SERAPHINA'S POV
I guess years of dealing with the most conniving and ruthless individuals, both human and wolves, due to my circumstances, I've gotten considerably good at spotting someone being blackmailed.
She almost begins sobbing again until she takes another deep breath to calm herself.
"I can't say." She shakes her head.
"Why?"
She says nothing.
No response.
Okay, different approach then.
"How did you find my phone?"
"It came with an envelope with written instructions on what to do the day after our cookie sale. They said if I didn't follow through, they'd hurt my father's business. I couldn't let that happen, or risk it. He's already struggling so much, coupled with his bad back." She begins sobbing again while she goes on about how bad her family has it.
Apparently, they have a farm that used to be pretty big until her father got sick. I pat her back over and over again while she recounts her story, comforting her until she feels better again and her wailing ceases.
When she's done, her entire face is now swollen and as red as a tomato, with her leaking nose even redder.
"It's okay, Juliet."
"I'm so sorry. I can never forgive myself. I let you down and everyone else, giving the enemy a chance to win."
"No, Juliet. On the other hand, you're so strong, trying so hard to protect your family. The person at fault is the asshole that set this whole thing up, using your weakness."
"But it's already over. All our hard work is ruined."
"Not quite yet." I offer a small smile, and she pauses now, looking at me.
"But you're suspended..."
"If you know me long enough, you'd come to find out that I always manage to get the job done one way or another." I say now, offering her a wider smile to calm her worries so she stops crying. "And don't worry about your family, no harm will come to them or the family business over something like this."
"How are you so sure? You're a human." She mutters lowly.
I understand the statement isn't a jab but more of a fact.
I am just a helpless human. An orphan at that, with no commendable connection that I could easily pull at times like this, but that's exactly the point.
"Yes, I am, and that's my super power." I wink at her, and for the first time, she chuckles at me now. Cracking her first genuine smile.
"You're weird, Sera."
"I've heard that and others as well." I say with a shrug. "Now run along to class, I have something to handle."
She seems reluctant to walk away just like that, especially with the guilt still weighing heavily on her shoulders - but I successfully manage in getting her to leave finally.
When she does, the smile on my face drops instantly.
I've gotten more than a few clues from her stories, and they're just enough to pinpoint who is behind this bullshit.
I know more than a few numbers of suspects, but the peculiarities of it all narrows it down.
For starters, whoever it is has enough power to organize this sort of ploy without leaving a single trace, so they must be a strategist. Then there's the blackmail on Juliet's parents.
They must have some kind of political connection to be able to make such a big threat outside school, which leaves out Morgan, whose power ends in school.
And finally, I can faintly remember the events that occurred before the phone went missing.
I had it before the explosion for sure. Felt it in my breast pocket when I was tossed away by the fire, but it suddenly disappeared just after I got back to the lodge.
Just like that, suspect is already obvious. And judging by the time of day, I have a slight idea as to where the bitch just might be right now.
***
In less than 15 minutes, I find my way to the private garden with limited access. It is located far behind school grounds and closer to the thick bushes surrounding the school premises.
The only way I was able to enter and pass through it is flashing the guards just outside the gate the necklace around my neck with Artemis' name printed on the pendant, and it worked like charm.
One of the few times it actually comes in handy.
I walk for a few minutes before I faintly hear voices chatting and giggling in a distant, and I draw closer.
Kamila sits on this lavishly decorated white table with two other of her snobbish friends, having tea like literal royalty from books I've read.
Honestly, they look nothing like the regal and classy princesses in the stories, more like wolves in sheep clothing - every one of them.
I draw closer, and they pause the moment my presence is felt, turning to look at me in unison.
Their smiles turn to disgust, except Kamila's. Hers glow even brighter the second she meets my eyes.
"What is she doing her?" Minion one speaks, looking over me from head-to-toe, like she's trying to figure out how something like me could possibly exist.
Which I give no shit about.
"This place is off-limits to your kind. Seems like the guards aren't doing such a good job these days." Minion two speaks up with falsified class as well.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have a special pass key." I say, flashing the necklace around my neck which shuts them up immediately.
I see Kamila's smile crack just briefly before they're reinforced.
"Relax, ladies. It's just Artemis' latest pet; no need to get so riled up by it." She says to them, drawing more mocking laughter before she looks at me.
"To what do I owe the... honor of your presence?"
"Cut the bullshit, Kamila. We both know why I'm here. You might as well sendoff your gang of poorly trained dogs, or I might lose my patience and expose your ass in front of them."
"Don't you talk to the future Luna of our pack like that, you uncultured swine!" Minion one screams hysterically while jumping to her feet and glaring at me.
I don't flinch from her intense gaze, staring back with a blank face which takes her off-guard.
Kamila frowns now, realizing I mean business.
"Leave us." She tells her friends finally.
"But Kam..."
"Get out!"
Like two mindless zombies, they obey her order after bowing to her in unison and walking right pass me, not without sending hateful stares my way.
She sets her tea cup down now, looking at me more squarely.
"You better have a good reason to interrupt me."
"Yeah. Well, let's cut into it, shall we? You fucking blew up our stall and framed it on me right after blackmailing Juliet."
"I don't understand what you're talking about." She shrugs casually, acting like none of it rings a bell to her - but I easily see right through her entire façade.
"Nice try acting dumb, but at least it's a look that fits you perfectly."
Again, her smile drops and she glares at me.
She gets up from her seat, now stepping out of the table and slowly approaching me.
"You should watch how you talk to me. Because if you believe I did all that, then you should be terrified by how much more I can hurt you and every one of your pathetic omega friends."
I tilt my head to the side, folding my arms below my chest.
"So, you did do it."
A small wicked grin forms on her lips now.
"And if I did? Who would believe you, a filthy human that has no business being among wolves, over me - one of their star pupils and the future Queen?"
"Of course, I was right. I know snake prints when I see one, and honestly, in my opinion, you're anything but someone worthy of becoming a Queen. Rather, you're a loveless, despicable girl, and your only power is gotten from harming others that can't even fight against you."
"You have no idea what despicable is!" She screams in my face, suddenly losing her shit. Her blue eyes widen with rage as the cracks on her perfect persona and face begins to show.
"I have lived with it all my life - tasted it every fucking day - and endured way much more than I should, for you to think you can stand here in front of me and judge me!" She pauses to calm herself, and her eyes seem less crazy.
"It's not my fault that they're pathetic and weak - if anything, it's their fault for choosing to remain that way while the rest of us struggle, making countless sacrifices to actually matter in this fucked up world. So yes, I don't give two shits about a family that suffers because they want to. If anything, they should all just burn to the ground and die off, rather than smear the precious reputation of wolves. You and your band of useless omegas should just fucking die!"
In a split second, my hand shoots forward with all the strength I can muster, smacking her across the face, causing her head to swerve right in front of me.
My hand stings like hell immediately after, like I've just hit a wall but it's worth it.
Her eyes remain wide and filled with shock that cripples her momentarily.
"All the more reason why someone as psychotic as you has no business ruling anyone. You think being small is a weakness when the real weakness here is that inferiority complex of yours that pushes you to hurt people because you were hurt as well." I say coldly, finally understating what kind of person she is.
The kind that soaks up pain and suffering like a sponge while growing, using it as a weapon to keep everyone in check and beneath them because it's all they know.
"You fucking bitch!" The slap finally registers in her mind now after seconds of reliving the shocking moment.
She raises her hand in the next second, getting ready to repay my gesture in kind, but I put in every bit of self-defense I've learned over countless years of facing bullies stronger and bigger than I am, using her own strength against her.
In a split second, I muster all I have and push her backward, and she falls on her ass with a painful groan, not seeing any of it coming, and I brush a loose strand of hair off my face casually.
"I'm sick and tired of taking any of your bullshit just because," I state proudly while standing over her, and her fragile mind can't contain the shock from it all-having to bow before a human must really hurt her Alpha wolf pride.
Though at the back of my mind, I know the only reason I've gotten this far is because of just how much she underestimates me, but not anymore.
She makes a move to say or do something more while I brace myself, but she stops right before she can, something else drawing her attention in the middle of our squabble.
It takes minutes before I realize what draws her attention, suddenly hearing sounds in the bushes around us. In seconds, a group of 5 ferocious wolves emerge from the bushes surrounding us suddenly, with none of them looking in the slightest bit friendly.