Two Mates, Two Bullies

w way to break

y-our very own holy

torn book scattered across the hallway

earched and carefully typed, ripped fro

th a sweet, "Whoops." Like it

d handed it in after class. The teacher didn't care. Half

d to. Lazy was the word he used. His tone was as cold as the tile beneath

maybe. Water. Something. But Lila's gone now. The last person i

stayed silent upstairs. He doesn't pretend anymore-not s

y is subtle. Sometim

corners sharp enough to crack bone. Raven and her girls don't

oe ache over and over until it's almost familiar. A hard

l wounds anymore. We save our strength f

y on Raven's endless tantrums is the o

er kids as bait. Won't retaliate. That makes me her favorite target.

Raven's kingdom

need for control on me. My blood heals faster than they think. My bones are Beta-born. I can

rible kind

it w

without waking the house. How to hunt, to find food when our father locks the

ave. Walk into the woods and not

ing changed

lready started-early, as always. Mandatory for all high school pack members, even the ones who would never ho

atrols, and elite sessions for warriors and future ranked members-Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and the

my brother hated seeing me there. His eyes always narrowed when we crossed paths, like I'd trespasse

only one other came

or

ite warriors, and rumor had it he made her come. She didn't talk much,

pecte

me the

piece from the wrong box. No one knew her name at first, only that she moved like

way Raven and her girls whispered behind manicured hands. Watched t

idn't

stor

lt something spark in my chest that wasn't

ios

, ma

was about

ere either mated to high-ranking wolves

but because of her strength, grace, and willingness to sp

stories-tips that helped me understand how to use my size as an advantage

en heirs. My own dad didn't even acknowledge my presence. Still, the female warr

behaved. They revered their mates, constantly praised the st

eirs alone. They didn't say it outright, but their actions told the story. T

one place I could breathe without worrying about Raven,

ons were around. That left me space to be myself-even if it meant stayin

dy started running the perimeter trail-either in the early hours or aft

s, they do happen. Our border patrol works c

w they act as our first defense line. It's real work-dange

sure. My father demands that I perform like someone of our status should,

y. She's made sure I'm treated like

ctions. He outlined our drills for the day and then added, almost as an afterthought, "We've go

, dressed for a party instead of training, heels and all. I still don't know how she keeps skipp

ike the room belonged to her. That's what

er, with long dark hair and honey-golden ey

y every guy in the room seemed to track her every move. I couldn't hel

ocking on mine like she'd caught me in the act. Delta Nolan motioned her

like that, she

t of me and held out her han

he was speaking to me. Her hand stayed steady, but she lifted

uickly. "I'm Aria." My voice dipped as I ad

ck toward the front, already mentally

er started dividing us into pairs for sparring. Naturally, he paired us together. She'd

n't like the others. I didn't train to impre

rise and staying long after the others left. A few months back,

eone had acknowledged me-not ju