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