Chapter 50

Renee

Before I could reply, Neil lowered his voice to something just above a growl.

“Back off,” he said. “You don’t know anything about her, or what she’s been through. And as I hear it, Tyler is the cheater. She has no reason to mourn for a relationship that didn't serve her.”

They both blinked like they hadn’t expected him to say anything. The taller one rolled her eyes.

“Sure,” she muttered. “Enjoy being rebound. We all know that Renee couldn't do better if she tried.”

The other snickered. "I suppose, even if it's true, Renee was just better at hiding it, but not sensible enough to at least wait for things to cool off, hm?"

I felt my face burn. I tried to draw back, but Neil didn't release me, his fingers still working, fighting more of the pain down, one soothing circle at a time.

His tone turned dangerous.

“That’s a hell of an accusation,” he said, his voice low and sharp. It was lethal sounding almost. “Especially to throw at a Lord of Blackfang.”

The girls froze. Their smug expressions faltered, and I could see them mentally backpedaling, suddenly realizing that they’d just insulted someone they couldn't afford to.

One of them stammered, “We didn’t mean anything—it’s just, you know, people are talking—”

“People talk when they’re bored,” Neil replied coldly. “But some lines shouldn’t be crossed. You don’t know her, clearly. And you don’t even have the sense to ask what really happened. You weren't even important enough to warrant an invitation."

They flushed.

"And if you had sense, you'd be embarrassed to be running your mouth right now and apologize.”

The heat in his tone sent a chill down my spine. He wasn’t loud, but I saw the air shimmer a bit as he spoke. His magic leaking out and adding a little bit of edge to his words. It wasn’t cruel. But it had weight—like steel beneath silk. There was a threat there waiting to be acted on if they didn't comply, but honestly, I wasn't sure he could be threatening to do.

They said nothing for a moment, but they weren’t done. The shorter one shot me a dark look.

“She’s still a rogue,” she muttered. "Hardly worth an apology. You know---"

"A lot of things, and Ms. Mountainhowl is anything but a rogue."

The other bristled. “Alpha Brightclaw won't stand for that. She cheated on Tyler. Everyone saw—”

“Nothing,” Neil interrupted. “You're basing it on a man who got caught with another woman's used underwear in his pocket moments before the ceremony?"

"Well--"

"Or maybe, you're basing it on poorly edited photos that will be brought before the Judicial Panel for crimes of defamation and slander?"

"You ---"

"And if that’s all it takes for you to turn on someone, I’m glad she’s not wasting her time being your friend.”

That silenced them. I watched, stunned, as they turned on their heels and walked away, red-faced and humiliated. Neil glanced back at me, the frost in his expression melting as soon as his gaze fell on me.

“You okay?”

I nodded slowly, still processing the way he’d stood up for me. Not just in passing, not just with a polite deflection, but brazenly, openly, firmly. I… couldn't remember anyone aside from Arielle jumping to defend me without question. Without hesitation.

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know how to begin thanking him.

I looked down at the food on the table and my still steaming coffee.

“Sorry about that,” I mumbled. “Can't seem to go a few hours without drama…"

Neil shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for." He tilted my head and rolled my head in a way that stretched and pulled gently at the tension in my neck. "You're the victim, and if you need more reminding of that, let me know."

His lips twitched. "I'll get a shirt made."

I laughed. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Black or white? Color printed?" His eyes brightened. "How about rainbows?"

"No. None of that is necessary…" I smiled at him, letting my head fall to one side, pressing the side of my head into his warm palm. "But I am touched… thank you."

His eyes softened. "Any time, Renee."

I frowned, remembering something he said. Before I could try, and ask him, my gaze slid sideways and landed on Vivian. Again, she stood just far enough not to be conspicuous, near one of the trees, holding her phone up. Not even pretending to hide it. Recording. Or maybe taking photos. Her expression wasn’t smug this time, though. She was furious.

Her eyes locked on me, and there was a sharpness there that made my stomach twist. As much fun as it was knowing what Neil really thought of Vivian, I didn't have the position in the world to deal with her if she got Dominic on her side and decided to really come after me.

She started to move toward us, all fire and poison in heels.

But she didn’t make it.

A tall figure stepped between us, almost out of nowhere. He wasn’t flashy, but his presence was solid—calm but unmistakable. He was another bodyguard. Vivian stopped abruptly, lips curling as if she recognized him. The man didn’t say a word, but plucked her phone from her hand. She shrieked at him as he held her back, and handed it off to campus security. Whatever he said after that angered her further. She hissed, baring her teeth at him and screaming.

"… my father hears about this!"

She spun on her heel, stomping off in the other direction like a storm cut off mid-swing. Several others tried to scurry away, but they were each stopped. Their phone confiscated. I had no idea why, but I had a feeling I would find out.

Neil followed my gaze. “Her again?”

I let out a slow breath. “I don't think I'll be free of Vivian for a long time."

Neil bobbed his head, withdrawing his hands gently. "Hopefully, sooner rather than later… let's eat, hm?"

Lunch ended in something like peace. Not perfect, not lighthearted—but quiet, at least. Neil didn’t push me to talk about anything related to Tyler, and I decided it was best to try and figure out how Neil knew about what had happened at the Ceremony some other time. The migraine had dulled, and I almost felt normal again.

We tossed our cups and trash in the bin, Neil carrying the empty dishes, and started walking toward our next class, weaving through the late lunch crowd.

“You sure you’re okay?” Neil asked.

“I will be,” I said. It was half a lie, half a prayer.

The campus buzzed with voices, footsteps, and the faint sound of music from somewhere across the lawn.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How do you know what happened to the confirmation ceremony?"

He blinked and stared at me as if he couldn't understand the question. "What do you mean? I was there."

"What?"

"I was there with my father. You don't remember?" His lips twitched. "I won't say that I wasn't very, very glad that I didn't have to stay to watch. We were leaving just as the Ceremony was about to get started… Maybe a few minutes after you had arrived."

I blinked. "I… hadn't realized."

He smiled. "I wish I had stayed a little longer… I heard that you ran into issues with the Alpha of Frostborne. I hope the Panel is doing their jobs on their front."

I winced thinking about the court case. I shook my head. "Dominic handled it for the most part."

His eyes narrowed, but he bobbed his head. He didn't look like he wanted to let it go, but he did. "I'm glad, and that you're okay now…"

He stepped back as we reached the corridor. "If you want a ride to work, just text me, yeah?"

I nodded. "That'd be great…Not that my bodyguards aren't great it's just…"

"I get it." He smiled. "I do not miss the bodyguard days."

My eyes widened. "I want to hear all about it."

He grinned. "Over dinner sometime?"

My face heated, but I nodded all the same. He waved me goodbye, leaving me at the doorway to my class and hustling off to wherever he was headed to. I turned to head inside then my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I knew better than to check it. I did it anyway because I really did need to know.

It was a message from an unknown number, just a single line:

Your name’s going around again. Be careful.

I swallowed and opened the attached link. The video started playing. It was of me and Neil—sitting outside, right before my old friends had shown up. His face was blurred, but mine was clear as day. Clearer than day. The kind of clarity that only came from enhancement. The video looped once, zooming in slightly on the way his hands cradled my head, the way I’d let myself lean into it for just a second of comfort.

Across the top, bold white text sneered: CHEATER.