Taming the Beast

Chapter 25 (Caroline)

"Hey, don't say that. Every inch of you is beautiful. Your scars tell a story. I don't have to know that story

yet," he said gently. I let his fingers trace my scars. Eventually, I relaxed into him. He kissed my temple

before he let go all together. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding before I turned to look at him.

"I-I should probably get back to practice," I stuttered quietly.

"I'm going with you... I need to have a chat with Natasha," he said with venom in his voice. We walked

back to the gym to find it empty. I went to the coach's office and saw Natasha and Stacy sitting in the

chairs in front of Coach. She saw me and walked out of her office, closing the door behind her.

"Is what Stacy saying true? Did Natasha shove the ball into your stomach?" she asked. I nodded

slowly.

"Coach, I have... scars all over my stomach from the accident and the surgeries I had to have

afterwards and it hurt me more than it would a normal person," I explained in a rush. Her eyes widened

in realization.

"I'm sorry," she said knowingly. My accident wasn't a big secret. Almost everyone knew about it so she

understood immediately. Her eyes went to Keegan. "And what is your roll in all of this?" she asked him.

He hung his head.

"I'm the reason Natasha is acting this way. Her family is a friend of my family and she took something I

said to heart and took it out on Caroline," he explained. Coach nodded as she processed this.

"Come into my office," she said, turning back to the door. Once the door was closed, she started yelling

at Natasha. Stacy watched silently as her eyes went wide. Keegan discreetly rubbed small circles into

the small of my back. It instantly relaxed me as always. Once Coach was done yelling, she kicked

Natasha off the team. My eyes widened in shock. I knew Natasha was in trouble, but I didn't think Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Coach would go that far. She glared at me with glassy eyes before she stormed out of the office.

Keegan followed her. He stopped her by grabbing her arm. She spun to face him, her glare was solid. I

watched from the doorway as he glared back at her.

"You're stopping this, now," Keegan seethed. His voice was stern and authoritative. She only kept her

glare. "You're going to leave Caroline alone for good. You will not physically or verbally assault her, got

it?" he finished. She puffed out a breath and crossed her arms before she was throwing them in the air.

"She's not even one of us! You know how... they will react to her. You know you won't be allowed to

pursue her because she's normal," Natasha yelled at him.

"Stop raising your voice at me and walk away. My decision is final," he barked at her. Her eyes flickered

to me before she did as he said.

"What was that all about?" Stacy whispered from beside me. I shrugged. I literally had no

idea.