System Glitch: My Mate from “Love” to “Hate” Chapter 05

System Glitch: My Mate from “Love” to “Hate” Chapter 05 A Hollow, Gentle Puppet Alpha

“You said you liked this look, didn’t you?

“Yvaine. I’ve become the person you wanted. Why do you look so unhappy?”

The System shrieked inside my mind: [He’s lost his mind! Host, this is a defensive breakdown from emotional overload! He’s punishing you this way!]

Watching him like this, my heart ached unbearably.

This wasn’t my Caspian.

Gone was the boy who’d scold me when I couldn’t decipher ancient scroll runes, yet patiently break down every character dozens of times for me;

Gone was the one who’d tuck warm hushpuppies into his coat for me in winter, his ear tips flushing crimson when he saw me light up with joy.

Right now, he was nothing but an exquisite, hollow puppet.

“Caspian, don’t be like this.” I reached out to grasp his hand.

He flinched away as if I’d touched something filthy.

Then he picked up a linen handkerchief from the desk and slowly wiped the back of his hand where my fingers had nearly brushed him.

“Miss Shaw, please behave yourself.” He wore a smile, yet his eyes were cold as frost.

For the entire day, Caspian played the part of an elegant, well–bred alpha with flawless manners.

He sat upright and focused during class; his copied ancient scroll notes were far neater and tidier than mine. When the elder called on him, he answered calmly and logically. Instead of rushing to the Arena to fight with his packmates between lessons, he sat alone reading in silence.

I caught a clear glimpse of the open scroll on his desk. He’d pressed the bone pen down so hard the ink carved deep, twisted, jagged gashes into the parchment.

When he wasn’t looking, I stole a glance at the pages.

My name was scrawled everywhere.

Yvaine, Yvaine, Yvaine.

A thick scarlet ink cross was slashed over every single name.

The System trembled in terror: [Host, I think we need to leave immediately. Caspian is a ticking time bomb ready to detonate at any second!]

I refused to give up.

After class, I hurried forward to block his path.

“We need to talk.”

Caspian kept his gaze straight ahead and stepped around me to leave.

Panic surged through me, and I grabbed his arm hard, “Caspian! How long are you going to keep this up? There’s absolutely nothing between Simon and me! I made you change before because_”

“Because what?” Caspian halted and turned to tower over me.

The classroom was dim.

He tore off his glasses and tossed them to the ground. A sharp crack echoed as the lenses shattered.

He advanced step by step, backing me into the corner.

His refined mask finally split apart, revealing raw, bleeding wounds and unhinged madness beneath.

“Because you wanted me to become him, wasn’t it?”

He clamped his fingers around my jaw, his grip painful enough to bruise.

“Do you have any idea how exhausting this past year has been for me?

“I hate writing neatly, hate stiff, formal clothes, hate speaking in soft, quiet tones!

“But I hated seeing disappointment in your eyes even more.

“For you, I crushed the wild instinct I was born with and remade myself into the version you favored.

“And what did I get in return?” He leaned in, his scorching breath fanning my face, carrying a terrifying, menacing aura.

“You tell me the original has come back, and this patched–together imitation should get out of your way, right?”

“Caspian, that’s not it…” Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. “I never used you as a substitute, not once!”

“Prove it to me then.” Caspian’s eyes blazed crimson, as if possessed.

“How?” He lowered his head, his lips barely brushing mine, voice raw and frayed to the breaking point, “Come with me.”