Emma
My wolf Abby is agitated for some reason, not that Abby wasn’t usually agitated. She got herself worked up over anything and everything; She was my drama mama. She seemed to be a little more anxious than usual.
“talk to me, Abb’s.” I slow down and try to give her my full attention.
“I don’t know. My skin feels itchy, you know itchy is bad. Can we skip?” Abby asked hopefully.
“I’ll stay low today, it’ll be fine” I respond. I put my earbuds back in and crank up Boy Harsher, one of my favorite bands.
I will not lie. That worried me. Itchy was usually a bad sign. It was her internal security system, and it’s never failed us. I decided to go into the school through the side door closest to the cafeteria and hunker down near the exit after grabbing some French toast sticks. French toast sticks with maple syrup is life. I sit here thinking about itchy Abby. It could be nothing, I hope it's nothing, but chances are if itchy happens in school today, it was going to involve Jake Alderate. The asshole that has been the bane of my existence since starting this school.
The first time she saw him, I thought he was hot as hell. Sky-blue eyes, jet black hair, muscular and an ass that every female took notice of. He was a warrior in training hoping to work directly under the Gamma one day and coming from a good family they could probably bribe their way in. It really surprised me when he noticed me and naïve enough to believe he actually liked me, and he seemed like a really nice person. Jake wasn’t really my type since he was a pretty boy, but I still liked him. He gave the impression that he was soft-spoken and gentle, but I found out quickly that it was a lie. He cornered me under the bleachers and tried to shove his hand down the front of my pants. I still get nauseous thinking about his hot nacho breath panting in my ear while telling me he was doing me a favor. “A runt like you doesn’t have a lot of options, so don’t fight me”. The nerve of that b***h. I bit him and when he pulled back, I d**k punched him and ran. Since then, it’s been his personal mission to ruin my school days.
I look over at the time and see it’s already 8. Classes will start soon, so I got up and dumped my trash and headed to my locker. I feel antsy with butterflies in my tummy and not the good kind, the uneasy makes you want to poop kind. I’m wondering maybe I forgot something, so I lift my arm and sniff my pit. Deodorant, check. I slid into my classroom and made my way to the back corner before anyone else came in. Students finally piled in to sit down. No one notices me back here as usual and that gives me some comfort because when I am noticed, it’s usually a bad thing. Most people think I’m shy, but I’m not. I’m just smart enough to know I should keep my head down and not put ripples in the water.
Class went by way faster than I’m comfortable with, and I have to drag my butt back to my locker to exchange my books and grab a little snack. As I’m closing my locker, I can she sense it. My mate is nearby. It’s not like in the books where you smell some scent that the human body can’t possibly make. It would suck if you had to smell vanilla all the time. If the relationship doesn’t work out, you end up hating vanilla everything for the rest of your life. Who the hell emits vanilla from their pores? That’s not even biologically possible. My body was buzzing, my heart rate sped up, I could feel my wolf coming to the surface. My wolf and I feel excitement and fear all at the same time and I’m fricken giddy looking around trying to find that one person meant to be mine. At least I was giddy until my eyes landed on my soulmate. f*****g Jake. I want to throw up. Itchy was bad.
Jake stomped up to me and without a word grabbed the back of my neck and dragged me out of the hall, down a flight of stairs and outside behind the school. He wasn’t even out of breath. It’s not like I weigh anything, but still. He just stood there, and I realized he was mind linking someone. I’m f****d. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but I’m uncomfortable with this situation. I know he’s going to reject me and it’s not like I won’t accept it; I don’t want to be with him either, but I have this sinking feeling in my gut that it’s going to be worse than that.
All too quickly, three of his friends show up while one pulls out their phone, phone guy looks uncomfortable, but he’s not stopping either. I have a bad feeling this asshole is going to film whatever the hell is about to happen.
Jake turned to me with a look of disgust. He was panting as if he were trying to hold his rage in, and I’m just waiting for the fallout. I should probably run, but I’m nowhere near as fast as these guys and I’m sure things will get worse if they have to catch me.
“I could never... would never be willing be mated to a runt. I don’t know what the Goddess was thinking, but this is f*****g ridiculous. I have standards. I can’t be seen with someone like you. f**k you maybe, but never mark you. I’m going to make sure you’ll never be able to tell anyone I’m your mate,” He started laughing as if this whole situation was really amusing before bending down so he was eye level with me. “today’s your birthday, right? I can’t leave you without a gift. What kind of mate would I be?” he asked. He stood back up and reached above my head as if he was going to pet me before violently grabbing the top of my hair in a vicious grip. It felt like he was trying to scalp me while he yanked me forward. “I Jake Alderate reject Emma Winters,” and with that, he pulls his fist back and smashes it into my face.
I hit the ground painfully; it felt like my whole jaw just came loose. Jake straddled me and I couldn’t breathe while he continued to punch me in the face. When he finally had enough, he turned to his friends and told them they could have me. He reached over and grabbed the phone so his friend could join in. I tried to crawl away, but my head feels heavy. I made it a couple of feet before the first kick hit my side; I tried to roll over into the fetal position. Maybe I could protect my ribs, but the kicks continued to rain down. I feel dizzy and nauseous; I don’t want to cry, but I am. I can hear Jake cackling away while filming. The pain radiating out from my spine is intense and I’m pretty sure I just felt my shoulder pop out of place. The kicking and stomping just went on, and I’m not sure I’m going to stay awake for all of it. My whole body feels like it’s going numb. My hand is stomped on and that’s the one that has me screaming. I can feel my fingers snap.
Finally, they stopped. The four of them stood over me and I thought that was the end until one of them gripped the top of my pants and yanked them down. Jake is yelling at them to hurry up and f**k me. I’m trying to fight back, but I can’t even move. My heart feels like it’s going to explode. I could feel my legs being jerked open and I can’t do s**t. I can’t even shift. I feel f*****g worthless. The feel of his hands on my knees makes my skin crawl. I’m not sure who just climbed on top of me. I can’t even open my eyes. I can hear him taking off his belt and I swear I’ll never be able to hear that clanking sound again without getting sick.
I could feel myself losing consciousness. My head feels full of static. And under all of that, rage. I want them dead, all of them. If I survive this, I’m coming for them.
Out of nowhere, I hear a roar loud enough to shake the surrounding trees. It was a roar filled with possibly more rage than what I’m currently feeling. Rapey guy number one jumps up off me and I hear the four of them screaming in fear. That roar of rage is the last thing I hear, and it’s oddly comforting. Darkness envelops me and I’m strangely calm as I pass out.