I sat there in English, wondering where Drew was. After waking up this morning in his bed, I found it empty. Although the sudden absence of Drew, I just continued with my usual routine and went to school. However, I did earn a few snide remarks and evil glares for smelling like Drew. Well what did I expect? People were still going to treat me like shit no matter what. 

“Hello, earth to Ari!” Melanie’s voice rang out from my sudden flashback. 

“Huh? Oh yeah sorry,” I smiled sheepishly at her.

“Okay, so I have some great news! Jake and I got approved to move into the packhouse with you! Now we can live together like sisters! Isn’t that great?!” she beamed one of her million watt smiles, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Really? That’s great!” I was happy for her, but the truth was, I didn’t want her knowing about real reason why I was bullied so much at school. All she ever knew was that people just thought I was some quiet nerd girl, but in reality, all my pack members hated me because of the accident and turned even the humans against me. With Mel moving in, I wouldn’t be able to hide the abuse anymore. 

Just then, Drew walked into the classroom. But that wasn’t the only thing I noticed. He reeked of cheap perfume and a mixture of other scents, which I recognized were Dana’s. His lips were swollen, and his clothes ruffled. My heart broke at the idea of him being with Dana. After all he promised me. 

Melanie noticed my sad expression and gave me a curious glance. I think she knew we were mates, but at that moment, I didn’t care. All I cared about was how bad he was treating me. It was always such a rollercoaster with him. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he was always messing with my heart; crushing my feelings till they were mere powdered dust, forgotten and unimportant. 

No. No more of this crap. I was just some ugly, quiet, pathetic, nerd to him, someone he didn’t need, not before, not now, and not in the future. Well, if that’s how he wants, it, fine. Mr. Alpha, I’m going to play dirty back.

*************

The last bell rang, dismissing us from school. I flew out of my seat, before Drew could catch up. This had been going on all day. He would try to talk to me, to explain about what happened this morning, but I wasn’t going to give him any sympathy. He should have thought about the consequences before practically having sex with her in the hallway. Screw him.

I was about to walk home, when Zane stopped me. 

“Hey Ari! Need a ride?” Zane asked, offering me a ride in his white Audi TT convertible. 

“Sure, nice ride by the way,” I ogled at his car. I seriously wished I had a car like that.

“Thanks,” he replied with a chuckle, “now hop in!” He swung his arm around my shoulders, and opened the passenger door for me. I stepped in, ignoring the now fuming Drew standing on the steps of the school. 

Zane jogged over to the driver’s side, and pulled the car into gear. We drove down the road, laughing and talking about random things. 

We pulled up in the pack house driveway, and I turned over in the seat, facing Zane. 

“Zane, you know how you offered me help with Drew?” I started.

“Yeah...” Zane looked at me with curiosity in his eyes.

“Well, how about we get the big bad alpha a little jealous?” I grinned mischievously. Zane reciprocated my grin with one of his own. 

This was gonna be good.