Chapter 44 Breaking Point

Chapter 44 Breaking Point

GARDEN

After Luttered those fateful words, the world around me froze.

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The first person I noticed was Mr. Winters. I couldn’t help but notice how his pleasant, polished smile faltered, giving way to confusion. The other teachers exchanged stiff, silent nces–each one a reflection of the disbelief coursing through the

TOOM.

In an instant, whispers ignited like wildfire.

“She didn’t choose?”

“Can she do that?”

“She’s mad—what on earth is she doing?”

The crowd began to shift nervously, faces turning toward one another, band /bthen toward me. Some appeared confused, others. curious, but most–looked wide–eyed with shock, as if I had just torn the sacred fabric of this ce in two.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the True Alphas. Each one stood still, yet none appeared the same.

Jaxon looked stunned, one hand slightly lifted, bhis /bmouth agape in disbelief. Elias narrowed his eyes, not in anger, but in genuine curiosity. Rowan wore that irritating, flirty smirk of his, but this time it seemed he had been patiently waiting for me to take this exact step. Cade remained as unreadable as ever, wrapped in his usual enigmatic demeanor.

Before I fullyprehended my actions, I made my way down the stage, ready to flee without a badge in hand.

“Arden.” Jaxon growled.

He was already ascending the steps before my instincts kicked in, prompting me to escape, but he was faster. His hand. mped around my wrist, yanking me toward him.

“Are you out of your mind?” he hissed. “Do you even understand what you’ve done?”

I did. I understood perfectly the enormity of my defiance.

“Let me go.” I replied through gritted teeth.

“bNot /buntil you choose someone, and that someone has to be—”

He pulled harder, dragging me toward the bfront /bbagain/b, toward the boxes with their gleaming faction insignias.

“No” My voice shook with conviction. “Let Me Go

“You don’t get to do this,” he whispered. “bYou /bbdon’t /bget to turn byour /bbback /bon the system. On me.”

That was the final insult. Thest match struck against kindling

Without

to think, my fst swung

A dean, sickening crack rang through the hall. I punched him.

1 pure Land Alpha Jaxon Trevane

Gend though the crowd like lightning

Jessi maggered backward, one hand pressed against his jaw, more surprised than hurt.

I stand down at my hand, turning with adrenaline–trembling, my breathing in quick bursts as if I’d sprinted ten miles.

in and 1

1:13 AM

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Chapter 44 Breaking Point.

I bolted from the bGrand /bHall, not stopping even when someone shouted my name–Mr. Winters, or maybe one of the bAlphas /b

-but in that moment. I didn’t care.

I ducked into the back hallway, then slipped into the hidden passage behind the west wing stairs, finally emerging bonto /bthe gravel path that led to our dormsb. /b

I didn’t even pause to consider taking the bus. I just ran, hoping that the act of sprinting the kilometers would help me escape the chaos swirling in my mind.

My key shook violently in my hand as I jammed it into the lock, flung the door open and mmed it shut behind me.

I leaned against the door, chest heaving, swallowing bhard /bas I felt the silence close in around me.

I should be terrified.

What I bhad /bdone wasn’t just reckless–it was utterly unforgivable. I had disrespected the order, defied years of tradition, band /bstruck an Alpha.

But for the first time bin /byears, maybe in my entire life….

I felt free.

They had made me a pawn to be passed around, imed, whispered about behind my back while smiling to my face. They bsaw /bme bas /ba trophy, a prize to be won.

But I wasn’t a prize.

I was the storm they never sawing.

And I didn’t regret it

Not one bit

1 bsank /bdown onto the edge of my bed, staring at my trembling hands. The knuckles were slightly red, ba /breminder of my dehance, and I knew the consequences woulde. They’de knocking on this door–hell, maybe even break it down- and drag me back to answer for what I had done.

But until then? I was standing firm in my decision.

“You don’t bhave /bto go to ss today” Owen said by my side, bsounding /bconcéged. Tessa nodded in understanding. “It was only yesterday.”

I remained silent, aware that their worry came from a ce of care.

Before I could gather my thoughts or express my feelings, Mr. Thompson approached, biting his lip.

“Arden,” he began. “Mr. Winters bwould /blike to see byou/b.

Tessa puped beside me. Although I was prepared for this, my bhands /btrembled slightly.

“Arden” she whispered, concern etched on her face.

I turned toward them, summoning a small smile to assure them bthat /bI would be okay, despite my own uncertainty. “I’ll see

the first ss I said before trailing after Mr. Thompson, who maintained a heavy silence as he led me to Mr. Winters

“We’re here,” Mr Thompson announced once we reached the door.

He opened at for tur, allowing me to step inside. Upon entering. I noted that Mr. Winters office mirrored the rest of the school Piringous and cold

“Ah Stass Stone” he said without fitting his gaze, flipping through a folder. His voice was smooth, polished bas /balways, but that

ched his eyes. “Please do take a seat.”

1:13 AM

Chapter 44 Breaking Point

I stepped bforward /band settled into a bchair/b, maintaining a respectful distance from him.

Finally, he looked up, his smile still firmly in ce. “You made quite the impressionst night.”

I clenched my bjaw/b,

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He gestured casually with his pen. “Punching a fellow student–especially an Alpha–is not a trivial matter, you know. It’s precisely the kind of offense bthat /bcould lead to… expulsion, if this were any other school.”

I squared my shoulders, holding my head high. “Before the Ivory Solstice, bAlpha /bJaxon Trevane kissed me of his bown /b

bvolition/bb. /b

Mr. Winters paused, arching an eyebrow. “Did he?”

“He grabbed me, pulled me back, and kissed me. bThat /bconstitutes sexual offense.”

He tilted bhis /bhead, the corners of his lips curling slightly. “Do you have proof?”

That was an odd question to pose.

Mr. Winters‘ smile deepened. “I thought not,” he said gently. “bHowever/b, we do have proof bthat /byou punched him”

My bhands /bcurled into fists again. Yet this time, I resisted the urge to act on the fire igniting in my veins.

He ced his pen down, aligning it carefully with the edge of his desk. “As your punishment, you will assist in cleaning up after the Ivory Solstice After Party this weekend. This includes all decorations, discarded food, and party debris. You’ll be joined by other students who have umted punishments this term. Consider it… character building

I remained silent, my heart pounding in my chest.

He sped bhis /bhands together bin /ba gesture of finality. “Now, let’s try bthis /bagain. Which faction do you choose?”

I lifted my chin defiantly. “I’ve made it clear. I’m not choosing”

Mr. Winters” bsmile /bshifted. It didn’t vanish–but it bevolved /binto something more sinister. “Then you understand bwhat /bthat means,” he said softly. You are factionless.”

“You have no allies. You have nowhere to turn. You sit where there’s space. bYou /btrain alone. You’re exposed to everyone.

Sone. And the school,” he paused, his piercing gaze locking onto mine, “will not be responsible for what happens to you.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“And I’m sure your parents wouldn’t care enough toin,” he added, amusement bdancing /bin his eyes. “Would they?”

My breath hitched in my throat. How did he… know? A sudden realization chilled me to the bcore/b. Kieran

Mr. Winters leaned forward, cing his elbows on the desk. “bThis /bacademy isn’t built for martyrs, bMiss /bStone. It’s bconstructed /bfor survivors. Those who know when to stand firm and when to yield. I bsuggest /bbyou /bmake a bchoice-/b”

20te”