BULLIED BY MY MATE

Almost a Kiss, Almost a Fall

Alera’s POV

I opened my eyes slowly. My head throbbed with pain. I glanced around. This wasn’t my room. I looked down at the clothes I was wearing. These weren’t mine either.

“You’re awake, Alera?”

Rayvan… One by one, memories began to return. I had been attacked, and I had my first shift. Rayvan came and saved me.

“Is this your place?” I squinted at the surroundings. This was Rayvan’s dorm room. A poster of the campus basketball team hung on the wall, and his books were neatly arranged on the study desk.

“Yeah, this is my place. Are you feeling any better?” Rayvan held a glass of water in his hand and offered it to me.

“Drink, Alera.”

I reached for the glass and took a slow sip.

“Alera, was that your first shift earlier?” Rayvan narrowed his eyes.

I nodded, still feeling the dizziness clouding my head. “Yes. I never thought it would happen… I’ve been trying to bury that part of me.”

“You don’t have to bury who you are. Accept your fate as a Lycan. Or at least consider returning to your pack. Walking this path alone… it’s terrifying,” Rayvan said with concern in his eyes. He actually cared?

“Even if I return to my pack someday, that won’t suddenly make everything easier. Omegas are never truly accepted anywhere,” I said firmly, the trauma of my past still clinging tightly to me.

Silence filled the room. I looked at Rayvan again. “Thank you…”

“For what? I just brought you here to keep you safe,” Rayvan replied calmly. Did he feel something?

“You stayed with me through my first shift. It was… a powerful moment. It felt like I finally found who I truly am. I feel relieved.” I smiled, hoping he could sense the sincerity in me.

Rayvan let out a breath. “The first shift means a lot to us. It’s a step forward toward physical and spiritual maturity.”

My heart was racing, and my cheeks warmed as I remembered something. When I returned to human form… not a single thread of clothing remained on me. What did he feel when he saw me like that? I was mortified and awkward. Maybe I should head back to my dorm. But somehow… I still wanted to stay with him.

“What happens after the shift? Should I accept my fate as a Lycan?” I asked, gathering courage. He wasn’t an omega—being a Lycan was never a burden for someone like him. Everyone respected him.

“Is being a Lycan such a terrible thing, Alera? Isn’t it better to embrace who we are rather than deny it?” Rayvan said firmly. Of course, he could easily accept it. He had never experienced the pain I had. Everything came easily for him. And then I remembered what the man who attacked me said—Rayvan was the Crowned Alpha, son of Alpha Sovereign Lucian Drayce. The man who destroyed my father’s coffee shop.

“You’re the Crowned Alpha… the son of Lucian Drayce?” I narrowed my eyes, needing to hear it directly.

Rayvan nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

I went quiet. My mate… is a Crowned Alpha. And he’s Lucian Drayce’s son? No. This couldn’t be real. I did feel a deep connection with Rayvan, like my heart bloomed whenever he was near. But if he was Lucian Drayce’s son… how could I give him my heart?

“Your father is the one who destroyed my father’s coffee shop.”

Rayvan stared more intently at me, his brows furrowed. “You must be mistaken. My father would never do something like that.”

“When the men came to the shop, they said your father ordered it.”

“I’ll ask him myself,” Rayvan said without hesitation.

Suddenly, someone opened the door. Both Rayvan and I jumped. Zack stood frozen in place, his eyes wide like he had just found a treasure or caught a thief red-handed.

“Whoa. You two… Uh, am I interrupting something? Looks like Rayvan’s no longer a virgin, huh? First time?” Zack snickered, eyes flicking between us with a smug grin. I hated it. He was one of Rayvan’s rivals on the basketball team.

“Zack, it’s not what you think. Nothing happened between us,” Rayvan said sharply, his voice tense with irritation.

“You think I’m that naïve? A bully dating his victim? Now that’s interesting.” Zack laughed with satisfaction and slammed the door shut as he left.

“What if he spreads rumors across campus?” I probably looked pale. I didn’t want people getting the wrong idea about me being in Rayvan’s room.

“Don’t worry. He wouldn’t dare. I’m more worried about my father finding out I had a girl in my room,” Rayvan gave me a half-smile, then looked away.

“Worried?”

“Yeah. Our pack has strict rules. Especially for the future Alpha leader. We’re not allowed to have s*x before marriage. Even the first kiss must be shared only with our mate. If we break the rules, we’re no longer fit to lead,” Rayvan explained seriously.

I’d heard the Bloodveil pack had intense rules. Maybe I really needed to go back now.

“I should go home,” I said, shifting to get up.

But Rayvan caught my hand and pulled me right onto his chest, already pressed against the bed. Our eyes locked. My heart roared in my chest, trembling at every edge. Oh God… he was so handsome. So gentle. So mesmerizing. He had everything a girl could ever want.

Rayvan froze, his gaze roaming every inch of my face. My breath hitched. Then, he flipped us, and suddenly I was beneath him. What… What was he going to do? Was he influenced by Zack’s disgusting words?

“Have you ever kissed anyone before, Alera?” Rayvan asked softly, like a whisper.

I shook my head. “No. Never.” My nerves spiked.

“Me neither. And I’m a Crowned Alpha. I’m not allowed to kiss just anyone. Only my mate… Uhm…” Rayvan bit his lip, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks.

“Do you… want to try?” His brows lifted slightly.

“Try? Try what?”

“Kissing. I mean… We are mates, right?” He looked nervous, just like me. His expression was unexpectedly sweet.

“Yes… but you once said you didn’t want me to be your mate.” I exhaled.

Rayvan brushed his fingers along my cheek, trailing down to my lips. Was this real? Was this really happening—Rayvan, this close to me?

“But I can’t fight it, Alera. You don’t know. I was hurting too… after rejecting you. I can’t lie to myself, and I can’t resist this mate bond that naturally formed between us,” he whispered. “The more I tried to deny it, the more it tore me apart.”

Rayvan leaned in. I stopped him with two fingers on his lips. “Ray… I’m nervous. Is this okay?”

“We’re nineteen, right? Most of our friends are already chasing heated nights in bed,” he whispered.

“We’re not like them… And your pack’s rules—”

“There’s no rule against kissing before marriage. Just… no s*x. I’ll respect that rule. I…” His words trailed off. “I’m just curious what it feels like… to kiss someone.”

I froze. Rayvan hovered above me, leaving just enough space for air between us.

“I wouldn’t ask this from any other girl. I’m asking you—because you’re my mate,” he said again.

My cheeks were probably bright red. And yes… I was curious too.

Rayvan leaned in even closer. The edge of his lips grazed mine. I froze.

“Alera, open your lips a little. How am I supposed to kiss you if you keep them shut?”

I grew even more nervous. I shifted away slightly. I wanted it, of course I wanted it. But… I needed more time. Time to understand him, to understand what just happened between us. Time to figure out what this mate bond really meant…

“I’m not ready, Rayvan. I’m scared…”

Rayvan looked disappointed, but then he smiled—softly, warmly. “It’s okay, Alera. Maybe we were rushing things…” He smiled even wider, as if telling me it really was fine.

He pulled himself up, and so did I. I needed to hurry back before the dorm supervisor started looking for me.

Today was incredible. I had my first shift with Rayvan by my side. And maybe… this was the beginning of us accepting the mate bond that might tie us closer in the days ahead.