Chapter 44: Apologize
Hayley’s POV:
The unexpected guest was none other than Madeline. She walked over and, in a fake sweet tone, congratulated me. “Congrats, Hayley, on winning the International Tennis Open.” The moment I caught her scent, my wolf, Hera, immediately grew agitated. “I don’t like the smell of this woman,” Hera bluntly stated.
I calmed Hera down and looked up at Madeline, replying politely, “Thanks.”
Madeline smiled and casually sat down next to me. “I think I understand what you’re doing. You might be a member of the Shadow Pack’s ruling family, but at the end of the day, you’re still just an Omega. You’re lucky Grandpa took a liking to you, but let’s be real—you don’t have what it takes to marry our Midnight Pack’s Alpha and become Luna. That’s why you’re desperately trying to win tournaments and become a sports star. It’s your only option, isn’t it?”
Her mocking tone didn’t bother me in the slightest. I just found her ridiculous. I wondered what her reaction would be once my true identity was revealed.
Seeing that I didn’t respond, Madeline continued. “If I were you, I’d stop wasting my time on tennis to get attention. Why not find a good plastic surgeon instead?” She sneered, her words dripping with malice.
“Madeline,” I said, keeping my voice calm but firm, “what you just said was rude and disrespectful, like someone who didn’t grow up with proper manners. It doesn’t suit your status as a Beta. Do you really believe a pretty face is the best way to open doors? I’m sorry, but our views on life are very different, and I don’t see a point in continuing this conversation.”
With that, I stood up to leave, but she grabbed my arm, pulling me back. “Hayley, don’t think you can act all high and mighty just because Grandpa dotes on you. If you’re not careful, I could ruin your reputation in no time,” she threatened.
I looked at her warily. “What are you trying to do?”
Madeline glanced around, then flashed me a smug, taunting smile. Suddenly, she yanked on my arm and threw herself backward. I instinctively reached out to grab her, but my hand missed. All I heard was a loud splash—Madeline had fallen into the pool.
“Help! Someone, please help me!” Madeline thrashed around in the water, screaming for help.
Before I could process what was happening, a figure rushed past me, tore off his jacket, and jumped into the pool, pulling Madeline out.
“Hayley, I’ve never done anything to you! Why did you push me?” Madeline demanded angrily as soon as she was out of the water.
The man who saved her, Christopher, said nothing at first, but he draped his jacket over her shoulders and glared at me with cold eyes. “Apologize!” he commanded.
Completely ignoring Christopher, I turned my gaze to Madeline and called her out. However, Madeline dropped her head and instantly staged crying, playing the victim.
“Apologize!” Christopher grabbed my wrist, his voice hard and demanding.
I met his eyes, stubbornly refusing. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize? And do you really believe that, as a Beta, she doesn’t have enough reflexes to dodge a simple fall? Come on.”
“My wolf has been in a dormant state lately, so my reflexes have been slow,” Madeline explained in a pitiful voice, clinging to Christopher’s arm for sympathy. “It’s fine, though… I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”
“No, Madeline, this isn’t fine,” Christopher insisted, still focused on me. “Hayley, this is your last chance. Apologize!” He used his high-ranked wolf status to pressure me, his command laced with authority.
Hera was already furious, on the verge of losing control. Suppressing my wolf left me feeling drained, and honestly, I wished this year-long agreement would hurry up and end. Once I revealed my true identity, I’d make sure to deal with these annoying people properly. Clenching my teeth, I held my ground and stayed silent. Christopher yelled at me again, “Hayley!”
I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. “I told you, I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?”
At that moment, Madeline sneezed, and Christopher quickly shifted his attention back to her. “Let’s get you into some dry clothes.”
Madeline nodded, letting Christopher guide her toward the stairs to a bedroom. As they walked away, he glanced back at me with a scowl. “When we come back down, you will apologize to Madeline,” he warned harshly.
I’d had enough. My patience snapped. “Wait!” I called after him, raising an eyebrow in defiance.