Jade's POV

Crash—

I hadn't even stepped into the hallway yet, but the noise hit me first—whoops, jeers, the dull thud of impact echoing off metal.

I took two more steps forward, and the scene that greeted me was exactly what I'd expected.

A crowd had gathered around my locker, whooping and cheering as they took turns hurling footballs at it.

Each impact hit with sickening precision—right over the fresh graffiti someone had spray-painted overnight.

Go fuck yourself dumbass. We don't want you here criminal. You should have died with your father.

And there, covering all the others in letters twice as large, still dripping—

TRAITOR.

That word again.

I stared at it, and the letters twisted before my eyes, morphing, bleeding into sounds that burrowed into my skull—

"TRAITOR!" The Alpha's voice boomed across the pack grounds, shaking the earth beneath my feet.

"Beta Marcus Knight has plotted to overthrow me, to seize power through betrayal and bloodshed!"

My father—on his knees, hands bound behind his back, face bloodied but eyes still burning with defiance.

"I am innocent!" His voice cracked. "I have served you faithfully for twenty years—"

"Lies!" Alpha Dante's eyes blazed gold, his wolf rising to the surface. "I have proof. Witnesses. You will die for your crimes, and your family will bear the shame of your treachery for generations."

My mother's screams tore through the air.

My own voice, raw and desperate, begging for mercy that would never come.

The executioner's blade caught the sunlight, glinting.

And then—

Boom!

Pain exploded across my temple as a football slammed into my head, knocking me sideways.

Laughter erupted around me.

"Nice shot!"

"Traitor's daughter can't even dodge!"

I pressed my palm against my throbbing head, blinking away the spots dancing in my vision.

The past released me, dragging me back to the present.

One year.

It had been one year since my father's execution. One year since our family name became synonymous with betrayal. One year of this hell.

Jade, you should be used to it by now. I reminded myself.

I lowered my head and walked forward, refusing to look at any of them. Their jeers and insults washed over me like white noise as I reached my locker and yanked it open. I grabbed the textbooks I needed for first period, shoved them into my bag, and slammed the door shut.

Just get through today. One more day.

I turned to leave—

—and my foot caught on something.

I crashed to the floor, books flying from my arms and scattering across the hallway. The impact knocked the air from my lungs.

The crowd exploded with laughter.

"Oh my God, she actually fell for it!"

"Did you see her face?"

I looked up through the curtain of my hair.

Of course.

Linda Hartwell stood over me, one perfectly manicured hand covering her mouth in mock surprise.

Captain of the cheerleading squad.

Daughter of the new Beta—the man who'd taken my father's position after his execution.

The most beautiful and popular girl in Shadow Moon High.

My former best friend.

"Jade," she cooed, tilting her head with fake concern.

I started gathering my scattered books, refusing to meet her eyes.

"Mmmm, do you guys smell that?" Linda wrinkled her nose dramatically, looking around at the crowd. "What is that awful stench?"

Her clique giggled on cue.

"Smells like..." Linda's eyes locked onto me, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Smells like loser."

The hallway erupted in laughter.

I stood up, clutching my books to my chest, and tried to walk past her.

Linda stepped directly into my path.

"Excuse me," I said quietly, attempting to move around her.

She blocked me again. "What do you think you're doing? Ignoring me?"

"I don't want trouble this morning, Linda." I kept my voice level, empty. "Just let me pass."

"Let you" She laughed, sharp and bright. "You don't give me orders, traitor."

I tried to step around her one more time.

Her hand shot out and cracked across my face.

Slap!

The slap echoed down the hallway. My cheek burned, my eyes watering from the impact.

The crowd went silent for a heartbeat, then exploded with excited whispers.

"That's what you get for ignoring me," Linda said, examining her nails casually.

My head snapped to the side, but I bit down hard on my tongue and forced myself to stay still.

To endure it.

Mom wouldn't want you to cause trouble. Mom wouldn't want you to fight back.

My mother still believed the Alpha had shown us mercy by letting me continue my education. She called it a gift. A kindness we didn't deserve.

I didn't agree.

But she was the only family I had left in this world, and I couldn't—wouldn't—disappoint her.

So no matter what they did to me, I could take it.

I had to.

But my restraint only seemed to amuse Linda more. Her smile widened, vicious and gleeful.

"Look at you," she sneered. "Not even fighting back anymore. Where's your shame, Jade? Oh wait—" She laughed. "You never had any, did you?"

I kept my eyes on the floor, my fists clenched at my sides.

"Just like your slut of a mother."

My head snapped up, my wolf snarling beneath my skin.

Linda's eyes glittered with satisfaction. She'd found the nerve she was looking for.

"What's wrong?" she purred, stepping closer. "Did I hit a nerve? It's true, isn't it? The Alpha should have killed your entire family a year ago."

Her voice rose, carrying down the hallway. "Why bother keeping a traitor's widow and his bitch daughter alive? You're both just stains on this pack—criminals with poisoned blood running through your veins!"

The crowd pressed closer, phones out, recording every second.

"Your whole family is rotten," someone called out.

"Apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"

"Once a traitor, always a traitor!"

My hands clenched into fists. My wolf surged beneath my skin, growling, demanding blood. Demanding justice.

Enough.

Enough!

I raised my hand—

A strong grip caught my wrist mid-swing, fingers like iron bands holding me frozen in place.

The entire hallway went silent.

Even before I looked up, I knew who it was.

I recognized the scent all too well.

It was them.

Ronan. Ryder. Renzo.

The triplet heirs of Shadow Moon pack.

Alpha Dante Ashridge sons.

My childhood crushes now turned nemesis.

I looked up and Ronan was holding my arm while Ryder and Renzo stood solidly behind him looking furious at me.

Ronan, jaw clenched, ice blue eyes looking like he wanted to kick my soul out of my body.

Ryder, arms folded, expression unreadable but gaze was intensely filled with hatred.

Renzo, lips curled in a half smirk that never reached his dark eyes.

My chest tightened but I refused to falter. “Let me go” I forcefully jerked my arm off Ronan's grip.

"What the hell is going on here?" Ryder asked in his usual deep and raspy voice that makes every lady swoon around him.

Linda suddenly latched onto Ryder's and Renzo's arm, plastering herself against them.

“You saw it boys, she tried to slap me!” she whined dramatically. “I was only trying to be nice and strike up a conversation with her but she suddenly became violent, pushing me and trying to slap me."

Renzo didn’t even look at her. His eyes were on me. “Is that true?”

“No.” I said standing my ground. “I didn’t touch her.”

Linda gasped, fakeoffended. “You liar!”

Before I could move, her hand cracked across my cheek.

The sound echoed.

My head snapped sideways. My skin burned.

The triplets stood there and they all acted like Linda slapping me was no big deal. Of course. As the daughter of a traitor, I deserve it right?

Linda immediately turned to the boys.

"I'll tell you what actually happened guys. I saw Jade standing alone and I felt bad cause she has no friends now. I just wanted to talk to her but instead she called me a whore and accused me of stealing her popular status in school." Linda said faking a pout.

"She called you a whore?" Ronan was already looking furious.

Linda nodded immediately "Yes, and then she went on to say that we are all fools for treating her this way and that even...." Linda dramatically stuttered for a moment "...even your father, the Alpha, is a dumb ruler and she would make him regret what she did to her father"

"What?!! I never said all that!!" I tried to defend myself.

"How dare you utter such words Jade, you disgust me." Ryder stated in a cold voice.

"You seem to have forgotten your status and we shall remind you today Jade, you shall be punished for all you did today" Renzo said and Linda nodded happily.

"Yes, punish her." She nodded

Ronan grabbed my arm tightly and began to pull.

"Come with us, you are about to regret coming to school today Jade" He said.

My arm hurt as he pulled me along but Ryder and Renzo were right behind and they said nothing.

We got to an large and empty hall and Ronan pushed me to the floor.

I quickly stood back on my feet.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I tried to sound brave.

"For the rest of the school day, you are going to be cleaning this place alone" Ryder commanded and I was taken aback.

"What?"

Renzo finally stepped forward, staring at me with that cold gaze that infuriated me and somehow got me hot at the same time.

"If we come back and we do not meet this hall sparkling clean, we are going to spank your ass cheeks so hard you would not be able to sit for weeks" He stated.