Chapter 513: Battle Mode
Hayley’s POV:
Rage boiled within me, ready to erupt and teach the drunken man a lesson. Yet, before I could act, Stephenie moved faster than I imagined. She shifted straight into her wolf form, her sharp claws raking through his hair. Even though we were old classmates, she showed no mercy. Her fierce attack sent the man scrambling and fleeing in terror.
I stared, amazed, then burst into laughter. “Stephenie, your combat skills are incredible.”
She seemed a little surprised herself, touching her forehead for a moment before laughing too. “Haha, sorry about that. I’ve been trained as a beta enforcer since I was young. I guess I’m always in battle mode.”
“That’s impressive,” I said sincerely. As the Alpha of the Shadow Pack, I couldn't help but feel pleased to have such a capable enforcer.
We continued walking leisurely through the quiet streets, chatting and reminiscing about old times. Stephenie mostly talked while I listened, smiling at her animated storytelling. However, as we walked, the streets grew increasingly deserted.
Suddenly, Stephenie stopped in her tracks, rummaging through her bag with a frantic expression. “Did you lose something?” I asked, stopping as well to look at her.
She paused, then looked up at me with a strange, meaningful smile. “No.”
Before I could react, she pulled out a small spray from her bag and aimed it at my face. I instinctively raised my hand, covering my mouth and nose, but it was too late. I had already inhaled a significant amount of gas.
My head began to spin. As I staggered, I stared at Stephenie in disbelief. “Why?” This was the same person who had just protected me. However, before I could finish my thought, the world went dark, and I collapsed into unconsciousness.
Stephenie supported me, her smile vanishing as she muttered coldly, “I’m sorry, my friend. The bond of classmates can’t compare to cold, hard cash.” She wrapped her arm around Hayley’s waist, pretending to assist her drunk friend while mumbling aloud as if for onlookers. “I told you not to drink so much, but no, you had to show off. Look at you now. Lucky for you, I’m kind enough to help you home.”
Step by step, she dragged Hayley toward an agreed-upon location where a man wearing a duckbill cap and mask was already waiting. When he reached out to take Hayley from her, Stephenie stumbled slightly, her expression sly. “Money,” she demanded.
The man sighed impatiently, turned, and retrieved a suitcase from the shadows. Opening it, he revealed stacks of cash, their neat bundles glinting under the moonlight. He shoved it toward her feet.
Stephenie’s eyes gleamed with greed as she bent down to inspect it. Satisfied, she handed Hayley over without hesitation, grabbed the suitcase, and walked away without looking back.
Under the dim light, the man slowly removed his mask, revealing Irving’s face and a cunning smile. He reached out, brushing a hand over Hayley’s face with mocking gentleness. “I told you before, your judgment is terrible,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Now you see it, don’t you? Returning to Shadow Pack was the perfect move for you.” He chuckled, his tone oozing contempt. “Classmate loyalty? It can be sold for a few hundred thousand dollars. That’s all it’s worth.”
Hayley’s POV:
When I opened my eyes, nothing around me was familiar. My senses slowly returned, and the horrifying realization struck me—my clothes were gone. I immediately called out for Hera. “Hera!”
“Hayley,” she answered, her voice weak, “I’ve been poisoned with a strong dose of wolfsbane. I’m not sure I can protect you fully right now. Stay alert. I’ll try my best to recover.”
Her words made me sigh, but I forced myself to stay calm and assess the situation. Turning my head, I froze at the sight of Irving lying shirtless next to me under the same blanket.
A wave of panic washed over me. I instinctively sat up, wrapped the blanket tightly around myself, and jumped out of the bed. My clothes were on the floor nearby. Grabbing them, I rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
Looking into the mirror, I barely recognized my own face—confusion and fear etched deeply into my expression. What happened last night? Why do I remember nothing after leaving the reunion with Stephenie? She drugged me, but how did I end up here with Irving? The thought that something could have happened between us made my stomach churn.
Before I could process it further, a knock came at the bathroom door.