The Outcast's Rise

Raine pov

The world had already decided my place. At the bottom.

Whispers followed me like shadows as I walked down the crowded school hallway of bloodmoon academy, the weight of stares burning into my back. I knew what they were saying. I'd heard it all before.

"That's her... the wolfless girl."

"She shouldn't even be in this school."

"What kind of werewolf doesn't have a wolf?"

Each word was a dagger, sharpened by years of disappointment-not just from my classmates, but from the entire pack.

I wasn't just an outcast. I was an embarrassment.

I kept walking, chin up, even though my chest tightened with the familiar ache of being unwanted. It wasn't just school- I felt it at home, too.

Once, I had been someone's world.

My father had never looked at me like I was broken. He used to tuck me into his arms, brushing his calloused fingers over my hair, whispering, "It'll come, little wolf. Some take longer."

But then he died, and with him, so did the last person who ever believed in me.

My mother, my family, the entire pack-they had given up on me.

Well, except "Luna Monroe", the only person I can call a friend in this godforsaken town.

And now?

Now, I was nothing to them.

"Move, freak."

A hard shove sent me slamming into the lockers, the sharp metal digging into my ribs. Pain flared up my side, but I swallowed the wince, forcing myself to straighten.

Laughter echoed around me, cruel and sharp.

I didn't have to turn to know who it was.

His smells of cedarwood and sweat gave him away.

Ronan Graves.

The future Alpha. The golden boy of the Bloodmoon Pack. And the boy who had made it his life's mission to remind me that I was worthless.

His tall, muscular frame loomed over me, dark brows arched in mock amusement. He was every bit the Alpha-in-the-making-commanding, effortless, untouchable.

"Too bad he's also a complete asshole."

"Didn't you hear me, wolfless?" His voice was mocking, but there was something sharper in his gaze. "I said move."

I clenched my fists, heart pounding.

I could take the stares. The whispers. But Ronan?

He was different.

Because unlike the others, there were moments-fleeting, barely-there moments-where he looked at me differently. Not with pity. Not even with disgust.

But with something else. Something I couldn't name.

Not that it mattered. Whatever it was, it was buried under years of torment and cruelty.

I lifted my gaze, meeting his golden-brown eyes head-on. Refusing to shrink.

"Go to hell," I muttered.

For half a second, something flickered in his expression. A flash of something that wasn't amusement.

But then he smirked. And that moment was gone.

"You first, wolfless," he murmured, voice just low enough for only me to hear.

And then he was gone, leaving me standing there, fists trembling at my sides.

"Fuck him and his arrogance"

Ronan Graves was someone I once called a friend and unfortunately he was my... .first love too.

He is built warrior -like and smells like cedarwood mixed with sweat. His eyes are intense golden brown that always glow with anger, disgust when trained on me. His hair is dark brown, almost black, with a slightly tousled look though I can bet that it took him a lot of time in front of his mirror to achieve that look.

I bent down and started picking and dusting my books that fell on the floor with tears pricking my eyes but I willed them not to fall.

I will not cry because of that asshole.

"Raine", I turned to the voice of Lena Monroe calling my name and I suddenly felt grateful that she was here. Though I will never admit it to her, " Lena" , my best and only friend, always makes me feel safe. Her presence alone is able to ease the storm settling in my stomach.

"Hi", I returned her grin with one of my own.

Then she finally sees what I'm doing and her face clouded with fury.

"He did this" right? She asked me and I nodded. The tears threatened to come back with full force but I swallowed them down.

With Lena, I was an open book, she is the only one I feel comfortable enough to show my emotions to.

" I swear to the moon goddess that I'm going to gut that motherfucker right in the heart and send him to his maker" Lena swore ferociously.

"It's okay Lena, my books only fell down". I said, trying to placate her.

Then why are you holding your hip like that? She asked.

"It's nothing" I said

She scoffs.

Seriously, I don't know why you allowed him to push you like that, the moment you start fighting back, the day he starts respecting you. She said angrily.

I think it is just easier to just take it silently, it is not like he is going to kill me, I said.

It is against the rule to kill a pack member, because even though I'm an outcast, I'm still a pack member.

Just as she was about to reply me, the biology teacher, "Mr Crater" came in. I hurriedly sat down on my seat as Lena grudgingly went back to hers.

Mr Crater stood in front of the board and said with a loud booming voice, "The topic we will be treating today is "Reproduction". I feign interest in what is coming out of his mouth as his eyes scan the class but he quickly avert his eyes immediately it meets mine.

"I'm used to that". They think that if they stare into my eyes for too long, I will transfer my curse to them.

Seriously, I'm used to it but why do I feel like tearing up.

I think my period is on its way because this is not normal. I'm not this emotional.

I made the mistake of turning and my eyes clash with that of golden amber and my stupid fucking heart skip a beat. He is sitting with his gangs at the back of the class. He quirk his eyebrows at me and I rolled my eyes. I let my eyes trail over the others. Sitting at his right hand side is Jaxon Wolfe ( Ronan beta). He has Stormy gray eyes, short dark brown hair, slightly shorter than Ronan but just as muscular. He is Serious and disciplined.

Sitting at his left hand side is Zane Archer . He has deep green eyes, wavy blond hair, laid-back but observant. He is the quiet one of the group.

While sitting beside Jaxon is Kai Donovan. He has dark blue eyes, jet-black hair, the most reckless and hotheaded of them.

Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

"Did you just roll your eyes at me, wolfless? Ronan asked. The jibe didn't even sting like it always did before.

"Chill dude, you are too harsh on her" Jaxon chastised him.

I arched an eyebrow at Jaxon, because even though I am mildly surprised that he defended me, I'm not touched, because after all, they are all birds of the same feather.

I turned my back on them and tried really hard to keep my eyes open and focus on what was spewing out of " Mr Crater" mouth.

I groaned with relief when the bell finally rang indicating that class had ended.

"Raine", Lena called. I'm sorry but I won't be following you home today, mum said I should deliver this to elder benedicta after school. She raised up something wrapped up in a blue linen.

"I will see you later", she said.

Even though I am a bit disappointed, I plastered a smile on my face. "Okay", I replied.

Fortunately, I didn't bump into Ronan or any of his gangs on my way out.