Chapter 4 BLOOD AND BLAME.

STORM HAYES

Panicking, I did the first thing that came to my mind. I bolted. Shoving a startled Lucian off me, I ran for my life, the cheers and excitement of the others fading into nothing.

“I love a good chase,” Lucian called with a laugh before coming after me.

I kept running, searching frantically for a place to hide before he caught up. When I spotted a dark corner at the back of the school, I didn’t think twice. I dashed there, ignoring the bold sign that clearly stated the area was off-limits to students.

I didn’t stop until a sight froze me in place. A hooded figure was holding a worker by the throat, whispering something sharp and low into his ear. Fear crawled down my spine. I knew danger lay ahead, but I couldn’t turn back, Lucian was right behind me.

Instead of stopping, I pushed forward until I was close enough to hear them. The hooded man realized he wasn’t alone, pulled out a knife, and plunged it into the worker’s chest. My scream tore through the air, high-pitched and piercing.

Lucian arrived just as the hooded figure climbed the fence and disappeared without a trace. He froze at the sight of the lifeless body on the ground, but the shock faded quickly. His gaze shifted to me, sharp and murderous.

“What are you hiding, Andrew?” he hissed, his tone dripping with suspicion.

The other students who had followed Lucian stumbled into the scene just then, their gasps echoing. Panic shot through me, and before I could think, the lie tumbled out. “It was him. He stabbed the worker. He was trying to attack me, but I moved out of the way. The worker was just passing by and got stabbed instead.”

Gasps erupted. Everyone’s attention swung from me to Lucian. Disgust twisted their faces, fear in their eyes. A few even stepped back as if being near him might stain them.

I hadn’t planned to frame him, but the words had flown on impulse. I was the only one who saw the attack—without proof, I'd be suspected. Especially here, where there were no cameras to save me.

The principal stormed in, her face paling at the body. “What the hell happened here? What did you do?”

I stuck to my lie like glue. “Lucian tried to attack me, but this worker got in the way.”

Her glare shifted instantly to him. “Take him to Room 100. He’ll stay there for the rest of the day.”

The way the students recoiled told me Room 100 was no ordinary punishment.

Lucian didn’t bother to defend himself. His silence was louder than denial. His cold gaze locked on me, unreadable except for the fury blazing underneath.

A smile twisted his lips, but his eyes promised ruin. I knew then that I’d signed my own death sentence.

“You just sealed your fate,” he said, his voice low, meant only for me. Then, silently, he shaped a word with his mouth. “Mate.”

My stomach dropped. My knees nearly buckled. He had known all along, known that I was a girl, known I was his mate, and still he had played me. I had walked right into his trap.

The students dispersed slowly, whispering, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts. When I finally moved, my eyes caught a crumpled paper on the ground. Something about it tugged at me, and though I was terrified, I bent to pick it up.

Before I could, my foot nudged against metal. The knife. The same knife that had ended the worker’s life. Blood coated it thickly, but underneath, I saw something carved. Curiously, picked it up, wiped it clean, and froze.

My initials.

SH.

Engraved deep into the blade.

A strangled sound ripped from my throat as I dropped it, my hands shaking violently. I snatched up the paper next, heart hammering.

The words written in neat, precise handwriting made me sick.

Storm Hayes belongs to Alpha Darius. She’s his little pet.

Terror ripped through me. I crushed the paper in my fist and scanned the area, praying no one had seen. Then, panicked, I grabbed the knife and hurled it over the fence.

It was undeniable. He had found me. Alpha Darius had found me. And soon, I would be dead.

I couldn’t stay another day. Even if running meant risking everything, I had to escape. My eyes darted to the fence, the same way the hooded figure had slipped out. But my instincts screamed that he was out there, waiting.

The gates were my only chance, though heavily guarded. Rules, punishments, death, none of it mattered anymore. I needed to leave.

My footsteps echoed too loud, bouncing off the walls as I sprinted toward the front gates.

But when I reached them, I froze.

The gates that had been wide open this morning were now chained shut, thick and unyielding.

And scratched across the iron, fresh and dripping, were five letters.

My name.

Storm.

The blood was still wet.

And just when I thought that the nightmare was over, I felt someone pressing a gun to my neck. I froze, raising my hands as a sign of surrender.

A knife was placed in my hands, and although I couldn't see the face of the person holding me hostage, I could hear his voice clearly.

“Keep this. You'll know when to use it.”

A guard must have figured out that something was off. He came out and saw the scene.

“Hey, stop there.” He yelled, running towards us with weapons.

The person let me go, and ran just in time to escape before the guards showed up.

But when they saw the knife in my hand, their expressions hardened. The became enraged.

“She’s a spy!” one of them barked.

The guards tackled me, accusing me of being a spy. Still shocked, I couldn't speak or defend myself. I just let them arrest me, and take me to the principal’s office.

It was only then that I came out of my trance and explained that I was only checking the gate out. She believed I wasn't a spy, but wasn't convinced I wasn't attempting to run away.

She gave me the same punishment that was given to Lucian. My worst nightmare came to pass, and I was locked up in room 100, the same room Lucian was.

And from the corner, his voice, low, sharp, dripping with satisfaction.

“Welcome to hell, mate.”