Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 23

**The Crimson Oath — Bryan Foster**

**Chapter 23**

**Addison**

As I stepped into the bustling corridors of the school, an uncomfortable tension hung in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. Whispers and murmurs flitted around me, all centered on the recent drama that had unfolded in Principal Murphy’s office. It felt as if I were walking through a minefield of gossip, each conversation a potential trigger for unwanted attention.

Despite the cacophony of voices, I found my focus drawn to my friend Gina, who was beside me, her playful demeanor a welcome distraction from the chaos.

“Instead of moping around and crying about not hearing from him, why don’t you just reach out? Call or text him!” she teased, playfully nudging my arm with her elbow.

“Hey! I’m not moping! I just… I think he’ll be here soon, and then we can talk. If he were around, I’d definitely be feeling—”

I abruptly halted, realizing I had almost let slip the depth of my feelings. Gina halted in her tracks, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“You’d be feeling what?”

“Never mind,” I muttered, glancing away, my tone dismissive.

She let out a soft chuckle, her finger poking at her cheek in a way that was both endearing and infuriating. “Ah, still holding onto those secrets, huh? It’s cool. I can wait. I totally understand.”

“Thanks for being patient,” I replied, though I could sense her curiosity bubbling just beneath the surface.

As we continued our conversation, Gina couldn’t help but voice her frustration over my reluctance to share my secrets. I had inadvertently made it clear that there were parts of my life she was oblivious to, and that only fueled her desire to pry.

Just then, I felt a shift in the atmosphere, a subtle change that sent a shiver down my spine. Ruby was approaching, and I could sense her presence long before she arrived. The noise outside escalated, a sharp and unsettling buzz ringing in my ears as her scent became more pronounced.

Suddenly, she burst into view, her right fist swinging wildly. I instinctively ducked, narrowly avoiding her punch as it connected with the locker behind me, leaving a dent that echoed through the hallway.

Gasps erupted from the crowd, their astonishment at both her speed and my quick reflexes reverberating around us. But their reactions faded into the background; my focus was solely on Ruby.

Gina took a cautious step back, gripping her bag tightly as I shot her a quick glance to ensure she was safe.

“Look what you did,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “Now you’ll have to pay for that locker repair.”

“Shut the fuck up! Do you have any idea what I went through at home because of your bullshit?” Ruby spat, her fury palpable.

I scoffed, crossing my arms defiantly. “You brought this on yourself after what you and Principal Murphy did to me.”

With a snarl, she lunged forward, her speed almost blurring as she aimed for another punch. I sidestepped just in time, my heart racing.

“What exactly are you trying to accomplish here?” I asked, tying my hair back, preparing for a potential confrontation.

“What does it look like, bitch?” she retorted, her teeth gritted in anger.

I sighed, exasperated. “Just admit it—there’s no need for all this drama. Don’t be angry with me; be angry with yourself.”

“Fuck you!” she yelled, her voice echoing off the walls.

“Are you sure you want to take me on?” I warned, my stance firm.

“You think I’m scared?” she sneered, her expression twisted in rage.

“No, but you should be. You know what? To hell with this. I’m going to class.”

I turned to leave, the crowd’s disappointment palpable as they anticipated a showdown that wouldn’t come.

Just as I gestured for Gina to follow me, Ruby’s voice rang out, filled with venom. “That’s right! Run away like a coward!”

I paused, torn between the urge to retaliate and the need for restraint. Instead, I chose words over fists.

“You know, I’ve been thinking,” I said, taking a bold step towards her. “Your father mentioned Dylan in the office, but only because he knows him. Why didn’t he mention how Dylan rejected you? Oh! I get it—you didn’t want to admit it. You couldn’t bear the embarrassment of being turned down. Isn’t that right?”

Laughter erupted from the onlookers, and Ruby’s fury intensified as she shot daggers at everyone around her.

“You all think this is funny?” she shouted, her voice rising. “I could have you all expelled!”

“Principal Murphy’s not here!” someone called out from the crowd, and others quickly echoed the sentiment.

“Are you sure?” she pressed, her concern evident.

“Yeah. If he were close, I’d feel it,” I typed back, frustration bubbling beneath my calm exterior.

“Then I guess that’s it for today,” she concluded, her tone final.

“What? Why?” I shot back, desperation creeping into my voice.

“As long as I don’t figure this out, we’re not working on anything else.”

“But—”

“No.”

And just like that, the conversation ended, leaving me seething with frustration. I fought the urge to slam my fist on the table in front of me.

When the final bell rang, the hallways erupted with cheers and laughter, students celebrating the end of the day. Gina, ever the optimist, hooked her arm through mine, her excitement palpable.

“Wanna hang out with me?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“Not today,” I replied slowly, shaking my head.

“This is about Max, isn’t it?” she probed, her expression shifting to one of concern.

“Yeah, I just don’t understand why I haven’t heard from him.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder, her gaze intense. “This is the part where you call him first!”

I took a deep breath, knowing that I needed to reach out to him, to get close enough for Lyra to figure things out so we could finally move forward. I pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts with a mix of determination and anxiety.

I kept reminding myself that this was all for Lyra, but deep down, I felt an ache of longing for Max.

Finally, I found his number and dialed, placing the phone against my ear. My heart raced as I waited, my hand resting on my chest as anticipation coursed through me. Then, the ringing began, each tone echoing my growing anxiety.