Luna Queen Pariah

Chapter 2: Stella the Alpha’s Baby Sister

Chapter 2: Stella the Alpha’s Baby Sister

Trigger warning: May be triggering for those with body image issues

Stella

“That crazy b***h was eavesdropping on us this morning, Stella!” Said Ruby the moment we sat down at our usual lunch table, dead centre in the cafeteria.

“What crazy b***h?” I wondered as I pulled out my compact to check my makeup in the mirror.

“Pariah! Who else?!” grumbled Ruby.

Scarlet gasped.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked Ruby sternly, my eyes boring into her.

Ruby nodded quickly. I closed my compact with a loud snap.

“That little snake,” I hissed. “Why would she spy on us?” I wondered. “Is her life that boring?!” I said incredulously, eliciting laughter from the girls.

“Well, we didn’t say anything much really,” said Scarlet.

Ruby and I glared at her.

“What?” Said Scarlet, furrowing her brow.

“We revealed the identity of Stella’s mate!” Snarled Ruby.

Ruby was eighteen years old already so she had her wolf. I was turning eighteen next week and Scarlet would turn eighteen during winter break.

“So what?” Said Scarlet. “That’s not a secret!”

“Yes it is!” I snapped. “We don’t need everyone knowing I think Rod…”

I paused as a homely-looking girl with skinny thighs and huge calves walked by. I lowered my voice and motioned for the girls to lean in.

“I can’t have everyone knowing I think Rodney is my mate. There’s a small chance I could be wrong and then I’ll look like a f*****g i***t in front of the whole school,” I hissed. “But even more importantly, I promised Rodney I would keep our suspicions quiet!”

Ruby nodded. “She’ll probably gossip about you. Rodney is her neighbour! She’ll tell people he knows and it’ll get back to him. He’ll think you’re blabbing all over our pack lands,” said Ruby.

I took a deep breath. That fat b***h would ruin my relationship with my mate before it even started.

“Sariah doesn’t seem like the type to gossip much,” said Scarlet with a shrug. “I think your secret is safe with her!”

“If you don’t want to help Ruby and me, then, fine! Don’t!” I grumbled.

Scarlet was so daft sometimes. Ruby was sharper like me. Scarlet actually did not have the grades to be in advanced classes with us but she did not want to be alone in regular classes so she had made her Dad pay off the principal to “recalculate” her grade averages. Low and behold, she was an A-student now apparently. All it took was a money wire transfer. No brains necessary.

“How do you know she was there?” I clarified, making sure I was not putting blind faith in Ruby just because she was on my level.

“She came running into the class with wet hands and a pink paper towel seconds after us. She had to have used the nearest bathroom and we didn’t see her come in so she must have been in a stall when we came in and then she must have left after us,” explained Ruby.

I nodded.

“Well, then she was just peeing or something,” said Scarlet. “I didn’t smell anything gross so it can’t be number two,” reasoned Scarlet.

“Gross, Scarlet,” complained Ruby. “I’m eating! What’s your point?”

“That she was just peeing. Not spying on purpose,” said Scarlet. “Right?” Added Scarlet, seeming unsure.

“Either way, she overhead and that’s the point! She could still go blabbing to everyone!” I said. “Especially her neighbour!” I said with a meaningful look at the girls.

“Mr Crawford?” Said Scarlet, shocked.

Mr Crawford was my nosy neighbour and the Vice Principal of this school.

“What?!” I said. “No, not my neighbour! Pariah’s neighbour! My maybe-mate, Rodney,” I whispered, getting frustrated with Scarlet.

“So what do we do?” Said Scarlet, frowning.

“We put the fear of God in her so she wouldn’t dare spread rumours about us or let any of this get back to Rodney!” I whispered fiercely.

Ruby grinned, nodding.

“How are we going to do that?” Wondered Scarlet.

I thought about it for a minute and then a smile spread slowly across my face. Pariah Prince was going to regret minding my business.

Sariah

“They’re looking at us!” Squealed Layla excitedly.

I sighed. Layla and Nova were my only two friends at school and technically, I was not always so sure that they even liked me that much. Have you ever had to do a group project where you got to pick your own groups? And almost everyone quickly arranged themselves into groups based on their friendships and cliques? And then the friendless leftovers were forced to form one final group? Sometimes, it seemed as though Nova and Layla hung out with me because no one better wanted them in their group. Layla was always fan-girl-ing over Stella even though Stella constantly made fun of us and Nova was a bit snippy with me half the time.

“I repeat, Stella, sister of s*x God Sterling, is looking at us!” Exclaimed Layla.

“Oh, happy, happy, joy, joy,” said Nova dryly, clearly not amused.

“How can you like Stella when she always…makes fun of you?” I said.

I had been about to ask “How can you like Stella when she always makes fun of your weight?” but I decided there was no need to specify.

Stella had a warped sense of what was normal as far as I was concerned and I did not want to be influenced by it. I was around a size eight or ten and Stella never missed a chance to call me fat even though I was not clinically overweight. Even if someone was overweight, there was no need to insult the person. Stella was just rude. Layla was around a size fourteen which was a pretty common size and Stella constantly made the most ridiculous, mean-spirited and melodramatic jokes. In swimming class, Stella would ask Layla not to use the diving board because, according to Stella, she might cause a tidal wave. In etiquette class (yes, this stupid school made us take etiquette classes), Stella would remind Layla not to eat the plates and table too. In s*x-ed (Layla’s favourite class), Stella would tell Layla this class would never be applicable to Layla’s life. She made similar jokes about me but she tended to forget about me if Layla was there to tease instead. I was pretty sure Layla took Stella’s criticisms to heart because I had seen her wipe away tears sometimes though she usually tried to laugh off the jokes in the moment.

“I think she does it for my benefit, you know. She pulled me aside once and told me I have a pretty face so she’s helping me to be pretty, period,” explained Layla.

“You are pretty, period, full-stop, exclamation point, whatever punctuation mark you want!” I insisted.

Layla was beautiful with fiery red hair and cat-like eyes. Nova was beautiful too with flawless dark skin, thick curly hair and dark almond-shaped eyes. Nova was even skinnier than Stella so of course Stella despised her but did not have anything nasty to say about her. I cared about both of them but Layla’s fondness for Stella and Nova’s tendency to be distant made me wonder if they cared about me. Maybe, I was just being insecure. Aunty said I was at that age. Maybe, I expected too much from them.

“Stella is just trying to help me,” said Layla with a shrug.

“If Stella was trying to help you, she wouldn’t insult you in front of the whole class every chance she gets!” I snapped.

“Calm down,” said Layla, surprised by my tone.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, knowing that Layla could be sensitive.

“You seem upset about something,” observed Nova.

“No,” I lied, hopefully convincingly.

“You’re a terrible liar,” said Nova bluntly.

Oh.

“Yeah, you are,” agreed Layla, nodding.

I sighed.

“I just…” I began.

“You’re worried about turning eighteen?” Said Layla.

“And feeling all that pain when you shift?” Said Nova.

“And finding your mate?” Said Layla.

“Or not finding him?” Said Nova.

“And becoming one of those eternally single she-wolves who are still holding out for their mate as the centuries go by?” Said Layla.

“No, I wasn’t thinking about any of that,” I said, but now I was.

“Oh,” said Layla and Nova in unison.

“Sorry,” mumbled Layla.

“Tell us what you’re thinking about, then,” said Nova.

“I…” I began.

“You’re worried your birthday is going to be overshadowed by Stella’s birthday, just like every previous year, aren’t you?” Asked Layla.

“Stella’s birthday?” Asked Nova.

Nova had recently moved here from another pack. She had only been here for about ten months but Layla and I had befriended her from her very first day at school. She was slow to open up to us but I was pretty sure something bad had happened in her old pack so she was probably just being cautious. Nova would not have left her pack unless there had been a significant reason.

Layla’s gasp snapped me out of my thoughts.

“What is it?” I asked.

Nova and Layla were looking in the same direction. I followed their gaze. My stomach churned.

“Stella is coming over here,” squealed Layla under her breath.

My stomach continued to do backflips. I had a nervous stomach these days to top off my crippling anxiety. Lucky me.

“That’s not a good thing,” I said.

“She’ll probably walk straight past our table,” said Nova. “It just looks like she’s headed our way.”

I tried not to make eye contact with Stella or either of the Red Devils. They reached our table and Layla’s suspicion was confirmed.

“Hey girls,” said Stella sweetly.

I smelled a rat.

“Hey!” Said Layla, grinning.

“Hi,” said Nova in a deadpan voice.

At least Nova shared my distrust of Stella and company.

“Pa-…Sariah, Lola, Noel, how did you three spend your summer?” Said Stella, smiling brightly.

I was not stupid. She had been about to call me Pariah and she did not even know Layla’s and Nova’s names. I did not answer her.

“It was great!” Squeaked Layla. “But I’m sure yours was better!” Chuckled Layla.

Stella exchanged glances with Ruby and Scarlet.

“Maybe,” said Stella, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. “You might be right about that!”

Ruby and Scarlet giggled.

“As you three know, my birthday is next week,” announced Stella. “So I was going through my contacts and I was shocked when I couldn’t find any of your numbers!” Said Stella.

Ruby and Scarlet nodded.

“You must have forgotten to add them,” said Scarlet.

“You always have the latest phone, Stella, so you probably lose numbers all the time,” said Ruby.

“That’s probably it!” Exclaimed Stella. “Do you girls have iPhones or androids?”

“iPhones!” Said Layla quickly. “Just like you, Stella!” She added adoringly.

Stella’s smile faltered a little.

“Cute,” said Stella unconvincingly.

How naive could Layla be? It was clear Stella was annoyed to even have to talk to us. She clearly had an ulterior motive. I knew Ruby had probably realised that I was in the bathroom stall listening to their conversation this morning.

“Let’s exchange numbers,” said Stella with a toss of her hair. “Give me your phones!” She ordered.

Nova looked taken aback but Layla was gleeful. I kept my expression impassive.

“I mean, you know, so I can enter my number and keep you updated about my party,” said Stella, softening her tone.

“Okay,” said Layla, handing over her phone immediately.

Stella entered her number into Layla’s phone.

“Great!” Said Stella, giving Layla her phone. “Call out your number!”

Layla recited her number for Stella to enter it into her phone.

“Cool! We’re all set!” Said Stella, turning on her heel.

“Um, what about everyone else?” Asked Layla quickly.

“Lala,” laughed Stella, getting Layla’s name wrong yet again. “I’ll just send the invite to you but it’ll be for you three. You’re like three peas in a pod!”

And with that, Stella strutted away, flanked by her Red Devils. As soon as Stella and her sycophants were out of earshot, Layla gave a little shriek of joy.

“Layla, you can’t be serious,” I mumbled.

“Don’t be like that, Sariah,” grumbled Layla. “Don’t you want to go to Stella’s birthday party?”

I really did not.

“It’ll be a really high profile event! I mean…she’s the Alpha’s little sister for goodness’ sakes! Alpha Sterling and the other pack leaders and warriors will be there. A lot of them are single!” Squealed Layla. “Could you imagine being mated to one of those hunks? Ugh, I’m gonna faint!"

“Ugh, I’m gonna puke,” I said under my breath.

“I heard that,” snapped Layla.

I frowned.

“It might be a good networking opportunity,” admitted Nova, surprising me.

“You hate Stella just as much as I do!” I said.

“Hate is a strong word,” said Nova, surprising me yet again.

I sighed.

“Have you two forgotten that Stella’s birthday is my birthday too?” I reminded them.

“Of course, we haven’t forgotten!” Said Layla indignantly. “But…you know, you never have a party or anything like that so you might as well go to Stella’s and have fun on your birthday!”

I huffed.

“Thanks, Layla,” I said, folding my arms.

“What? It’s true,” said Layla.

I never threw a party on my birthday because I knew everyone would go to Stella’s party instead even if I had one too.

“Well, have fun with Stella then,” I said softly, getting up and taking my tray.

“Sariah,” said Layla. “Come on!” She pleaded.

I walked away from her. I was tired of my her being Stella’s number one fan. I went to my afternoon class early and just sat there. My phone pinged. I looked at it.

Layla: We need to talk! Meet me in front the old library before lunch is over!

There were about twenty-five minutes left. I sighed. It was wishful thinking but I really hoped Layla would apologise. She knew sharing a birthday with Stella was a sensitive topic for me. Every year, Stella would invite the whole class to her party except me. Her excuse was that it was my birthday too so she didn’t want to presumptuously assume I didn’t have plans. She could have invited me out of courtesy. She would even invite Layla though she bullied her. Layla had begun to “feel queasy” in the middle of me cutting the cake I’d baked myself on my seventeenth birthday. I had known she just wanted to leave so she could run off to catch the rest of Stella’s party. I had never confronted her about it but I had seen a picture of Stella cutting her ginormous cake surrounded by influential pack members and our classmates including Layla off to the side at the back. I knew Layla would do the same thing for my eighteenth birthday: spend fifteen minutes with me and then a couple hours at Stella’s huge party. Layla was not even trying to hide it this time. Nova was new to the pack so I had no idea what she would do.

I neared the meeting spot. The old library was now a run-down building covered in overgrown flowering vines. I liked the way it looked honestly. It had a kind of haunting beauty. It was far off from the main school building so it took me almost ten minutes just to walk there. It was always deserted around here. There was no sign of Layla.

“Layla,” I called.

I took out my phone to call her when someone smacked the phone right out of my hand. I heard the unmistakable c***k as the glass screen of my iPhone broke. s**t!

“Hey!” I yelled, turning around to see who had done that.

It was Ruby. She shoved me. I stumbled backwards. I was no coward but I knew better than to fight her. Ruby was eighteen. She had shifted before. She had her wolf. I didn’t. I was not dumb enough to think I stood a chance against her.

“What’s your problem?” I asked.

“You’re my problem,” snapped Ruby.

I tried to walk past her and head back to the main building but she grabbed my arm and yanked me backwards so hard I fell on my back. I sat up quickly.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I screamed.

“Admit it!” Shouted Ruby.

“Admit what?!” I yelled.

“Admit that you heard me say Rodney was my mate,” said Stella as she stepped out from behind the abandoned library.

I glanced behind me at her. She came to stand in front of me, next to Ruby.

“So what if I did?” I said. “You’ll be with him in a week’s time! Just be thankful you got a good mate!” I snapped.

In that moment, I hated Stella so much. She had everything and she was still miserable enough to pick on me. Stella snorted with laughter.

“Don’t say his name!” Hissed Stella.

“Excuse me,” I said.

“You heard me,” said Stella. “Don’t say his name. Don’t say my name either. Keep our names out of your mouth. Don’t tell anyone what you heard this morning or you’ll be sorry!”

I rolled my eyes.

“Why would I bother to tell anyone? They’ll all know soon enough! You really lured me here to tell me that! You’re really pathetic!” I snapped.

Stella laughed loudly and so did Ruby.

“I’m pathetic?!” Said Stella exchanging an incredulous glance with Ruby.

I realised I was still sitting on the floor. I scrambled to my feet and tried to storm off but Ruby grabbed my arm again.

“LET ME GO, YOU DISGUSTING SPOILT BRATS!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, shocking myself.

Stella slapped me. I shrieked. It stung. I touched my face with my free hand as Ruby had the other arm in a vice grip.

“HAVE SOME RESPECT!” Screamed Stella. “I’m the Alpha’s sister!”

“Stepsister!” I reminded her.

Ruby gasped, shocked that I would dare to say that. Stella and Sterling were supposedly so close that they had forbidden pack members from mentioning the fact that they weren’t biologically related, or at least, that was what Stella had told our class. That was why Stella was technically not a Princess. The old Alpha King was not her biological father. He was just her stepfather and Stella’s mother was his second-chance mate after the tragic death of Sterling’s mother, the late Luna Queen. Stella grabbed the scruff of my shirt.

“You listen to me!” She hissed. “You better not tell Rodney any of this! Or anyone else for that matter! And you better learn to have some respect for me! Or my stepbrother as you say will f*****g murder you!”

I felt a jolt of fear. Alpha Sterling was known to be tough. I had never met him but everyone said he was the fiercest warrior and Alpha the pack had ever had and that he showed no mercy for insubordinate pack members. He was reportedly keen on “weeding out” weak links, saying that the pack was only as strong as the weakest wolf and only as united as the most defiant wolf. I fleetingly considered apologising to Stella if only to save my life but something about her made me so furious, and when I was angry, I was fearless, or stupid or both.

“You know, it’s going to be really difficult not to mention any of this to Rodney seeing as we’ve been best friends since childhood!” I snapped.

Stella looked taken aback. I was not sure what had come over me but there was something stirring inside of me and that inner stirring told me not to back down or yield to anyone.

They should respect you, said a voice.

“I wonder how smitten he’ll be with you if he finds out how much of a coldhearted b***h you are!” I hissed.

Stella grimaced. She and Ruby exchanged a glance.

“Consider your friendship with Rodney over!” Spat Stella.

I laughed outwardly but inwardly I was worried. I felt a pang in my chest.

“Laugh all you want, Pariah!” Said Stella. “You really will have no one come next week!” Chuckled Stella snidely.

Ruby guffawed along with her.

“Nothing is stronger than the mate-bond,” hissed Stella, getting in my face.

I leant backwards as far as Ruby’s iron grip would allow.

“You’re his old best friend! Rodney’s new best friend is me,” she said simply. “You have no friends! You have no one! You are no one! You are nothing!” She whispered.

I blinked away tears. I hated myself for wanting to cry almost as much as I hated Stella and Ruby. I did not know where Scarlet was. I figured she was probably acting as a lookout. Ruby released me suddenly. I stumbled backwards but caught my balance. I ran away as fast as I could, darting towards the school, feeling like a complete coward.

I arrived in class late of course, realising too late that I should have spent a few minutes tidying up in the bathroom since I was late anyway. My mother used to always say “you can’t be late twice” while she proceeded to do a full face of makeup. I felt slightly comforted by the memory of her.

“Sariah!” Exclaimed Miss Briar-rose in horror.

I instinctively reached for my phone to assess the damage with the front camera. s**t! My pocket was empty. I sighed. I realised I had not actually gotten to pick up my phone. My phone’s screen was smashed anyway and I could not afford to get it fixed right now. My aunt was pretty strict about me managing my allowance well. I glanced down at my uniform. The dirt on my skirt didn’t surprise me but I was truly shocked to see a trickle of blood on my shirt. I touched the side of my face that had been slapped. I winced when my fingers brushed against the side of my lower lip. I looked at my fingers. Blood. My lip was bleeding. I inhaled and exhaled sharply.

“I had been about to assign you detention, Sariah, but look at you! I can make an exception! What happened to you?! Were you attacked on the way to class? Who did this?!” Demanded Miss Briar-rose.

Before I could say anything, someone behind me spoke.

“I did, Miss, but I can explain,” said a familiar grating voice.

I sighed and turned around to look at my arch nemesis. I gasped when I saw her. Stella was in the doorway, being supported by Ruby. She was limping. She had skinned one of her knees and there was a small trickle of blood flowing down her leg. She had a swollen black eye and was also sporting a split lip. Her clothes were soiled from top to bottom and one of her sleeves had bin torn off completely. The newly visible upper arm bore scratch marks.

There was a chorus of gasps and whispers from the girls in class. Miss Briar-rose covered her mouth with her hands and regarded Stella with wide eyes.

“Who did this to you, girls?” Said Miss Briar-rose, shaking her head and clutching her chest.

“Miss, I…I’m not supposed to say anything but…Rodney Firth thinks he might be my mate and Sariah…she’s been his friend for so long. I wanted to be her friend too but she…she was so jealous, she just told me to stay away from him and then…then she attacked me! She…she tried to kill me!” Shrieked Stella, sobbing and pointing her finger right at me.