BULLIED BY MY MATE

Another Side of Me

Alera's POV

The first day of exams, the campus atmosphere felt tense. Students looked more anxious than usual. Their faces were more serious. No one wanted to fail the final exams.

I had to maintain my grades, or even improve them. If I failed, there was a chance my scholarship would be revoked.

I watched Rayvan enter the room. I never used to care about what he was doing. But why does it hurt so much now?

He no longer greets me. He no longer looks at me. He no longer bullies me, no longer intimidates me. He doesn't acknowledge my existence. He even avoids me. We’re like strangers who’ve never met.

Yes, he rejected me. I’ve accepted it, even though it hurts so much. I’ve decided to bury my lycan instincts deep within. I’ve chosen to fully live as a human. No mates, no matebond. His rejection will not stop me from moving forward.

Mr. Christian entered the classroom. He handed out the test papers we had to complete. The tension returned. Silence took over.

I had prepared myself as best I could. I studied every day. I hoped this time the results would be better than last semester.

After the exam, I wanted to unwind for a while in the back garden of the campus. Breathing in the fragrance of flowers seemed like a good way to clear my head. This test was harder than the last one. But I remained optimistic. I would get the best results.

As I walked along the path to the right of the garden, I saw two people talking in a gazebo surrounded by Bluebell flowers.

Rayvan and Lyra…

I froze. They looked so close. Laughing and joking like the world belonged to just the two of them.

Why does this hurt so much? Lyra is a kind person. Maybe she truly is better suited for Rayvan.

Rayvan used to be the most annoying bully. He had once been so cruel to me. I used to hate him.

But deep down, I hoped he would be happy with his choice. Even if it hurt me this much.

"Alera…" Lyra called out to me and waved her hand.

I thought she hadn’t seen me.

They walked toward me. I stood frozen, trying to steady my heart so I could speak with them without falling apart.

"Hi, where are you going? Taking a break in the garden too?" Lyra greeted me kindly.

I simply nodded. I glanced at Rayvan, who looked at me briefly and then turned away. He truly no longer wanted to know me.

"I’ll head off now." I gave a faint smile. I left them behind with a broken heart.

Is this what heartbreak feels like? Heartbreak is so painful. It feels impossible to make peace with the pain.

*****

As usual, I chose to walk along the pine forest trail on my way back to the dorm. The beautiful view and the distinct scent of pine always calmed me. This city is so quiet. Yet at the same time, it's wrapped in a mysterious kind of magic.

My ears caught something. The sound of slow footsteps following me. When I turned around, I saw a man watching me intently.

I looked around. No one else was there. I started to feel afraid. Was this man going to harm me?

"Who are you? Why are you following me?"

"You don’t need to know. Rogues like you are better off eliminated."

I stepped back a few paces. Then looked for a chance to run. I didn’t look back, but I could hear the pounding of his footsteps chasing after me. He was running right behind me.

I tripped and fell to the ground. He grabbed my arm forcefully.

"Come with me!"

"No, heeellpppp!!!" I screamed as loud as I could.

The man kept dragging me. I struggled with all my strength, but his was far greater.

"Let her go!"

I turned toward the voice. Rayvan stood frozen before us. I was relieved to see him. He had come at just the right time.

"Alpha scent. Are you the son of Alpha Sovereign Lucian Drayce?" The man stared sharply at Rayvan.

I was stunned to hear him say "Lucian Drayce." So Rayvan was the Crowned Alpha of the Bloodveil pack?

"Yes. If you hurt that girl, I’ll report you to my father. You’ll get the punishment you deserve!"

The man stepped back slowly. Then he bolted away from us.

Rayvan and I looked at each other. I was grateful he had come to save me. But could the son of the man who destroyed my family ever be forgiven?

Suddenly I felt pain in every inch of my body. My breath caught. A burning sensation spread from within. What was happening to me

I looked at my hands. They were no longer human. My nails had lengthened, clawing into the dirt. Soft fur began to spread across my skin. What was this?

The pain intensified, as if my bones were being forced to break and regrow, lengthening, curving in unnatural ways. It felt like this body no longer belonged to me.

I wanted to scream, but the sound that came out was no longer human. It was like something whispered to me, urging me to let go. Not a foreign voice, but mine. A part of me that had long been locked away. The fear shifted into instinct and drive.

I lifted my face. I saw Rayvan standing frozen, staring at me. And the world looked different. I could smell the grass, the pine, the earth even blood with striking clarity. My breath was no longer tight. My heart raced wildly. But there was no more panic. I felt like… myself.

"Alera, is this your first shift?" Rayvan stepped closer, eyes fixed intensely on me.

Then slowly, I felt my body tremble, as if something inside me was unraveling. My claws, once buried in the ground, began to retract. A strange sensation crept along my spine, like something being pulled back into place.

My body burned, not from injury, but as if caught in a transformation—between the beast that protected and the real me.

I trembled. My body began to dissolve. The fur that had covered me now disappeared, like dust carried off by the wind. My wolf skull slowly receded, reshaping into a human face. I looked up at the open sky above. The cold pierced deeper now. The world once again felt unfamiliar, after living in pure animal instinct.

My legs transformed, drew inward, and I collapsed to my knees. My breath caught in my throat.

I was human again. Naked skin exposed to the wind. My heart torn apart, asking—who was I just now, and who was I now?

I lifted my face. Rayvan looked at me with an unreadable expression. His face flushed red. Was it because I was naked? I curled up, trying to cover what I could.

Rayvan took off his jacket and instantly wrapped it around me, pulling me into his arms. The warmth of his embrace enveloped me.

Suddenly, my head spun. The world tilted faster and faster. Then… I remembered nothing.