Chapter 32

Laura POV

"I, Laura Stevenson, accept Frank Lucas as my mate. The tension was palpable, and the whole class fell silent. The air was thick with anticipation, and the heat was almost suffocating. Frank stood speechless, his eyes fixed on me. I turned to Valerie, whose gaze was skeptical, and I could sense the shock and disbelief in her eyes as well."

"With the blessings of the moon goddess, I accept you as my mate, Laura Stevenson," Frank declared, my heart racing faster as I felt an intense connection between us. My body came alive, experiencing the same sensations I had when Damian rejected me, but this time, it was the opposite—a sense of abyssal fulfillment overwhelmed my mind. "Thank you, Laura," he whispered, his eyes revealing the depth of my joy and gratitude.

"What's going on here?" A loud, feminine voice pierced the air, cutting through the tension and making me freeze. The room erupted into a murmur of gossip and side conversations. "Laura, Clara has arrived," Valerie whispered in my ear, her warning sending a shiver down my spine. "I'm afraid she's going to cause a scene."

"I felt paralyzed, my body, soul, and strength draining away as I gazed at her standing between Frank and me. "Frank, what's going on here?" She asked again, her eyes narrowing at me as she held a cup of coffee. I turned away, avoiding direct eye contact, and muttered under my breath in frustration.

Frank's eyes darted between Clara and me; his expression was a mix of confusion and guilt. "Clara, I can't explain anything to you because you deserve an explanation," he started, but she cut him off.

"Don't bother, Frank. I think I understand the situation perfectly," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've found someone new, someone, who has finally accepted your mateship, she chuckled mockingly. Did you think I would allow that to happen? Come off it, Frank Lucas?

I felt a surge of anger at her tone, but I remained silent, not wanting to escalate the situation. I, however, seemed to be struggling to find my words.

"And you, cheap monk, with your ridiculous mating games..." she groaned, her voice laced with disdain. She rolled her eyes and flipped her hair back, her intense gaze piercing through me. "What do you want from Frank, Laura?" she asked, her fingers tapping against my chest in a rhythmic motion.

"I'm not afraid of you, Clara," I said, standing my ground as her fingers continued to tap against my chest. "And I'm not going to back down from Frank's affections. He's made his choice, and it's me he wants."

Clara's gaze narrowed, her eyes flashing with anger. "You think you're worthy of him?" she sneered. "You're just a naive little girl, playing with love. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

Frank stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fierce protectiveness. "That's enough, Clara," he growled. "Leave Laura alone."

Clara's gaze shifted to Frank, a cold smile spreading across her face. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The great Frank Lucas, defending his new mate. How sweet."

"Clara, stay out of this," Frank said firmly. "Atlas, Laura has agreed to be my mate, and that's all that matters. Not your attempts to stir up trouble with your manipulative tactics."

I shrugged, my gaze fixed on the two of them, my eyes locked in a fierce stare. "I don't care about your games, Clara. I've made my decision, and I'm sticking to it. Making with Frank is what I want, and it's what's best for me."

My anxiety, which had been building for months, had finally reached a boiling point. I was done with Clara's schemes and her attempts to cause problems and disgrace to me in the school. I was ready to move on with my life, and I was ready to do it with Frank by my side.

Clara's laughter echoed through the school, her eyes gleaming with amusement. She raised her hand, her fingers drumming against the cup of coffee as if playing a sarcastic melody. "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "A mere classless Laura, daring to challenge my decision? How quaint!"

I stepped back, my fingers tightening around Valerie's arm as I sought comfort in my friend's presence. But Clara's gaze didn't miss the subtle gesture, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "Frank has made his choice, and now you think you can stand up to me? How adorable!"

"You know, Clara, I've had enough of your condescending attitude," I said, my voice steady and firm. "You may think you're superior to everyone else, but you're not. You're just a bully, using your power and influence to intimidate and manipulate others."

Clara's smile faltered for a moment, and her eyes flashed with anger. But then she laughed again, the sound dripping with disdain. "Oh, Laura, you're so cute when you're trying to be brave. But let me tell you, you're no match for me. I'll crush you like the insignificant insect that you are."

Frank stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "That's enough, Clara. Leave Laura alone."

But Clara just rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Frank. You're so predictable. Do you think you can protect her from me? I'll destroy her, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

"I thought Frank was mysterious and brave, but why is he standing there, unyielding and silent, in the face of Clara's taunts?" I wondered to myself. "The drama Clara is pulling out and the response Frank is giving isn't matching up—it's like he's avoiding something."

I turned to Valerie, who was lost in thought, her gaze fixed on some point in the distance. "Val, did you notice anything?" I asked.

She snapped back to attention, her eyes focusing on me. "Yes, he's so afraid to respond to her insults and defense mechanisms," she whispered. "It's like he's hiding something."

I nodded in agreement, my mind racing with possibilities. What was Frank afraid of? What was he hiding? And why was he letting Clara walk all over him like this?