Back and Better

I'm gone

Chapter Two

“I’m gone”

The next morning I wake up in better spirits than I have in a long time. My first order of business, during lunch, will be to head to the counseling office and ask for transcripts so I can switch high schools. Then I’ll finish out my last day at that miserable school, clear out my locker, and head home. Pack a backpack with necessities, and go meet my new family. If the moon goddess gave my new life her stamp of approval, I’m running with it.

Perhaps I’ll leave behind a note.

Perhaps.

I can’t wait to shift tonight. To finally see what wolf I’ll be. Yesterday, I didn’t even want to live to see today, but now, I’m looking forward to unlocking a new part of myself and getting to know it.

Slinging my backpack over my shoulder I grab an apple and get into my car, driving to school. Don’t want to be late on my last day. I put in my headphones to avoid hearing the names I’m called by the crowd gathered around the school and the people in the hallways, and rush to first period.

Breathe, Amira. It’s your last day avoiding everyone. I’ve got this routine down pat after years of it—Erebus declared his dislike for me back in middle school, and I’ve been considered an exile from everyone in school ever since. Since he’s next in line here, everyone scrambles over themselves to please him. Since humiliating and hurting me seems to please him, the masses do so on his behalf.

I must say I will seriously miss the teachers in this school. I have a close bond with all of my teachers, and the principal. Since I don’t get much action in my social life, I’ve put all the focus on academics, which means I’ve done quite well and gotten to be something of a teachers pet, which my classmates take as more reason for bullying.

Last night I ended up writing letters to each of my teachers, letters that I’ll give at the end of classes and ask them to wait to open until the next day. I hope they’ll listen, but even if they open them today, I doubt they’d stop me from going to a better life.

By the time lunch rolls around, I’m holding back tears. Not because of shitty comments, but because I’ll miss my teachers so much. The longer the day goes on, the more I realize just how good all the adults at this school have been to me, even if the kids suck.

I head into the principal’s office, shoulders slumped.

He smiles at me from behind his desk. “Ah, Amira. How can I help you?”

I incline my head respectfully. “Hey, Patrick. I just came to grab a copy of my transcripts.”

Patrick, the principle, looks at me sadly, having caught the underlying meaning behind my request.

“You’re leaving us?”

I offer him a small smile. “It’s very much on the down low, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention it. But yes. I think we can agree it’s for the best.”

He prints out my transcripts and I give him his letter.

“Please don’t open it until tomorrow,” I request.

Before walking out, I think, screw it. I don’t even want to stay past lunch. I give Patrick the rest of the letters and ask him to deliver them.

With that, I walk out.

I go straight to my locker and clear out the textbooks and notebooks in there, putting them all in my backpack. I take one last look up and down the halls of this f****d up school, so glad I won’t have to step foot back here ever again.

“Astalavista, motherfucker” I murmur, turning on my heel to head out. As I do head out, however, I see Erebus. Alpha-to-be. My lifelong tormentor and bully—just who I want to run into.

It’s unfair that he’s the very standard of masculine beauty, his form packed with corded muscle, his hair jet-black and perfectly styled, and his eyes a jarring blue. Someone that evil shouldn’t be so beautiful.

“f**k,” I mutter, attempting to veer away in the opposite direction before he can see me.

However, when I glance at him, he’s staring at me with adoration in his eyes.

“Mine,” he whispers, starting to walk up to me.

Mine… that can only mean one thing.

Erebus is my mate? Oh dear god. This is the ultimate cosmic joke. Thank goddess I don’t feel the mate bond, otherwise I’d be anchored here forever. I’d be trapped in the worst place ever with the worst person ever. It was a good thing I prayed last night, and no wonder Selene granted my wish if she knew this was the guy I’d be saddled with.

As he gets closer, I step back.

“Mate,” He says. I start laughing out loud.

Honestly, this is hilarious. This prick, who has made my life a living hell, is my mate? Now that is f*****g priceless.

I hope he writhes in agony for the rest of ever.

Once he’s right in front of me, he frowns. “Mate. Amira, why are you laughing?”

I bend over, wheezing.

Once I sober up and wipe tears from my eyes, I look back at him. “Oh, this is just too good. You, the guy who was one of my main bullies and hence reasons I tried to kill myself yesterday, is my mate? I can only thank the goddess that I don’t feel s**t towards you.”

“You tried to do what?” he growls.

I clear my throat, straightening my back. His sudden care is only due to us being mates, not to anything else, and a simple mate bond is not enough to tie me to this asshole.

In the back of my mind, I have to wonder, where is this confidence coming from?

“Allow me to reiterate, Alpha Erebus. Yesterday I went home, got a razor, and slit both of my wrists. I got quite lucky that someone found me and helped. After that I went home and prayed to the moon goddess that if I have a mate in this pack, that I don’t feel the mate bond. And she clearly granted my wish. So go f**k yourself, Erebus.”

He steps back, an expression of shock and horror on his face.

“No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Amira, no. Please. I’m so sorry. Goddess, you tried to commit suicide? No, what have I done?! Please forgive me,” He says.

Huh, the alpha has emotions. Or, more accurately, he’s suddenly experiencing emotions because the bond is affecting him even though it isn’t affecting me. That’s the only reason he’s apologizing profusely, not because he’s actually sorry for anything he’s done. If he was sorry, he wouldn’t have led me to the brink of suicide.

“That sucks, Alpha. That is really unfortunate,” I say, pushing past him.

“Amira, where are you going?” He asks.

I shake my head and start running to my car. If I tell him I’m leaving, he’ll stop me. I can’t let him stop me. I get in my car, turn it on, and drive home.

As soon as I’m in my room, I pray and give the moon goddess thanks. I ask for guidance, help, advice, and thank her more times than I can count for freeing me from a life of pure hell.

I pack three changes of clothes, my laptop, and a photo of me with my parents into a backpack, and hop into the shower. When I take off my bandages I see that my wrists have just about completely healed.

Damn. That was ridiculously fast. My wolf must be powerful. With my upcoming shift, it’s normal to start experiencing some affects of having a wolf, such as the expected accelerated healing rate. Still, for deep wounds like that to be completely gone in a day? That hints to great power.

At 9:30 PM, I write a note to leave on the kitchen counter.

Mom and dad,

I’m leaving the pack today and never coming back. Don’t worry, I won’t be rogue. I found another pack that offered to take me in and adopt me.

The reason for my leaving is how strongly I’ve been bullied. Remember the bruises you asked me about and I just said I was clumsy? I’m not clumsy. I would get beaten every day during and after school by my classmates.

And you know who was at the forefront of that beating? Our next Alpha in line, and your son.

I take accountability in never speaking to you, but frankly I was afraid you loved Brendon more than me. I don’t know whether or not that’s true, and I have no intention of finding out.

You were never there for me. You were always traveling. So this shouldn’t be much of a change.

I wish you both the absolute best in life, and hope that I never see you again.

Sincerely,

Amira.

I wipe away tears after writing it. Now is not the time to be a p***y.

When I enter the clearing of the forest, the boys I met yesterday along with an older man and woman stand in front of the oak tree I nearly died under yesterday, waiting for me. A little nervous, I slow my stride as I approach them.

“Hey, Amira. Happy birthday.” Damon says. “This is mom and dad. Luna Anna and Alpha Anatol.”

The Luna promptly wraps me in a hug. “Sweetheart, I am so sorry about what you’ve been through. But you’re a part of us now. We’ve had adoption papers drawn up. As soon as we get your signature, you’re officially our family.”

Holy s**t, just like that? The moon goddess must’ve had a hand in this, but I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I bow. “Thank you, Luna.”

“Mom and dad” Anatol corrects, joining the hug.

Soon enough I’m being hugged by my new parents and siblings.

And I know, without a doubt, I’ve found home.