Oops, Wrong Girl to Bully Chapter 161

Angelina’s POV

The crowd was still frozen. Staring at me. At Caelan. At the building where Saffron had been dragged.

I could feel their eyes. Caelan stopped right in front of me. Close enough that I could see the blue of his eyes even in the dim light.

"Come with me," he said. "We need to talk."

He held out his hand. Behind us, I heard whispers starting up again.

"Is she actually going to go with him?"

"After what just happened?"

"This is insane."

I didn't hesitate. I took his hand. His fingers closed around mine.

Riley appeared beside me. Her face was concerned. "Aria, are you sure about this?"

I looked at her. "I'll be fine."

"But—"

"I'll be back before lights out."

Chen pushed his glasses up. "Should we wait for you?"

"No. Get some rest."

Riley still looked worried but she nodded. "Okay. Be careful."

Caelan started walking. I followed. Our hands still connected.

The crowd parted around us. Everyone stepping back. Making space.

I could hear the whispers following us like a wave.

"Where are they going?"

"Is that even allowed?"

Five Black Hawks sat there. Caelan led me to the closest one. He opened the passenger door. Waited.

I climbed in. Settled into the seat.

He closed the door. Walked around to the pilot's side. Got in.

The interior was dark. Just the instrument lights glowing softly.

Caelan started the pre-flight checks. His hands moved over the controls with practiced ease.

I watched him. Didn't speak.

The rotors started spinning. Slowly at first. Then faster.

The helicopter lifted off the ground. Smooth. Controlled.

Through the window, I could see the compound getting smaller below us. The lights. The buildings. The people who were probably still standing there watching us leave.

We flew in silence.

I put on the headset. The noise dampened immediately.

Caelan's voice came through the speakers. "You handled Saffron well."

I looked at him. His eyes were on the sky ahead. Focused on flying.

"She crossed a line," I said.

"She did."

More silence. Just the sound of the rotors and the wind.

I looked out the window. The city lights spread out below us. Getting farther away with each second.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere private. Where no one will interrupt us."

Twenty minutes passed. The city disappeared behind us. Replaced by darkness and scattered lights from small towns.

Then I saw it. A mountain. Taller than the others around it.

Caelan adjusted our course. Headed straight for the peak.

There was a flat area at the top. Natural rock formation. Just big enough for the helicopter.

He brought us down slowly. Careful. The landing was smooth.

The rotors slowed. Stopped.

Silence fell over us. Complete silence except for the wind outside.

Caelan took off his headset. I did the same.

He opened his door. Got out.

I opened mine. Jumped down.

The air was cold up here. Clean. I could see my breath.

Caelan was already walking toward the edge of the cliff. I followed him.

The view was incredible. The entire valley spread out below us. City lights in the distance. Stars above. Completely clear sky.

"Why here?" I asked.

He turned to face me. "Because no one will interrupt us. And we need to talk."

I stood next to him. Looking out at the view.

Then something occurred to me. "Wait," I said. "There's something I need to ask."

He looked at me. "What?"

"Why are you staying at my house? At the Sterlings'?"

He was quiet for a few seconds. Like he was organizing his thoughts.

Then he turned to face me fully. His expression was serious. Direct.

"Because you're my fated mate."

He said it calmly. Like he was stating a fact.

I stared at him. I'd heard those words before. But hearing them now felt different.

"I told you this before," he continued. "But I don't think you believed me."

"It's not about believing," I said. My voice was quieter than I intended. "I—"

I stopped. Turned away from him. Looked out at the distant lights.

"My wolf, Yara," I said. "She's been... dormant. Silent. Since I woke up in this body."

I heard him move closer. "Completely dormant?"

"I can feel her presence. Barely. Like she's sleeping. But I can't communicate with her. Can't shift. Can't access most of my Alpha abilities."

"That's not normal," Caelan said.

"I know. I've been trying to figure out why."

"Let me help," he said. "Evergreen Pack has resources. Ancient texts. Healers who specialize in wolf-spirit connections."

I turned to look at him. Searched his face for any sign of ulterior motives.

"Why would you do that?" I asked.

"Because you're my mate," he said. His voice was firm. Certain. "And because even if you can't feel the bond yet, I can. And it's telling me to help you."

I wanted to refuse. My instinct was to handle this alone. But the rational part of my mind knew I needed help.

And there was something else. The blood-red wolf fang hanging against my chest right now.

I'd thought from the beginning that maybe Caelan's interest in me was about the necklace. That he wanted it. That all of this was just manipulation to get close to me.

I couldn't completely rule that out yet. Not until I understood his true intentions.

And right now, with my wolf dormant, with my strength not fully returned, I couldn't risk revealing the necklace's existence.

"I'll think about it," I said finally.

He nodded. "That's all I ask."

The wind picked up. Blew my hair across my face. I pushed it back.

Caelan was watching me. That same intense look he'd had in the interrogation room.

Then he took a deep breath.

"I need to tell you something," he said. "Something I never had the courage to say before."

I waited. Didn't interrupt.

"Back then, when you were Angelina..." He paused. Like he was looking for the right words. "I admired you. More than admired. I—"

He stopped again.

"You what?" I asked quietly.

He looked directly into my eyes. "I had feelings for you. Real feelings. Not just political interest or alliance building. You."

I went still. Processed what he'd just said.

"You never said anything," I said.

"How could I?" His voice had something in it I'd never heard before. Vulnerability. "You were the strongest Alpha King in the world. Untouchable. And I was... I'm not good at this. At expressing emotions. I thought actions would be enough."

"What actions?"

"Every time our packs had meetings, I volunteered to lead the delegation. Every summit, every negotiation, I made sure I was there. I thought if I could just be near you, find the right moment..."

I felt something tighten in my chest. "And then I died."

"Yes."

We stood there in silence. The wind the only sound between us.

Then I turned around. Put my back to the view. Faced him fully.

"You want to know what happened?" I asked. "How I ended up like this?"

He nodded. "Only if you want to tell me."

"It was a few months ago," I said. "I was on my private yacht. Celebrating after conquering the last pack in North America."

He listened. Didn't interrupt.

"There was an explosion. I don't know if it was sabotage or accident. Everything happened so fast."

My voice became distant. Like I was watching the memory instead of living in it.

"I remember the water. Cold. Dark. I couldn't breathe. My wolf Yara was howling in my mind, but I couldn't shift. The injuries were too severe."

Caelan's hands clenched at his sides. Like he was fighting the urge to reach for me.

"And then... nothing. Darkness. When I woke up, I was in this body. Fifteen years old. Omega."

"That must have been hell," he said. His voice was rough.

I laughed. It wasn't bitter. Just tired. "Honestly? I'm kind of enjoying it. The leisure. Being a student again. No pack politics. No constant challenges to my authority. It feels relaxing now."