REJECTED BY ONE CLAIMED BY TWO

1.

1. Riley’s POV

“You know harassment is technically a crime, right?” I said.

Bianca tilted her head slightly to the left like she was studying a very stupid insect. Unfortunately, that insect was me. If eyes could kill then I would have been lifeless on the ground, struck dead by her intense gaze.

Her friends giggled behind her, acolytes to the queen witch herself. They were her little minions and they followed her everywhere she went, participating in her wickedness with glee. Sometimes I wondered if they used the toilet together. They probably did.

We were standing in the hallway outside the cafeteria and somehow I had once again become the center of Bianca’s daily entertainment. I held my books tight against my chest and tried to look less like prey and more like a bullied Omega in need of a knight in shining armor.

Bianca crossed her arms. “Harassment? Please. I’m just talking to you. That’s what we’re doing, right? Talking.”

“Talking usually involves willing participation from both parties involved,” I said. “This feels more like… public humiliation.”

One of her girls stifled a laugh while another jabbed the girl’s hip with an elbow. Bianca stepped closer. I could smell her perfume which was intense and strong. Emphasis on the strong part. It made my eyes water the closer she got.

“You’re an omega,” she said like she was lecturing a child. “You should be grateful anyone is talking to you at all.”

I gave her my best polite smile. “Wow,” I said. “I feel like I should be thanking you.”

Her eyes narrowed as her brain slowly worked through what I just said. Okay. Maybe sarcasm wasn’t helping my survival chances.

Every school had its own srtucture… hierarchy. And ours wasn’t any different. It went like this; Alphas at the top, Betas in the middle, and omegas… well. We were basically walking punching bags.

My wolf was small and quiet. Most people said they could barely sense it. Some days I wasn’t even sure it was there.

Bianca leaned forward. “You’re getting brave lately, Riley.”

“No,” I said. “It’s not bravery. It’s exhausting.”

Without warning, she moved with superhuman speed and shoved my shoulder. I didn’t even see the movement until it happened. My books slipped and hit the floor.

The hallway filled with mocking laughter as I bent down to pick them up. Bianca stepped on one of my notebooks. Both legs, like she was climbing onto a friggin’ platform.

“Oops,” she said.

I looked up at her. “You know, if this is about your insecurity issues, therapy is cheaper than you think.”

Her friends burst out laughing before quickly covering their mouths. Bianca’s face went dark like a thunderstorm in July.

Just as she opened her mouth, a familiar scent consumed the entire hallway. It was warm and had a strong pinewood musk. My heart did fifty flips in a second.

Cody!!!

Bianca turned around before I even looked up to see his blonde hair and pretty boy smile. He walked toward us with that lazy confidence that only powerful wolves possessed. His presence alone made my knees buckle. My hands suddenly felt too big for my body. I knocked one of my books over again while trying to stand.

Smooth, Riley. Very smooth. You didn’t even need Bianca’s help this time.

Cody stopped beside Bianca and kissed her cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world. My stomach twisted into fist sized knots.

He barely glanced in my direction. Actually, that wasn’t true. He didn’t glance at all. It’s almost as if he didn’t register my existence and I was nothing more than a molecular flick of particles he couldn’t see.

Bianca smiled like she had just won a trophy. “Hey babe,” she said in a voice that coulda made birds sing.

Cody slid an arm around her waist. “You ready?”

“For you? Always.”

I dropped my pen. Another slip. Why was I like this? I knew I was naturally clumsy but having Cody so close somehow magnified my clumsiness.

I quickly crouched to grab it but bumped my head on Bianca’s elbow while standing up. “Ow,” I muttered.

Cody finally looked at me but it lasted for half a second. The look wasn’t cruel yet somehow it was worse. It made me feel like I was just another background object in the hallway.

He looked away immediately. My chest felt weird and it wasn’t a good feeling at all. It left a bad taste at the back of my mouth.

Bianca grinned at me. “Looks like we’re done here.”

“Thank the moon goddess,” I said quietly.

She leaned closer to my ear. “Stay out of my way, omega. You’re lucky my baby came when he did. Next time I won’t be so forgiving.”

Then she turned and walked away with Cody like I didn’t exist. I watched them go and her girls scattered like a flock without its shepherd.

My eyes stayed on Cody as I watched him walk away. Okay, maybe watch was the wrong word. I stared longingly. My wolf whimpered in my chest.

“Riley.”

I jumped. Joanna stood beside me with her hands on her hips. I wondered how long she had been standing there and how much of my drooling she had seen.

“You look like someone just kicked your puppy,” she said.

“I don’t even have a puppy.”

“You know what I mean.”

I picked up my books again and started walking down the hall with her. “I hate Bianca,” I muttered.

“Everyone hates Bianca.”

“She stepped on my notebook.”

“She tends to do that every now and then.”

“And Cody kissed her.”

“He tends to do that every now and then.”

I groaned. “It should be me, Joanna. His hands should go around my waist and his lips should be on mine.”

Joanna cussed loudly then said, “Riley Penalope Indigo Jensen.”

“What?”

“Why are you still obsessed with him?”

“‘Obsessed’ is a strong word. I love him.” I said, trying to sound casual and failing.

“You’ve been crushing on him since we were like eight.”

“Eight and a half,” I corrected.

She stared at me. “You just proved my point.”

I didn’t want to argue because I knew she was going to win. We turned a corner in the hallway and—

I slammed straight into someone’s chest. The hard chest felt like a bullet train going at the speed of light and I went down immediately. Books exploded everywhere.

“Whoa,” a deep voice said. “Are you okay?”

I looked up to see it was Garvin. Of course. Garvin was Cody’s best friend. He was the exact opposite of Cody in every possible way which was why I secretly despised him. I still don’t understand how they’re besties.

They had the same height and slightly muscular body. But Garvin had that permanent mischievous grin and eyes that looked like they were always planning trouble.

Also he flirted with literally everyone including teachers. He crouched down to help pick up my books.

“Well if it isn’t the famous Riles,” he said.

“I’m not famous.” I sighed, frowning. “And it’s Riley not Riles. You see the Y at the end, Rileeeeyyy.”

“Weird ass name. You’re memorable though.”

“That’s not comforting.”

He handed me the last book then straightened up before looking at Joanna. “Well hello, gorgeous.”

Joanna froze like she had given up her humanity to live as a mannequin. Her crush on Garvin was painfully obvious.

“Hi,” she said quietly, sounding like a shy loser.

Garvin leaned against the locker and gave her what could have been his best smile.

“Cody is throwing a welcome party tonight. The Lycan twins are finally coming back home after being abroad for so long.” He said casually. “You two should come.”

I blinked. “No.”

Joanna interjected, “Yes.” Then she gave me a stern death stare, smiled at Garvin and nodded. “We’ll be there.”

Garvin winked at her before walking away. Who the f**k does he think he is walking around like he owns the place.

Joanna spent the next hour trying to convince me about going to the party but it was a no for me. She tried every devious play in the book but I stood on business. Then she tried bribery and just when I thought she’d give up, she leaned in close and said, “I’ll let you braid my hair.”

I gasped. “That’s emotional manipulation.”

“I take it that’s a yes?”

I hesitated then nodded slowly. Joanna squealed with a dreamy look on her big blue eyes.

By the time I got home, the sky was already getting darker. The house was quiet which only meant my parents weren’t back yet. They both worked late shifts at the pack hospital. I grabbed a pen and wrote a note carefully choosing my words.

Went out with Joanna. Don’t panic. I’m not dead.

I stuck it on the fridge then changed before heading back outside. Joanna was waiting at the end of the road holding a comb. Her hair looked glorious and I enjoyed every second I spent braiding it.

An hour later, we started walking toward the northern part of town where the richer wolves lived. That was where Garvin said they’d be having the party, in a rented condo they used for parties.

I looked over my shoulder for a moment then turned away. My wolf was restless which was unusual. I had a strange feeling I couldn’t shake off.

“Do you feel that?” I asked Joanna, looking back over my shoulder again.

“Feel what?”

“I don’t know.” I said slowing down to a stop.

My skin crawled and the hairs on my flesh stood especially behind my neck. It felt like someone was watching us.

“Don’t freak out but I think we’re being followed,” I said, keeping my voice low.

Joanna groaned. “Riley. You agreed to go already. I know this is you trying to back out.”

“I’m serious.” I scanned the woods to the left, then the row of expensive holiday houses to the right.

A twig snapped somewhere behind us making both of us freeze to attention. My heart started beating faster. I knew coming was a bad idea and I wanted to tell Joanna, ‘I told you so’ but it wasn’t the right time.

There was silence for a while and just as I was about to speak, we heard it again. Footsteps. Joanna turned fully and I did too.

I squinted into the shadows and saw a silhouette moving close until it took a familiar shape. Then I recognized the figure coming towards us. s**t.

I gasped.