Four Alphas and Me

Chapter 4 : My Heart Skipped a Beat

I stretched my limbs out wide when I woke up in my own soft bed. I'd forgotten how wonderful my life had been with my adoptive family. William and Kain had done everything to make me safe and happy.

My eyes fell on the outfit laid out at the end of my bed. It was my blue and white school uniform. That's right. I was supposed to go to school today.

Since I didn't have better ways to investigate William's circle of friends, and if Cecilia's target was me, I thought that it might not be a bad idea to get a better sense of everyone around me as a start.

When was the last time I was in school? It was a lifetime ago. These were the days when my biggest worry seemed to be whether to put my hair in a braid or wear it loose around my shoulders.

I bounced out of bed with a smile, actually quite excited to start the day. Never would I have thought that I'd actually be happy to have to attend school.

Kain was already in the dining room, reading a newspaper and finishing his breakfast. I walked into an atmosphere enveloped in his sandalwood scent.

“Good morning," I almost sang as I gave him a spontaneous hug from behind and then took a seat.

“Wow, you are in a really good mood this morning," Kain noticed as he set aside his paper. “Did you sleep well?"

“Yes, it was the best sleep I'd had in years. I'm going to kick butt at school today."

He laughed because he thought that I was joking. “Good to hear the enthusiasm! Usually, you are grumpy when you wake up and realize it's time for school."

I gave him a sideways glance as he listed my normal habits.

“Well, today is different," I assured him. “I am just now realizing what a great life I have, and I want to look forward to each new day and just enjoy it, you know?"

“Sure," he muttered before he took his last sip of coffee.

“Where's Dad?" I wanted to see him before school.

“He went into the city for a meeting."

“A meeting with who?" I asked, suddenly on alert.

“I'm not sure," he shrugged it off. “Would you like a ride to school, or are you going with Cecilia?"

“With you, of course."

“Alright, hurry and eat so you can get there on time for once," he smiled as he set a hot plate of delicious pancakes in front of me.

“Yum, yum, yum!" I got started without any delay. Had food always tasted this good?

“Okay, okay, you can slow down a little bit. I don't want you to choke." Kain patted my back.

I smiled, slightly embarrassed over a mouth full of food and he leaned over to wipe a trail of syrup from my chin. His tender gaze was fixed on me.

I swallowed a little as I saw my own reflections in his gentle gray-blue eyes. His face was only inches away from me, and the temperature of his finger was still lingering on my skin. His familiar and comforting scent filled my nostrils.

I froze for a second, and then for no reason, my heart skipped a beat.

Kain withdrew his hand, clearing his throat. “Also, if anyone bothers you or tries to bully you today, don't deal with them yourself and get in trouble."

I was struck awake from my daze. Alright, Kain had been handsome. I always knew it, but what on earth was I shy about?

“Livy," Kain asked again, “did you hear me?"

I shifted my eyes to look at the plate of food in front of me. After taking a moment to swallow down the rest of my food and my strange reaction to him, my mind finally started to function again.

I had forgotten that I was bullied in school, mainly because while I was raised in an Alpha household, I myself was merely an omega. They liked to pick on me because, in their opinion, a lowly omega like me shouldn't be in the same private school as them.

“Oh, put your mind at ease. Your little sister can take care of herself," I assured Kain.

Compared to what I had suffered, mean girls at school were nothing. If anyone dared to mess with me again, I'd be sure to make them regret it.

***

When I got to school, I felt a little bit disoriented. So many students hurried through the halls, it seemed busy and confusing. What class was I in and where was my locker?

“Hey Livy," I heard an overly sweet voice call out behind me, and it immediately grated on my nerves.

Every time I'd heard that voice during my three years of capture, some kind of torture was soon to follow. I tried to hurry away but Cecilia caught up to me.

“Hey," she panted, nearly out of breath. “Why didn't you wait for me this morning? We usually take the bus to school together, bestie."

I held back the urge to push her away from me—she didn't need to know that I was on to her, not yet.

“I rode in with Kain," I replied bluntly.

“Is Kain still here?" Cecilia looked around, her face a bit pink. “I want to thank him for driving me back last night."

“He's left already." I looked at her, observing her for every slight bit of body language. I was still baffled by how she'd turned into such a monster later in life. Had I not experienced it myself, I wouldn't have believed that the vicious woman who tortured me day and night could put on such a timid disguise.

“Oh." Cecilia looked disappointed. “That's too bad. I'll have to thank him next time I go to your house then."

Yea, right. Like I would invite her into our house ever again.

She asked, “Can I come over to work on our homework after school? Once I'm done, you can just copy it."

“No, thanks. I think I'll do it myself."

Cecilia obviously didn't expect me to turn down her offer. “Well, then, we can just hang out at your place—"

“Kain and I already have plans for the night and we won't be at home," I interrupted her curtly.

Cecilia wasn't stupid, and she definitely could sense the unfriendliness in my tone.

“Livy, did I do something wrong?" She grabbed my hand, and her eyes were a little red. “Ever since you woke up in the hospital, you have been so cold to me. What have I done that upset you? I'll fix it!"

Her tears didn't fall, but that only made her look even more vulnerable. No normal person would have the heart to intentionally hurt such a seemingly innocent girl like her.

But I was no normal person. I was a victim of her devious mask.

“Nothing," I replied flatly. “It's just that once in a while, I actually do want to study and learn."

Before Cecilia could say anything, loud laughter erupted in my eardrums. I looked toward the source of the noise and found it belonged to a group of five other girls–five troublemakers.

“Have you heard? Livy Jackson wants to study and learn!" one of the tall blondes laughed, talking to her four other friends. “It's the biggest joke I've heard in my life."

What was her name…? Whatever, it didn't matter. I wasn't in the mood to get in any trouble today, so I ignored her and continued walking.

“What? Are you so ashamed of yourself that you just want to hide from us? Tell you what, this school would be so much better without you. Why don't you quit already?" The blonde moved in front of me, and her friends also formed a line to block my way.

Cecilia, the five girls, and me–the seven of us had started to draw attention from the crowd in the hall. More and more people stopped in their tracks, seemingly intrigued by what was going on.

Cecilia rushed up and stood between me and the blonde, seemingly defending me. “Patricia, stop. Livy said she would start working hard from now on, and I believe she will! If you don't believe it, just wait until the semester is over; she will show everyone her scores!"

I sighed inwardly.

How stupid had I been in my last life to treat Cecilia as my best friend? Every word she said seemed to be helping me, but Livy Jackson was never known for being hard-working or smart. To show my scores at the end of the semester? Unless a miracle occurred, there was no way I could turn my all-D report card into a straight-A one.

Her announcement sounded like she was helping me, but in reality, she had just set me up for school-wide humiliation at the end of the school year. On the other hand, if I didn't dare to agree to it, I would become a laughingstock for the rest of the school year.

Either way, it wasn't a pleasant place for me to be in.

The problem was, in most people's eyes, Cecilia was a kind and brave girl, protecting her stupid friend against bullies in public. A few boys in the crowd looked at Cecilia with tender gazes, as if they were appreciating her courage.

“Who do you think you are?" The blonde girl, Patricia, obviously didn't appreciate Cecilia's intervention and glared at Cecilia. “Shut the f**k up, b***h. You stood up for her only because you could feel good about yourself with her being your comparison!"

Patricia may be a shameful bully, but I had to say, she had some good insights.

Cecilia's face became ashen, and she turned to me with wide, panicked eyes. “Livy, don't listen to her, I didn't—“

I raised a hand to stop Cecilia and narrowed my eyes.

“First, challenge accepted, I will show my scorecard at the end of the semester," I announced to Patricia and to the crowd. I heard murmurs spread through the crowd and Patricia stared at me, wordless.

I smirked. After enduring what was forced on me, schoolwork would be a piece of cake. I wasn't worried at all. Also, if I need help, my straight-A brother would be more than happy to put me through whatever private tutoring sessions were needed to get me good grades.

“Second," I said even louder so that everyone else could hear, “you said that was the biggest joke you've heard?"

Patricia looked at me confused, and the crowd quieted down.

I chuckled carelessly to Patricia. “Girl, you've got a pretty sad life then. Find something fun for yourself to do."

After a couple of seconds, a nice-looking dark-haired girl in the crowd chuckled, and more people followed her and laughed.

“Shut up, Molly!" Patricia yelled to the crowd before turning to me. “You… you b***h!" Her expression twisted and her face turned burning red. In a flash, she shoved Cecilia out of the way and raised her arm to strike me.

While I wasn't the best fighter, during the time I'd served in the Kirlend royal palace, I had learned some self-defense skills that were more than enough to handle a high school girl.

I grabbed her forearm and quickly twisted her wrists back toward her.

“Ahhhhhh!" Patricia shrieked.

I let go of her and threw her back to her gang. “Keep your hands to yourself. Even kids in kindergarten are better educated than you!" I sneered coldly.

Not wanting to waste any more of my precious time, I held my chin high and walked past them, leaving Cecilia dumbfounded, along with five ridiculously childish and jealous brats.

The crowd parted to let me by. This time, no one else stood in my way.