The Lycan King Saved Me

No Locker

Kinsley

“You are late, Ms. Cunningham,” Mr. Harper, the English teacher, grunts at me as I sit in the back of the room.

“Sorry,” I mutter as I try not to show I am in pain. My side hurts where Esmae and Dylan kicked me. They both laugh, but I don’t look at them.

“Do I need to inform the alpha of your disobedience?” He asks.

“Please, don’t,” I plead. “It won’t happen again.”

The teacher glares at me and turns his attention to the roll call.

“Hey,” Milo Hayes, the future Gamma of the pack, greets me. “Are you okay?” He whispers.

I shrug, “I’ll be fine,” I say as Esmae makes faces at me from across the room with her best friend Junie, Dylan’s twin sister.

“Ms. Cunningham,” Mr. Harper snaps at me.

“It was me, Mr. Harper,” Milo speaks up. “I was talking.”

“You need to be careful who you let influence your actions, Mr. Hayes,” the teacher says.

I sigh as Milo always defends me. He is the only ranked member who treats me like a human being. I look at my notebook as a tear drops onto it. ‘Two more weeks,’ I say to myself.

‘And we will be free never to look back,’ Genesis whispers.

Milo touches my arm, and I flinch, “Sorry.”

The rest of the class went without incident, and I quickly rushed to the next one. It’s history, my favorite class. Mrs. Lyons is one of the only teachers who treats me well.

Madeline sits before me and turns, “Tommy asked me out tonight,” she smiles. “But I know Mama will say no,” she frowns.

“Do you think Tommy really likes you?” I ask.

“He’s my mate,” She grins. “I just know it.”

I sigh as I have never even thought about my fated mate. Everyone tells me I am too cursed to have one, or they will reject me for being useless. “I don’t have a mate.”

“We all have a mate,” Madeline grins.

“But- “I trail off.

“Okay, everyone,” Mrs. Lyons begins the class. “I hope you finished your reports.”

I dig through my backpack and pull out the report I worked hard on. Trying to complete my tasks while also getting my chores done and not disobeying Father was difficult. I set it on my desk.

It is snatched off my desk by Junie who was sitting by Esmae. “Look at this,” Junie giggles as she rips the papers.

“Stop,” I yell and reach for my report.

“Ms. Lane, give Kinsley her report,” the teacher said, chastising Junie.

“But Mrs. Lyons,” Junie complains.

“Give it back and take your seat,” Mrs. Lyons demands.

Junie drops it on the floor and steps on it before walking away.

“b***h,” Madeline says as she helps me pick up the papers.

I try not to cry as I attempt to piece it back together.

“I know you did your best, Kinsley,” Mrs. Lyons walks over. “I won’t fail you for what was torn.”

I nod as I hand her the report. ‘Two more weeks,’ I remind myself.

Mrs. Lyons returned to the front of the class and began her lecture. I just concentrate on my notes as she speaks. At the end of class, I rushed out to my next class, and thankfully, neither Junie nor Esmae was in.

As I walk down the hall, I am pulled backward by Junie, who laughs hysterically as my backpack rips. I want to cry as I watch the contents fall to the floor. Other students walk all over my papers and other items.

Madeline steps in to try and help.

“Go to class, Maddie,” I say. “No use in you getting in trouble.”

“No, Kinsley,” she says while glaring at Junie. “I want to rip that b***h’s head off.”

“You know you can’t,” I sigh. I gathered what I could in my arms, wishing my father had allowed me to have a locker.

“You can put stuff in mine,” Madeline says.

I finally get to my third class late, but the teacher, Mr. Sanders, says nothing. I sit beside Katy, who sometimes talks to me.

She eyes me today and says nothing.

‘Two more weeks,’ I say to myself.

Relief comes when it is finally lunchtime, and I can get a little bit to eat. I rarely eat breakfast or dinner because I must work hard in the kitchens and do whatever Father or Sydney orders me to do.

I get a bowl of mac and cheese with some fruit and carry them outside. Neither Milo nor Madeline had lunch with me, so I ate alone. I sit under my favorite tree and bite into my apple.

I start to imagine my life outside of Shadow Lake. I plan to take the train to the human city and get a job. I have just enough money to stay in a cheap hotel until I can afford my own place. Madeline wants to come too, but she thinks Tommy Ross is her mate.

‘You have a mate too,’ Genesis speaks up.

‘I doubt it,’ I mutter.

‘You do,’ she says.

‘He isn’t going to want me,’ I say. ‘I am cursed.’

‘No, you aren’t,’ She huffs.

My wolf keeps me going. She isn’t like other wolves, so I must keep her a secret.

I didn’t shift on my sixteenth birthday because she didn’t want to be seen by Father and the others. Madeline and Milo are the only ones that know about her. She isn’t magical or anything. She isn’t like the others.

‘Have hope,’ Genesis says. ‘He’s coming for you.’

I say nothing and continue eating. It’s one of the few times I get a little peace in my life. Once finished eating, I rise from my spot to carry my tray inside. I almost make it to the trash, then Jaxson appears and flips it up, so everything flies off. The entire cafeteria erupts in laughter.

“Pick up your trash, Trash,” he says while laughing.

I kneel to pick everything up, and my brother kicks me.

“Leave her alone, Jax,” Jaiden walks over.

“Why? She’s just trash, Jai,” Jaxson says. “Dad says so.”

Jaiden kneels beside me to help. “You really should be more careful.”

I say nothing, pick myself up, and carry the tray to the trash.

“You better now be late cleaning my bathroom,” Jaxson shoves me into the wall. “Dad says he will whip you.”

“I know,” I mutter.

“What was that?” Jaxson grabs my chin. “Are you talking back to me?”

“No,” I say.

He punches my stomach, “Good.” He lets me go and walks away.

“I hate it when he does that,” Jaiden says.

I say nothing and walk away from him.

“What happened to your backpack?” Jaiden asks.

“It got ruined,” I say, leaving out that Junie did it.

“How will you carry your stuff?” He asks.

I shrug.

“You should be more careful,” Jaiden says before walking away.

I sigh and head to Madeline’s locker to retrieve my books for the next class. The bell rings when I reach the locker. I grab my book and notebooks and stuff a pencil into my pocket.

I made it through the rest of the day without being bullied and am relieved as I left my last class early to make it home on time. As I head to the entrance, I am tripped. I fall face-first into the floor.

“Clumsy,” Esmae taunts me.

I roll over just as she kicks me in the side.

“Stupid, Kinsley,” She mocks as others laugh.

I sit up as she pours something over my head. To my horror, it appears to be green hair dye. My eyes sting as it seeps down my head. I try getting up, but Junie shoves me back down and dumps something else.

“Kinsley, the killer,” they sing as I sit and take the humiliation.

“You're going to be late getting home,” Esmae laughs. “Daddy is going to whip you.”

I fight the tears as I sit and take their abuse. Genesis is in my head, growling. She wants to get out and teach them all a lesson, but I hold her back. ‘Not now,’ I tell her.

‘They will all pay,’ She hisses.

‘They aren’t worth it,’ I say. The laughter stops, and everyone finally walks away. I get to my feet and hear someone running up.

“Oh my god, Kinsley,” Madeline says. “Why do they do this to you?”

I look at her through my tear-stained eyes, “I deserve it.”

“You don’t deserve this,” Milo speaks up.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up,” Madeline tries, steering me into a bathroom.

“I can’t be late,” I say. “Father will whip me.”

“Kinsley, you are covered in dye and feathers,” Madeline complains.

I shrug and walk away from her. “I have to clean the floor in Jaxson’s bathroom.”

Milo stops me and drapes something over my head. It’s his T-shirt which he took off. “At least let us help a little.”

“Why are you helping that loser?” I hear Dylan ask.

“She isn’t a loser, Dylan,” Milo groans.

“She is a piece of s**t,” Dylan growls. “Not worth the dirt on the ground.”

“She is a member of the pack,” Milo argues.

I open my eyes as Dylan walks away, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it,” I say, handing Milo his shirt back.

“I hate that I have to run this pack with Dylan and Jaxson,” Milo complains. “I hate them.”

I say nothing and walk away.

“Kinsley,” He calls and runs up.

He and Madeline walk home with me. I shudder when I see Father waiting for me at the door with Beta Evan and Gamma Matthew. The Gamma gives me an empathetic look while Evan is glaring at me.

“You are late, Kinsley,” Father states.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“Why are you late?” Father growls.

“She was attacked, Alpha Leighton,” Milo speaks up.

“Milo,” His father hisses.

“What, Dad?” Milo yells.

I look at my father’s feet. “I’m sorry, Father.”

“What did you call me?” He hisses.

I cringe because I know what is coming next.

“I told you never to call me that,” He growls.

“Come on, Milo,” Gamma Matthew says sadly.

Milo walks away with his father and Beta Evan, leaving me with my angry alpha father. I know what comes next as he grabs me and starts dragging me to the cells.