The Hate That Burns

»»──────ஓ๑♥Percival Whitmore♥๑ஓ──────««

Music thumping in my head is how I start and end my day, not the aggressive club music. This is a French ballad playlist. Instrumental only. It calms my rage and allows me to focus on my studies. I’m studying behavioral psychology, and it’s the second thing I love the most in the world. Outside of volleyball. This is my major here at the Silverclaw University.

I’m deeply focused on my subjects, reading, and trying to prepare for an important test coming up in a week when my phone goes off. There are only two numbers that can go over my do not disturb. And that’s my best friend Zion, and the nurse in charge of my mother’s care.

So I immediately think it’s the nurse. I told Zion I was studying for the whole day so I'm convinced he took that as a polite sign to leave me alone. I need to ace this test.

But to my shock, it turns out to be him. I grabbed the phone, yawning as I answered.

“Hey.”

“Percy, what the hell did you do last night?” his voice is distraught, and he sounds genuinely scared. I placed my foot down from the chair, frowning a little as confusion washed over me.

“I’m sorry?”

“What did you do last night? It’s all over the university page. Students are calling for you to be expelled.”

“Why the fuck would they be saying that?” I exclaim.

“You don’t know?” he’s even more confused than I am. “Oh god, Percy. If you didn’t do this then whoever did is about to fuck up your entire life.”

“Zion, for god’s sake. Just tell me. You’re killing me.”

“Lucian was sent to the hospital with severe damages to his legs, arms, and fucking face!! he was viciously attacked last night, injected with wolfsbane that prevented him from shifting. The photos are bad. He’s unconscious. Fighting for his fucking life. If he dies you’re going down for murder.”

“Why me? I wasn’t even there. I’ve been studying since last night.”

“You’ve been attacking Lucian for years, threatening to kill him and his mother. Everyone is blaming you. They aren’t even looking for someone else. So as your best friend, tell me the truth. I’ll keep your secret to my grave.”

“I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it! I want him to feel pain, I want him to suffer but I have never denied anything that I did. Like two days ago when I got into a squabble with his girlfriend’s brother. That dude had the nerve to say my parent's divorce is my mother’s fault because she’s a dry crazy bitch.” Zion hissed after hearing that, and I growled. “That piece of crap deserved the beating he got. It had nothing to do with Lucian, but I didn’t deny it. I walked his beaten ass to the hospital. So why the fuck am I getting blamed for this?”

“I get it. I believe you. You’re honest when you do something but god, this is bad Percy. It’s so bad. I’d call your dad but I know the school is not going to ignore the students' complaints. I’d be surprised if you aren’t expelled in a week.”

My heart thumped. Fuck, fuck. Nande konna koto ga ore ni okotterun da yo?

(Why the hell is this happening to me?)

I take my phone out of Do Not Disturb, and call my father while I pull up the page for the university. There’s a news line, god, my face is there as the suspect. And even seeing the photo of Lucian is disturbing. Wolfsbane is illegal, I could go to jail for possessing an illegal substance and for attempted murder.

I didn’t do this shit. Who the hell would do this? Are they trying to fuck up my life?

My father answers on the second call. The man is the last person I want to call. I hate the fuck out of him. I wish he’d burn in hell along with Lucian and Lucian’s fucking bitch of a mother. I pinched my nose.

“Alpha Tamaki, I’m guessing you got the news.”

“You’ve done a lot, boy, but this is fucking ridiculous. You.... you... god, you’re punishing me, aren’t you? I hurt your mother and you will never forgive me. But Lucian, the poor boy didn’t hurt you. Doing this to him is... it’s just so bad.”

“I need you to open your ears, and listen to me for the first time in your life.”

“Don’t start with me, boy.”

“Listen you fucking bastard. You may not have heard your vows to your mate, but you will hear me tonight. Everything I have done to Lucian, and that bitch you screwed my mother over for, have I denied it?”

My disgusting sperm donor is quiet.

“When I fought him, did I not tell you that I did it? When I threw a rock at his mother... did I deny it? No, I did not. Because I am not ashamed of everything I have done. But this isn’t me. I didn’t do this. I was at my dorm. There are cameras to show me walking in, and never coming out. You can spin this to say I took the back exit but I did not do this. I did not beat Lucian within an inch of his life, and to use wolfsbane is a cheap tactic. I’d have gone fist to fist, toe to toe with him. I wouldn’t have used a cheap trick. I don’t even know where to order Wolfsbane from. I didn’t do this. Whoever did it is fucking up my life.”

He’s quiet.

“Damn it you son of a bitch, say something. I’m looking at being expelled.”

“You’re looking at jail time!” he gruffly replied. “Look, pack your things and come home. I need to talk to the dean, and I need to be with Pauline until Lucian wakes up. I want you to know right in this moment, I do not believe you didn’t do this. Maybe you didn’t do it by hand but you could have paid someone. You’ve hated that boy for years. Why not punish me? Why not me? If evidence shows you didn’t do it, I’ll clear you myself and you can go back to school. But if it does show even a sign that you did it, you’re going to join Lucian’s father in prison.”

“That man gets out in one year, I can’t wait to see your explanation of how you’ve been fucking his wife when he’s out.”

“Percy!”

“I fucking hate you. I’m telling you the truth, and just like everything else you’ve failed to do in your life- to be a good friend, a good father, a great husband, you’re failing at this too. Jigoku de yakarete shimae!”

(I hope you burn in hell)

I disconnected the call and tossed my phone onto the bed. God, why? I’m getting punished for something else that the Montague family has gotten themselves in. I kind of hope he dies. I just don’t want to lose my career in volleyball, and my chances of getting my degree.

I really really hate... Lucian Montague. My life was better before he and his cheating mother slid into the picture.