BULLIED BY MY MATE

Winter Camp

Alera’s POV

Winter camp was the one holiday event everyone at college looked forward to. We weren’t camping in tents under the stars, but instead, we’d rented a set of wooden cabins nestled near the Ravenshade River.

We brought quite a lot with us—thick jackets, wool socks, boots, flashlights, and survival gear like pocketknives and rope. There were meds, snacks, and ingredients for slow-cooked meals we’d prepare together.

Each cabin could fit five people. Whether it was luck or some twisted joke, I ended up sharing a cabin with the cheer squad—Lilian, Clara, Samantha, and Lisa. I could only hope they'd tone down their usual bullying, even just a little.

As I carried my bag toward the cabin, I spotted Rayvan and his friends unloading their gear. For a moment, his eyes met mine. My heart skipped. His scent still lingered, intoxicating as ever. I used to resist the pull of it, but now I didn’t even try. I let myself fall. He’s my mate.

He smiled—a soft, beautiful smile that melted something inside me. He was dazzling.

"Hi, Alera."

I turned. Lyra was standing behind me.

“Hey, Lyra.”

“It seems like things are getting better between you and Rayvan. I’m happy to see that.”

“Thank you, Lyra.”

“Do you love him?” she asked.

I smiled and nodded. Lyra was one of the few students I sensed something different in. The Lycan scent around her was unmistakable.

“Are you two mated?” Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Again, I nodded. “Yes, we’re mates.”

She smiled again. “That’s good.”

I offered her a faint smile. “I should head back to my cabin now, Lyra.”

“Go ahead,” she said simply.

Inside the cabin, the cheerleaders were already gathered, sipping what looked like tea or milk.

“It’s freezing in here. A warm drink helps,” Lisa said. She brought the most luggage of us all.

“Alera, did you just come back from seeing your boyfriend? That hot ex-basketball captain?” Samantha raised a brow and winked.

They were always curious about me and Rayvan. As if dissecting every detail of our relationship gave them some kind of thrill. Honestly, it made me uncomfortable.

“I didn’t go looking for him. We just crossed paths,” I replied flatly.

“Have you kissed yet?” Clara asked, eyes gleaming with nosy delight. Samantha was already smirking.

I shook my head. Rayvan had once brushed his lips against mine, but I hadn’t responded. Could that even be called a kiss? A real one, the kind that left you breathless—we hadn’t shared that yet. I might be curious, but I wasn’t ready to rush.

“Seriously? Never kissed? I mean, I get it if you haven’t slept together yet. But no kiss at all?” Samantha’s eyes widened. “Come on, girl. Dating but no kissing? That’s just weird.”

“It’s not just weird. It makes me wonder if Rayvan even wants you,” Lilian said, her gaze sharp.

“Most guys would’ve already figured out a way to get in bed with their girlfriend. Him not kissing you? Kinda odd...” Clara shook her head.

“He wants me. Of course he does... and I want him, too. But I’m not ready,” I said calmly. I didn’t want them getting the wrong idea about Rayvan. He had the strength to hold back because his pack’s rules were strict. I was grateful for that. As for kissing… to me, it’s sacred. It has to be done with clear intent and genuine love.

“Why aren’t you ready? Kissing is addictive, you know. You’ll feel like you’re flying,” Samantha cupped her cheeks dramatically, her eyes closed, biting her lip.

The others laughed. For a moment, I felt like maybe they weren’t as awful as I thought. Maybe they could be a little sweet, especially now that everyone saw me as Rayvan’s girlfriend. That seemed to shift how they treated me.

“Sounds like someone’s in need of a kiss,” Lisa nudged Samantha with a giggle.

“It’s been a while since I had a boyfriend, so yeah... I miss it.” Samantha smiled softly. Honestly, she looked sweet when she let her guard down like that.

Cheerleaders were known for being the most wanted girls on campus. I used to think they all dated basketball players. But apparently, that wasn’t true. Maybe just one or two had romantic ties to them. I hadn’t heard of anyone currently dating, except Lilian, who once went out with Zack. But that ended.

“It’s not hard for you girls to get boyfriends. Kissing should be the least of your worries,” I said.

“It’s not that simple, Alera. We have standards. Not every guy can date us. They have to meet our criteria,” Lisa replied. She was clearly the smartest among them.

“What kind of criteria?” I asked.

“We like mature men. Sure, basketball players are hot, charming, and attractive. But that’s not enough,” Lilian answered.

“Yeah... mature and hot. Like Professor Christian...” Samantha sighed, placing her hands on her cheeks and looking dreamy.

“He’s single and sexy. Whenever I read spicy novels, I picture him as the male lead and I’m the heroine,” she added.

They all burst out laughing. I couldn’t help but smile, too. Then Lilian looked at me with a smile I couldn’t quite read.

“Aren’t you curious what it’s like? Sleeping with someone you love?” she asked, her voice teasing.

I felt a little awkward. Maybe to them, talking about s*x was normal and fun. But to me, it was... uncomfortable.

“I guess I’m like most girls. I get curious sometimes. But it’s not time yet,” I answered gently, without sounding judgmental.

“You’re waiting until marriage?” Lisa narrowed her eyes.

I nodded slowly.

“That’s impressive. Once you try it, you’ll get hooked,” said Lilian.

“You talk like you’re the most experienced one here,” Clara scoffed, half-joking.

Everyone laughed. Sometimes I wondered if they were really as wild as they acted. Maybe some of them were still virgins like me but kept up an image. People often pretend to fit in with what's expected of them, when deep down, they’re nothing like the image they project. Is this what girl friendships are? Open conversations, shared secrets, and boy talk?

*****

Before bed, we gathered in the large cabin hall for dinner, followed by a reflection night. Professor Christian was one of the faculty members joining the winter camp. He was also scheduled to give motivational talks throughout the week.

“Welcome to winter camp. Here, we’ll do some exciting activities that will help develop your skills and uncover your potential,” Professor Christian said, his gaze sweeping across the room.

I noticed Samantha watching him, absolutely mesmerized. He was the youngest professor at Lycanridge, and undeniably charming. Many girls admired him.

“Now I’d like a few of you to come forward and share why you joined this camp.”

A few students raised their hands. He pointed at one of them.

“Hi, I’m Liam from the College of Engineering. I signed up for winter camp because I wanted to spend my break doing something meaningful. Otherwise, my mom would just yell at me for gaming all day.”

The room burst into laughter and applause.

“Hi, I’m Anthony. I joined because Merry signed up, too.”

The students erupted. Poor Merry was probably blushing hard.

“Hi, I’m Samantha from the School of Business. I’m here because Professor Christian is here.”

The crowd went wild. Samantha was bold. I could see the professor looked a little flustered.

Amid the noise, something shifted inside me. A quiet, eerie feeling crept in. I glanced across the room. Rayvan was sitting there, and when our eyes met, we shared a smile. But it wasn’t his scent that stirred something in me—it was something else. Something outside the cabin. I could sense it faintly... and somewhere in the distance, a long howl echoed through the night.

Were there Lycans nearby?