Chapter three: Marked by the pack
754 Words
“I didn’t do anything,” I said, my voice quieter than I wanted.
Aria tilted her head.
“Exactly.”
The next second—
She shoved me.
Hard.
I stumbled back, hitting a desk, pain shooting through my side.
Laughter filled the room.
“She doesn’t even smell right,” one of the girls sneered.
Aria wrinkled her nose.
“It’s disgusting.”
My grip tightened on my books.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Her expression darkened instantly.
“Because you don’t belong here.”
She stepped closer.
“And yet…” her voice dropped, “Kael looked at you.”
My breath caught.
So that was it.
Jealousy.
“He didn’t—”
“Don’t lie!” she snapped, her eyes flashing dangerously.
The room went still.
Even the air felt heavier.
“He doesn’t look at humans,” she continued, her voice now low and sharp. “He doesn’t acknowledge them. He definitely doesn’t react to them.”
Her fingers suddenly gripped my chin, forcing me to look at her.
“And yet… he reacted to you.”
Fear crawled up my spine.
“I don’t want anything to do with him,” I said quickly.
Aria stared at me for a long second.
Then she smiled again.
Worse this time.
“Good.”
Her grip tightened slightly.
“Because if I ever see you near him again…”
She leaned in close to my ear.
“I won’t stop at pushing you.”
My stomach twisted.
She released me suddenly, and I stumbled back.
“Teach her,” Aria said lazily, stepping aside.
My eyes widened.
“What—”
A hand grabbed my arm.
Another pushed me forward.
My books scattered across the floor as one of the girls tripped me.
I hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through my knees.
Laughter echoed again.
“Pathetic.”
“Is this really the human they let in?”
“Maybe she’s here for entertainment.”
I tried to get up—
A foot pressed down on my hand.
I gasped, pain exploding through my fingers.
“Stay down,” the girl hissed.
Something inside me snapped.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
But enough.
A strange heat spread through my chest.
My breathing grew uneven.
The sounds around me dulled for a second… like everything was fading except the pounding of my own heartbeat.
Then—
“Enough.”
The voice cut through everything.
Cold.
Sharp.
Familiar.
The pressure on my hand disappeared instantly.
I looked up.
Rowan stood at the door.
His expression unreadable.
But his eyes—
They weren’t calm anymore.
They were dark.
Dangerously dark.
Aria straightened, clearly annoyed.
“This doesn’t concern you, Rowan.”
He didn’t respond.
His gaze flicked to me briefly.
Then back to her.
“That’s enough,” he repeated.
Something in his tone made the other girls step back.
Even Aria hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then she scoffed.
“Fine.”
She turned back to me, her expression cold again.
“This isn’t over, human.”
And just like that, she walked out.
The others followed.
Leaving me on the floor.
Shaking.
Humiliated.
I slowly pulled my hand back, wincing slightly.
Rowan didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
For a moment, I thought he would just leave too.
Like nothing happened.
Then—
He walked over.
Picked up one of my books.
And held it out to me.
“…Get up,” he said quietly.
I hesitated… then took his hand.
And for the second time—
That strange feeling returned.
Stronger this time.
Like something inside me was waking up.
And it scared me.
I thought it was over.
I was wrong.
Rowan had already left.
Of course he did.
And I was alone again.
I tightened my grip on my books as I stepped into the hallway, my body still aching from the fall. My hand throbbed, but I ignored it.
Just get to the next class.
Just survive the day.
That was all I needed to do.
“Aw… did the puppy get hurt?”
I froze.
That voice—
Smooth. Mocking. Amused.
Slowly, I turned.
She stood leaning against the lockers like she had been waiting for me.
Dark hair. Pale skin. Red lips curved into a cruel smile.
Her eyes—
Deep crimson.
Watching me like I was something fragile… something breakable.
“Not very strong, are you?” she continued, pushing herself off the locker.
My chest tightened.
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