “Why do you care so much about what I think?” I shot back, my voice steadier than I felt.

His eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a flicker of uncertainty. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He released me abruptly, stepping back.

“

The teache is on his way “

“This isn’t over,” he muttered, turning and walking away to his seat.

I stayed against the wall, my hands trembling. My mind raced with questions. Why was he like this? One moment he was helping someone, and the next, he was threatening me. What was his deal?

While I left my seat.

The teacher's voice cut through the room like a whip. “Everyone, stay seated. We need to search your bags. Something has gone missing.”

The class erupted into murmurs, everyone exchanging uneasy glances. My chest tightened, and I glanced down at my bag instinctively. I hadn’t taken anything. Why would they search my bag?

One by one, the teacher and the school officer moved through the rows, checking each student’s belongings. When they reached my desk, the teacher gave me a sharp look.

“Jayden, open your bag.”

I froze. My palms felt clammy, and my wolf stirred uneasily within me. Swallowing hard, I unzipped the bag and pushed it toward them. My eyes darted toward Liam, who was sitting a few seats away. He was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

My heart stopped when the teacher pulled out a silver bracelet, the one that belonged to Ms. Hart, our homeroom teacher. Her prized possession.

Gasps rippled through the room, followed by accusing whispers.

“Jayden,” the teacher said, her tone sharp and accusing, “do you have any explanation for this?”

My mouth went dry. I couldn’t form words, couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I didn’t take that bracelet. I’d never even seen it before.

“I—I didn’t take it,” I stammered, my voice cracking.