BULLIED BY MY MATE

I stepped through the grand gate of the university. This was where I would study, pursue knowledge, and one day—fulfill my dreams. They said Lycanridge University was the best in Ravenshade. To be accepted here, students had to compete with thousands of applicants and survive a series of intense selections. I was lucky to have passed the test—and even luckier to earn a scholarship. I am a Rogue. An orphaned girl, abandoned by fate. I’ve always wanted to forget the past, but the blood running through my veins never lies. I will always remember where I came from. I used to live in Moonvale, a city that never sleeps. Even at night, traffic continued to move restlessly, and people lingered in coffee shops until late—sometimes chatting, sometimes alone, staring at the glittering city lights, or simply resting after a long day of work. My parents owned a small coffee shop. It was enough for us to live decently, enough for me to attend a good school. But peace never lasted. Lucian Drayce, the Alpha Sovereign of the Bloodveil Pack, tore down our coffee shop along with the surrounding stores, chasing his ambition to build the grandest academy the alphas had ever seen. An academy for future alphas. We were given no compensation. We asked for justice. But the voices of omegas are never heard. We were left homeless. One noble Alpha family offered us shelter and work. My mother cooked for them every morning. My father tended to their garden. And then came another tragedy. My father fell ill. Day by day, his condition worsened—even though the family tried to bring in the best doctors. Eventually, he passed away. My mother and I were devastated. The world shattered. I had lost the man who fought so hard for his family. My mother sank into depression. Her health declined. She followed him not long after. My world collapsed again. My heart broke into pieces—and to this day, it has never healed completely. The family we worked for was kind. But their son wasn’t. He almost did something unforgivable. That was when I ran away—to Ravenshade, with nothing but a little cash and whatever strength I had left. I liked this town. It wasn’t as busy as Moonvale, but Ravenshade had something Moonvale didn’t. Every day, I walked past rows of pine trees lining both sides of the road. The air was clean and crisp. People preferred walking to school, work, or the market. They only used cars for longer trips. The train was the favorite mode of transport. To survive, I worked part-time at a coffee shop after class. My name is Alera. A Rogue who chose to bury her past deep within. I blended in with humans, hiding my true identity. But even the human world can be just as cruel. Being a poor girl in an elite university made me quiet, friendless, and a frequent target of bullying. Injustice had become my closest companion. As I stepped into class, a group of mean students stared at me with their usual mocking eyes. “Well, well. The girl who always arrives the earliest is late today,” said Lilian with a smirk. She was the queen of the campus cheerleading team. Beautiful, rich, slim, with waist-length hair that gleamed—and the ability to stun anyone who looked her way. “She probably overslept after her shift at the coffee shop,” Samantha chuckled beside her. Her tone was laced with cruelty. Maybe this was why I had no close friends. The cheerleaders were admired by every girl on campus. Getting into the team meant instant popularity. No one dared cross them. Naturally, they hated me—the poor girl who didn’t belong. “Oh my, your shoes are horrible. So worn out. Don’t you have better ones?” Clara glanced at my feet in disgust. I had planned to buy new shoes after payday. Yes, these were old, but still wearable. They laughed without guilt. I stood frozen—because the P-Boys were gathered near my desk. And their leader was sitting on my chair. P-Boys. The Popular Boys. Handsome, wealthy, and arrogant. They were just like the cheerleaders—loud, spoiled, and cruel to those beneath them. “Don’t want to sit? What’s wrong? Scared of us?” Rayvan sneered. He was their king. They started bullying me after I accidentally overheard a conversation about the basketball competition. They had bribed their opponents. I hadn’t meant to hear it—but I knocked over a trash can, and they realized I was there. Since then, they made sure I paid the price. “Come on, Rayvan,” Richard said, tugging his friend’s sleeve. “Can’t you see how scared she is? Look at her eyes. She’s begging to sit.” “I’m not done sitting,” Rayvan said lazily. “If she wants to sit… she can sit on my lap.” Laughter exploded. “How lucky. Rayvan actually offered her a spot on his lap,” Alan mocked. “There’s a whole line of girls dying for that honor.” Rayvan smiled wickedly. His hawk-like eyes didn’t leave mine, daring me to flinch. “Let’s see if she has the guts.” Yes, he was handsome. Yes, he had a dazzling smile and a strong, fit body. But he was a bully. And sometimes, the universe needs to be reminded—A bullied girl is not always powerless. I stepped forward. They all gawked. I stood in front of Rayvan without saying a word. And then… I sat on his lap. The entire class gasped. Some covered their mouths. Alera—the poor, unwanted girl—now sat in the lap of the most popular boy on campus. I didn’t know what his face looked like. I was facing forward, his face hidden behind me. But I could feel him freeze. He hadn’t expected this. He thought I’d be afraid. He was wrong. Rayvan slowly lifted my arms, urging me to stand. “You’re disgusting. I don’t want to touch you,” he snapped. I stood up. He moved away quickly, brushing off his clothes like I’d contaminated them. I sat in my chair without a word. The P-Boys returned to their seats. I could still hear Rayvan muttering under his breath—calling me a filthy, worthless Rogue. I didn’t dare look at him. But something felt strange. His scent... It smelled like pine forest and petrichor—soft, calming, almost... familiar. How could a bully smell like this? Or was it a sign? No. I wouldn’t fall into that trap again. I had left that world behind. I would live as a human now.